My name is Alex.
I've been reading for a while, but never posted. I thought I would introduce myself and talk a little about some theory.
I do a routine of false cuts and shuffles and end by revealing the deck in order. Before the big reveal, I allow an audience member to shuffle the cards and "ring in a cooler" for the finish.
I was discussing the blind shuffles and their difficulties with a friend who is not a magician or card handler. His response was "why do your shuffles need to be fake if you switch the deck?"
I've been doing this routine for a long time. I have collected a notebook full of blinds. But why should it matter if the deck gets exchanged anyway.
Shuffling by a spectator is a huge part of the effect. When I removed it, to show instead that it's all my hands, it feels more gratifying. But a lot of the magic for the audience is gone. If I keep it in, then my hard work and the parts I love about practice become meaningless.
Similarly: In Drawing Room Deceptions, there is an elaborate gambling routine in chapter four. I wont ruin or expose any part of this, except to say that there is full deck stack that must
1. be taken through a system of careful stock shuffling and
2. must not be revealed to have been in a stack to begin with.
Why wouldn't we just start with a stack that has already been culled and then execute blinds? The stock he teaches is very specific and leaves the performer in a dangerous situation if it should go wrong. I happen to think stacking from the end position of this routine and doing a push-through riffle shuffle is considerably safer and changes nothing about the presentation or effect.
I'd like to hear other people's thoughts.
Hello,
Alex
I've been reading for a while, but never posted. I thought I would introduce myself and talk a little about some theory.
I do a routine of false cuts and shuffles and end by revealing the deck in order. Before the big reveal, I allow an audience member to shuffle the cards and "ring in a cooler" for the finish.
I was discussing the blind shuffles and their difficulties with a friend who is not a magician or card handler. His response was "why do your shuffles need to be fake if you switch the deck?"
I've been doing this routine for a long time. I have collected a notebook full of blinds. But why should it matter if the deck gets exchanged anyway.
Shuffling by a spectator is a huge part of the effect. When I removed it, to show instead that it's all my hands, it feels more gratifying. But a lot of the magic for the audience is gone. If I keep it in, then my hard work and the parts I love about practice become meaningless.
Similarly: In Drawing Room Deceptions, there is an elaborate gambling routine in chapter four. I wont ruin or expose any part of this, except to say that there is full deck stack that must
1. be taken through a system of careful stock shuffling and
2. must not be revealed to have been in a stack to begin with.
Why wouldn't we just start with a stack that has already been culled and then execute blinds? The stock he teaches is very specific and leaves the performer in a dangerous situation if it should go wrong. I happen to think stacking from the end position of this routine and doing a push-through riffle shuffle is considerably safer and changes nothing about the presentation or effect.
I'd like to hear other people's thoughts.
Hello,
Alex