How many tricks should you learn?

[Jamie D. Grant]

How many tricks should you learn? Essay #3

Hiya Gang,

I just thought I'd offer some insight into how many tricks/effects are actually required to do a working Walkaround gig. Again, please let me preface this by saying that this is what I've found, after years of doing every kind of gig conceivable to mankind, and is simply what works for me.

Now a lot of people will say it all depends and that each person is different, etc. Me? I'll just straight up tell ya'...

9.​

​

There's an old saying that an amateur can perform a ton of tricks with average skill, but a pro can perform three brilliantly. That's true, to be sure, but it needs a bit of refinement...


Basically, I find that you need three sets of three effects. Here's why. You're at the event. It's a cocktail party type if setting where everyone is standing and drinking. You go up to a group of four or five people and absolutely kill it with three amazing effects (tricks 1, 2, and 3). They're laughing and screaming and can't believe you pulled the card out of their nose.

So what's next? Well, you take two steps (if you're lucky- sometimes you'll just turn around) and begin for the group of eight people who were standing behind you and sort of already watching. And you don't want to pull a card out of their nose as well. Remember~ Once is magic, twice is a lesson. This is where you'll bust out your second set (tricks 4, 5, and 6) of three effects. You'll show this group something completely new and will help if any of the people from that first group are still watching.

Next? Same thing. Take a couple of steps and perform your final set (tricks 7,8, and 9). By this time, you should physically be far enough away from your original group that, when you approach your fourth group, you can start over with your original three tricks (1, 2, and 3 again).

This will also give you the added benefit of, if less people come to the event than were intended- which will happen way more often than you think, you will be able to start over from the beginning by showing that very first group your second set and carrying on, essentially allowing you three tours of the room.

Later, if anyone cares, I'll go into what types of effects can go into your sets and why they should differ from each other...

All my best,

Jamie D. Grant
www.Professional-Magician.com

 

[danielmontagne]

Hiya Gang,

I just thought I'd offer some insight into how many tricks/effects are actually required to do a working Walkaround gig. Again, please let me preface this by saying that this is what I've found, after years of doing every kind of gig conceivable to mankind, and is simply what works for me.

Now a lot of people will say it all depends and that each person is different, etc. Me? I'll just straight up tell ya'...

9.​

​

There's an old saying that an amateur can perform a ton of tricks with average skill, but a pro can perform three brilliantly. That's true, to be sure, but it needs a bit of refinement...


Basically, I find that you need three sets of three effects. Here's why. You're at the event. It's a cocktail party type if setting where everyone is standing and drinking. You go up to a group of four or five people and absolutely kill it with three amazing effects (tricks 1, 2, and 3). They're laughing and screaming and can't believe you pulled the card out of their nose.

So what's next? Well, you take two steps (if you're lucky- sometimes you'll just turn around) and begin for the group of eight people who were standing behind you and sort of already watching. And you don't want to pull a card out of their nose as well. Remember~ Once is magic, twice is a lesson. This is where you'll bust out your second set (tricks 4, 5, and 6) of three effects. You'll show this group something completely new and will help if any of the people from that first group are still watching.

Next? Same thing. Take a couple of steps and perform your final set (tricks 7,8, and 9). By this time, you should physically be far enough away from your original group that, when you approach your fourth group, you can start over with your original three tricks (1, 2, and 3 again).

This will also give you the added benefit of, if less people come to the event than were intended- which will happen way more often than you think, you will be able to start over from the beginning by showing that very first group your second set and carrying on, essentially allowing you three tours of the room.

Later, if anyone cares, I'll go into what types of effects can go into your sets and why they should differ from each other...

All my best,

Jamie D. Grant
www.Professional-Magician.com

you're right, 3 sets of three tricks,
i bought a ton's of dvd to discovered that, i read david stone's book, it's so true
recently, i bought step system vol 1 and 2 , great dvd for strolling

 

[jok3r]

I have been working on this.
making sets of three, also making each set workable for different kinds of people. Like kids, adults, teens, etc.

Like one set starts with spongeballs for kids,
one starts with rubber bands
etc.

what kind of stuff do you suggest?

 

[danielmontagne]

I have been working on this.
making sets of three, also making each set workable for different kinds of people. Like kids, adults, teens, etc.

Like one set starts with spongeballs for kids,
one starts with rubber bands
etc.

what kind of stuff do you suggest?

rope routine whitout sicors, coins accross,learn starway by marcus eddie , it's a rubberband trick with a bill (ideal for tips), gypsy thread ,in fact i'm looking for magic tricks at chest level

 

[jok3r]

I do stairway, it's the end of by rubber band routine.
im not a big coin guy, but rope does interest me.

Im pretty good on material, i just like to see what other guys are doin

 

[praetoritevong]

Jamie, once again some wonderful advice from a working pro - thank you!

 

[RikAllen]

Later, if anyone cares, I'll go into what types of effects can go into your sets and why they should differ from each other...

I care, in case you needed the go-ahead.

This is excellent advice, 3 sets of 3 is a good number to go by and too much more would weigh your pockets down. A lot of magicians say to bring 1-2 'big' time effects to do if there are going to be 'more important' people there that need to be 'impressed'.

I would encourage everyone to routine 2-3 effects that you're learning together so that you can learn them faster. When you go out if you just do one trick over and over you'll learn it, but won't reinforce the rest of your repertoire. If, instead, you take an effect you've mastered and then add two that you're working on after it you're now practicing 2 effects that need work along with one that doesn't and you'll be forced to make the 3 tricks flow together into one central idea.

Just a few thoughts, (another) good thread Jamie, keep it up.

 

[joshrobarts]

another great set of tips. Would love to hear your opinions on structuring sets.

a point on what you mentioned about the sets of 3 tricks. A common mistake that i myself was guilty of for a long time is trying to cram as many tricks into a performance as possible. While this gives you lots of material, it also has a negative impact. Presentation is sacrificed. When you only have a set of 3 it FORCES you to develop a ROUTINE, patter, and adapt to creating moments and reacting to things that happen. In a manner, it forces you to become a better Performer, not just someone that knows a lot of tricks.

 

[RickEverhart]

I always do my strolling with 2 sets of 4 or 3 sets of 3. In addition I always have one or two "finale" type show stoppers if the crowd is huge or someone of great importance is attending. Great advice Jamie D.!

 

[ugameenough@me.com]

That is by far the best breakdown ive read thus far. Thanks Dude!

 

[Aaron.Williams]

I do stairway, it's the end of by rubber band routine.
im not a big coin guy, but rope does interest me.

Im pretty good on material, i just like to see what other guys are doin

What does your rubberband lineup look like? I start out with two phases of crazy mans handcuffs, linx, then a torn and restored rubberband trick.

 

[jok3r]

What does your rubberband lineup look like? I start out with two phases of crazy mans handcuffs, linx, then a torn and restored rubberband trick.

I have a couple things from dan harlan. I do cmh, then cmh on the spectators hands, then i do a dan harlan trick where you start doing cmh and you end up with one rubberband. Then a thumb and index finger penetration. then a rubber band up the nose, and reproduce it. THen stairway. I don't know if that makes sense, but you can watch it on my video of me and jacob performing

 

[mehar]

That's sounds really interesting. When you're talking about different sets, are you saying different styles? (coins, card, etc) Or do you mean three sets of different ''kinds'' of card magic. (transpo's, stories, etc)

thanks for all your help Jamie!

Mehar

 

[TheatreHead]

rope routine whitout sicors, coins accross,learn starway by marcus eddie , it's a rubberband trick with a bill (ideal for tips), gypsy thread ,in fact i'm looking for magic tricks at chest level

Hollingworth's card magic in his Drawing Room Deceptions contains a lot of magic and and sleights for chest level.

 

[Jamie D. Grant]

Correct, I'm specifically referring to 9 different effects entirely. That said, my second set (of three) are all card effects. Danielmontagne has hit the nail on the head, though:

Chest level. This is imperative. Not for all of them, but for at least the last one of each set.

~jamie

 

[TheatreHead]

Correct, I'm specifically referring to 9 different effects entirely. That said, my second set (of three) are all card effects. Danielmontagne has hit the nail on the head, though:

Chest level. This is imperative. Not for all of them, but for at least the last one of each set.

~jamie

What about a trick that you can dress up differently every time?

 

[Luis Vega]

Great Post!! short and sweet!! just how I like them!!

 

[danielmontagne]

Hollingworth's card magic in his Drawing Room Deceptions contains a lot of magic and and sleights for chest level.

waving the aces is perfect, and of course the reformation, this one is more angle sensitive, for table hopping it's sometimes ok, depends on the angles
eric jones also have nice routines at chest level

 

[Elite Prestidigitation]

I can learn and execute any trick I want... in a really short amount of time...Why?....because I am a prodigy and I have been doing this for many years....The level I am at is called "Elite"...Anyways You should learn as many as you can...I usually pick up one and execute the mechanics ect...Then I move on to the next one and this time the trick uses the same mechanics as the 1st and 5th trick I learned...Essentially once you learn the proper sleights you will be able to execute countless tricks flawlessly like me....

There's an old saying that an amateur can perform a ton of tricks with average skill, but a pro can perform three brilliantly.

This person fails to realize that card tricks are essentially some 50+ moves and sleights with different variations....If you learn the DL, the TP and the card control of choice (to perfection) then you can execute at least 35 of them "brilliantly"...Same thing goes for coin magic but this time the amount of moves needed decreases.Then there is the rest of gimmicked effects that any reality TV star can perform "brilliantly" in a couple of hrs...

Essentially there is a new saying by the essence of excellence (Me) that says....

"An amateur can perform a ton of tricks with average skill, but a pro can perform them all brilliantly If his mechanics are flawless..."

-Elite Prestidigitation

 

[Randomwrath]

I can learn and execute any trick I want... in a really short amount of time...Why?....because I am a prodigy and I have been doing this for many years....The level I am at is called "Elite"...Anyways You should learn as many as you can...I usually pick up one and execute the mechanics ect...Then I move on to the next one and this time the trick uses the same mechanics as the 1st and 5th trick I learned...Essentially once you learn the proper sleights you will be able to execute countless tricks flawlessly like me....



This person fails to realize that card tricks are essentially some 50+ moves and sleights with different variations....If you learn the DL, the TP and the card control of choice (to perfection) then you can execute at least 35 of them "brilliantly"...Same thing goes for coin magic but this time the amount of moves needed decreases.Then there is the rest of gimmicked effects that any reality TV star can perform "brilliantly" in a couple of hrs...

Essentially there is a new saying by the essence of excellence (Me) that says....

"An amateur can perform a ton of tricks with average skill, but a pro can perform them all brilliantly If his mechanics are flawless..."

-Elite Prestidigitation

The fallacy of this post lies in the assumption that a trick is nothing more than a string of sleights. Whilst there's probably alot of truth in saying that the more sleights you know, the easier the mechanics of new tricks will be, you're forgetting that arguably the more important part is the presentation. Without it, no matter how many sleights you can execute flawlessly, it is meaningless. Which is exactly why Jamie suggests you have 3 routines of 3 tricks each. Any more, and they will all start to suffer as a result. With this amount, you can make sure that each trick has been worked on and practiced (presentation as well as sleights) until it is a true miracle.