Well, if you want to be a mainly card guy, that;s what I do, then there are two basic types of routines to construct. (There are multiple subgroups but I am going to generalize.) These two types of routines, that I think of someone might have a different opinion, are a scripted routine and an improvised routine. I will break each one down just a little bit...
SCRIPTED ROUTINE...
When I use the term scripted I am not saying that you should follow a set script in your speach, but moreso follow your patter. Each trick you perform should have its own story, or speach to acompany the trick. These tricks should flow right into eachother smoothly and cleanly. That means that the tricks should have a nice transition as well as the patter. However, small jokes and comedy phrases can be improvised in.
For example if someone says: "Whoah! How'd you do that?"
I might reply: "Can you keep a secret? Well, so can I."
These small lines can be delivered at the spur of the moment but you patter and tricks should generaslly flow with each other and the patter should remain the same for that particular effect. I would like to get back to the point I made that tricks should flow smoothly into eachother. What do I mean? Well, how did you start out performing a silk dissapearance as your first trick, then performing SICK as your second effect. It seems like a drastic transition that makes little sense. I often hve tricks that flow together in my scrpited routines. One routine goes like this.
Force a king and "read their minds"
produce the other three kings
Go into David Stone's Traveler
Then into David Stones Ghost
And end with Dr. daileys last trick
The breakdown would gradually lead to the closer. Watch: A force a king. I use thatking and the others for traveler. I end up with Aces. Then go into ghost and force them like a two. use the four twos to do Daileys trick.
They flow together nicely with patter that I have worked out.
IMPROVISED ROUTINE
Now, when perfoming for kids at school, people in the office, or your friends or family, an improvised routine might be a bit more fun than the scripted one. But obviously, do NOT improvise your tricks if you are performing at a childrens party. But let's say you are at lunch (I was in this situation last week.) and someone approaches you and says let's see a trick. Next thing you know there are about 30 people around you. Well, you don't have your routine ready, just a pack oif cards. Time to change your pater and make different effects work together at all costs. so at lunch this is what I did:
Forced an ace and read their mind.
Had them replace the card.
They cut the deck, and they cut to their card.
I have them reach out and touch a card, it's theirs.
I then had them sign the card.
Went into an ACR
Used the bent card at the end.
Went nto "Here Then There"
Then Davids Ghost for a closer. (Because it's a deck dissapearance.)
Most of the patter was based on the preset patter but the lines I used to transition into other tricks were made up on the spot. However, when done right, this can be just as effective as a scripted routine. It's is all about the basics. so learn your tricks, learn your patter, and practice!!! Then develop your routines.
Dylan P.