New trick tips?

[meggisonj]

What are your tips for learning a new trick? I don't really care HOW you learn the trick.. The question is "What is your filter.. what do you let sift through the cracks? What do you bypass?"

For me:
It must be easy.
It must be fooling.
It must use sleights that mimic my NATURAL actions. (Finger palm.. Marlo's Tilt.. gamblers cop.. lateral palm..)
If it doesn't fit my natural actions, then I must be able to tweak it to match my natural actions.
It's gotta be fun to perform. By this I mean, the audience must have fun. Which in turn ensures I have fun.

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

In general it must be something that I can think of a unique presentation for before I even buy it. It must be practical in real world situations. In general I prefer propless, or in the very least I prefer to know that I can create the prop myself so I can make it to my aesthetics.

I will say that I also have no problem buying a trick or book that I know I won't use, if I also know I will at least find it interesting. I still enjoy studying and practicing card magic but I don't perform it in my shows. So for those - I just want an interesting and challenging bit of sleight of hand to occupy myself.

 

[FormlessMars22]

Firstly I must be able to perform this easily, then I must consider the sleights involved if any, and how easy they are or if my hands can do it, If it's a gimmick I must consider if the gimmick works 100% and the practicality of the gimmick.

Secondly the effect must make sense. Period.

Thirdly I must be able to adapt some form of m persona around it.

That's basically how I look at an effect before trying it out.

 

[meggisonj]

Nice. Both of you. I like your thoughts and how you put them into words. ChristopherT I do like propless magic myself.. (I like the cube test the best, one of my more powerful routines) What tricks do you use that are propless? Or did you mean doesn't require gimmicks?

I am intrigued.

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

I should probably expand on that thought a bit more. During my stage show I use props because I want an object for the audience to look at. But I use a very minimalist approach - my hour long stage show uses 13 Tarot cards, 20 pictures, a feather or business card, a note pad, and a light bulb. I'm thinking of adding a new bit using a pendulum, but that would add about 5 minutes to the show so I have to think about it more.

When I say I prefer propless I mean that - nothing to handle. But I do that stuff for impromptu performances, or parties. Walk around situations, basically. In those situations I tend to do personality readings, contact mind reading, hypnosis and pseudo-hypnotic demonstrations. I might carry around a pendulum or a note pad for certain routines, but basically I want to avoid having a lot of stuff in my pockets. I may carry a deck of cards, but I don't do 'card tricks' per se. I actually do use them as a set of images to focus on - no actual sleight of hand used.

 

[meggisonj]

Interesting ChristopherT.

 

[FelixW2]

late to the party but...

-impromptu/with very limited set up
-lots of magic story stuff/patter
- audience participation.
-100% examinable.

However this isn't always the case as I often do tricks which use gimmicked cards or duplicates.

 

[Martin Eret]

For me:

- Both my audience and I must be able to have fun - good build-up, suspense, etc.
- Most of the time, it must be impressive. I like Osterlind's description of mentalism: If someone really had magical powers, would they really just make a card keep on rising to the top of the deck? Not that I have any problem performing tricks like Oil and Water or Ambitious, and I certainly don't try to make them believe I really have powers, but I just feel more natural performing tricks that seemingly have no explanation. A Single Needle, Isabella's Star, etc.
- They have to appear simple, at least on the surface. I like my hands and props in full view at all times, with as minimal movement as possible.
- The method can't be too simple, however - I like a little challenge to keep performances interesting and fresh.

Tricks with patter and explanations that have a lot of wiggle room and can be different every time are a fun bonus as well.