It's always gotta be something with the armchairs. My god he was doing it at chest level I dont think it matters if he's sitting or standing.
Thanks, ChristopherT.
wickd_waze, I like that you're making assumptions about me. On what do you base those assumptions? Was I incorrect with my comment?
My point is this. It doesn't matter whether it's done at chest level or not. Standing, at chest level, the SWE Shift is a
terrible control to use
in practice. If you're going to use a shift in the context of stand up performances, use a classic pass, a riffle pass, a spread pass, Draun's Midnight Shift (my preferred method), etc. Why? Because, as I mentioned, the SWE Shift was designed to be a shift performable at a table, where most shifts are not (see Aaron Fisher's blog post regarding passes sitting down).
However, if you're going to be performing standing up, there are simply better alternatives to the SWE Shift due to the nature of the sleight - sleights that are easier to perform, have more cover, and take advantage of the fact that the performer is standing up, as opposed to sitting opposite their spectators.
Of course, the irony of your accusation is, only someone who actually performs would understand this point. To someone who does not perform, it really doesn't matter what move you do, and where.
However - no performer would be satisfied with an inferior performance. After all, when you're performing for real people, these things matter, and I hope that you realise that. Performing such an open shift with no cover standing up is not a practical idea - it is an idea created and accepted by magicians performing to their boys' club when sleights are all that matter.
There is nothing wrong with this, at all, don't get me wrong. There are many hobbyist magicians who find sleights more interesting than magic as a performing art. However, it would be appreciated if you could base your accusations on something more consistent with your argument.
Those people who do perform are more selective about what they use, and when.