After my first truly succesful performance of Joel Paschall's BeLieve ten minutes ago, I have decided that the effect is, in fact, the perfect opener. (Even without all the philosophical mumbo jumbo, fun as that may be. It depends on your spectator.) Plus, I don't have to worry about it out-competing other tricks I have learned from the Bucks and Mr. Kenner. Though it is starkly visual and is the best card switch seen by this author to date, it is fairly simple at heart and thus can be properly followed with more complex effects.
The central theme here is versatility. Joel teaches a variety of specific sleights to use when performing, but there's any number of combinations of other sleights you could pair with the basic concept. (Any intermediate cardister might know a dozen sleights that would fit.) In fact, one can come to the trick and improvise (on the spot, while performing) a series of sleights to set up the final tearing and revelation.
The "central concept" I've been referring to deserves more elaboration. It is fairly easy to do during magic practice time, but in the actual performance it's a little more knacky; though it's simple to preform the technical moves, you must control your audience, making sure they don't screw something up. You'll have to try this one a few times before really getting it down with spectators.
Here's why BeLieve is such a good deal: the awe and confusion subjects experience can be easily continued into the next bit of your routine. The basic nature of what happens (something completely unexpected) takes them off their guard and murders their original expectations regarding "card tricks". It's the perfect framework on which to give them moments that they can truly enjoy, granted that you are really performing for their benefit.
But I have a caveat: This trick will only satisfy real performers yearning to create a solid routine for real people to experience. It won't be much fun for midnight Theory11 surfers and bedroom flourishcians. All they will be left with is a bunch of torn cards in the rubbish bin, but when you go out and give the moment to real people, I think you'll consider the $20 a rather nominal fee.
Ten out of ten.
The central theme here is versatility. Joel teaches a variety of specific sleights to use when performing, but there's any number of combinations of other sleights you could pair with the basic concept. (Any intermediate cardister might know a dozen sleights that would fit.) In fact, one can come to the trick and improvise (on the spot, while performing) a series of sleights to set up the final tearing and revelation.
The "central concept" I've been referring to deserves more elaboration. It is fairly easy to do during magic practice time, but in the actual performance it's a little more knacky; though it's simple to preform the technical moves, you must control your audience, making sure they don't screw something up. You'll have to try this one a few times before really getting it down with spectators.
Here's why BeLieve is such a good deal: the awe and confusion subjects experience can be easily continued into the next bit of your routine. The basic nature of what happens (something completely unexpected) takes them off their guard and murders their original expectations regarding "card tricks". It's the perfect framework on which to give them moments that they can truly enjoy, granted that you are really performing for their benefit.
But I have a caveat: This trick will only satisfy real performers yearning to create a solid routine for real people to experience. It won't be much fun for midnight Theory11 surfers and bedroom flourishcians. All they will be left with is a bunch of torn cards in the rubbish bin, but when you go out and give the moment to real people, I think you'll consider the $20 a rather nominal fee.
Ten out of ten.