Visual vs. Undercover

[aznofspades]

Many people here are always talking about the most visual to do something. But what about doing it undercover?

FLASH vs. MYSTERY

as an example
Would you rather do a color change to change a card? Or Double Lift a card, turn it back over and rub it to accomplish the same thing?

Which do you prefer? And why?

 

[MagicSanj]

Cool

Interesting thread, I think it would depend on a routine you were doing, for example, if it was sort of a mysterious routine with a kicker ending, then I would choose the DL type revelation. If I have the spectator select a card, do a control, then I would do a change. Basically:

-If I was in a hurry or just using an opener, I would use FLASH

-If I were using a hardcore routine with a kicker ending, MYSTERY is the way to go.

I am interested to hear more thoughts.

Nice idea!

Cheers,

-Sanj

 

[ninja]

personally i am a flashy kind of preformer and i love visual tricks like distortion but every once in a while i while do the undercoverish stuff.

 

[Between the Sun & the Sky]

-If I was in a hurry or just using an opener, I would use FLASH

-If I were using a hardcore routine with a kicker ending, MYSTERY is the way to go.

Almost exactly as I would play it.

Cheers, mate

Sun|Sky

 

[heavymetalholic]

great thread idea. Hmm well my style is more undercover, but it also depends what situation im in, what tricks i am doing, the spectators, and my surrounding. If I am preforming in a darker place, with little light. I would go for the under cover seeing the surroundings ads to the mood. of the trick. If I am in a place like Starbucks or so. I would Say Flash all the way. Now for the spectator. If I start off a trick and i see there into it and are very responsive to the magic I will go undercover because the mystery adds to the show. If my specator is being a hard ass and notshowing any reaction, I will normaly bust out some flashy visual thing to make them think something like "there is no way he could of done that, i was watching the whole time, the card just changed right infront of my eyes, his hands were no where near the deck" that kinda thing, Normaly they wont give more emotion or reaction then they did before, but on the inside they are freaked (usually).

 

[Ben Long]

Visual tricks are great--your spectator actually sees the magic happening.

But there is truly something to be said for undercover tricks. When the veil is lifted, the magic almost becomes more real. What the magician says is happening really does seem to happen, but with the curtain down, a sense of mystery is preserved.

Take the simple example of producing the aces. Using a flashy production to show the aces springing from the deck allows the spectators to "see" where each card comes from. It is more of a trick in the "stunt" sense of the word than it is in the sense of magic.

Now take my personal favorite trick, Larry Jennings' Always Cut the Cards. The magician and the spectator take turns to slowly and openly cut the aces into the deck. The spectator can actually look at their cards as they go in. The last ace is cut in fairly. Then the magician does nothing. Nothing happens. There is no flashy production and yer the aces are now inexplicably on top of the deck. It is magic at its purest. It's probably the most eerie and mind-boggling tricks I know. because it lacks the visually production at the end, I think. That's the power of undercover magic for me.

 

[MikeGoyke]

Visual tricks are great--your spectator actually sees the magic happening.

But there is truly something to be said for undercover tricks. When the veil is lifted, the magic almost becomes more real. What the magician says is happening really does seem to happen, but with the curtain down, a sense of mystery is preserved.

Take the simple example of producing the aces. Using a flashy production to show the aces springing from the deck allows the spectators to "see" where each card comes from. It is more of a trick in the "stunt" sense of the word than it is in the sense of magic.

Now take my personal favorite trick, Larry Jennings' Always Cut the Cards. The magician and the spectator take turns to slowly and openly cut the aces into the deck. The spectator can actually look at their cards as they go in. The last ace is cut in fairly. Then the magician does nothing. Nothing happens. There is no flashy production and yer the aces are now inexplicably on top of the deck. It is magic at its purest. It's probably the most eerie and mind-boggling tricks I know. because it lacks the visually production at the end, I think. That's the power of undercover magic for me.

Very true, well said ben

 

[aznofspades]

What do you guys think would be a better ending to a coin flurry:

the coin is set on fire and "in a flash" burns a hole through the deck, stopping above a thought of card

or

the coin vanishes at your fingertips and reappears in the box of cards, above a thought of card

This is Peter Harrison's Back 2 Basics, it's a middler, what do you guys think?

 

[Chr!s]

Ah, the old 'Visual vs. Cerebral' argument... an old favourite!

I personally think both idea's have their place, and are suited for different times. My approach to creating magic at the moment is to pursue the most visual solution to a problem. But I don't shun any idea born of a brainstorm regardless of whether it is visual or not. With this way of thinking, I am continuously on a fine line between magic that hits on a visual level, and magic that hit's on a more introvert, cerebral plane.
Which is more effective? I don't know, I can't look at it through a spectator's eyes- I mean sure, the visual's get more gasp's, but I think we all know that sometimes a more personal response is stronger then a gasp of awe.
So I'm not sure. But I don't think we have to choose, either. I perform lot's of different ODD magic effects. I think it only makes SENSE that I should perform alot of intrinsically different effects.

CL

 

[JamesHarken]

...

I love visual magic.. But I only perform it for other magicians or for fun when I'm practicing.

Undercover magic is all I really perform due to the fact that it gets the greatest reactions and you can use the best patter with it!

Straight up cuz'.

 

[Randomwrath]

I use visual in the 'show me a trick' quickie moments, as stated. I use undercover when I want it to mean something. Undercover is much harder to reconstruct in the spectators mind as it should all be fair, no funny moves.