Inspired by something I read in another thread, I though it might be interesting to find out what other peoples specific interests and ‘obsessions’ are.
Now, I'm not looking for the names of specific effects here, just broad themes, ideas, plots, or principles your find yourself constantly revisiting and playing with. It might even be a certain utility prop you just can't seem to stop playing with. What things have you learned and discovered whilst playing with these ‘things’? Anything you want to share?
I'll lead by way of example!
Oil & Water: I have a bit of an obsession with Oil and Water effects. I realise that as a plot it is much maligned by magicians and potentially boring to laymen but it fascinates me as an idea, possibly because I've always been into science so may it fits my mentality as far a presentation goes. I enjoy the challenge of constructing routines in different ways. How long should routines be? How do you give them a logical ending that still makes sense? My two favourite things I've come up with whilst exploring this plot are an almost self-working routine with a (semi)logical kicker ending and an adapted handling of Roy Walton's 'Oil and Queens' which doesn’t use the usual O&W patter, but is instead presented as a demonstration of card cheating, ending with two poker hands.
Packet Brainwave effects: AKA ‘B’Wave’, ‘8 Card Brainwave’ and the like. How do you make these effects play big? Using so few cards means the ‘predicted’ outcome is always going to be more likely, so how do you make the effect more impressive? My favourite thing I’ve come up with so far is a four card brainwave effect based around a game of ‘choice & chance’. It has multiple revelations which build nicely under the guise of a mock ‘exposure’ on how people can be influenced. I like it.
Four-of-a-Kind productions: I love the idea of producing a four of kind from a shuffled deck, whether it’s used as the main effect or as a kicker ending (oh, I also love kicker endings!). The grail for me is the spectator shuffling a borrowed deck and then finding the four Aces,with minimal handling from the magician. I’ve got close but the method means, if using a freshly borrowed deck, the four of a kind will not always be the Aces. Still seems to play well for layman though. Plus, when using my own deck it will ALWAYS be the Aces
Svengali Deck: I love the Svengali deck. There, I said it! There used to be a magic shop two minutes from my house and I loved watching the owner demonstrate the Sven Deck. My personal highlight from playing with the deck: fooling a fellow magician with a card stab style effect. I drove him mad by refusing to reveal the method!
So those are mine! Care to share yours?
Rev
Now, I'm not looking for the names of specific effects here, just broad themes, ideas, plots, or principles your find yourself constantly revisiting and playing with. It might even be a certain utility prop you just can't seem to stop playing with. What things have you learned and discovered whilst playing with these ‘things’? Anything you want to share?
I'll lead by way of example!
Oil & Water: I have a bit of an obsession with Oil and Water effects. I realise that as a plot it is much maligned by magicians and potentially boring to laymen but it fascinates me as an idea, possibly because I've always been into science so may it fits my mentality as far a presentation goes. I enjoy the challenge of constructing routines in different ways. How long should routines be? How do you give them a logical ending that still makes sense? My two favourite things I've come up with whilst exploring this plot are an almost self-working routine with a (semi)logical kicker ending and an adapted handling of Roy Walton's 'Oil and Queens' which doesn’t use the usual O&W patter, but is instead presented as a demonstration of card cheating, ending with two poker hands.
Packet Brainwave effects: AKA ‘B’Wave’, ‘8 Card Brainwave’ and the like. How do you make these effects play big? Using so few cards means the ‘predicted’ outcome is always going to be more likely, so how do you make the effect more impressive? My favourite thing I’ve come up with so far is a four card brainwave effect based around a game of ‘choice & chance’. It has multiple revelations which build nicely under the guise of a mock ‘exposure’ on how people can be influenced. I like it.
Four-of-a-Kind productions: I love the idea of producing a four of kind from a shuffled deck, whether it’s used as the main effect or as a kicker ending (oh, I also love kicker endings!). The grail for me is the spectator shuffling a borrowed deck and then finding the four Aces,with minimal handling from the magician. I’ve got close but the method means, if using a freshly borrowed deck, the four of a kind will not always be the Aces. Still seems to play well for layman though. Plus, when using my own deck it will ALWAYS be the Aces
Svengali Deck: I love the Svengali deck. There, I said it! There used to be a magic shop two minutes from my house and I loved watching the owner demonstrate the Sven Deck. My personal highlight from playing with the deck: fooling a fellow magician with a card stab style effect. I drove him mad by refusing to reveal the method!
So those are mine! Care to share yours?
Rev