Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

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Joe Mckay
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Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby Joe Mckay » December 23rd, 2017, 10:09 am

Here is a great idea from an old issue of Precursor magazine. Don't have the reference to hand but I can dig it out if need be.

Ever have trouble picking up a deck of cards from a polished table?

Most people either slide it off the table (inelegant) or pick up the deck and then gather up the few that always get left behind. Also inelegant.

Well try this 1 weird trick instead!

As you place the deck down to the table - bevel the deck forward slightly. Then when you go to pick up the deck press down on the beveled front edge of the deck, and the deck will pivot up slightly allowing you to cleanly pick up the deck in one simple movement.

Merry Christmas!

MagicbyAlfred
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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby MagicbyAlfred » December 23rd, 2017, 10:18 am

It's a good tip. Thanx!

While we are at it, let me throw in my little holiday pasteboard tip. Ever have trouble picking up a card or cards off the floor? Just use another playing card and scoop it/them up.

Leonard Hevia
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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby Leonard Hevia » December 23rd, 2017, 10:57 am

A great tip Joe! The beveling idea is in one of the Giobbi Card College books. That's another great tip Alfred!

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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby MagicbyAlfred » December 23rd, 2017, 12:34 pm

Thanks Leo! Have a Happy Holiday and a Magical New Year!

Randy DiMarco
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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby Randy DiMarco » December 23rd, 2017, 2:03 pm

I learned that years ago from Howie Schwarzman. I'm pretty sure it is his idea.

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erdnasephile
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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby erdnasephile » December 23rd, 2017, 3:01 pm

It's an interesting and useful tip--thanks!

However, a few of the sleights I do rely on seemingly not being able to pick up cards cleanly (e.g., Michael Vincent's version of John Carney's Versa Switch). Also, having to sweep cards off the edge of the table can provide useful cover for several sleights.

So, for me, appearing to be just a little sloppy at this is a feature, not a bug. :D

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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby Leonard Hevia » December 23rd, 2017, 3:34 pm

MagicbyAlfred wrote:Thanks Leo! Have a Happy Holiday and a Magical New Year!



You too my friend!

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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby MagicbyAlfred » December 23rd, 2017, 6:18 pm

Joe wrote: "As you place the deck down to the table - bevel the deck forward slightly. Then when you go to pick up the deck press down on the beveled front edge of the deck, and the deck will pivot up slightly allowing you to cleanly pick up the deck in one simple movement."

I've been sitting around playing with this today (obviously I'm a very lonely man), and I discovered something. I don't know about anyone else, but for me, beveling the deck forward as I set it down is not a natural motion, and feels and looks a bit awkward. So, I tried it in reverse, which is beveling it back toward myself as I set it down. When it is time to pick it up, I just press down with my thumb and it walks like a charm - it pops right up into my hand. Experimenting further, I noticed two other things: first, it works better for me if the deck is set down in a horizontal, as opposed to vertical position; and second, when I push down to lever it up from the table into my hand, the closer to the front edge of the cards I push, the easier and cleaner the deck comes up. Better leverage I would guess...

Joe Mckay
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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby Joe Mckay » December 23rd, 2017, 11:05 pm

Yeah - this is a move to be done with the deck placed horizontally on the table. Sorry for not making that clear originally.

The bevel is about half an inch.

I just looked it up again in the magazine. The idea is that four fingers press down on top of the deck as the thumb goes beneath the deck.

Great move for using on glass top tables!

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Q. Kumber
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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby Q. Kumber » December 24th, 2017, 4:51 pm

Three thoughts:

Place the deck at the edge of the table with an inch protruding over the edge.
Place the deck on its cardbox.
Place the deck on a glass.

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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby MagicbyAlfred » December 25th, 2017, 11:46 am

I guess this kind of fits in with the general tenor of this thread, but I recently came up with a little flourish that's kind of cool (although I fully expect that someone will point out that it was actually published in some obscure book or periodical in the 1700's). Anyway, it is done before the cards are unboxed for a card trick(s). Place the box on one of its long narrow edges on the table, about half the box on the table, half off. Bring one of your hands underneath the part of the box protruding over the table, with the back of the hand parallel to the table, and strike the box with kind of an upward Judo chop and a quick snap of the wrist. The box will spin niftily in the air and you can nonchalantly catch it with the other hand, and then proceed to open the box and remove the cards. Try it - you might like it.

magicfish
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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby magicfish » December 25th, 2017, 1:11 pm

That is an old beer mat trick.
It words with a card box as well, like you said.
It looks best if the mat or box flips only 180 degrees and is caught in the same hand that does the initial strike.
I will post a video if I get chance.

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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby performer » December 25th, 2017, 1:21 pm

I remember years and years ago seeing David Berglas throw a deck of cards behind his back and catch them in the other hand. I can't remember whether they were in a box or not but it was very impressive. I bet he doesn't do it any more!

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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby MagicbyAlfred » December 25th, 2017, 1:59 pm

magicfish wrote:That is an old beer mat trick.
It words with a card box as well, like you said.
It looks best if the mat or box flips only 180 degrees and is caught in the same hand that does the initial strike.
I will post a video if I get chance.


Will a beer mat placed on a table on its narrow edge (a tiny fraction of an inch in width) stay up without falling?

IMO, it looks best if the box spins/somersaults at least 360 degrees in the air before being caught.

As for which hand catches the box, and what looks best, I think that is a matter of subjective opinion.

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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby MagicbyAlfred » December 25th, 2017, 2:03 pm

performer wrote:I remember years and years ago seeing David Berglas throw a deck of cards behind his back and catch them in the other hand. I can't remember whether they were in a box or not but it was very impressive. I bet he doesn't do it any more!


I've done that with a ball, but never a box of cards. Not as hard to do as one might think, but yes, does look impressive.

Speaking of "impressive," anyone here do a spread and turnover flourish on their extended arm?

performer
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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby performer » December 25th, 2017, 2:11 pm

Oh yes! I have been doing that for years! It looks good in photographs.
At one time everybody used to do it. Nobody does it much any more for some reason. The other thing I have tried but usually fail at is to spread the cards on the back of my arm, throw them up in the air and catch them. I can do it two times out of five which isn't a very good average I am afraid.

magicfish
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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby magicfish » December 25th, 2017, 2:57 pm

MagicbyAlfred wrote:
magicfish wrote:That is an old beer mat trick.
It words with a card box as well, like you said.
It looks best if the mat or box flips only 180 degrees and is caught in the same hand that does the initial strike.
I will post a video if I get chance.


Will a beer mat placed on a table on its narrow edge (a tiny fraction of an inch in width) stay up without falling?

IMO, it looks best if the box spins/somersaults at least 360 degrees in the air before being caught.

As for which hand catches the box, and what looks best, I think that is a matter of subjective opinion.

I suppose it is subjective, but I've been doing it for many years and I get better reactions when it's just a quick 180 with the same hand.
You could hit it hard and make it flip 8 times and catch It, but I feel that less is more in this case.
Just my opinion.
I've never been able to attach files on genii forum so I can't post a video. I'll keep trying it.

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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby magicfish » December 25th, 2017, 3:02 pm

Woops, sorry Alfred, I re- read your post carefully and the beer mat trick is slightly different. So my 180 same hand thing doesn't apply.
I can now visualize what you are doing with the deck. I like It!
Sorry for jumping the gun sir.
Merry Christmas.

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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby MagicbyAlfred » December 25th, 2017, 3:51 pm

No worries. Enjoy!

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Re: Improve Your Card Magic Using This 1 Weird Trick!

Postby Christopher1979 » December 26th, 2017, 10:25 pm

i saw it done by Jack Carpenter first.
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