Search found 582 matches

by Curtis Kam
January 13th, 2024, 4:11 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Magic in Hawaii?
Replies: 5
Views: 1020

Re: Magic in Hawaii?

The show at the Hilton Waikiki Beach is about the only show in town, it’s an excellent show and they’re doing two a night, except for Tuesdays. So that should fit your schedule. For Oahu. On Maui, there are magicians, and they do shows, but nothing regular except at Mulligan’s on the Blue. On Kauai,...
by Curtis Kam
December 21st, 2023, 4:25 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Ace Assembly performed by Mike Skinner
Replies: 28
Views: 4579

Re: Ace Assembly performed by Mike Skinner

I think I know the routine you’re speaking of. Allen Okawa taught it to me. I have been told that it’s a Marlo construction, but I have never seen the actual write up. The handling is exactly what you’re likely thinking, with that first pull of the first ace being the most difficult moment. Sent fro...
by Curtis Kam
November 2nd, 2023, 11:50 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Method as Accoutrement - A Minor Rant
Replies: 25
Views: 4879

Re: Method as Accoutrement - A Minor Rant

I absolutely agree with Dave Le Favre that the most important skill a magician can develop is the ability to know what the audience is experiencing when he or she or they performs. It’s not the same thing a different audience experiences when a different magician performs, even when it’s the same tr...
by Curtis Kam
September 16th, 2023, 12:24 am
Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
Topic: What is this principle called?
Replies: 30
Views: 12420

Re: What is this principle called?

I’d second that.


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by Curtis Kam
April 16th, 2023, 7:07 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Chameleon Coin [Talking version]
Replies: 2
Views: 1379

Re: Chameleon Coin [Talking version]

I like the way this routine is constructed very much. I enjoyed it.


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by Curtis Kam
February 8th, 2023, 11:38 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Thanks for Sharing?
Replies: 19
Views: 2285

Re: Thanks for Sharing?

Brad, As in many things, the answer to your question depends on why you’re asking the question. If all you’re interested in knowing is “who came up with the idea first?” Then of course, nothing else matters. First is first, and first is all that matters in that particular game. It’s the only rule of...
by Curtis Kam
February 8th, 2023, 5:43 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Thanks for Sharing?
Replies: 19
Views: 2285

Re: Thanks for Sharing?

Jack, it seems to me that your disagreement with my blog post is entirely this “semantic problem” you’ve now discovered. I was discussing one of the basic principles that enable “property” rights to arise from intellectual property. I was using the term “credit” to refer to the way one attributes th...
by Curtis Kam
December 16th, 2022, 5:29 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Jean Faré / Earl Nelson Chip routine
Replies: 14
Views: 1719

Re: Jean Faré / Earl Nelson Chip routine

There is video of Paul Wilson performing a handling of the Porper chips trick. I don’t know whether it’s similar to the Fare routine, but it might use the same move you’re asking about?

https://youtu.be/TLyFttcHIy4


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by Curtis Kam
October 4th, 2022, 6:58 pm
Forum: Platform & Stage Magic
Topic: No-Egg-Bag Egg Bag
Replies: 12
Views: 4038

Re: No-Egg-Bag Egg Bag

Bob, I do think what you’ve described is all that moment requires. The current method of simply holding the ball through the bag is often enough to surprise the audience. As to precedents, perhaps Milt Kort’s no-bag egg Bag has addresses this? Not sure, since the Kort routine involved a handkerchief...
by Curtis Kam
July 31st, 2022, 7:04 pm
Forum: Platform & Stage Magic
Topic: Phoenix Watch - Egg Bag presentation
Replies: 8
Views: 5269

Re: Phoenix Watch - Egg Bag presentation

Interesting, what about an effect where the watch is only broken inside the bag? Per Schrodinger, once we look, all we find is a restored watch? They can reach into the bag and feel pieces, (warn them to mind the broken glass) but when you take out the watch, it’s unbroken, and the bag’s empty (and ...
by Curtis Kam
July 28th, 2022, 12:45 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Like tears in the rain
Replies: 13
Views: 1626

Re: Like tears in the rain

If the last card was sleightless, it may have been the Bandler lift sequence. Very cool use of a reverse spread dynamic.


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by Curtis Kam
February 16th, 2022, 5:08 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Jerx presents a life-changing product CLICK BAIT
Replies: 10
Views: 2799

Re: Jerx presents a life-changing product CLICK BAIT

The guys at The Disclaimer we’re onto this before Andy, even though the blog post took a bit too long to be first. https://ko-fi.com/post/Whelp-Ellusionist-is-done-E1E482M74 And, we followed up with the Jumbo vanishing watch, which Andy hasn’t figured out yet. We think it’s funny. And where it’s not...
by Curtis Kam
September 4th, 2021, 5:10 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Magnetic Card Manifesto
Replies: 16
Views: 2185

Re: Magnetic Card Manifesto

But, with US quarters, the coins have to be gaffed anyway. May as well put the magnets in there, while you’re gaffing. The only advantage magnetic cards would offer is they would allow you to do the trick with Canadian coins, impromptu. See also the new gaffage from Rocco, Maynard et. al. Sent from ...
by Curtis Kam
August 8th, 2021, 6:23 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12014108

Re: ERDNASE

Speaking of Elmsley, the manual for the Panasonic DVD Home Theater Sound System Model No. SC-PTX7 includes a hypothetical playlist of songs that you can store on it: I can feel love by Don Alan Christmas by John Carney True White by Alex Elmsley Summer vacation by Slydini Playhouse by Slydini What!...
by Curtis Kam
August 6th, 2021, 1:43 am
Forum: General
Topic: ERDNASE
Replies: 8153
Views: 12014108

Re: ERDNASE

Tonight's episode of NCIS: Los Angeles featured a character identified as "CIA Officer Steven Erdnase". The episode's writer and director (who also had a guest staring role) is "Frank Military". Anyone know if he's a magic fan? There’s also a recurring shady character named “Ale...
by Curtis Kam
July 20th, 2021, 5:41 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Anyone know the name of this card trick?
Replies: 29
Views: 3547

Re: Anyone know the name of this card trick?

Most common reference for this is Poker Player’s Picnic in Royal Road to Card Magic. For a deeper scoop, you might try Jon Racherbaumer’s recent exploration.

https://www.lybrary.com/picnic-pocus-p-924586.html


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by Curtis Kam
April 29th, 2021, 11:26 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Your Suggestions for the New Edition of Greater Magic
Replies: 65
Views: 11121

Re: Your Suggestions for the New Edition of Greater Magic

Richard, you’ve correct that there are limited venues for cigarette magic, but is “can I perform this material as written?” really the only question we want to ask here? It isn’t the same question as “does anyone really need?” And I’m not sure performability should determine whether or not material ...
by Curtis Kam
April 29th, 2021, 3:31 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Your Suggestions for the New Edition of Greater Magic
Replies: 65
Views: 11121

Re: Your Suggestions for the New Edition of Greater Magic

I hope you’ve got somebody doing the coin magic section. That was always the most disappointing chapter for me, especially when compared to how extensive the card magic section is, and likely will be. As to the cigarettes, an awful lot of thought went into cig acts, and we learned quite a bit. Since...
by Curtis Kam
April 22nd, 2021, 2:44 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: "The Disclaimer" Goes Live Today!
Replies: 15
Views: 6183

"The Disclaimer" Goes Live Today!

Just a word about the blog, which we are enjoying way too much. All the bloggy fun, blog-dacious attitudes and blog-tastic features of any blog you’re already engaged with will be fully indulged, just you see. Guaranteed to amuse, provoke, or annoy, these posts might just change your life.* Drop by ...
by Curtis Kam
March 28th, 2021, 10:47 pm
Forum: Alternative Media
Topic: New Yorker cartoon caption
Replies: 24
Views: 8491

Re: New Yorker cartoon caption

“Dave discovers that the hardest part of doing the Rabbit From Hat table-to-table is loading the rabbit outdoors.”


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by Curtis Kam
December 14th, 2020, 5:25 pm
Forum: Platform & Stage Magic
Topic: Framing your effect ?
Replies: 12
Views: 6929

Re: Framing your effect ?

It depends entirely upon context. Different effects should be framed differently. Some are inherently about surprise, some are not. Some are funny, others not at all. Different magicians will/should frame their performances differently. Some are deeply mysterious, and others, not at all. Different o...
by Curtis Kam
August 26th, 2020, 6:05 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Drive-in Haunted House
Replies: 2
Views: 823

Re: Drive-in Haunted House

Let me guess, you drive into the garage, nothing happens for a long while, and then a greasy guy comes up to the car and says, "Bad news, this is gonna cost a lot more than I thought."
by Curtis Kam
August 6th, 2020, 4:10 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New coin move?
Replies: 54
Views: 6572

Re: New coin move?

Here’s one thing. I’ll be back later with something that’s not completely obvious.

[youtube]f-RCeNtNIrM[/youtube]

https://youtu.be/f-RCeNtNIrM
by Curtis Kam
July 31st, 2020, 1:23 am
Forum: Link Watch
Topic: "Primes"
Replies: 29
Views: 7364

Re: "Primes"

The study read like what I would have liked my own practice sessions to be. The hit rate would have been encouraging and useful information, to someone interested in trying out the techniques. However, as a scientific test, I’m troubled by the lack of a control. If she had delivered the same script,...
by Curtis Kam
July 30th, 2020, 8:59 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: New coin move?
Replies: 54
Views: 6572

Re: New coin move?

There’s a moment in Slydini’s one coin routine where you are doing almost that. The only difference is that Slydini displayed the coin near the lapel of his coat, and then dropped it as he apparently brought it to the table. Also, this sort of thing is almost inevitable when performing the coins thr...
by Curtis Kam
July 27th, 2020, 5:31 pm
Forum: Link Watch
Topic: "Primes"
Replies: 29
Views: 7364

Re: "Primes"

To be fair, “primes” were not mentioned much, as nouns, in the source article. Also interesting that the researcher not only performed Derren Brown’s Three of Diamonds force, but she asked the subjects afterwards about whether they felt their choices were free. The only problem is, I think she only ...
by Curtis Kam
June 17th, 2020, 5:11 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Credit Correction - Max Maven
Replies: 2
Views: 749

Credit Correction - Max Maven

Joe, I think the issue # is actually 293?


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by Curtis Kam
June 6th, 2020, 2:44 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Bar Code Revelation
Replies: 6
Views: 1478

Re: Bar Code Revelation

By the way, the numbers listed under the bar code, 7385400808 used to appear in this order 8087385400. Either way, 808 is the area code for Hawaii, USA. And the phone number (808) 738-5400 is a nail salon here in Honolulu that’s probably tired of hearing from magicians. Sent from my iPad using Tapat...
by Curtis Kam
May 26th, 2020, 1:17 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Big Announcement from The Jerx
Replies: 55
Views: 9195

Re: Big Announcement from The Jerx

Or is that just what he WANTS us to think?


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by Curtis Kam
May 15th, 2020, 3:51 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Best of the Books of Wonder
Replies: 17
Views: 2596

Re: The Best of the Books of Wonder

I’ve only seen the Coins Across with Interlude, and the odd decision to swap a little red bag for the Boston box didn’t seem to add much. Hoping for better things in the future.


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by Curtis Kam
May 7th, 2020, 6:23 pm
Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
Topic: Anyone remember this presentation for the Brainwave deck?
Replies: 5
Views: 3044

Re: Anyone remember this presentation for the Brainwave deck?

Michael Skinner describes a very similar effect (the large case is shown to hold numerous boxes of cards, all of which turn out to be empty) in his introduction to Sawa’s Library of Magic, Vol. 1. (haha) That was written in 1988. The trick was Dr. Sawa’s.


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by Curtis Kam
May 4th, 2020, 5:38 pm
Forum: Platform & Stage Magic
Topic: On the Occasion of Star Wars Day Today: Any Topical Tricks You Perform?
Replies: 6
Views: 5281

Re: On the Occasion of Star Wars Day Today: Any Topical Tricks You Perform?

I just discovered a way to repurpose the old “napkin bunny” from the Gardner Encyclopedia.

Image


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by Curtis Kam
April 30th, 2020, 4:25 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Jim Swain Live on YouTube
Replies: 5
Views: 1218

Re: Jim Swain Live on YouTube

And just so there’s no confusion, this isn’t what Cliff Green called “The Phoenix Aces”. It does belong in that other thread.


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by Curtis Kam
April 29th, 2020, 4:01 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: COVID-19 Death Harvey Rosenthal
Replies: 9
Views: 2060

Re: COVID-19 Death Harvey Rosenthal

Run it in Genii!


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by Curtis Kam
April 27th, 2020, 5:13 pm
Forum: Link Watch
Topic: "Watch" the hell!...
Replies: 15
Views: 5939

Re: "Watch" the hell!...

Before we get too smug about this, does anyone remember the Paul Fox Miracle Gimmick? What did that do, again?


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by Curtis Kam
April 4th, 2020, 5:34 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Take a Deep Breath
Replies: 16
Views: 2665

Re: Take a Deep Breath

Kent, check out the second trick Bill does here. It’s a different version of the Cannibals than usual.

https://youtu.be/CT-RKu9F2WI


https://youtu.be/CT-RKu9F2WI


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by Curtis Kam
January 23rd, 2020, 6:20 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Clink Caps
Replies: 3
Views: 1744

Re: Clink Caps

Ballin’! That looks great.


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by Curtis Kam
January 5th, 2020, 11:11 pm
Forum: Link Watch
Topic: Tom Stone and Friends performance videos
Replies: 3
Views: 3810

Re: Tom Stone and Friends performance videos

These guys tickle my brain in a spot deep down inside. This piece especially.


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by Curtis Kam
December 23rd, 2019, 6:48 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: The History of Ringo
Replies: 19
Views: 5217

Re: The History of Ringo

I’m sorry, I only have this one.


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by Curtis Kam
December 22nd, 2019, 5:57 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: The History of Ringo
Replies: 19
Views: 5217

Re: The History of Ringo

And In case anyone’s still wondering what the effect was/is, here’s the Tannen’s advert. From Cat. No. 11:Image


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