My magic

Recently I'm quite interested by mentalism that you can practice on the go.
Well I'm currently thinking that this is the thing after card magic. I imagine a show where you start with some visual magic, slowly go for coincidence with cards and finish by some killing mentalism effect. You start classic in order to end personal. I want the spectator to get the feeling having been part of an unique experiment (again if you read me) where he is an actor. I don't want to astonish but do people think there is bunch stuffs in this world you can't understand and you should accept it. The worst thing here is that you likely prefer it.

Practicability

I think you will agree that there is 4 types of trick:

-The one that is not good.

-The one that is average but easy to do.

-The one that is good but too hard to do. (3)

-The one that is great and furthermore practical. (4)

I think we'll both agree on the first two but I want to spend some time on the last 2 point which from now on I will call (3) and (4).

There is lot of routines out there from various magicians.

When you learn a new one or create one you first analyse the effect. Is is powerful enough, will it deceive your audience...

Once you know or create the solution you'll probably try to balance both solution and effect.

Now a question should appears in your mind. Is it practical?

What does it mean?

Is the effect enough strong to use all the techniques/gaff/setup which are involved in?

For instance imagine an effect where you need a 12 cards setup for a single effect. You won't probably do it for the simple reason you don't think the effect worth all the setup needed.

Personally I think the Grail (trick I talked about this morning) will fit in (3) because even if it's an excellent effect and very clean but unfortunately it doesn't worth the set up. Whereas an effect like Diplopia by Paul Vigil belongs to (4) for the simple reason that with 2 techniques you obtain a killer effect. You just have to work on a glimpse and the clocking. This is one of my favorite effect and I always get good reactions with it also because it fits to my character.

But don't think because it's gaffed I won't like it. We can example here use the Kickback effect by Ryan Swigert which involves few props but deliver an awesome impact. I'm also quite in fond of Dice man by Andy Nyman and Kollosal killer by Kenton Knepper. I file all this tricks in the (4) because of their practicability.

To sum it up analyze your trick and try to calculate the practical/effect ratio. If it's under 1 don't do it...

Close prediction/selection

I've just realized a funny thing.

An effect where a match between a close prediction with a card occurs is much more stronger than retrieving a lost selection.

Well I watched yesterday The grail by Mike Rose and here the spectator doesn't choose a card but a prediction is placed face down on the table at the beginning. Furthermore the deck starts in the box and the spectator deals the card.

It's quite impressive even if it's not so practical.

Why I think it's funny because it's easier to get a prediction match than to retrieve a selection for the simple reason that you don't have to control it. Moreover since audience doesn't know what is going on, they won't be stuck on your hands trying to catch a move. Whereas if you have a selection then audience know this card will be involved in the future and will probably be the main key in routine or effect so audience will try to follow the card.

Clever methods

I was talking recently about my aacan and I've continued to stick to the presentation of the estimation thing but have changed the procedure in order to achieve getting a more practical method.
Well I'm quite in fond of automatic trick. By the way I've started to read trapdoor...just awesome.
And personally the best trick's construction is the mix of deceiving technique and a smart mathematical solution...in fact it's semi-automatic trick nothing revolutionnary. Furthermore I'm always waiting for nectar of cards.
Because of what it implies is you're now able to focus on the speech and get some freedom. We can also say that generally these types of tricks are more an experience than a show off.
I want again the spectator be part of the trick and no more the one who watch. This is my ideal magic.

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Any card at any number

The berglas effect peformed by the man himself at the session has a huge influence on me. No matter the solution there is time when you see a trick it enlights you. This happenned on me and I had a flash. A past discussion with a nice magic buddy came back in my mind where he told me a good trick should not involve many techniques. I have a technique I've created few months ago and now it's time to use it effeciently. It's always a pleasure to find a meaning to your creations. Of course nothing revolutionnary but it allows you to re-fool audience with a classic card magic technique.
I combined these ideas and I came up with a solution to the acaan and I have to say I'm quite satisfied of myself on this one.
Now for some details on the solution that I won't give right now.
I don't want to focus my magic on a showoff I want the audience to participate to the trick, to be part of it and to feel clever. I want them to think because of them the magic happen. For my version I success to obtain a result where I can almost never fail. I didn't say automatic but there is 3 out and of course one of them is better than the others. I introduce this trick as an estimation performance that I miss by one.
Here was my tip for the day.
Paul.
By the way muscle your pinky it definitly worth the effort.

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I came back from Gloucester earlier this week.

This session was a great convention even if at the end I was a bit disappointed. I'm responsible too because I didn't try at anyway to make contact with other magician. The convention was quite well organized even if the hotel wasn't at the best location in the city I think. There was a great line-up compare to the number of participant.

I saw the real deal too, the Berglas effect performed by the man himself. Honestly I have no idea how he did it but he'll publish a book during May maybe I 'll buy it.

I thought Darwin Ortiz has good theory.

Rune Klan is really a funny and creative guy.

Deutsch rocks. (Pit Hartling and Denis Behr)

Tyler Wilson is awesome. Creative, funny and generous. Thanks mate.

Sorry but Benjamin Earl is weird...

Sorry again Andy Gladwin but your dvd is useless.

By the way in Great Britain, even if the beer is cheap it's also weak in alcohol. Sometimes it tastes like water...

Happy new year everybody.

I've enjoyed my Xmas vacation a lot.

I've purchased some interesting material and keep working mine.

Next week, there is the Session in Gloucester organized by Andi Gladwin and Joshua Jay and I'm going to be present there

This is my 2nd convention, my first one was Blackpool 2010.

In order to make worth it the convention there is few things you have to get ready :

-Be social.

-Master some unknown materials as yours or some hided old-magazine one.

Because attend to a convention is far from cheap.

I'll arrive late Friday and go back Monday.

So for the math it costs me :

-70 € of flight

-75£ of convention's fee

-75£ of hotel

-£25£ of car renting

So I don't calculate the food and drinking (even if the beer is cheap in UK).

But we can expect more or less 300£ for 3-4days.

I think everybody should attend once at least to a convention and it's your duty to make it worth the bill.

You'll need to socialize in order to keep contact with some magicians and learn some marvelous tricks or technique. Really don't lose time to sleep.

I remember last year at blackpool I was so tired that I went to sleep whereas Bebel (one of the french master) performed one of his creations which he used to show twice a year and I missed it.

Here it is I'll probably write a report of the convention next week.