Trust Card Trick

There are two things about the routine. First the premise! Second the tricks!

Let's talk about the first thing first. Trust is essential in real life. If we don't trust people we get paranoid and nothing gets done. A misuse of trust is often combined with bitter feelings and anger. And in a way a magician misuses the trust each time. Because he claims to do something and it turns out it's not at all like what he claimed. Example: A card is shown, the ten of clubs, turned over and placed face down on the table. A snap and the card is turned over again but it is the ace of diamonds. Great little trick, but you cheated. And if the people don't like you, they won't like the great little trick. Because as soon as the audience "feels" some dishonesty they tend not to like you. You lose "authenticity".

So I thought to fight this issue. Head on! By addressing it and letting the spectator mistrust me every step of the way. Is there a chance to get fucked by the audience? If they don't like you, then you will definitely fail. If they like you, you'll succeed even more!

The trick has two phases. The first one is a simple cards across. I really wish I would be able to tell you that tons of research went into this. It's not the case. I simple saw a similar trick and figured out how I would do it. The method is so darn simple and obvious, that somebody has already thought this exact version before. In the magic business is a saying... "When in doubt credit Marlo."

You can actually get away with the method, as the second packet of ten cards is only introduced after the dirty work is done. That really helps alot.

The second phase is the classic Biddle trick. I added nothing to it, except offering the specator that he can lie and fuck up my trick. Is that an addition to be proud of? I think yes!

Lazy Man's Card to Pocket

Expert Card Technique: Close-Up Table Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue
Page 313 et seq.

Personal Comment: I love Expert Card Technique. So many ideas, so many bold stuff. This might be too bold. I have been told many times by other magicians who actually perform this that the routine is good. But I have a hard time believing that any routine where the spectator is asked to think of, and remember more than one information is any good. The boldness of the routine aside, this doesn't "float my boat" but I got this gut feeling that this routine is grossly underestimated.

Difficulty: 1/5

Unnamed Trick by Bro. John Hamman

The Secrets of Brother John Hamman by Richard Kaufman and Alan Greenberg
Page 18 et seq.

Personal Comment: No kidding, the name of the trick is actually the main method that is being used. It is bold, but interestingly still deceptive. When I did this for real people I changed the grip on the cards. Doing an Elmsley while holding the deck is a bit too demanding for my hands. They are not that huge. So right now I am going into Brother John Hamman's work. I may have to adjust the technique a few times to still do the effect. Please forgive me for that. The above video is excuse enough to cheat.

Difficulty 4/5

The Royal Impostor by Jim Abrahams

The Lecture That Has Never Happened by Jim Abrahams
Page to be added

Personal Comment: I am almost through the entire booklet. And I knew it rang a bell when I was going through Roberto Giobbi's "Coalaces". "The Royal Impostors" was what I was thinking of. Try it for real people! You'll get the "what the fuck"-look from them. It is hard to do the effect justice on camera. In a real setting you got way more cover to do all the moves.

Difficulty: 4/5

Card on Rope

Personal Comment: I always thought this ungimmicked version of the Card on Rope effect was in Tarbell. Turns out it is not. So do you know the source? Because I think this is a pretty good effect. Btw, this version actually allows for a signed card to be caught by the rope. That would of course require a palm but you got plenty of time to do the actual switch out as the spectator is shuffling the deck. This effect plays strong with regular audiences. And you don't even need a table. The rope could be in the top hat in the beginning, then you take out the rope, display it, toss the rope with the special side over your shoulder and show the top hat. Then reverse the action and put the rope back into the top hat. And then you can have you card picked.

Unlike the gimmicked versions I like the fact that the top hat can be shown empty. All looks pretty clean,

CTP by Jim Abrahams

The Lecture That Has Never Happened by Jim Abrahams
Page 10 et seq.

Personal Comment: Usually mixing plots creates a horrible creature. But this is a crowd pleaser. Not easy to do as it involves a lot of palming, but I think the timing for those is just right to get away with it for real people. I tried it many times and it was good. In case you have not noticed. CTP stands for Cannibals To Pockets.

Difficulty 4/5

Make Me Small by Larry Jennings

Richard's Almanac by Richard Kaufman
Quarterly for Spring 1985
page 246 et seq.

Personal Comment: I like pretty much all about it save one thing. I think it is a little too risky to show the queens more that one time via the Daryl lay down sequence. But I certainly like the fact that you are two ahead in the routine. Personally I would not bother too much with the three piles and such. How about simply vanishing the queens until one remains. But then again that would be an entirely different effect. But I am intrigued, as it is one effect that spawns a lot of ideas in my little brain. I like it very much.

Difficulty: 3/5