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More 'Perfect Storms'.. =============== I have two special magic experiences that my memory can remember the most. Each experience is related to twin cards. This may not be as special as what you have experienced (the one you posted) but to me, it's just magnificent. I was performing the Do As I Do trick to a spectator. I am pretty sure most of you guys know how to do this trick so I don't think any of you would mind me exposing a little bit of the method. I was going to have two red cards (2D and 2H) to be the cards that were going to be revealed at the end of the trick. The spectator had his half pack of cards behind him and inserted the 2D without turning it over. It was not my fault, I had emphasized and told him to turn it over before inserting it into the deck. I would not say it was his fault if the trick screwed up at the end because he acted fast before I even begin to ask him to do what is supposed to be done. Then a spectator next to him nonchalantly told the girl I was doing the trick with to take blindly any random card and turn it over because she would have picked any card in the beginning, so by choosing a new card, no difference would be made (which in reality, a BIG difference is made). I have no doubt that the guy who told her to do so was making an attempt to heckle me and just by looking at his grin, I was certain he'd like to ruin the trick. I was completely caught off guard at that time, the feeling of shame was approaching although I would have come up with a bizarre explanation and continue with another routine using both different cards. I put my 2H back in the deck and tried to give up and tried to think of crazy explanation to continue with different tricks. But being a magician, I have to take chances, I went to a point where I thought I should try to take logic and probability into the supposed-to-be-ruined trick. Since both 2D and 2H are facing the same way as the other cards (except for the one indifferent card the spectator turned over), I knew that I have a 1/51 probability to get the twin card. I reached randomly into the middle of the deck, took out one card, turned it over and put it back in the deck. I asked the pack from the spectator and added it on my pack. I spread the cards face down and surprised that I just revealed the black 7 twins (7S and 7C) facing up in the deck! The next special magic happened when I was preceding to perform a basic memorized-and-found card trick. I spread through the deck and asked the guy to take out any card (no forces). While I was doing that I was pattering about the total number of cards in the deck, which is 54 including the two Jokers. I then mentioned that if he happened to take out one of the Jokers, he has to pick a new card. He took out one card just after I was saying that and everybody around him started laughing. I didn't know what was going on, I just smiled. He instantly showed the card to me and it was a Joker! I told him that the Joker is not needed, so it is held by another spectator. Now, I handed him to take the deck, and shuffle it. I had him reach into anywhere in the deck and pull out any card. He took out one card, and everybody started laughing again, this time, louder and made a bigger attention of passers-by. It was the second Joker! I simply smiled (deep inside, I was shocked)... what a day! In my opinion, the latter special magic was hilarious. From a group of four guys, to a big group of more than ten people. Hope you like it! Regards. -Mann. =============== I was doing some tricks for some of my friends at school one day and they know that all magic is is illusions and stuff like that. Well, one of my friends decided to be a smart alleck and pulled out a random card from my deck without giving me a chance to do anything about it. He pulled the "Tell me what card I just picked if your so magical" stunt and I knew he was just joking around. I decided to play along with him especially since there were other people in the crowd that I was performing for the first time and I thought at the very least when I guessed it wrong, I would just make something up using that card to redeem myself. Well, I pretended to really think about it and "read his mind." I blurted out the first card that came to mind other than the Ace of Spades. I said, "3 of Diamonds." Wouldn't you know. That was the exact card he was holding in his hands. I couldn't believe it; and neither could the others in the group. A 1 in 52 chance and I guessed it. How lucky can you get? Some of the people walked away second guessing if magic was in fact real even after I told everyone that it was all illusions (something I've always told every group of people since I freaked out one girl after doing the balducci levitation - she was actually scared of me). Anyway, that is my special magic moment. Brandon Cash =============== I was recently doing a little show at a family get together, doing mentalism for the adults. I was doing my version of Richard Osterlind's "test conditions", a hands off "think of a card" routine. The opening patter I use is the old invisible deck ruse: "Think of any card in the deck (pause a beat)...not the ace of spades or the queen of hearts, those are too obvious." Of course if they were thinking of one of those, bonus hit, if not it was only a suggestion. I saw my spec go a little stony, so I knew I had hit. " It's ok, just think of another card, one that isn't too easy." I slowly pulled the cards out of the deck, and he started to laugh. Turns out the card he was thinking of was the bottom (face) card of the pack! I was shocked but managed to take credit for it. I continued with the effect as planned, explaining that verbal influence is so strong, we should use the cards to "randomize" the procedure. The ultimate "think of a card"! Matt Packard (aka Matthew Mayavi) Fairfax, California =============== |
