In briefly looking through some online forums full of brilliant minds the number of topics about the double lift is truly astounding. I am shocked at how many magicians are so incompetent they can't properly reason through the move.
The common response and thought is that the double lift isn't difficult. It's easy! That's what everyone is saying. But clearly these people are idiots. The move isn't easy, it is simple. There is a great deal of difference between a lack of difficulty and simplicity. Terribly complex solutions to problems are improved by simplicity not increasing levels of difficulty or intricacies. But this is getting off topic.
Next we see the argument between which double lift is better than the other. "This one look more natural" is often heard; "This is how a laymen would turnover a card" is another popular response. Both are terribly erroneous. Natural actions are suited not only to individuals but reaction to one's evironment. Therefore a double lift performed while sitting down in a relaxed setting might not be natural if one were standing. Also the mood of the performer might alter small details that make big differences, speed of action, grace, etc. Furthermore the statement of a laymen's technique is completel ridiculous. You are not a laymen. If you are a laymen you shouldn't be doing a double lift.
That being said, the idea of having just one double lift is ridiculous a well. Certainly a host of techniques all accomplishing the same things but used when the moment permits would be much more impactful than a one-size-fits-all technique that would be out of place regardless of how severe the discrepency. If it is only a little bit awkward that's fine but it is not the best and therefore it holds flaws. So we find error in the wonderful question, "What's the best double-lift?" There isn't one! Now if we can discontinue posting this horrid question perhaps magicians can save the time they would have spent fighting for Dingle or Lepaul and spend more time actually practicing whatever technique they prefer.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Lost Magicians
For many magicians the name L'Homme Masque means nothing. But a read through Camille Gaultier's Magic Without Apparatus will bring you across a number of entries attributed to this mysterious masked man. So, I ask, why has nobody written a book specifically on L'Homme Masque? His material and character is strong enough to justify further investigation into biographical details, effects performed by him, who he really was, etc. Now, that being said, I must acknowledge Genii magazine for doing a cover issue on our Peruvian pal. For those interested the back issue is, July 2000. In this article we discover a remarkable fact about L'Homme Masque, he trained both of his hands in accomplishing every sleight he did! This issue of Genii has the most information I have found but still why has their not been a single volume dedicated to this miraculous conjurer of yesteryear? Well I am certainly not an authority nor am I in any position to take up a project of such magnitude! But I do hope that someone decides to pursue this unusual masked man and share their findings in a book for the magic fraternity. Limited to 500 copies of course!
Friday, April 27, 2007
The Classics
I think it is reasonably safe to say the main magician's of the past to study with regards to classics are Erdnase, Robert-Houdin, Sachs and Hofzinser. So why don't more magicians read the texts of these magicians? It seems that nearly every quesiton in magic has been answered directly or indirectly in the works of these men. Best of all; Erdnase, Sachs and Robert-Houdin's have all been reprinted in affordable formats. The Essential Robert-Houdin, although pricey at first glance is really quite a bargain when you start pricing out the individual books within the larger tome. Erdnase is 10-15 dollars at most and Sachs about the same, thanks to the Dover reprints. Certainly it can't be an accessibility issue to these texts. Those requiring translating are very readable so I can't imagine it being a language issue. Hofzinser's books are a little more difficult to fine but with a little leg work shouldn't be too hard to obtain. Perhaps a few quotes will clear up this lack of reading and studying and most importantly, of practice
"... as a conjurer, three things are essential- first, dexterity; second, dexterity; and third, dexterity." -Robert Houdin
"... it is absolutely necessary for the artist to be an expert." -J. N. Hofzinser
"The finished card-table expert will experience little or no difficulty in accomplishing the various sleights thatlie at the bottom of the conjurer's tricks. The principal feats have already been mastered in acquiring the blind shuffle, blind cuts, bottom deal, second deal, palming and replacing, the run, the crimp, culling and stocking; and his trained fingers will readily accommodate themselves to any new positions or actions." -S.W. Erdnase, The Expert at the Card Table
These masters make it quite clear that proficiency and therefore a great deal of practice are required to attain the requisite level of skill and dexterity needed to present magic properly. Magician's lazy? It's a thought, a visit to most local magic social groups will provide a window to peer through to see just how much people practice , the level of proficiency and the amount of study dedicated to the classics. Have you studied these books lately?
I haven't studied them nearly enough so I am back to the books! Specifically, Erdnase at the moment. Since those books mentioned are not hard to get and I am willing to bet that anyone serious about magic owns at least one of the titles mentioned earlie, I challenge you to go grab one of those books off the shelf and STUDY it, not just read it for fun. Have props or cards in hand and work through it. Learn something! Get good at something! Stop disappointing your audiences and be proud of something you can do.
"... as a conjurer, three things are essential- first, dexterity; second, dexterity; and third, dexterity." -Robert Houdin
"... it is absolutely necessary for the artist to be an expert." -J. N. Hofzinser
"The finished card-table expert will experience little or no difficulty in accomplishing the various sleights thatlie at the bottom of the conjurer's tricks. The principal feats have already been mastered in acquiring the blind shuffle, blind cuts, bottom deal, second deal, palming and replacing, the run, the crimp, culling and stocking; and his trained fingers will readily accommodate themselves to any new positions or actions." -S.W. Erdnase, The Expert at the Card Table
These masters make it quite clear that proficiency and therefore a great deal of practice are required to attain the requisite level of skill and dexterity needed to present magic properly. Magician's lazy? It's a thought, a visit to most local magic social groups will provide a window to peer through to see just how much people practice , the level of proficiency and the amount of study dedicated to the classics. Have you studied these books lately?
I haven't studied them nearly enough so I am back to the books! Specifically, Erdnase at the moment. Since those books mentioned are not hard to get and I am willing to bet that anyone serious about magic owns at least one of the titles mentioned earlie, I challenge you to go grab one of those books off the shelf and STUDY it, not just read it for fun. Have props or cards in hand and work through it. Learn something! Get good at something! Stop disappointing your audiences and be proud of something you can do.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Magician Stuff
So why a blog? Quite honestly I need a place to post shit, thoughts, work on moves, trick ideas, etc. This won't be original, I am certain that nothing will be original why? Cause an original thought is rare and arguable so why claim them.
Lets start with a book I have been studying intensely for the last few months
In an attempt to be a better magician I have hit the books, or book I should say. The Bible (more appropriate now than ever before with the Erdnase.com release), The Expert at the Card Table by S. W. Erdnase A remarkable book! So in studying Erdnase I am going to post some important points I come across.
Here is a favorite bit of brilliance from Monsieur Erdnase.
In the Introduction to the Legerdemain section we get this step by step list of things to study to be a great magician! Unbelievable! We are actually given a list of things to do to be a better or great magician eventually! Here is the steps as provided by Erdnase.
Step 1.
Study and practice "System of Blind Shuffles" this will accomplish proficiency in making and using breaks and jogs!
Certainly more effective than learning a pass as Erdnase mentions. A card returned and then shuffled leaves the card lost to the spectator. A card replaced and then apparently nothing happening leaves the card at a rough position. The shuffles, breaks and jogs are brilliant!
Step 2.
Take up the study of "System of Palming" with emphasis on the "bottom palm" These two techniques can more often than not replace the need for a shift! Allowing the conjuror to perform a number of brilliant effects!
Note: Erdnase now mentions an elegant solution to a common problem. The card is replaced and needs to be controlled. What do you do? As Erdnase mentions, most will hold the break above the card returned and shift it to the top. Erdnase presents a much more refined intelligent and most importantly NATURAL (Thanks Dr. Elliott!) solution! Have the card returned, break above the card, shuffle immediately, utilizing the skills learned in the "System of Blind Shuffles" to control the selection to top or bottom. Now you can palm off with our lovely work studied in Step 2. as mentioned above. Now the best part! You have the spectator shuffle the cards once the palm has been made! The palm is specifically made during the sqaure up! A surroundable, perfect, natural undetectable method to control a card. A walk-around performer's holy grail! The procedure described, fancifully, steps over the bete-noire of so many performers, surrounded performance and angles!
Step 3. The Diaganol Palm Shift
"Should the performer wish to palm off the selected card without employing a shuffle, we believe the "Diaganol Palm Shift" is easier and far more imperceptible than the shifting of the two packets and then palming, assuming that the different processes are performed equally well. For this reason we suggest early acquirement of the mentioned shift."
I have nothing left to say here! Other than the emphasis on early acquirement. These techniques should be worked on early on!
One more important passage;
"The finished card-table expert will experience little or no difficulty in accomplishing the various sleights that lie at the bottom of the conjurer's tricks. The prinicipal feats have been already mastered in acquiring the blind shuffles, blind cuts, bottom deal, second deal, palming and replacing, the run, the crimp, culling, and stocking; and his trained fingers will readily accommodate themselves to any new position or actions."
Finally a reason why the best magicians are the best at everything! They have remarkably trained hands with remarkable ability because of their muscle memory. The end result? It seems there is a point when your hands are stamped with the Erdnase seal of proficiency! A post-graduate degree in card-table artifice. Once you have worked and trained your fingers, magic isn't all that difficult! A crazy thought but a true one!
Brilliant!
Lets start with a book I have been studying intensely for the last few months
In an attempt to be a better magician I have hit the books, or book I should say. The Bible (more appropriate now than ever before with the Erdnase.com release), The Expert at the Card Table by S. W. Erdnase A remarkable book! So in studying Erdnase I am going to post some important points I come across.
Here is a favorite bit of brilliance from Monsieur Erdnase.
In the Introduction to the Legerdemain section we get this step by step list of things to study to be a great magician! Unbelievable! We are actually given a list of things to do to be a better or great magician eventually! Here is the steps as provided by Erdnase.
Step 1.
Study and practice "System of Blind Shuffles" this will accomplish proficiency in making and using breaks and jogs!
Certainly more effective than learning a pass as Erdnase mentions. A card returned and then shuffled leaves the card lost to the spectator. A card replaced and then apparently nothing happening leaves the card at a rough position. The shuffles, breaks and jogs are brilliant!
Step 2.
Take up the study of "System of Palming" with emphasis on the "bottom palm" These two techniques can more often than not replace the need for a shift! Allowing the conjuror to perform a number of brilliant effects!
Note: Erdnase now mentions an elegant solution to a common problem. The card is replaced and needs to be controlled. What do you do? As Erdnase mentions, most will hold the break above the card returned and shift it to the top. Erdnase presents a much more refined intelligent and most importantly NATURAL (Thanks Dr. Elliott!) solution! Have the card returned, break above the card, shuffle immediately, utilizing the skills learned in the "System of Blind Shuffles" to control the selection to top or bottom. Now you can palm off with our lovely work studied in Step 2. as mentioned above. Now the best part! You have the spectator shuffle the cards once the palm has been made! The palm is specifically made during the sqaure up! A surroundable, perfect, natural undetectable method to control a card. A walk-around performer's holy grail! The procedure described, fancifully, steps over the bete-noire of so many performers, surrounded performance and angles!
Step 3. The Diaganol Palm Shift
"Should the performer wish to palm off the selected card without employing a shuffle, we believe the "Diaganol Palm Shift" is easier and far more imperceptible than the shifting of the two packets and then palming, assuming that the different processes are performed equally well. For this reason we suggest early acquirement of the mentioned shift."
I have nothing left to say here! Other than the emphasis on early acquirement. These techniques should be worked on early on!
One more important passage;
"The finished card-table expert will experience little or no difficulty in accomplishing the various sleights that lie at the bottom of the conjurer's tricks. The prinicipal feats have been already mastered in acquiring the blind shuffles, blind cuts, bottom deal, second deal, palming and replacing, the run, the crimp, culling, and stocking; and his trained fingers will readily accommodate themselves to any new position or actions."
Finally a reason why the best magicians are the best at everything! They have remarkably trained hands with remarkable ability because of their muscle memory. The end result? It seems there is a point when your hands are stamped with the Erdnase seal of proficiency! A post-graduate degree in card-table artifice. Once you have worked and trained your fingers, magic isn't all that difficult! A crazy thought but a true one!
Brilliant!
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