My Favorite Erdnase Quotes!

My favorite quote in Erdnase currently is the following, it can be found on page 84 line 1 of the Bible Erdnase edition.
"The art of card palming can be brought to a degree of perfect that borders on the wonderful."
Why is this quote so important? Well, I think it is pretty safe to say that most magicians palm a card like a small child tries to steal a chocolate bar, conspicuously and with a grin of grins on their face. I recall seeing one magician who repeatedly cops cards and removes your selected card from his pocket still in cop. This salient point was mentioned to said magician who immediately disregarded and continued to disappoint audiences, to which he is still doing today. Fortunately he isn't a paid performer in any circumstance. Which leads to my next point, when did it become alright to be bad at magic? I can appreciate one's inability to attain certain skills and even specific techniques in magic, but why settle for the worst techniques and the worst tricks? If you are so passionate about a specific hobby why not learn the best. I'm a touch frustrated as per usual and have decided to remain rather reclusive from the magic community within my local area. If they only knew how much easier magic can become once the requisite skills have been acquired, perhaps the worst magicians we see would put in the time to become good. We all have dreams.

"The System"

A friend of mine recently suggested I watch the cult like video "The Secret." Mostly due to the fact that I refused to read the book. I watched it; it presents some interesting points and for all intensive purposes it does seem correct albeit a rehash of what others have already concluded nearly 100 years ago. The error I see with it lies in their claim to be able to well wish off cancer, and other disease and illness. How preposterous a position to take. All that being said, it certainly is helping people and if that is the case then it certainly can't be that bad. It is also supposed to be some sort of borderline miracle working tool so, "let them eat cake." If this book is the one book (or video) to change your life then I would have to say Erdnase is the equivalent book of sorts for magicians. It is the one book that will change your magic life beyond all others more than all others. Well...it COULD be the book that does that. Of course that only applies if one is to truly take the words and information between the lines that Erdnase presents. As mentioned in an earlier post, once you understand the moves and some of Erdnase that is when you will really start to 'get it.' For those that make complaints about lack of time or inability to conceal a card due to hand size (Erdnase discusses the hand issue); I have no patience for. Not only do I have on patience, but I have no respect for someone who can claim to love an art form and all that jazz and then basically spit in the face of those that work so hard to elevate the art and present it in a light that will gain Magic some respect amongst the community at large. We aren't all children's performers working 100 bucks a pop. Some of us command and are worth thousands per performance. Some of us refuse to perform for children! Certainly a jack of all trades is a master of none and I feel this applies to magic as well. BUT fortunately we have "The System" it is arguably the cheapest book in magic with the most valuable information to boot. So when you look at your book shelf and compare it to your DVD shelf remember, all those people on DVD, they read Erdnase!

A True Understanding

Erdnase mentions that a proper understanding of the workings of a move is required to learn the move, and that this understanding will reduce the amount of practice time required. But when and how does one gauge when a move is truly understood? I believe I have a means to accomplish and measure this. When you learn something in Erdnase and you no longer worry about the technique but start concerning yourself with the minutia of the move, for example, with the blind shuffle I and II to retain top stock. Why does method one use this large cut? When will it be used? The second shuffle seems more deceptive at first glance. Well although this is all fine and dandy, one starts to think about the move beyond the technique. So if one is surrounded surely you can not perform Blind Shuffle II with a break. Furthermore, in discussion with a magician friend he asked why I vs. II and when? Another thought is that the deception can be just as great if the top stock maintained is relatively small and your actions are very smooth. The last packet thrown on top from below the seperation if only 10-12 cards doesn't look so choppy and it doesn't look like such a significant cut is made perhaps only matter of fact-ly done.
When details like that are considered I believe the understanding Erdnase referred to is attained. Time will enable one to understand the entire book that way! I am going to go sit down with my card conjuring compadre right now.

Stocking and Culling with Erdnase

I don't quite understand why, but, I have a terrible phobia for the culling and stocking sections of the beautiful book that is Erdnase. I can't quite put it into words but I imagine it is the same thing I see in people who fear palming or haven't worked to a specific technique yet. I simply haven't matured into that section of the book.
There in lies the beauty of Erdnase; it is a book you mature with and into. Those that recommend it right off the bat are erring in that they are handing Steinbeck to a 5 year old. They simply can't do it yet. Even though they might want to, the individual simply hasn't reached that point in maturity. I believe you hit puberty when you pick up Erdnase and start to devour it. Much like a young adult being exposed to sexuality in school and otherwise. Erdnase is the book that separates the men from the boys. With that in mind; are you one of the men or the boys? There is no wrong or right answer. Simply a question and perhaps foreshadowing where you could be moving in the future. I can certainly say I will be moving towards the Culling and Stocking sections eventually. But right now I am quite content in studying, analyzing and enjoying Systems of Palming (particularly Top Palm, First Method). The move is brilliant and a careful read will give the requisite details for the move.
My most recent discovery is that the right hand holds the break as the left hand squares. But immediately following the square the palm is made. SO, when do you pick up the break? As the cards move from a dealers grip to a finger tips grip for the square? As the right hand pick up the deck from the table? Still something I am playing with of course but I think the move is nearly competent enough to move to something else.
Like Michael Skinner advocated, magic and sleights are like gems. You need to pull them out polish them up then put them away taking a new gem out to polish. Of course you need to find the gems to polish first and foremost. Fortunately for us all, Erdnase is a mine full of gem!

The Year of Erdnase

It seems that this year is the year of Erdnase. With the release of the Bible Edition of Erdnase from The Conjuring Arts Research Center (conjuringarts.org), Al Ackerman and Wes James both pumping out a DVD set via A-1 (I believe) and Magic Makers, respectively. With so much hype and new information coming forth for the book and the unknown author; magicians seem to be falling in love with the romance surrounding the book, the techniques and most importantly the skills and wisdom embodied in the 1902 title. But, as has been discussed in an earlier post, will this improve the skill level of magicians? I think so. Here is my reasoning, with awareness comes a greater liklihood of someone picking up and reading the book or watching it via DVD. Since most DVD's today contain rather drab material and poor slapped together technique often done incorrectly and with the intention of being easy to master.

Fooled?

I had the opportunity to sit down with a few magicians from out of town who presented some very interesting material! They were very good! We had a lot of fun and shared a bunch of interesting things. My issue comes in when we consider fooling one another. I understand there are magician foolers but when sitting down with one another what material should one use? Magician foolers that takes advantage of the fact that the audience has a certain knowledge? What about material for laymen? Do we perform our usual? Is there material applying to both laymen and magicians?
These thoughts brought me to one ideal conclusion and therefore a goal. All your material should be commercial so as to please the laiety yet still deceptive and clever enough to fool your fellow magicians. So this brings up the question, what fools both and serves to entertain? In a recent phone discussion with an older magician this question came up and lead to some thoughts on gimmicks and gaffs. Some effects require them, some effects are simply elevated using them. I suppose the Tommy Downs coin work comes to mind and Vernon requesting to see the gimmick. A sleight of hand hand gimmicked version were shown and the gimmicked version was clearly better.
This have become a jumble of incoherence so I will leave end it with the effect. At the end of the day it's the effect that matters. Fooling both groups is great, and doing it by any means necessary is wonderful but be certain that it maintains entertaining.

One last thought, fooling magicians is often very specific in nature. A card being selected and returned, rarely is the trick or revelation the fooler, rather the control or means of maintaining control, fools or doesn't. For a layman, it usually boils down to the revelation or denouement of the effect. In conclusion, one would be wise to break down effects into varying elements, such as selection and controlling procedure and revelations and mixing and matching them so as to fool magicians with the control process while still leaving laymen bedazzled by the end result, the effect.

The DoubleLift

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.

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!

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.

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!