Posts Tagged ‘magicians’

A Card Trick That Is Easy Enough For Anyone To Perform

Monday, August 9th, 2010

If you are looking for a simple magic trick that even children can do, try magic card tricks. All your child needs to be able to do is count to act out this trick, it is based on simple maths and with a little showmanship and lots of practice can be pulled off without a problem.  

Where to start: 

Grab yourself a standard 52 card deck and explain that you will be making some separate piles of cards, proceed to shuffle the cards. Holding the cards face up in your hand, the top card which is the first card of each pile is where you begin. For each pile you will count up to thirteen with the ace counting as one. It will take a different amount of cards to reach thirteen because it depends on what the starting card is. Make a pile of cards starting with an ace and be sure there are thirteen cards in the pile. Keep in mind that the suits do not matter; lets say the first card is a two, count the next card as three, and then four and so on until you have reached the number thirteen card. When the initial card is a ten then the next card will be eleven, then twelve followed by thirteen to complete the pile. Unlike the other piles this one will only have four cards. Count silently to yourself so you do not give it away. Lay the cards down in piles face up and when you have finished with all the piles turn them over carefully so the first card you laid down is on top of the pile.

And now for the finesse:

While you are counting, try to make it look like you are NOT counting the cards but merely making some random piles. Do not put a face card in the beginning of a pile. If your first card is a face card just say, “I don’t like face cards” and put it on the bottom of the deck or slide in the deck anywhere. Look at the cards in you are handling face up while you are counting out the piles in front of you. When you come to the end of the deck the remaining cards in your hand will probably not be enough cards to make a full pile. Because the remaining cards will not make a pile of thirteen they have to be put aside and not mixed in with the rest. Just say, “I have enough cards already” and place the rest safely aside. Math is what it is about so be sure you keep track of your counting.

Next piece of the trick:

You will usually end up with seven piles more or less. Do not stress about your number of piles. Now you tell your audience that you would like them to remove piles and hand them to you. As they make their choices, take the remaining cards you set aside and put them back into your hand face down. Put the cards they give you together with those cards you have in your hand. If you had ended with six piles you would have them remove three or if you ended with seven piles you would have them remove four piles. The object is to leave three piles. You might tell them they are to leave three piles.

This part is fun:

Let the people flip over the card on the top of any two piles to reveal what is there. The faces on the top cards of two piles are now facing up. What you want to do is find the number that is on top of the pile so search the deck. Remember to tell them you will only know the number of the card not the suit. The magic continues. Without looking like you are counting your cards but merely sifting through the cards in your hand looking at them one by one as if you were searching for the right number. Actually, you are counting the cards. To start with count ten cards. Then take the card that is facing up on one of the piles and read it out. Look at the second card faced up and count to that number. Let us say you pick up a two and three on two of the piles then you must count out ten of the cards, again count two and three more from those that are turned over.  

The final show: 

You are still holding some cards that are left in your hand. It wont matter whether you have one card or ten cards left in your hands. Without being suspicious put the final cards down after you have counted them and proclaim, “I think I have your card.” The number of the card I am holding on the top pile is “.” After counting out all of the other cards be sure to say what the remaining cards are. When there is just the one card left you will say it is an Ace. Depending on the number of cards left you will proclaim that their number was equal to the number of remaining cards. To create a shock let the audience flip over the final card and read the number for themselves.  

In closing:

Correct counting will guarantee the trick always works.

Be sure that the first or beginning card of each pile remains on the top of the pile when you turn the piles over.

52 cards is what you must begin with.

This trick is a sure fire winner and guaranteed to impress. The better your acting the more you will impress.

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A different performing art that could really make your night

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Have you and your partner found yourselves out of ideas for a fun night “on the town” lately?   When that elusive date night rolls around, it’s time to get away and spend some valuable time with that special someone.   The dinner and a movie is the classic stand-by, but what is that is getting a little tired out?  If you’re stuck in a rut, it’s time to consider something new:  find out where local magic acts perform. It is true that not every city has a dedicated magic club, but you can find magic acts performing in nightclubs and comedy clubs all over.  Check your local paper’s weekend entertainment section to locate a show. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see a popular street magician style show in the comfort of the warm indoors.

 

Many magicians and illusionists make the backbone of their act the classic card trick. Everyone loves a card trick, so it’s only natural that this would be the skill upon which repertoires are built. Cards are inexpensive, accessible in most circumstances, and portable to boot.  Street musicians use a wide variety of objects to perform their tricks, but most popular remains, as always, card tricks. 

 

Street style magic is now found in nightclubs, with the rise in popularity of certain street magicians like David Blaine. David Blaine magic is what seems to fire up crowds lately, where astounding sleight of hand done with ordinary objects.   The appeal of the street magician is not surprising.   These magicians generally eschew expensive illusions that cost thousands of dollars to pull off. These acts are mainstays of the Vegas strip, and certainly have their appeal. However, street musicians bring the art and technique of classic sleight of hand, and combine it with cool and understated showmanship to produce magic infused with spontaneity.   Though part of the street musician ethos has much to do with performing on impulse, in any moment, it is possible to translate this to the stage.

 

So when you’re at a loss for what to do with your sweetie on a Saturday night, consider finding out where the closet magic show is located. You’ll see something memorable and very special. You’ll surprise and delight your partner with your creativity, and you’ll win admiration for rejecting the “same old, same old” dinner and a movie.   Go ahead and give it a try, you won’t be sorry!

All About The Magic Castle In Hollywood, California

Friday, July 31st, 2009

If you have the opportunity to visit the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, go!  If you want to see some amazing magic tricks, and you’re free for an evening, go enjoy some grown-up fun. It is a place like no one has – and your visit will be a life-long memory for you.

Back To Basics – Things To Know Before You Visit

A word of warning before you start planning your visit to the Magic Castle: not everyone can attend. Just because it is a private club for those who love magic and for magician, members (Associate members and Magician members) pay for the privilege of attending as much as they wish in any given year. For you, (a non-member) to attend, you will need to know someone who is a member and get a guest pass from them. Or, even better, get them to take you with them.

Attending the Magic Castle is a formal affair. You would not be out of place in a tie and jacket (for men) or evening gown (for ladies) – in fact, it is required. What? You don’t have a jacket, you say? Don’t worry – the front desk has several jackets and ties they lend for the evening, so you might be just fine. But don’t show up with running shoes on, or expect to take your jacket off once you get inside – it just isn’t done. Formal places call for formal attire.

The Magic Castle is situated just north of the Kodak Theater. There is not much parking on the streets, so expect to pay for valet parking. It will run you less than ten bucks, which is a bargain in that neighborhood.

Expect to have dinner in their finest restaurant, also. They have great food – many selections for those who love meat, seafood, or are vegetarians. Prices range from $28.00 to $65.00 for an entrée, and there are plenty of “adult beverages” to be found at the several bars throughout the Castle.

Once You’re Inside

After you enter the Magic Castle, you’ll have to get past the receptionist by showing your identification of adulthood. If you’re there on a guest pass, present the pass and pay the door charge - $20 each. They will also confirm your dinner reservation that you called in earlier. If you are there along with a member, there is no door charge, and the having dinner is optional. You will then be given the secret code word to be able to enter the door to the showrooms.

As for the shows, expect to be fully entertained. There are three major showrooms – the Close-up Gallery, the Parlor of Prestidigitation, and the Palace of Mystery. The shows in those rooms run on a schedule, and you’ll want to be in line early in order to get in. Also, many nights there are other magicians to entertain you in other various rooms -  down in the museum, or in the dungeon, or even roving magicians to show you effects while you are in line for another show. There’s always plenty to see and do at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California.