have been fiddling with card sleights for some time already, sometimes when I show it to others, I get stuck in the middle of a trick and don't know how to proceed. is it that important to memorise a routines and always perform by routines?? :mellow:

What do you mean? You show people sleights only?

I think he's referring to the patter of the trick. Well, anyway, I think its easier to stick to a certain patter when you're doing a professional show. However, don't use the exact same words all the time because then it'll feel weird.

Well you should practise till perfection before actually performing it, hence you will not get stuck halfway and forgot what to do next.

If you do, just move on to the next effect.

Like what Pam said:

" If handling your cards isn't second nature, don't perform. Practise a hundred times at least and everything should come naturally."

Wise words from a wise magician.

i agree with blackwing, Mr Pam said it right, i seldom or hardly do card due to i am bad with card. B)

to show or not to show is one problem by itself... shouldn't it be showing to others more so that you could be better?? :unsure: well, that's what I thought.... :D

Showing? As in exposing? Or performing? So you mean you show sleigths just by itself?

No no, thats not the way to do magic, thats the way to make you look clever and 'i can do this you cannot'. Do routines, not sleights

the second you reveal a sleight is the second you fail as a magician. Treat the art properly and believe in the art of magic.

When you get stuck in the middle of the trick, it means you haven't practised enough or know what you want your audience to feel. You're showing for the sake of showing. Ain't cool man, gotta come up with a routine. B)

Oh ya, just to add. When you practise a routine like a hundred times, you will get the feel of it. When you reach step 1 it will lead you to step 2. After you complete step 2 you know how to link it to step 3 and so on. this do not apply only to card tricks. Any kind of magic is the same. Practice is the key. but Performing is the process of unlocking with the key.

Woah pureplayer. That is one heck of a cool saying.

'Practice is the key. but Performing is the process of unlocking with the key.'


Sweet, man. Super sweet. And, I totally agree with it. You can practice all you want but if you don't perform, what the hell is the point?

Yeah. I always make a point to perform if the opportunity arises. Once you're used to unlocking with the key, you're already up there. I know of some people who practise very hard but fails to perform even once. Really a waste.

deep... :P guess i'll stick to routines and practice... don't you guys exposed yourself sometimes??

An amatuer practices till he gets it right. A professional practices till he can't get it wrong.

Yeah, I do expose sometimes. But the flashes or exposes that I accidentally reveal are not seen by laymen. Only a magician would be able to spot it.

Well... flashes and exposure tend to happen if you are too over confident about yourself.

In magic, you must be able to take comments about your performances and change if there's a need, practicing infront of a mirror is just like 30% of your magic.

The rest of the % is your pattering and experience outside.

In my years of magic, i did flash once or twice of my DLs while performing as i was too over confident of myself.

Just work hard on it, i learn from my own mistakes. :lol:

You see when I practise too many times in front of the mirror I get very used to seeing myself doing the routine. But when I perform to live audience, there will be no mirror to see my own reflection. I will get a little uncomfortable and I wouldn't know if any of my moves are exposed. Do you guys feel the same way when you get too used to the mirror?