hi guys.. ermz.. cause i just got a performance coming up with my friendand it's my first.. i just wanna know if a close up setting would be easy for ppl to see my card magic.. cause it's an one hr thing and i'll be using cards thruout but with different themes.. so i just wanna know ways to let the audiences see the magic clearly if it's like an ACR.. thanks a lot~!! ^_^

-ian

dude.. don't do 1 hour performance. especially what you're intending is all cards. UNLESS, you know how to deliver and patter your way through but it's still not recommended man.

Since it's your first performance, usually you'll try to make the effect but not deliver the effect. Showmanship is usually low because you are too worried about your shaky hands. Shake up your composure when you feel your hands shaking and nothing shall be exposed.

Try to do just 4-5 effects and make it as long as possible, concentrating on delivery rather than completing the next sleight.

I recent did a 45 min show in school on the auditorium stage, and it was all cards. Just asking, do you have a big screen? Because I had one, thank my lucky stars, so that they can see what I do.

In such cases, I agree with nyx, presentation is very important. No point doing hard sleights on stage or in such a performance. Do elaborate routines which most importantly show YOU. YOUR personality and character.

Whatever you want to do, be it cards or balls or cups or whatever, do it according to your style. In a performance, people want to see YOU and YOUR magic, not so much how much variety you can give them.

My thoughts.

Oh ya by the way, if it is a close up setting, why not? You don't need the big screen. They should be able to see you what.

Um. Cards are meant to be close-up. You could use jumbo cards if there's a large audience, but that's not recommended if you're using sleights. And I agree with nyx, a 1-hour card routine is pushing it. Your audience's attention is going to drift. I suggest you pick up 5 solid, strong effects and mix it with 1 or 2 effects that require cards but are not considered 'card tricks" per se. Like Stigmata, for instance.

hey hey hey, this reminds me of the time roughly 4 years ago...

yarh, i had my very first performance then, and it's closeup.... just like you, i knew more card stuffs more than anything else, but i did make it a point to include non-card stuffs withing the 1 hr show.

what to include?
1) my ultimate favourite till today... crazyman handcuffs!!!
if u dunno what that is, basically it's rubberband penetration.... but i dun stop there of cos, i continue by slowing down the penetration as much as possible and then letting them try out "revealing" the secret move... apparently not of cos.

as they tried, i apparently try to teach them but went on to do rubberband fusion instead, and thus having the 2 rubberbands fused into 1 and appeared on my ear instead!!!

and then, they ask me to do it again. of cos i do it again for them.. this time i got them to watch even closer. the rubberbands fused into one again, and this time... as it travelled up my arms, to the shoulders, towards my ears... it got stuck at my throat, and the rubberband was coughed out from my mouth for the climax!!! hope u like this routine as much as i did!!! pls pls pls.. this is my working closeup routine, so dun ever go and expose this trick. i believe, this routine is pretty unique as i dun really see anyone else doing it. trust me, having this sumwhere in the middle of ur cards will give ur audience something to remember their whole life! cheers!

note: but this trick might not be suitable if ur audience is easily disgusted by this kind of effect... haha. nevertheless, there are so many great routines on rubberbands out there. read up on it!!!

2) i am a non-coin person, but for that very first performance of mine... i did one coin trick and only one! haha. i did charming chinese challenge by troy hooser i believe. do check it out. it is one hell of an interesting trick and not very difficult to do too!

so, yarh... hopefully u can pick up some pointers from this little sharing of experience. cheers!

Ok, here's my 2 cents worth..

I did a performance last dec for my branch retreat at Malacca. It was a stage performance and I was cracking my head on how to let the audience see clearly as most of my repertoire are close-ups.

So in the end, this is my 3 items:

1. Card Levitation ( with IT, if you are familiar with it)... It's very visual, and the effect looked very good on the stage. Added advantage is, from the distance, the risk of exposure is very minimal.

2. Mentalism... I asked 3 spectators up to pick a card each, and they would showed it to the audience. From a tightly sealed envelope, I took out 3 jumbo cards, exactly the cards they'd picked. I think you should know how to do this since you are into cards.

3. Animation.. ok, I picked up this trick from a local shop. The effect is that a spectator picked a card, I would draw the card on the drawing block, but it turned out to be the wrong one. On the second try, I drew a deck and then, the chosen card would mysteriously rise up from the drawn deck. The best part is, the drawing can be examined by the audience. Very visual and kickass effect!

A 1 hour card show is alright.

I did 2 hours worth of card magic and the only non-card magic I did was ring leader. This performance was 2 weeks ago.

The people were completely entertained and they requested that I perform for them again. And, the 2nd performance was 2 days ago with 1 hour of card magic.

I was paid of course. For both events.

Card magic can entertain people. It just depends on how you present yourself.

I wouldn't advise that you lengthen each trick by a few minutes. It doesn't make sense. Well, not for me anyway. Continously hit them hard and fast. I'm only 16, so, it doesn't really make much sense to showcase myself as a psychic.

I'm not sure how old you are but I don't think its natural for someone of a young age to portray himself as a psychic. Get the idea?

Jeopardy by Paul Greene, Ambitious, Ultimate transpo, Sandwiches, the biddle trick..

The list goes on and on. Perform what you have mastered. Don't learn new things just for the performance.

Things that you have mastered appear very polished and it will surely impress.

PM me if you need anything.

WOW.. guys.. thanks for all your comments man~! really envious of all your experiences and chances.. yea.. i would definitely try my best to put some non-card effects in.. but the thing is like black wing said.. i don't wish to do stuff that i'm not confident in.. and after maybe doing magic for maybe half a year i think i could pull the thing off with cards better.. but don't worry guys.. i included a cups and balls routine but i'm not sure of my kicker ending.. so does anyone have any good suggestion? and oh yea.. i think i will include crazyman handcuff though.. but i'm just afraid that the people behind could not enjoy it as much.. hahaz.. but nevertheless.. thanks a lot for all your comments~!! ^_^ and oh yes.. blackwing.. if i need anything definitely will ask u.. hahaz..

If it is a close up setting, everyone should be able to see what you're doing. CMH is probably one of the best close up effects ever. Bear in mind that it can be done completely surrounded. If you are worried about people at the back not being able to see what you are doing, most probably the crowd is more suited towards a parlour setting. That way you can just do your cups and balls and card routines when everyone is seated. :)

mindbender's pretty good for close-up magic. very, very hard hitting.