Hello!

I've been surfing the forum and came across the following words:

1. Magic effects
2. Flourishes
3. anomalies
4. Control

Somehow it seems that they mean different act in magic.

Appreciate your help in explaining!

Thanks!!!

Magic effects = magic tricks (some don't like to use the word "tricks")

Fluorishes = fancy movements to show or do something. eg. fans, fancy cuts, coin rolls...

the other 2 , just refer to a dictionary. They mean the same.

Hope it helps.

1) A magic effect is otherwise known as a 'trick' in simpler terms. Eg, "I saw this great effect where Criss Angel levitated about 10,000ft in the air."

2) Well flourishes are some form cuts/shuffles/manipulations you can do with cards/coins/balls that are just for show. Some examples would be a one-handed cut or a coin roll.

3) I'm trying very hard to not reference this to what I'm currently studying now (Database Design and Implementation), but I believe the definition of this term is "something out of the norm" ? I wouldn't really think this is a magic 'term' per se.

4) Control... gah I don't know if I'm exposing anything but mods please edit this as you see fit. A control is when you basically control your spectator's selection to the position you want it to be.

Hope that helped.

With regard to the term "effect", it is used by some magicians who feel that the term "trick" implies trickery whereas "effect" is more indicative of actual magic.

Thanks Jeff, Cioxxx and Joe112!

I suppose the flourishes are being used to enhance the magical effect? On cioxxx explanation about control, i guess that is going to take alot of practices!!

But still thanks for your help!!

Cheers!

In a way, you can say flourishes do bring your magic to another level, although it is really just for show.

this has been a subject of debate among magicians for a long long time now...

let's not go there.

Aye man, chill. I wasn't looking to go into that area anyways. Sorry if my response made it seem otherwise.

I would like to offer my definitions for 2 terms which I feel has not been addressed fully yet:

Effect - Besides simply being a substitute for the work "trick", I think there are 2 more definitions.

1. A general term for what magic achieves (most agree there are 7 effects in magic - production, vanish, transposition, transformation, penetration, restoration, levitation). Although this definition can be narrowed, such as in the ACR, the effect can be "The selected card keeps rising to the top of the deck." In any case, the effect should be general enough such that different tricks can achieve the same effect.

2. A point in the routine where the magic happens (or supposedly happens).


Anomalies - In context, anomalies refer to discrepancy moves. Sleights/methods that appear normal and achieve the desired results, yet, on closer scrutiny, they actually do not make sense.

Hi GordonLi,

Thanks!! Just last night that i watch THEM casino clips. I guess it really fits your anomalies description!

THEM's really coooool!

Probably we can start forming similar magician group in Singapore! But then again, i'm just too far away from it. :P

Aren't we one big family?

"Who are you?"
"I am one of SMC."
"Who- SMC? What?"
"I am... one of SMC."

- harapan ong