I think I should have wrote this for the next Magic Essay Competition, it might just win. But heck, I just want to share this encouraging experience with you guys. Maybe it might revive the mojo for some of you!!

Anyway...

A colleague of mine (a lady, and my biggest magic fan in office) told me she saw a show on TV last night which exposed many of Blaine's tricks, including 2 Card Monte, my killer trick.

She was quite "ya-ya" that she finally knew the secret and even demonstrated right in front of me how to do it. I realized she was using the usual top-change version (of course, she did it very badly). So I told her my version is different (Oz Pearlman's version, doesn't require a top-change) and offered to perform for her again to see if she can see what I did.

I did the trick (with platter and misdirection), and she was stunned, even though she had just watched the trick on TV last night!! She didn't know when did I turned the t***le over, didn't know I managed to change her cards w/o a top change!!

It just shows that presentation is REALLY more important than the technique itself. So even if people know about DL, even if they know about P**ming, even if they saw "Breaking the Magician Code", if you have a powerful presentation, you can still amaze!!

This i agree, is the way "if you have a powerful presentation, you can still amaze!!" :P

and sir you are amaze!! not carrying but really agree with the statement. B)

^_^ This is good news. I saw the show as well. It wasn't a very good one, I can tell you that. They make magicians sound like scammers, not entertainers. <_<

Btw, this kinda reminds me of the topic of "different methods for the same effect" thing.

yea actually with the big guys like david blaine and criss angel around on tv showing magic, most of the street magic stuff with do, will be the same as those they've shown on tv. I mean, very often i hear my frens talk about a trick that they've seen recently..mayb in a pub or somewhere and they end off by say 'ya ya!!it's the same that david blaine did!!' and they get damn excited that they actually saw it LIVE!

so even tho most magician will know the 2card monte and mayb the biddle trick or ACR..but each one of us will have our individual style. so it all boils down to presentation and our pattering. Like last time i had a friend..i showed her the two card monte..the same on that david blaine did on tv..and she was impressed..and i learnt Oz pearlman's version and i showed her on another occasion..and she was like all freaked out..and i was thinking "huh wassup man..you've seen this one b4"

So my point is that altho most magician know the effect whereby 2 aces change to 2 queens, or vice versus. But to laymen, it could come in a form of a gambling cheat, or a memory test. And as far as laymen are concern, a different patter would mean a different trick to them altogether.

Its navie to think that presentation can cover up everything and any mistakes from your mis-practise.


However, I guess, presentation enhances certain aspects of magic make other (ie, technique) more subtle hence go by with your spectators.

I think nobody here thinks it that way. We are not that naive.

I never said anyone did.

But taken to the extreme, if one feels that great presentation can be make up for the lack of practise, then that is native.

Then please make yourself clear next time because your statement sounded really offensive. Kinda make us sound like kids.

Well, my apologies then. I'm sorry.


But I dont think you should actually feel offended because, what I'm saying is an example, which I made no reference to anyone.


But I guess when you dwell more in to the magic world, you'd realise that there are plenty examples of such cases.