How long should a stage card manipulation act be before you deem it overkill?

Any 'optimum' time, so to speak?

Hi,

I think should not be more than 3.5 - 4 mins. I watched alot of professional magicians perform Card manipulation, they usually don't do it more than 3.5 - 4 mins and most of their production and suchs are fast and straightforward.

However, if you are doing 'smooth' card manipulation as in you start slow, and then in the increase your speed gets abit faster then to finale. That will be good, again, timing will depend on you and also the music you're using. But for so called 'overkill' is when same moves are done again and again, that will be a no-no. And if you do card manipulation for too long, you have to really load alot of cards.

Anyway, Jeff Mcbride do give a couple of tips in structuring your routine and such in his DVD.

Just my some cents worth! (1 or 2 cents) ^_^

One deck of cards is actually enough to last you for 3mins. Usually, you start to throw away cards only towards the end of your act. Anyway, maybe you might want to create a theme for your card manipulation act instead of doing the usual "for no reason" productions.

I agree fully with both of you, thanks for the replies. :)