SOMF Effects and Tips

New Trick Idea: Playing with the Queen of Hearts

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:52:48 -0400

Alright, I came up with the idea for this trick on my own, so if it already exists, sorry, but I feel exhilerated after performing it and getting a huge reaction. So, my apologies if this effect has already been demonstrated elsewhere. Also, don't worry, it's an effect a beginner could pull off; but it LOOKS complex because it's full of a few very easy moves that seem stupifying when put together.

Effect: 5 random spectators think of one letter each and write their letter down on a slip of paper provided to each of them. The mentalist makes a few markings on the back of these slips of paper and hands them back out to the audience in a different order, increasing the randomness. They can even exchange slips with each other, and when they feel the slips of paper have been completely randomized, each spectator is asked to cup both their hands over their personal slip of paper, to ensure no interference or switching. A sixth spectator is selected from the audience, and this sixth person selects one of the original 5 people. This selected person opens his hands to reveal the slip of paper held there, which reads a "Q" on one side, and has a drawing of a heart on the other side. The magician then takes a deck of cards out from his pocket, and asks the volunteer to look for the queen of hearts in the deck. After finding it isn't there, the magician pulls it out of his sock. The magician then asks the other 4 non-selected participants to open their slips of paper, and each find a giant "X" written on the back. Everyone is amazed, the end.

What You'll Need: 6 spectators, 5 slips of paper, a pen or pencil, a deck of cards WITHOUT a queen of hearts (well, not exactly, you have to hide it somewhere on your person to pull out later. I recommend a jacket pocket or other pocket. If you're a humorous kind of magician, hide it in your sock! ), and some personality!

Setup: Hide the Queen of Hearts somewhere on your person. Breathe. You're done setting up, go perform!

Performance: This is the trick I'm most proud of in my routine. The first five spectators REALLY DO have free choices of letters. But the patter HAS to work in a certain way. Mine is, "I'd like you to write down a letter, but make it something kind of quirky, so no "RSTLNE" or vowels or anything like that". This piece is crucial to perform this trick well, because it combines human limitations (there are only so many letters to choose from after the parameters have been set), cognitive behavior patterns (there are only so many letters the brain deems "quirky"), and suggestion (the word quirky starts with a "Q") to all force the letter "Q". In the highly improbable event written down, find the two most common letters in the set, and make a joke about how they should make theirs more like the others. "Q" will probably work then. If not, think on your feet given how to do the rest of the trick.

Once they have written down their letters, collect the pieces of paper from the audience, while tracking the slip with "Q" written on it. Now draw a heart on the backside of the slip with "Q" written on it, and draw an "X" on the back of every other letter. Hand the slips back to the spectators, and tell them that, in the interests of maintaining the randomness, they can't look at the other side of their slip of paper just yet. They may reorganize themselves however they wish, and reorganize the slips of paper however they wish, but through all this, make sure you, the magician, have tracked the "Q" with a heart on the back and remember which person is holding it. When they are satisfied with the randomness of the situation, ask them all to cup their hands so no one knows who holds what slip of paper.

At this point, however, you do know who holds the only significant piece of paper. This means it is possible to use the 6th spectator to do a magician's choice routine, forcing the person who holds the piece of paper with "Q" on the front and a heart on the back, while making it look like ANOTHER free choice. Then, of course, the person with the "Q" and the heart opens his hands, revealing a playing card name. At this point hand your 51 card deck to him, and whatever you do from there is your own personal stylistic choice!

Sorry it's so long, I just wanted my ideas to be clear and easy to follow. If anyone needs calarification on anything, don't hesitate to ask! Anyway, hope you enjoyed it and at least can enjoy musing about it, if not perform it. Hope to see some feedback or suggestions (haha) for ways to improve the effect. Anyways, I've got to go to sleep (it's past midnight), so see you later SOMF!

- Yours,
Robert G.

P.S. This works both busking and in stage performing, so it's versatile and amazing any time there's a large group of people!

Pinky Break/Palm Break

Sat, 19 May 2012 15:18:38 -0400

Hi all! I'm relatively new to card magic, and I just have a small question about sleight of hand card tracking. When doing forces and other sleights which require easy access to a certain card, I use a palm break insted of a pinky break. Does one of these look more natural from the spectator's perspective? (Will I HAVE to learn how to pinky break well?)

Thanks SOMF,
Robert G.

Awsome reactions

Sat, 19 May 2012 14:29:22 -0400

You know I did'nt want to add to. I wanted to start a whole new thread. Holy Cow the reactions that I am getting with my fire wallet is awsome. They love this effect. I produced a choosen card out of this baby and they go crazy. I learned it to put it my show, I did and WOW. Peace

Cut and Restored Power Cord

Sat, 19 May 2012 14:00:20 -0400

So basically this is another presentation I was gonna post, but I have one issue with the method.

It's inspired by the Cut and Restored Christmas Light String
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RksM2cb_iBg

So I could do it like this, BUT I really want to display both ends cleanly (on in each hand) like this:

So here goes the presentation (wording is similar to Eric's above)
"Everybody knows the trick where a magician cuts a rope, let's try it with this power cord that is lying around on the floor for no apparent reason".
Spectator cuts the cord with full metal scissors (sparks etc, like in Eric's video).

Then the stage lights go out and it takes a few seconds before someone (staff, crew etc...) lights up the stage again with a big flash light.
In the beam stands the performer clearly displaying the two halfs of the cord. "Ooopsie"
Since there's a few moments of darkness I could do all kinds of switches and stuff.

Then the performer would take the two ends, hold them together and the cord is healed. And this is my problem.
I don't know how I could do this.

Any advice on this?

Thanks

Clotch

Sat, 19 May 2012 08:36:32 -0400

guys is there anyone here know the clotch trick?? tnx guys god speed

Regards,
Cross

Bottle Cap Challenge as Magic

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:36:50 -0400

I've seen the bottle cap challenge on YouTube a couple times and was intrigued by it. I thought that with some patter it could be turned into an entertaining magic trick. I decided to give it a try in my March school performance.

I presented it as a test that is used to determine if a person has the talent to be an illusionist.

I showed that one ball could be pulled through the other, and then called up a student to give it a try.

After the student failed I gave him some tips on it so he would succeed.

Larry

Card to Pocket

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:44:46 -0400

I had the craziest idea the other day on how to get a card into a specators pocket and it worked... what i did was i started of with my usual 2 card monte routine, but when i made them turn the two "aces" over revealing to jokers, I palmed of the top three cards: the 2 aces and a duplicate of a later forced card, and acted like i pulled the aces out of the specs pocket meanwhile ditching the (6 of diamonds) and leaving it there. I went through 3 other routines, some mentalism some ambitious card, then I did the old fashioned "Im gonna riffle through the deck and try to see one card" trick to force the 6 of diamonds. ( plus with the other half the deck i did the same thing and forced the 8 of clubs to do "Insignia" which i LOVE) ANYWAY, I then told him his card vanished from the deck and told him to spread the cards he was holding out, (i used double stick tape) and it was gone, i told him it was in his left jacket pocket and he FLIPPED. Just thought I'd share my experience and maybe find out if people have done this before or if this is just a new idea. and if it isnt new, is there any tips anyone can give me? Because that and "Insignia" combo was my grand fanale to an already great show in the park today! Thanks in advance for any reply!

-Watkins

fire wallet

Thu, 17 May 2012 21:58:42 -0400

So I just recieved my Mason fire wallet doesnt work every time i use the flint though. Should I be using more lighter fluid now I am just using a few drop as directed and the initial ( most important ) ignition does happen it seems to be good for onlt 2-3 lights and then I have to refuel.

(Maybe) A New Idea for bending an Initialed Quarter?

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:28:17 -0400

So when I do my quarter bend I dont use any gimmicks i just do the old classic switch for a bent one, but the other day i tried this new idea i had and im sorry if its nothing new to you guys but i was pretty happy upon discovering it...

To set up, i just wrap my quarter in cloth and bend it with pliers you know the usual...
Then i write my initials on the back of it.

For performance i tell the spec to sign their initials on the face, and ill sign mine on the back, (so they get to actually sign a flat regular borrowed quarter) I note what their initials are then i switch for my pre bent quarter and say im writing MY initials but im really just doing a copy of the specs! then I do my "wonderful feat of strength" and they get blown away!

Can anyone tell me if this is a new principle or am I just being ignorant here? Sorry i just started my new meds and theyre making me "drowsy" to say the least so I apologize for any typing errors.

- Watkins

new trick

Thu, 17 May 2012 08:48:36 -0400

guys just invented a new trick i called mental magic trick..

watch out for my video, and probably my first vid..

so, i keep all of you posted..

Regards,
Cross