Do all the hard moves you like!

For a long time, I’ve practiced many card moves in order to have an arsenal of techniques to help me out of many situations. That being said, some of the moves are not the most “practical” but are useful in certain situations. Some of the moves are very difficult but allow for minimal obvious movement and others require a good amount of misdirection. Regardless, it always seems that someone has a move that’s better, or a reason as to why the move I’m doing isn’t the best choice. 

To be honest, I believe that every move has a purpose and also everyone has a move that they can do very well in almost any condition. There are so many tricks, moves, controls, steals etc. that it’s almost impossible to learn them all. But just because you have a move that you’re comfortable with does that mean that you shouldn’t learn any others? If the move is hard, does that mean that it’s useless because there is an easier way? Should we always look for shortcuts?

I’ve found that sometimes the best way to reach my goal in a close up effect is to use moves that can be considered “difficult” or moves that “can be achieved with a double lift.”

This is usually spot on, the end result is the same but sometimes using a difficult move can create moments where seemingly nothing has happened and I can do things “away from the heat”. This is why I practice those moves, especially with cards. When doing card effects I try to make the effect as streamlined and “hands off” as possible. My goal is to make my audience think that I never touched the deck.

Too often  most people say that moves are too difficult or are not needed don’t take the time to really study the move and its possibilities–by saying that something is “too hard” you’re putting up blocks in your learning and in your performance.

I’ve been luck enough to be surrounded by some of the most amazing slight of hand professionals of our time and I’ve never heard them say that something is “too hard“, instead they say “I’m gonna have to practice this for a while” or “let me play with this and see if I can use it“.

Test your limits and try something you’ve never done before. Practice hard and develop a solid practice routine and before you know it people will be telling you “that move is way too hard.” It’s actually a really good feeling because usually that person can’t or won’t take the time that you have and will not get as far as you will go.

Tell me what you think of “hard moves”. And tell me what are your thoughts as well.

-Xavior

Color changes are some of the most visual effects possible in card magic. Magicians have strived for well over a century to create a color change that required no funny moves, and no cover – but it’s been impossible. A playing card just doesn’t change without help… until now.

Jay Crowe and Jason Brumbalow teamed up to create Aura – the card that prints itself.

From a blank deck a card is chosen and placed in the hands of a spectator. They are told to think of a card, and visualize the image flowing forth from their mind to the blank card in their hand. Slowly, Visually, face up, the image materializes from nothing. The blank card has manifested ON ITS OWN, becoming the very card they had in their mind. 
Witness what real magic should look like as the image of their card breathes itself into existence before their eyes.

With Royal Wave, G has created magic that will make you the most feared player at the card table. After showing a hand that any player in their right mind would muck, you flick your wrist – and show the cards have changed – into a Royal Flush. No gaffs, no gimmicks, no pulls – just sleight of hand card magic at its best.

Today is a very good day for magic.

From a three-card monte routine to a can’t-miss promo, today is a good day for card magic lovers.

Fade is a brilliant expansion of the three-card monte plot. Find the lady? Good luck. In Chris Mayhew’s version, you’ll lose track of the queen, the spot cards, even the whole deck. Mayhew’s Fade uses no false throws, shifty switches or fast flinging. In fact, all he’s doing is raising and lowering the deck. And with more kickers than a Jackie Chan movie, Fade throws in surprise after dizzying surprise.

Fade will pack your arsenal with a great routine good for all kinds of street situations. In the process, you’ll learn two new sleights and get some leads on paths to further your card magic research.

Download Fade, and throw some extra cards in your order. You’ll want to stock up now, because until midnight Saturday, we’ll double-down your LTD decks. If you spend $150 on an order with shippable merchandies, you’ll get two LTD decks instead of one. These decks have become one of the most talked-about collectibles this year, and you have a chance to snag two of them.

This offer expires at midnight Saturday (U.S. Eastern), so don’t miss out. Stock up on Artifice Second Edition decks, in both colors. You’ll find they work perfectly for Fade.

You don’t need a deck of cards to perform an unforgettable card trick.

How many of your friends and family have iPhones? Oh yeah — a bunch of them. So when you tell them to check your messages, and they hear a message on your phone that reveals a chosen card that they THOUGHT of, they are going to go nuts.

Premonition is the definition of “in their hands magic.” This interface works exactly like the OS everyone knows how to use. In effect, they are not going to see you do any strange, pre-magic movements on the screen before you hand your iPhone over. All they are going to do is access your messages, then flip out.

The instructions are clear and the trick is easy to use. Once you do your setup, you are ready to perform this for everyone, forever.

This is powerful magic that is more attached to you than a deck of cards — you might not pack a pack every day, but you always have your iPhone with. Like your iPhone, you can be always on, ready go.

Premonition is now available from the App Store.

Talk about living the dream. Magician Nate Staniforth was already on his way to breaking big when he appeared on Crash Course 2 performing an awesome ambitious card routine. (Editor’s note: Seeing his hands shake cured me over worries about my own hand shakes.)

The Daily Iowan reported on Staniforth’s upcoming performance Friday at the University of Iowa, and found out that street magic legend David Blaine called him up about one of his illusions.

“I had just got done doing a show, and I get this phone call from some weird number,” Staniforth said. “And it turned out to be David Blaine. At first I thought it was one of my friends messing with me, but it really was him telling me that he wanted to use one of my illusions for his upcoming special. He was one of my heroes growing up, so it was quite an experience.”

Killer. One of Nate’s effects could be part of what’s rumored to be Blaine’s last stunt special.

Friday’s show is also a keystone portion of an upcoming documentary he’s been producing. A 12-person crew has followed him on tour for the last eight months.

Also, check out the awesome pictures of Staniforth taken by the Iowan’s Kathleen Willem.