thanks for the kind words. I'll try to keep the site updated. :)

I would understand that... but are you really convincing the spectator that you are doing that? If i was a laymen and i put the card back in the MIDDLE and without anything being said, he just cuts the deck. Obviously i am thinking you are trying to control the card. Hate to break the illusion... people know you can stick your little finger into the deck and keep place of the card.

It isn't about the sleight itself. Magicians are so caught up about the revelation of the card that they forgot to make the trick seem impossible by loosing their card.

The whole debate of if a Fan or cascade looks "natural" is a stupid one. The way you spread the cards, the way you perform a double lift is way different than any laymen. Do they suspect that you are doing something weird? Hope not. Why? Because it has become you. That's what a SKILLED person with cards does.

that video is a good example. I LOVE Spellbound, but I hate all the routines out there... All the moves screams out switching coins. But what if you could do one that is more... gritty. Like rubbing the coin. Not so showy.

yeah. sorry about that. I meant to use the double undercut doing the video. my bad.

I don't ever understand when magicians say that. What is normal for a magician? should we handle cards like a laymen dropping it everywhere? What normal is is what you make of it. I don't think a layman will think... man he does a great thumb-fan... but why did he cascade the cards... seems so out of place.

It's only out of place if your body language makes it out of place. Just like anything, you can learn it to make it apart of you.

I agree about cascading without reason. When I do it I say "So your card is somewhere in here.... yeah?" and they say "yes". you got them convinced that their card is still lost, and the cascading is to tell them it could be in here.. anywhere. When you do the move like you are trying to be fair... no breaks or anything, and your body language is like that, then they don't suspect a thing.

Hell... why the hell would you do a double undercut for no reason. That is more out of place I think, and plus they know you are trying to cut to the card.

thanks for that example. I think the main point is that many magicians just don't think like what is stated above. They read a move and learn it and think that's how it is done. In his mind, he is doing a move. What is he integrating it to? Nothing. People can say that he hasn't practiced enough or that the technique he is using is flawed, but then why does he still learn it wrongly? Doesn't looking in the mirror tell him that it just isn't that good? That's the illusion, why do magicians not see how horrible the construction of the move is when its starring them in the face?

I agree that having a mentor helps out so much, but many don't have one. I didn't. What is missing with many kids doing magic now a days is the force to make them perform for real people. That is the main thing that will make you quit or make your magic better. Youtube makes you feel you are showing everyone how "cool" you are but you still have the wall being behind your computer that no one can really hurt your ego. Go out and show people what that kid showed and they will laugh at you. The point is, does it make you stronger and prove to them you can fool them? Many kids don't have the guts to go through with it.

I pull the card out with my pinky, so the card is acutally side and back jogged quite a ways, that way the break doesn't show up.

i think double facers has a more magical feel than double backers. Honestly never thought about it much, just like the look of showing double face deck.

at times like these, I refer you to this video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2HQnDvImyQ&feature=r...