Constructive criticism and ideas welcomed
Core Card Magic Set 1: Script A
[clear mat/table of props, make point of removing ‘fluff’ – allow a brief moment of silence – this is the good stuff!]
*smile, and make eye-contact with a few spectators* [pull deck from pocket]
[hold deck case clearly in r.hand] “I love card magic.”
[open deck case, cards fall into l.hand, case to side, casual spread and shuffle/cut sequence] + “Since the beginning cards have been used to make, lose and tell fortunes. The tools of gamblers, seers and charlatans. Just think for a second of all the songs that have used playing cards to illustrate love, chance and fate.” *said with half-seriousness, but with a true underbelly*
[deck squared neatly on the table]
“And with such a rich history behind me, I felt the need to show you a card trick that is a small step beyond most magical mysteries; a truly fantastic trick that goes further than most. Sound good?”
*ask, by name, for a number between 10-20* - do FTT, emphasising and jazzing with the refrain, ‘most magicians would stop there … but THIS trick goes FURTHER than THAT!’
Aim for rapt attention punctuated by moments of light humour and climaxing with a pleasant moment of astonishment. After each magic moment highlight the reactions of the audience – “I can tell you like that one!”, “Cool, huh?”, “You should see this guy’s face here,” etc. Try and build a genuine rapport with the audience during this trick, ad lobbing where appropriate and being natural and friendly, yet in control.
End with the flourishy display of a royal flush, the wrap-up line “No-one can go further than that!” and laugh with the audience, giving a nod to accept applause. Possible additional throw-away line, “You see why no one wants to play cards with me? Such a hard life.”
*transition to the next effect, change of gears – more serious, more elegant rather than playful. Wait a beat or two to let people settle into the new mood easily*
“Let me clear some of these cards away. I want to show you something beautiful with just eight cards.”
*pause*
“As well as wonderful tricks, cards can also be used to display astonishing optical illusions. Watch the four aces and the four spades …”
[optical illusion performed silently – aiming for an Extraordinary Moment of visual magic]
*let the final moment hang silently, then nod and smile to accept applause*
[a change of gears now, a lighter tone, with a winking eye, and more focussed on skill than magic]
“Let me take away a few more cards. By reducing the number of cards I’m handling, I’m making it more and more difficult for myself – fewer places for my hands to hide. Using a full deck is hard enough, using just eight was even harder, but now I’ll use just four. Yeah, I know … I’m either crazy, or I really am That good. Because of the difficulty of this, I’ll stick with the cards I have most well trained – the four Aces. There’s only one of those that ever gives me any difficulty …”
[Twisting the Aces] “See, the Ace of Hearts is obedient … but it’s the Ace of Spades who’s the Trickster!”
“If I twist them round this way, I can make the Ace of x roll over. Twist the other way and now the Ace of x rolls over instead … but never the Ace of Spades. Twisting doesn’t move him at all …”
“If I tickle the cards, then the Ace of x comes out to play … But even a back-scratch doesn’t move the stubborn Ace of Spades; no, not even a double-twist followed by a massage …”
No. Instead, what you have to do is put the cards down, and act like the trick is all over … Then pounce, and catch him red-handed, looking over his shoulder.”
*make it light, quick and with no real chit-chat – this is fun transition effect, not a high point*
“I love card magic. O.K, we’ll bring in the whole deck again now.” [shuffle sequence]
“This last trick is a real classic, and like most classic card mysteries it starts with you (name?) picking a card, if you would be so kind …”
[Red Hot Mama – try to combine an air of fun with an astonishing ending; bow for applause – like it was the last effect]
*If all has gone well, there’s a good chance the audience want more – if so, then add in this final trick.*
“OK, ok. Just one more. One final wonder. And I think … yes … I think I can show you something that’s beyond normal trickery … Can I show you real magic? Would that be ok?” *a devilish hint at something forbidden and powerful and different* [shuffle sequence]
“With the tricks so far I’ve naturally been using sleight of hand, but this mystery is the real deal. I am going to create a moment of fated synchronicity; I want to bring you, for a brief moment, into the world of the weird …” [bring out prediction envelope] “We’ll come back to this later.”
“(name), could you picture a clock face for me …” (go onto Overclock/Casino clock).