| We all know that practicing is the key to success in just about anything, but practice in regards to magic is unique in the sense that it needs to be done in private, or does it? While in Germany, I took a trip through Berlin with a young magician friend of mine on the way to a magic convention. This kid was very clever with his hands and he naturally always had a deck of cards with him. He had a beautiful one hand top palm and the reason I mention it will become apparent in a moment. While we traveled on crowded buses and trams throughout the city, he practiced his one hand top palm. He was so proud of his ability that as countless laymen watched him in curiosity, he would palm the card, and then after a pause, reveal it classic palmed in his hand for everyone to see as if to say, �look how clever I am, I secretly got this card in my hand without any of you seeing it!� After exposing his palm to several dozen onlookers, I asked him if he thought that it was a good idea to be exposing such a valuable move just to show off your skill and he only shrugged his shoulders and said, �who cares?� I thought a lot about that day, and then thought a lot about how much magic I may have exposed in my years of practicing. I used to bring my cards with me everywhere and practice wherever I was; in school, at work, waiting for the movie to start, on public transportation, at the doctor�s office, in the break room, the cafeteria, everywhere you can think of. Naturally I would try not to expose methods such as palming, double lifts, passes, etc. while I practiced, but I eventually cursed myself in another way; I was known as the guy that always had cards with him. This was no good either because there was nothing special about it. The novelty and charm was gone. It was so commonplace for me to have a deck in my hand that people would ask me where they were when I didn�t have them. How much magic do you think I showed them? How much magic do you think they wanted to see? Do you think anybody found anything magical about the fact that I could find four aces in the blink of an eye? Did anybody even care? Naturally, I am referring only to family, friends and acquaintances, not a paid or a stranger audience, but I regret learning my moves in front of my friends and family, for they will never again be fooled by a double lift and will always assume there is a card palmed in one of my hands, regardless of what I do or which methods I employ. True, I gained the level of skill that I have now from constant practice, and I certainly wouldn't have the same level of skill that I have now if I had not taken my cards with me everywhere and practiced, but there was a price to pay for it. I guess the point I am trying to make is this; practice responsibly. Although now I am a firm believer that you should not practice at all in front of laymen, I know that is somewhat impractical for the beginning magician, especially someone who has a strong interest in cards. Why shouldn�t you be able to sit at a friend�s house and watch a movie and practice your pass at the same time? Just keep in mind how you want others to perceive you. Are you known as the guy that always has cards or coins in his hands? If you are, then you may want to reconsider and think about how this relates to the magic you wish to perform and the reputation you wish to have. It is all that more amazing when you see someone that you thought had little or no skill in a certain field do something that clearly displays great skill in that particular field. After all, you don�t want people to say �it�s no wonder he can find my card, he has cards in his hands 24 hours a day!� If you insist on practicing in public, practice flourishes or something that looks legitimate (like false cuts and shuffles). And please, practice the flourishes that you already have down well, as nothing looks worse than a sloppy card flourish. If you must practice palming, it�s easy (and fun) to put a card or coin in classic palm and keep it there all the time as you go about your daily business and practice keeping it out of view from everyone. This will not only help you facilitate the palm, but after a while you won�t even notice it anymore, and if you don�t notice it, there is no way that you can telegraph it to anyone. It�s similar to Michael Ammar�s idea of wearing a thumb tip 24 hours a day for a week until it�s like second nature. When you resort to practicing moves in public that should normally go unseen (like the top palm) you are defeating the whole point of learning the sleights in the first place (not to mention committing the worst of all magical crimes: exposure). But the best advice of all is to practice in private. Practice is something to be respected. You are learning an art that solely depends on secret moves and methods. These moves should be practiced as far away from laymen as possible. There�s no need to clue them in about anything! The further you distance yourself away from being known as �the guy who always plays with cards,� the more powerful your magic becomes when you finally perform. I know the tendency to show off is hard to resist, but for a change leave the cards in your pocket (or at home) the next time you go out with friends or family, and don�t make the rude mistake of toying with your cards when you talk to someone. They deserve your attention so put your cards away and give them the attention they deserve. Save the fancy flourishes for the right time and place, for it will surly come. Don�t waste them sitting on a bus or waiting in line at the bank. In the words of T. Nelson Downs, �let art conceal art.� Practice intelligently and responsibly and save yourself and your reputation from being unnecessarily tarnished. These words are of course my own opinion, but I hope they help someone in some small way, and in essence, help us all as magicians and performers; after all, WE are the ones responsible for magic today. BACK |
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