by Aaron Fisher on June 14, 2010
Well, it’s finally here: the final installment of my audio series on the student/teacher relationship. If you haven’t already figured it out, aside from the connection between the performer and the audience, this is the most important relationship you’ll have as a magician.
In this installment, you’ll hear about my first trip to Fechters, my first trip to California and the Magic Castle, and what it was like to meet two of card magic’s greatest icons: Larry Jennings and Michael Skinner.
In the process, you’ll find out why I became a ‘California’ Card Man – and why deep down, you just might be one too!
Aaron meets Larry Jennings and Michael Skinner
by Aaron Fisher on March 17, 2010
First enjoy a fun new approach to card control, built especially for Search and Destroy – it will control a card to any number from the top of the deck. Then grab your copy of The Paper Engine and see if you can figure out exactly how I’ve adapted it from the original sleight. Reconstruct this and you’ll have a powerful tool almost entirely to yourself!
You’ve just seen a new application of my Outjog Herrmann Pass. Here’s how it came about.
While in Las Vegas for my birthday a few weeks ago, i got to session for a few minutes with Michael Close and Dean Dill. Both are great magicians, and each showed me different variations of my own tricks.
Dean’s idea really got me thinking. He gave me permission to share it with you.
He has a really smart way of getting into Search and Destroy. He simply spreads the pack face-up and has the spectator touch a card. As he displays the selection in the spread, he catches a left fourth finger break a few cards behind the selection. As he turns the deck face-down, a simple turnover pass controls the selection to the perfect position for Search and Destroy!
Dean’s idea got me thinking about using a face-up selection for Search and Destroy. The approach I came up with uses one of my favorite ideas from The Paper Engine. It’s very deceptive and requires very little tension. After you watch the video, drop me a comment and let me know what you think. I’m really curious to know!
Hint: If you want to reconstruct this you’ll have to be clever!
Please remember, the selection is only reversed so you can better appreciate the control. In real performance, you simply ask a spectator to touch a card and then cleanly push it flush with the deck. You’d then cleanly turn the deck face-down, with no moves, and begin the effect.