New Practice Regimen

[Blaireau]

02.03.09 Thumbing and Running

02.03.09

Thumbing


Time: 1:30 PM-2:30 PM

Moves: Review of previews day; Thumb Cuts

Rounds: Single Hand Left/Right; Double Handed; Single Handed Left/Right Review; Double Handed Review; Double Handed Alternating, Double Handed Alternating Review

Preform 10x correctly before advancing.

Goal: Proficiency in one handed cuts. This is a review of yesterday with additional thumb cut. The goal is to finish the practice set in one hour, all moves being completed smoothly at speed.

Notes:

Charlier—Right hand performs the cut more smoothly—the left hand spreads cards while the right hand breaks complete packets. Work on speed and smoothness will follow. During Double Handed, packet flipping came to mind: in the future, Double One Hand Cuts followed by both packets flipped onto the opposing hand. Work on breaking ample cards off in Double Handed.
Scissor—Left hand did this extremely well! Right hand was struggling with the move very much until I retried and watched left handed Scissor. The deck is in an elevated straddle position, and the middle phalanx of the thumb makes the best breaks. With that, my right hand started to make headway. The Scissor Cut also has possible applications for a popout move.


2:30 came and I barely finished Scissor Cut. Will return at 3:00 for next practice session.

Time: 3:15 PM- 4:15

Resume Practice

Notes:

Revolution—Went well. This seems to be getting easier.
Thumb—Right away I'm encountering problems. My thumb has a hard time with the retaining packet. Also, did L Cuts come around because someone was screwing the Thumb Cut? Trying to do this perfectly the first time wasn't working so well, so my only goal for completion was a decent cut. Moved on so I could finish the review. Right hand is progressing well. Left hand needs to make the little finger involvement automatic.

Ended at 4:15. Did not cover Single Hand Left/Right Review, Double Hand Review, Double Hand Alternating and Double Hand Alternating Review.

I wasn't satisfied with leaving at that though,so I resumed practice at 6:00 PM. Ended up having to re-do Thumb Cuts, left handed. My right hand does them better now, but the left needs work. My thumb has a hard time retaining the packet tight. Stopped at 7:00 PM




Running


Time: 10:20 PM-12:20 PM

Moves: Overhand Shuffle, Running Cards, Control of the Top Card, Control of the Bottom Card Control of the Top Stock, Control of the Bottom Stock

Rounds: Single Hand Left/Right, Single Hand Review

Perform 10x correctly before advancing.

Goal: To be comfortable with the overhand shuffle and overhand shuffle controls. Will return to review tomorrow.


Notes:

Overhand Shuffle—Pay attention to the sound of the cards, and be sure to keep a clean shuffle congruent with a controlled shuffle. Keep the hands away from the body, steady the elbow and forearms. No difficulty noted at this time. For all techniques, do not watch the shuffle; instead look up, and in a performance setting look at the spectators.
Running Cards—Set: Shuffle, Run 3x, Shuffle 2x, Run 3x, Shuffle 2x, Run 1x, Shuffle balance. Right handed running is not going well. Again, slowed down the move and worked on smoothness. Went better, but must return to re study tomorrow. Washed my hands, returned to the move, went easier. Adjusted the end grip of the shuffle hand to include the ring finger—gave a fuller control of the shuffle actions. Need to watch the discrepancies between a clean shuffle and runs. Need to work on minimizing the movement of the receiving hand. Also, voicing the action out loud (shuffle, run, run run, shuffle, shuffle, run, run, run, shuffle shuffle, run, shuffle) helps in completions.


I only got as far as Running cards. I wasn't fully into practicing tonight, and it didn't go so well. Ha, it's only the second day and I'm already slacking off. The Thumb Cut from earlier was still bugging me. It still is right now. I'm making headway though, little by little. It's just that the grind is annoying. Having to do the same move over and over again? That part's okay with me. It's the not seeing any progress and then realising how much more you have to do that trips me up. I should concentrate on completing one move at a time from now. I'll get more done and it'll be more fun that way. I can't keep this up for long if I'm all grumpy.
Also, am I the only one that finds it ironic that we're practicing so that we don't even know there's anything happening? Watching me shuffle over and over, I started to lose track of which were clean shuffles and which had runs. My eyes were decieved.

 

[Blaireau]

02.04.09 Skipping School

02.04.09-- Skipping School

Cardistry

Overview

Time: 6:30 PM- 7:00 PM, 10:00 PM-12:00AM

Moves: Review of previous moves(Charlier, Scissors, Revolution, Thumb)

Rounds: Single Hand Left/Right, Double Hand, Single Hand Left/Right Review, Double Hand Review


Notes

Thumb Cuts—Score!!! The left hand was giving me loads of trouble on this one. Started looking at it from the right angle mirror, and used that to focus on involving the little finger and it worked. Left hand is now doing better on this. Work on the confidence of the thumb's hold on the retained packet and on the little finger's involvement in securing the break packet.


Details

This one will be brief. Did not get to begin practice until 6:30. I went to a Starbucks to see how well the environment is for practicing, and it will work great. Being inside for such a long time is stifling, and it distracts from efficient practicing. So I get there, take out my cards and work on the Thumb Cut. This is rather fun, to be honest, because I'm starting to see improvements. It's quite rewarding. I only stayed for 30 minutes, but while there I noted how the thumb needs to have a confident hold on the retained packet. The later realisation of how the little finger is involved aided in this cut greatly. Didn't have any free time until 10 PM, and I'd only done started the cardistry practice for the day. I was planning on staying up until 2 to complete the four hour practice routine. I started with the review again. This time, I breezed through the Charlier, Scissor, and Revolution Single Hand Left/Right and Double Hand. The Thumb proved more difficult, and I spent a good half hour on this. Was finally able to complete that part of the practice and continued on to the Single Hand Left/Right Review, and Double Hand Review. That one took the rest of the time until 12 AM. Cardistry practice went well today; I'm feeling the comfort in doing the cuts. The visual smoothness will take repetition, and I'm not worried about that. After cardistry, I'm debating whether or not to stay up and do the magic practice. It's late though, and I'm not feeling well. I've stayed up late for the past few days, and it's taking a toll on me. Nothing major, but if I want this routine to be sustainable and consistent, as well as practical and reliable, then I'm going to need to keep myself in top form. So no staying up until 5 AM. Or 4, or 3, or 2, or 1. I need to be in bed by 12. Now, you dear reader might be asking, why all this excess information? I'm keeping track of it for myself so that I know what helps in making practice as efficient as possible. If I'm going to be half-groggy anyway, might as well just get some rest and make it up tomorrow. Also, working out is crucial. Not only do I need ample sleep, but I cannot be sedentary. It'll make me fidgety and restless when trying to concentrate and practice for hours straight. So sleep, exercise, and eat well. Drink lots of water. Jeez, this is sounding like some self help manual... With that, I'm off to bed. I'll be up early tomorrow to make sure that practicing gets done before 10 and I can actually get to bed at a humane hour. Oh, and one last note. Need to stop wasting time. Internet is only allowed from anywhere between 8-10 AM, and only one hour a day. So if I want to go do anything, I'll have to get up early. I'm allowed to post practice updates, but those have to be typed up before I even log on, and posting it is all I'm allowed to do.

Streamlining practice since 02.09,
--Badger

Night y'alls.

 

[Blaireau]

02.05.09 Six Hours

02.05.09--Six Hours

Cardistry

Overview

Time: 2:25 PM-4:45 PM

Moves: Review of previous moves(Charlier, Scissors, Revolution, Thumb)

Rounds: Single Hand Left/Right, Double Hand, Single Hand Left/Right Review, Double Hand Review, Double Hand Alternate, Double Hand Alternate Review


Notes

Mirror Usage--It's helpful to look at mirrors for correction of movements and for aesthetic look. Otherwise, pay attention to your hands in real time.


Details

This practice was fun. Instead of setting up my work station at the coffee table in the living room, I went to the dining room and set up on the kitchen table. The height adjustment of this for the mirrors and how I sit helped a lot. Funny enough, the worst part of practice the past few days was how my back would hurt because of the way I sat. I'm doing really well on all of the cuts, although there is a sloppiness that needs to be addressed. Tom Riddle would not be satisfied of my cuts. I'm more comfortable with everything, and I'm adding L-Cuts to the practice tomorrow. Soon the cuts will be smooth and clean, and I'll be able to move on to working on rhythm. I'm also looking forward to be able to routine these moves for a rel time performance for an audience. I love the montages people do, and that's what started me up on this. But I'm hungering for a live cardistry artist to stand on the walkway of Santa Monica and to dance on the sidewalk of Hollywood. I'm excited.



Card Magic

Overview

Time: 5:30 PM-7:40 PM, 9:40 PM-12:00 AM

Moves: Overhand Shuffle, Running Cards, Control of the Top Card, Control of the Bottom Card,

Rounds: Single Hand Left/Right,


Notes

Running Cards—I'm only working on comfort with the movement at this point. The smoothness comes later, and the rhythm will follow afterwards.
Use the index finger to stabilize the retained packet.


Details

I hit an epiphany today. I had been thinking of card magic and cardistry as two different things, keeping them separate in my head. And they are in a way. But essentially, they're both performing sleights with cards. The only difference is how they are presented, with cardistry being more of a stage art, and card magic (at it's best) being a spectator art, where instead of simply watching the spectator is asked to participate. Come to think of it, I'm not too sure there's anything else out there like magic. It's how we present it and what we have made it into that makes it different. I'm still not sure about this, and I need to wrap my head around it more. Anyway, the important part of this was that I saw how I needed to go about practicing card magic.

I was having a hard time going through Card College. I thought of it as a rather boring and dry task that I just had to get through until the next wave. That's the wrong way of thinking about it however. In fact, that's really not good for most things in life. After the first two hours, I was still shaky on Overhand Shuffle techniques. I hadn't gone very far in the chapter. So I took a break and decided to see what would come up. And that's when it hit me. It's all about the context. Without proper context, it's not magic but just a bunch of sleights performed to show off. That said, the sleights are the tools, the building blocks to establish the conclusions. Again, I haven't completely thought this through yet and I'm fumbling my words here, but I'll try and put it as best as I can.

I saw that I needed to practice sleights as they are, a tool for a context. That doesn't mean that they aren't important, but they are not what the spectator is supposed to see. I was focusing too much on the tiny nuances and details when I hadn't even been comfortable with the execution of the move yet. And more importantly, what's the use of knowing every sleight if you haven't got a proper context for it? Why learn an Overhand Shuffle, or a Hindu Shuffle when you usually Riffle Shuffle? What's the point of having a Christ Twist if you don't have anything to use it in? I saw a video utilizing a move from Smooth Operations and a move from Surfaced, and I realised, if there's nothing you are using it for, then why have it? The only clothes in your closet are the ones that you use, so why should you have sleights that you don't use? Even for showing off is a use, albeit not very pleasant.

And then I realised this. It's vocabulary. It's how you communicate the effects that you wish. And the more you know, the easier it is to get a message across. You don't use words that don't flow with the rest of a sentence, so don't use sleights that don't flow with the rest of the effect. Don't say magnanimous where big would fit better. Don't use a triple undercut where a pass will run smoother. And it runs both ways. Use magnanimous if you've been saying big too much, and use undercutting when the pass would be suspicious.

Looking at the Bucks, they don't have the same vocabulary that Madison has, and Madison the same as Blaine, or Blaine the same as England, and so on and so forth. What happens though, is that in their own vocabulary using their own terms in conjunction with their personality they are able to communicate well the experiences they seek to share with others.

That being said...is it in me to be a walking encyclopaedia with all of Card College at my fingertips?

This ought to be fun.

 

[praetoritevong]

Hey dude. Just wanted to add that I'm still reading every post despite not responding, and I'm sure others are too - so keep it up mate, great work.

 

[TheBlack&WhiteIllusionist]

Hey dude. Just wanted to add that I'm still reading every post despite not responding, and I'm sure others are too - so keep it up mate, great work.

... What he said... lol Thanks.

I'd love to try and give you something, almost anything that I think might help even a little bit. But it seems like you're figuring out everything quite well for yourself as you move along. Good stuff man.

 

[Blaireau]

Hey dude. Just wanted to add that I'm still reading every post despite not responding, and I'm sure others are too - so keep it up mate, great work.

Thanks mate. I'm not worried about anyone not posting though, so don't feel like you need to reply to anything. Awkward silences are a staple of my life.

... What he said... lol Thanks.

I'd love to try and give you something, almost anything that I think might help even a little bit. But it seems like you're figuring out everything quite well for yourself as you move along. Good stuff man.

Haha. Sure man. Wanna help me out on these Thumb Cuts? How about L Cuts for that matter? If you can practice for me that'd be great.

If anyone has any input on anything please, do tell. I'll try out anything at least once, and I'm thankful for all the help I can get.

 

[Blaireau]

02.06.09-- Starbucks and True Blood

02.06.09-- Starbucks and True Blood


Cardistry

Outline

Time: 2:30-5:45

Rounds: Single Hand Left/Right, Double Hand, Single Hand Left/Right Review, Double Hand Review, Double Hand Alternate, Double Hand Alternate Review

Moves: Charlier Cut, Scissor Cut, Revolution Cut, Thumb Cut


Notes

Rhythm-- The speed and succession of moves are dependent on an internal rhythm as much as proficiency with the moves. When you can do a cut without having to focus all attention on the performance of the cut, you will perform it better. When you do cuts unconsciously, then you can structure them into a flowing routine. To borrow a term...eugh...”unconscious competence”, perhaps? Try doing the moves at an even pace, rhythm, to so it in a smooth and ordered fashion.


Details

I went to a Starbucks to do the practice session today. I wanted to see how not having the mirrors would affect practice. Instead of paying too much attention to detail and getting caught up in specific fingering, I was able to focus more of the feel of the cuts. They had some nice music playing in the background too. Actually, I started doing the cuts to the music. Man, am I looking forward to being able to dance with these. I opened up a second deck and played around with Double Handed Double Deck cuts towards the end. I ran over time and I wanted to keep going but I still had to do the card magic practice. After that I headed home.



Card Magic

Outline

Time: 1:00 AM-3:30 AM

Rounds: Single Hand Left

Moves: Dribble Pass


Notes

Dribble Pass-- A pass is an invisible move. There should be nothing for the spectators to even notice. My usual pass is very noticeable—my fingers flare out and the deck is elevated by the thumb. There's visual noise pointing out the move. I was able to drastically reduce the movement; my thumb no longer needs to elevate the deck and the other fingers are moving less. This will take repetition to be normalised.

Details

Right...So what's the deal with the time discrepancy, you ask? Well, today was an experiment in a more relaxed practicing, and I got a little carried away. After Starbucks, I was unsure of how to go about the card magic practice. Card College is a lot more structured than what I was doing with cardistry and the expansiveness is disheartening. Instead of struggling with the overhand shuffle, I went to a move that was more natural and comfortable to me; the dribble pass. At this point in time it was really late, but I went ahead and practiced anyway. Instead of sitting in front of the mirror though, I grabbed my deck and played around while watching True Blood. Anna Paquin? Wow. Great actress. The story needs work and some of the characters don't completely agree with me, but it's a good watch. I digress. So I sat watching and dribbling, it was a relaxed session, no pressure.

To be honest though, I was really lazy. I cannot keep up this binge practicing. Something needs to change.

 

[Blaireau]

02.07.09-- Cramming

02.07.09-- Cramming


Cardsitry

Outline

Time: 8:05 PM-10:00 PM

Moves: Charlier Cut, Scissor Cut, Revolution Cut, Thumb Cut

Rounds: Single Hand Left/Right

Notes

Scissor Cut-- Getting better. The packet separate completely now, no spreading, and the close is cleaner.
Revolution Cut-- Right hand needs to involve the index finger in the initial movement. Getting better.

Details

Repeat, repeat, repeat. I've slowed down to the level of simple repetition today, and although I'm not learning anything new I'm improving what I've got. I'm figuring out how I'll kick it up to high gear and what I'll start learning next.



Card Magic

Outline

Time: 10:20 PM-12:20 PM

Moves: Dribble Pass

Rounds: Single Hand Left


Notes

Dribble Pass-- My end grip little finger and dealing hand thumb flares pre-pass. I'm working on minimising these and accomplishing the pass during a still hand. I have a soft pass, meaning that it happens gently and doesn't draw attention to itself. I don't challenge anyone to try and catch my pass. However, the very fact that it doesn't draw attention to itself draws attention to itself. I'm looking to have a pass that I don't think about, because it happens so naturally. So I'm hardening it by making the pre-pass quick while being relaxed, and the mid-pass as normal of a dribble as possible, and the post-pass as indistinguishable as possible. I have a feeling that by focusing on this so much though, I'm doing some damage. I'll forge through and adjust when I notice anything weird.


Details

More Dribble Pass. Again, I've slowed down and focused only on a few moves. Refining moves that you're already comfortable with has a different feeling from learning new moves. There's less confusion and grasping at straws, and more of active seeking and looking for improvements. It's like walking down a familiar path, but stopping to smell the roses and seeing the trees and wildlife around you. Instead of worrying about getting lost or wondering where you are, you're enjoying seeing it as if with fresh eyes.

I've decided that Card College is not my focus for this month. The whole thing is so expansive that I would burn out trying to learn everything in such a short time. And I realise that for this particular situation I need solid material for the upcoming performance. Encyclopaedic knowledge of sleights is not the immediate need, although it is the long term goal. For now I need a solid core show, something designed with specifics in mind, not adaptability. That's something that will come later when I've been around the block.

One last thing is my schedule. Instead of winging practice, like I've been doing all week, I'm going to set aside time in my day to do it. To be as efficient as possible I need to be pumping oxygen in my brain and meditating. I'll see what happens.

 

[Quicho]

discipline is essential

 

[Blaireau]

02.08.09-- First Week

02.08.09-- First Week


Cardistry

Outline

Time: 4:05PM – 6:05 PM

Moves: Charlier Cut, Scissor Cut, Revolution Cut, Thumb Cut, (with a special appearance by the L Cut)

Rounds: Single Hand Left/Right, Double Hand, Single Hand Review, Double Hand Review, Double Hand Alternate, Double Hand Alternate Review


Notes

Review-- Completed review in 1:30. Moves are doable but do not flow smoothly together. I'm now able to work on the moves together and see how they fit as a whole.
L Cut-- Need to work on the fingering. Unsure at the moment as to where the break packets are to be placed, and how the middle finger is to hold it. The ring finger has a hard time pushing the break packet into resting position.

Details

My day wasn't going so great but I forced myself to practice, and within a few minutes of sitting down my attention was completely on the cards. Nothing else mattered at that point but getting these moves tight. Breezed through review and finished at 5:35 with half an hour to spare, so I thought I'd try my hand at L Cuts. Yeah, it's decided, I'm adding that to what I'm learning.



Card Magic

Outline

Time: 7:00PM – 8:30PM, 9:00PM – 9:30PM, 11:00PM – 11:30PM

Moves: Dribble Pass

Rounds: Single Hand Left


Notes

Dribble Pass-- Reduce visible finger movement. Reduce elevation of the deck. Center the dribbling. Eliminate visible hand motions. Eliminate right angle flash of packet transposition. Speed up the pass. Remember inner dialouge during pass. Action is pre-pass, mid-pass, post-pass. Dialouge is hold, dribble, square. Clarify dialouge and action.


Details

More work on the Dribble Pass. Put up the mirrors for this practice and saw obvious physical movements announcing the pass. My hands cannot flex like that for the move. Also, tilted the mirrors so they would give an overhead angle view and watched the pass from above. The only mistake in the actual pass is the discrepancy between the pass and the dribble. That is addressed by the inner dialouge declaring the dribble before the pass. The pass needs to be as natural to me as possible—it should be an unconscious secondary motion. Experimented with the Dribble Pass as a colour change. It is important to think of it as a just a pass and not a colour change for the change to be smooth.

 

[Blaireau]

02.09.09-- Calm Before the Storm

02.09.09-- Calm Before the Storm


Today was unstructured. I spent much of the day with cards in hand, and although it doesn't make for a sit down practice, it was time in with cards. This report won't be about finger positions, or how the moves flow together, or how I need to stop staying up so late. That's all a part of what happened today but the important piece is what came over me in my alcoholic state brought on by sleeplessness.

After having stayed up all night with cards in hand watching movies online, this delusional desire began to drive into my head. I wanted to go out and perform. Every bone in my crazy half-conscious body was screaming to go out, find an audience, and go nuts. Only one part of me was thinking of the consequences and the stupidity in having an unpracticed, unfinished, unprepared show—the rest begged to be let out. And so with reckless abandonment I ate breakfast, showered, got dressed, put my shoes on, and prepared to take the world by storm. There I stood in front of the kitchen table haphazardly putting together a set for what I would go out with.

The show wasn't ready. I hadn't practiced enough. What was I going to say? Where was I going to go? It's raining, it's too cold. These were the excuses running into my mind that I single handedly waved off and ignored. I was going to do it, come hell and high water. Kitchen. I'm walking out. Coffee table. That's where my cards are. Sofa. Let me sit down and practice some more. Sofa...what time is it? Sofa...what in the world happened?

After so brashly ignoring all common sense and dedicating to a performance that was sure to be either the end of my magic career or the beginning of my delusional rise to stardom, I sat on the couch and knocked out into the unconscious. Days of late nights and lost sleep had caught up to me. I was gone, dead and gone, dead and gone. When I woke up it was 3:30 in the afternoon. My siblings had come home, I had been asleep for 5 hours, and all of my magical plans had been nothing but an illusion. A waking dream that was found to be unreal.

Now, why the sad story, you ask. For one, I enjoyed writing out the rather boring and uneventful day that I had, making it seem to be this fast paced action epic heading towards the GREATEST ACTION MOVIE CLIMAX EVER!!!! Then leave my dear readers with a case of blue balls. I know, I can be oh so cruel. The other, is because of the reminder of the reason as to why I am a magician, and why I struggle and fight and starve for all of this.

It's the performance. The limelight. The stage. The applause. The deafening silence. The standing ovation. The roses thrown and the tomatoes vomited. I'm here for the performance. Oh no, don't think of it as some selfless act preached to be the highest moral order. I do not perform for the “enjoyment of other people and to bring them back to their childlike state of wonder”. I am pretentious, but not in that order. No, I perform for my sole enjoyment, of having survived and perhaps even sailed though a dazzling colour of rainbow and shine that is my stage. My enjoyment comes from working hard to achieve the goal of a flawless, or at the very least seemingly flawless, show, in which my audience comes to believe in the half lies I tell and the imaginary powers that I have. If they believed in magic or enjoyed themselves, that's just an added bonus. I like seeing a show well put.

And so I would absolutely be horrified at the thought of doing a half-assed show. It's just not right. The people I am performing for deserve better, and if I am to come at them with half practiced sleights and half prepared speeches and half done tricks, then I deserve the almost half to death beating they will give me.

That said, I'm now dedicated to working my blood, sweat, and magical tears off for hitching a perfect show. I'm not practicing Card College anymore. That's an encyclopaedic task for another time and someone looking for that much knowledge. At this moment, all I need is a tight small show that packs a kangaroo in a firestorm's punch. I don't know what will happen yet, but I have newfound confidence in my creativity and ability to improvise. Every moment in my life has lead up to this, literally, as in the sequence of events it came in, and so I could neither be better or worse prepared.

Forgive me my voice in this small piece of writing I have conjured up. It seems that I have swallowed a British frog and a bottle of DramatisPersonae. It has it's charms though, don't you think?


Bless,
--Badger


P.S. In the duration of these sleepless states I have found inspiration and inventiveness. I've found LEVERAGE!!! that mighty word, and things that are it. I'll share when I'm not so greedy and I've decided to share how I learn with others. Meantime, Cerca Trova fools. Cerca Trova. The beginning is where you start.

 

[Blaireau]

02.10.09-- Countdown: Six Days

02.10.09-- Countdown: Six Days

Six days to showtime. On the 17th I'll be going to a show nearby, a performance by Lykke Li. I've had visions of dancing with cards in the mosh pit, and I'm commited to making it a night to remember. As such, cards, magic, and Nimbus will be present. Glory times to be had by all. And so I'm using this week to prepare for the show. I'll be performing magic pre and post show, and it's be a good way to get ready for the big show.

Right, so here's the deal. In preparation for what's coming up, I'm performing every day for the next week. All of my practicing for “everything and absolutely nothing” is currently stagnative. The new schedule is this. At home practice from 8:00AM – 12:00PM with the same 2 hr Cardistry/Magic schedule. Then I've got outside practice until 6:00PM when I promptly enter my first set. I'm out until 9:00 PM and will complete at least 3 sets. New rules. The game's just changed.

Now, as for practice today, same unstructured. Went over a lot of what I already knew and was comfortable with. Currently running some 2 handed cuts and displays, as well as productions. Left little finger is cut open due to the dribble passes. Practice for cardistry will now be review of one handed plus L Cuts. Will add 2 handed cuts when review can be completed in 1 hr. Magic practice will be five effects. No use practicing what I won't be using. Considering Flow from Dan Hauss for use in upcoming show.

That's it for now.

 

[Flyspazz]

Wow bro...good for you.

I may have missed it but what cards did you say you were using?

 

[Blaireau]

Wow bro...good for you.

I may have missed it but what cards did you say you were using?

Right now I'm finishing off the rest of the Ghosts I had. Down to 2 left and using one currently. I've found Streamlines and those are the first plastics I've played with, and I'm using one alongside the Ghosts.

Anyone want to send me a brick of Tallys?

 

[Blaireau]

02.11.09-- Missing Gonads

02.11.09-- Missing Gonads


FAIL. That's the only way I can start. In a sleepless and manic state, I was mainly conscious at 8:00AM and began practicing, but did it half-heartedly and with looking to be exercising instead. Everything was done rushed or not completed at all. Day did not go off to a good start. Finally was able to get away from the house around 4:00PM. I walked out with deck of cards in hand and dreams of grandeur in my head. All was to be shattered. Brixcat.

Walk out, head over to familiar coffee establishment, sit down, and go over what I was going to perform. Here I realise that I have absolutely no idea what I can and can't do. Here I realise that I have nothing scripted and nothing planned. Here I realise how hopeless of a situation I had put myself in. I sat down choreographing something, anything. I end up with a ridiculous character that is not meant for serious magic at all. I'm sitting there like, how retarded am I?

I pull up my bootstraps, get up and go. I head over to the closest Target for the crowded masses, and am in luck. I sit down, still hating myself for being filled of fail, and take out the cards to come up with a real set list. There's a guy sitting on the table across from me, and he's staring. He's got a small child with him, and they both stare. Of course I see them, but like an idiot I turn my head away and pretend not to notice. I'm thinking to myself...this is it. Go Badger, go! I put my cards away, get up, and walk over. I introduce myself, and ask if they would like to see some magic. Blehh...I'd shoot myself if I saw me doing this in real time.

The little boy's name is Lance, and his father is Steve. Oh, how intelligent of you Badger! Go right ahead and do a card at any number effect for the kid, without even setting up the context. And guess what? The patronising way that you talked to the kid to? It's not cool either. He's not an idiot, and he would have understood exactly what you mean had you been patient enough just to clarify. You've just scarred a kid's perception of magic—Huzzah! Fifty golden points for you. Jump off a bridge.

Looking back, I'm seeing just how terrible I was. Thankfully, I cut any possible damage done by stopping after showing them 2 tricks. It wasn't great, but at least it wasn't horrible is all the consolation I can give myself. Argh.

After that, moved out and wandered trying to find my next victim. Because that's what it was gearing up to be. I really don't want to relive the rest of the night, but I walked around for 2 hours looking for who I was gong to perform for. Found a giant set in a second Starbucks, didn't go. Found a Skate Shop with a good group, didn't perform. Found a seated set at the park, didn't perform. Every opportunity was passed up by saying, “Nah, I'll do the next one though.” Procrastinate until finally, there's no one left. I ended up staying at the second Starbucks wallowing in misery and trying to figure out how I would approach. What would I perform? I needed something to introduce myself with. I mentally fapped all over the possibilities in that Starbucks until I was knocked out dead tired. Literally though. One moment I was sighing in frustration and it was 8:34PM and the next I had just woken up, seen the clock at 9:08PM, and lost any possible clarity in thought.

I wasn't going to be able to do anything in the current shape I was in. I failed, I screwed up. Nothing glorious about tonight. It was just stupid move after stupid move after stupid move. I almost asked this guy in a parking lot 'If you've seen my gonads? I can't seem to find them and I was wondering if anyone saw them.” It was pathetic, ridiculous, and I don't have any excuse for it.

Today sucked.

Tomorrow better be better.

 

[Lex]

Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good, Badger.

Looks like you've had a rough couple of days, and are in the process of recalibrating what you expect out of this process. That's totally cool--if you didn't do a little check partway through, I'd be worried.

But I will push you a little bit on parts of it.

1. Why give up on Giobbi? You had a pretty good reason for why you wanted to work through Card College methodically. Are those reasons wrong or less pertinent now? (Honest question, not rhetorical. "I was wrong" or "things changed" is a perfectly good response.) Has something changed that warrants the change in your practice?

2. Why settle only for perfection in performance? Nobody is David Blaine on their first outing. Heck, on their 250th. If one waits to perform only the perfect routine, one will probably never perform. (Yes, high standards can be a form of procrastination too. I have a feeling that the episode in the Starbuck's might fit this bill?)

Anne Lamott's book on writing, Bird By Bird, has a whole chapter on "sh[!++]y first drafts." I'd wager everything she says about writing might also apply to this situation. The upshot is that sometimes you need to go out and do it even though you know it's going to suck. I would go so far as to say because you know it's going to suck. The only way to know how to fix it is to do it, fail, and figure out what went wrong.

3. Which leads to one final observation. Magic--as I understand it anyway--used to be an apprenticeship deal. Even now, I would not be surprised at all if there is a lot of talk of "paying your dues" in order to get into the industry. Although I am not terribly familiar with the phenomenon in magic, I am familiar with it in other areas.

In my experience, the most common coin in which one "pays ones dues" is failure. Work, service, and study are others, but failure is one of the most prominent. In many fields, there isn't much respect for people who have never tasted failure--and much respect for people who learn from their mistakes and grow from them.

But ya can't grow from your mistakes if ya never let yourself make any.

My apologies if these are off the mark--I might be reading way too much into the last couple of posts. But I noticed a change in the way you were talking about your regimen, and I thought this might be something worth saying.

 

[Blaireau]

02.12.09-- First Licks pt 1.

02.12.09-- First Licks



Cardistry

Overview

Time: 2:15PM – 4:15PM

Moves: Charlier Cut, Scissor Cut, Revolution Cut, Thumb Cut

Rounds: Single Hand Left/Right, Double Hand, Single Hand Review, Double Hand Review, Double Hand Alternate



Notes

* Thumb Cut-- More work on the left hand Thumb Cut. Focus on the break motion and doing it synchronised to the right hand.
* Rhythm-- Moves cannot yet be done in smooth rhythm. Cuts do not follow each other automatically in the Double Hand Alternate and are not synchronised in the Double Hand Review.



Details

I was unable to begin practice until 2, so this was going to push back the whole schedule. I jumped straight into practice as soon as I could and began the review. I've decided not to include the L Cuts for now until I can smoothly string and routine the earlier one handed cuts together. Today I worked with music on, trying to do the moves to music. Definite was not smooth. I need the cuts to operate automatically without me having to focus on them too much to have them smooth.



Magic

Outline

Time: 4:15PM – 6:25PM


Details

Practiced a set instead of random move practice. Orated in front of mirror. Found a context. I'm very limited in what I can and can't do right now, and what I need to work on is being fluid in when and where and how I do magic. That needs a context though. Going out now. Will report back soon.



Performance

Today started out late. I wasn't able to practice until 2, so I got up and immediately went to my cards. I knew that I needed to practice before going out because I needed to have some base to start with. I cannot go out without having some fundamental work and expect things to go down well. Finish practice, I've got a small 3 trick set in mind, and I get ready to go.

I walk out and it is coooold. Thankfully not as cold as the previous night and my hands weren't instantly frozen in place. I've got deck in hand and am practicing Thumb Cuts as I walk and I'm also thinking about my setlist. I've got some weak context about card switching, a Jones Change, a simple card switch, a colour change, and a variation of Tivo. It's not great, but it was something I could work with. I needed to perform. On my way to the first Starbucks, this guy sees me and asks what I had in my hands. Of course it's cards and I introduce myself and start off. “I'm a magician. Would you like to see something?” I start a Jones Change, but my hands aren't working so I put the double down having shown a card for no reason. Doesn't matter, I take another card, ask him what he sees, and change it to another card. Nothing. No context was set, I screwed up, tell him have to have a goodnight and walk away. Fail number 1. This isn't counted as a set though because he approached me.

See the Starbucks and at the time call it empty. Looking back, I had a handful of people I could have performed for. Get to the park. There's a youth softball and youth basketball game going. I didn't want to interrupt the parents and move on. I double back and find the City Hall, which I had never been to. There's a fountain in front and it looks awesome lit up at night. I'll have to check it out again sometime.

I walk towards Ralphs. Well, what once was a Ralphs but was now empty as I found out. On the way there was a lady who needed help with a wheelchair. I help them out and move on. I mention this because of how it affected my state. After helping her out, I immediately went from “No Go' mode to “I can do this” mode. Without her I probably would have taken a lot of time sitting around thinking about why I wasn't performing.

At the next Starbucks I find a seat outside and look around. There's a few sets in here, and I practice what I was going to do quietly to myself. After thinking about not performing, I finally mustered up the lack of thinking that allowed me to go. I head over to this seated 2 set in front of me, and introduce myself. “Excuse me. Hi. My name's Badger. I'm a magician and I'd like to show you guys something if you have a moment.” After standing there looking silly for a second, I realise that one of them had waved no. I walk away, looking at another seated 2 set that I could have approached. I walk past them, change my mind, and turn back. Again, “Hi. My name's Badger and I'm a magician. I'd like to show you guys something if you have a moment.” One says no but the other replies with a rather unenthusiastic, “Sure why not? I'll see a trick.” I spread out the cards and motion for the other guy to take one. “No, let him take one.” “Yeah, sure. But I'll need you to take one as well.” He grabs one and so does the other. “You were reluctant to take out a card so please, hand it back to me.” He hands it back and I put it face up in the center. Take the other guy's card and place it on top. “Now watch. Just like that...your cards change.” I show the cards to now have changed positions, the center being on top and the top being in center. I look at them like an expectant puppy and ask “I'd like to show you guys something else if you'd like.” Again, reluctant guy says no, the other guy okays. I say, “You know what, since he doesn't want to see it's okay. Have a goodnight guys.” As I walk away I hear the reluctant guy say “I love magicians.”

Right, so what went wrong there? The approach was fine. One guy says no but it's okay. It's like if you got approached and you were busy with something else or have your attention on something, you don't want to be distracted away from it. The trick though, there was no context other than, “Me magic dude. Be amazed, nao. kthnxbai.” I did a transpo to no effect. The worst part of that was how I felt about performing. I WAS just another guy. There wasn't anything special because I didn't see it as anything special. It was a Brixcat set.

Go. Now. Walk over to T.G.I.F.'s. Wow, there's a good amount of people there. But I chicken out and walk away. BJ's. Better place, but I walk past when the door opens up. Chili's. I sit there. I can go in. This is fine. Let me practice first. I sit outside for a few minutes, see a couple about to walk in, ask them for the time (8:38) then walk away. No Chili's.

Walk up. Third Starbucks. Go. Go Go Go. There. It's a huge set, totally approachable. Wait for it...Damnit. Walk past them, AND the Starbucks. What the hell? I totally pushed it out of my mind and kept walking. Away. Away. Away. Stoplight. I'm flourishing. The light says go and I walk further away. I drop cards, see them drop, look as they fall, ignore them, and walk even further away. Once I'm back on the sidewalk I keep walking, I call the dropped cards a lost cause and “What I get for not approaching” and keep on walking. Then...Stop. No. No. NO. I am not going to let this happen. I have to perform Tuesday, and I will not let that fail. No. I'm going back.

Stop. Turn around. Walk. I head back to the stoplight and to the Starbucks. I pick up the two cards I dropped along the way, and continue. There. Breathe. Starbucks. Set. Open. Go. I walk in, stand in front of the counter looking stupid, look and see the seated set, then turn and use the restroom. Aaaand breathe. Calm down. You can do this. You're going to do this. Go. I wash my hands, wash my face, and walk out. There they are. Wait...why are you walking away? I head to the back of the Starbucks, look around stupidly again, then...zombie my way to the set. They're sitting there talking, I stand in front of them, GO.

 

[Blaireau]

02.12.09-- First Licks pt. 2

“Hi, my name's Badger. I'm a magician, and I'd like to show you guys something if you don't mind.” There's 5 of them, 2 guys, 3 girls, and one of the girls respond enthusiastically. “Yeah, sure.” I break into entertainer guy mode and pull out my cards. Transpo trick again. “That was cool.” And here, I interject with the “context setting humour” speech I had been preparing as I was walking through the restaurants earlier. “Now, a question you might ask, is why. Why, why, why on Earth would you go out in the freezing cold of night take 52-54 pieces of pasteboard out of your ass and humiliate yourself in front of strangers?” Yeah, that was supposed to be funny? “Two words. Attention whore. I never got much attention from my mom....*mumble mumble*” The prepared speech falls flat as she asks me, “Really, you like attention?” I answer with some pseudo-self defacement that also falls flat. Jeez. After that the whole thing was contrived and plastic. Nothing I did or said was funny because I was going off of a script. It was pathetic. They were only half attentive, and the only way it would have gone worse if I started hitting on one of them. I go through the rest of the motions, doing a colour change and Ttivo var. that was supposed to be all about “Card Switching”. That was the motif for the performance. After I had finished the prepared script, I couldn't stop because they weren't reacting right. Yeah, they wanted to see more but my main reason was because they weren't reacting right. Why weren't they laughing? Why aren't they stunned in awesomeness? What was I doing wrong? I kept on going, hoping that I could salvage the performance. One of the guys turns out to be an orbiter and leaves, but is replaced by another one of their friends. “You missed out my Card Switching speech earlier.” Eugh...this wasn't going well. On the other hand, it wasn't going too terribly so I forged on. I started on a note about “coincidence, predestination, that sort of thing” and one of the guys chime in with “Divine Intervention”. I then head off to doing an ACAAN and a prediction. To end, well...I really didn't know what to do. In conjunction with all the rest of the contrived and coagulated clots of magical vomit I had earlier performed, I pulled out a Barcode Reveal. Oohhh...The only problem was, one of the guys was smart enough to have recognized the lettering from before and said so openly. Stupidity nor present in spectators, stupidity present in so-called-magician. If by magician you meant wannabewithoutanyrealskillswhatsoever, then yes, I am a magician. After their utter non-amazement at all the tricks that I had performed, I bowed ever so gracefully and in yet another self-defacing stab laughed, “Thank you guys for tolerating my impish acts. Have a goodnight.” Ouch.

It was meant humorously but it couldn't have been more true.

So, as I walked back home convinced that I couldn't have found another set that night, I looked over the night. It wasn't great. BUT! And this is a big but for me, it wasn't horrible either. Yeah sure, the performance was pretty bad. However, it could have gone any of a million ways and it wasn't the worst. At least no one caught on fire or was revealed to have been caught in a sex-act on film in front of millions. I live. And I live to learn and come again another day.


Now, that said, what was wrong? Aside from performing pretty much the way that I hated all of the things that I hated in magic, it was the context. I had no reason to perform other than a justcuz. And then there was no setting for the tricks other than dancing monkey here to entertain you. It wasn't even entertaining. Before I can perform again I need to know why and what I am performing for. And every trick needs a context. It's an essay. The tricks are the paragraphs providing evidence for the conclusion you are trying to draw. Lex's vocabulary was an incomplete definition. A performance is an essay, an article, a show. It gives the audience something, whether it be an expansion of knowledge or a new look at an old concept. Or, like in the performance tonight it can be a gibberish essay jumping from one sentence to another with little or no coherenee.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam vehicula. Nullam lacinia, eros malesuada pulvinar gravida, sem ipsum ultricies elit, vitae auctor ligula nisi eu lectus. Curabitur vel diam. Mauris mollis mauris et tellus. Donec porta gravida tortor. Morbi bibendum velit non elit. Fusce nisi tellus, dapibus vitae, tristique sed, porta eu, est. Integer consequat sollicitudin ipsum. Etiam commodo consequat nisi. Sed malesuada vehicula orci. Integer pellentesque consequat risus. In lectus nulla, imperdiet sed, tempus at, sodales eu, turpis. Aliquam sit amet metus. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed urna. Aliquam sodales massa quis enim. Curabitur vestibulum. Sed pulvinar sodales lectus. Suspendisse nunc orci, consectetur eget, tristique ac, porttitor ac, nisl.

So tonight's done. I took one performance, I owe five. Tomorrow I'm heading over to Hollywood and doing 8. Doesn't matter if it sucks or not, I'm taking my licks now. Again, I will not let Tuesday fail.

I've got an idea about the character I'm looking to portray. Well, not portray. Rather, allow to let out. Instead of focusing on one aspect and making that the blatant idea, I'm going to let it flow in what I'm doing as a natural thing. That way, if I need to respond to the audience—which being a magician I cannot only respond but communicate—it will not be forced.

Failure 2. Bager 0. For now.

 

[Lex]

Good for you for going out and doing it. It's also great that you're taking the time to think through what happened rather than just chalking it up to "I sucked" or "dumb audience." It's usually more complex than that.

I think you got a real nugget of wisdom there: Context Matters.

Where would you have a chance just to chat and hang out with folks who are generally your age and your "type"? Maybe just sit and shoot the breeze for a while before playing the "magician" card? Approaching folks with that first can be a little bit like walking into a singles bar with your zipper down: people will make assumptions about what you're up to even if it was an accident.

About the "attention whore" gambit: not a bad idea, but risky early on. Audiences, in my experience (in fields other than magic), aren't that interested in watching a performer who just wants to be watched. Especially at the very beginning, it seems to me the performer should make it clear that there's something in it for the audience. (Do we not call this "the Pledge"?)

That might be more easily done if you've already established a rapport with the prospective audience--and they'll then have a context. "Yeah, this is my new bud Aloysius, and he likes fiddling with cards. I wonder why? Maybe I'll ask."

From there, there are all sorts of entrances:

--Are they philosophically inclined, talking about Big Issues? Joel Paschall has a great riff in BeLieVe (or however that's capitalized) that might be of use in connecting magic, reality, and art.

--Are they clubby types? Flashy color changes might shock them in a good way.

--Bored suburbanites? Anything that might make them believe magic is real and tangible--give 'em something to take home.

These are broad generalizations, and none of them will be clearly true, but once you've established a rapport with them, I think it will be twice as easy to then play the magician card and give them something that really blows their minds.

 

[Lex]

(And if, by the way, this isn't helpful, is too far off the mark, or is getting too specific to be of use to the forums, feel free to let me know and I'll stifle it. So far it seems like Badger is facing some fairly common issues, but at some point this might be handled better over PM.)