What do you think?

[YRAMagicMan]

I'm not sure, the Cups and Balls don't fall into any particular forum category, so do I post stuff involving the classic here? Anyway, I've filmed my routine with the cups and I'm wondering what you think. Keep in mind that I've practiced for a few months now, but never performed this live. Also, the kicker here is something I'm still toying with. Do you like it?

At the end of the video is a performance of Paul Harris's Re-Set. I was tired when I filmed this so Re-Set isn't as smooth as usual. (Yea, that's an excuse... oh well)

[video=youtube;QjovHUUJOTo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjovHUUJOTo[/video]

 

[CardMagician12]

Nice routine but it seemed a little repetitive so I would not perform this for kids. Also you flashed at 1:37. Really like the ending certainly unexpected! Altogether very good!

 

[RickEverhart]

Cups and balls didn't look bad at all but really began dragging on...I found myself losing interest. I'm just being honest. Maybe do the other loads and deck load a lot sooner. Movements and loads are pretty good actually. One flash at 1:37 that probably would have flown by half of your spectators so not a huge ordeal.

My cups and balls routine for my kids show is literally about 1 minute long total. I understand that a normal cups and balls routine lasts a lot longer for adults so please don't think I'm hammering you.

 

[RikAllen]

A few things to note:

You're handling isn't bad as far as flashing (one major flash overall) but you need to work on your naturalness. Nobody actually handles cups and balls unless their hustling or a magician...with that said, you can do any sort of movement...as long as it doesn't look rushed or sharp. When you're doing the sequence before the final loads you're putting the cups down from your pocket to the table with too much haste. Just do it nice and smooth and it'll look better.

Do you have a mic on your camera? It'd be nice to hear the presentation, even if it's the same(similar) to most magician's cups and balls.

The card idea is nice, transitions into card material...but you have to have card material that can outshine the Cups and balls routine you've just performed.

It was too long overall, watch anyone who's name comes up in conversation when cups and balls is mentioned and watch their routines for ideas of how long they should be (Ammar, Vernon, Gazzo, and if you enjoy the length Ricky Jay's 'A History Lesson' is one of the better long ones).

A wand is typically used to help hide the concealments, if you don't like an actual wand then grab something that is wand-like. A lot of spectators will have picked up on your palming before you 'demonstrate' it for them.

Overall you're doing great, your moves can only get better with time (and only slightly better at that), just slow down and cut out a sequence or two. I didn't watch the reset, so I can't comment on it.

If you only pick one piece of my post to listen to, watch other people do the cups and balls (famous magicians, not just anybody), and compare it with your video, look for what they do different or better than you and work on that first.

 

[greenstickman]

I liked the cups and balls a lot even though it was a bit repetitive with the pocketing. Not so much the cards tho...

 

[YRAMagicMan]

Thanks guys. I lost track of this thread, otherwise I would have posted this sooner.

To those who say, "look at famous routines," I say, I have, and will continue to do so for as long as I'm doing magic. I do need to shorten the routine, and I'd probably not do Re-Set after the cups because it's not the best trick to follow the cups. I've got a few other ideas for that though.