Joker Routine

[Jacob L]

Hey guys, this is a routine I came up with using the joker, and I'm looking for some feedback.
This is strictly a critique video, once I get feedback, I'll refine it and put up a better one, I just need to know what works and what doesn't and what needs work.


I'm looking for critique's on what was good so I can keep it, what needs work (obviously) and any idea for a replacement sleight or phase to make it work better.

Thanks you guys!

http://vimeo.com/9111611
password is "laugh"

 

[TheatreHead]

is this yours? Very nice ideas.

First phase:
-Half pass. try to get rid of the noise.
-Joker vanish. Don't do the get ready while drawing attention to the deck. The hands coming together, then coming apart, then coming together again just destroyed the flow, and it looks really suspicious. If you're able to do the clipshift, I'd use it there.

Second phase:
-the control. whenever cards are pushed "flush" like that, try not to make them look like they're going in at an angle.
-is the dribble after the control really necessary?
-your break could be a lot smaller.

Third phase:
-Second replacement. Apply the uniformity of action concept. and if you are actually going to do the dbsquared version of that move, display the selection the way they do, it doesn't work if you strip it out of the deck.

I like the routine, great ideas. Hope to see you take it further.

 

[Jacob L]

is this yours? Very nice ideas.

First phase:
-Half pass. try to get rid of the noise.
-Joker vanish. Don't do the get ready while drawing attention to the deck. The hands coming together, then coming apart, then coming together again just destroyed the flow, and it looks really suspicious. If you're able to do the clipshift, I'd use it there.

Second phase:
-the control. whenever cards are pushed "flush" like that, try not to make them look like they're going in at an angle.
-is the dribble after the control really necessary?
-your break could be a lot smaller.

Third phase:
-Second replacement. Apply the uniformity of action concept. and if you are actually going to do the dbsquared version of that move, display the selection the way they do, it doesn't work if you strip it out of the deck.

I like the routine, great ideas. Hope to see you take it further.

Yeah I came up with this, thank you.

First phase. I see what your saying about not drawing attention to the deck, but the half pass will be done under misdirection, so attention wouldn't necessarily be on the deck. And the clip sift wouldn't work in this situation because I need the selection reversed, and the clip shift doesn't accomplish that for me in this situation.

Second phase: For the dribble, are you refering to the svengali-like dribble or the second one? I didn't even realize the break size, thanks for pointing that out.
Third Phase: I had difficulty getting the break, its usually not that noticable, just a little stumbling block I hit. That is actually Joshua Jay's version of that control, not the Buck twins'. I actually had a different one in mind, but I had a quick brain fart and went with that one instead.

I really appreciate your feedback, thanks for taking the time to watch it.

Anyone else?

 

[scarecrow1]

Third Phase: That is actually Joshua Jay's version of that control, not the Buck twins'.

I thought they were the same? I was under the impression that the Buck twins taught Jay's version in the Trilogy. Didn't think they had they're own version.

 

[RikAllen]

Needs a lot of work. I'm glad you said it was a test phase, but there were a lot of little things that shouldn't have been as sloppy as they were. I only watched it once so my advice is what struck me the most.

Reversing the bottom card...It was blatantly obvious. An option would be control it to the top instead of bottom and reverse it with (can't put my finger on the name) reversal. I can PM you a few suggestions if you're interested...trying to think of how to make it flow

Getting into doubles at the end (doubles, triples..etc) it shouldn't be obvious you're doing something, it was very clear to me that you got a break and then went to pick it up.

Next time (if you don't mind showing your face, some people don't like doing it over the net) try and do a half-body shot, waist up. This way you can make 'eye' contact and possibly direct our attention somewhere other than the deck where we notice everything.

Also, maybe find a way to have the first selection used in the second phase. No need to have two new ones selected if you can get by with only one new one.

I'll watch it again tomorrow and see about anything else.

Just a few suggestions, I like the idea, just need some time to develop the routine.

 

[Jacob L]

I thought they were the same? I was under the impression that the Buck twins taught Jay's version in the Trilogy. Didn't think they had they're own version.

I'm not entirely sure of that, you might be right. I don't have my Trilogy on me, so I can't cite it. Its the same concept, but I guess the only difference is the turnover.

Needs a lot of work. I'm glad you said it was a test phase, but there were a lot of little things that shouldn't have been as sloppy as they were. I only watched it once so my advice is what struck me the most.

Reversing the bottom card...It was blatantly obvious. An option would be control it to the top instead of bottom and reverse it with (can't put my finger on the name) reversal. I can PM you a few suggestions if you're interested...trying to think of how to make it flow

Getting into doubles at the end (doubles, triples..etc) it shouldn't be obvious you're doing something, it was very clear to me that you got a break and then went to pick it up.

Next time (if you don't mind showing your face, some people don't like doing it over the net) try and do a half-body shot, waist up. This way you can make 'eye' contact and possibly direct our attention somewhere other than the deck where we notice everything.

Also, maybe find a way to have the first selection used in the second phase. No need to have two new ones selected if you can get by with only one new one.

I'll watch it again tomorrow and see about anything else.

Just a few suggestions, I like the idea, just need some time to develop the routine.

Yes this is just a test run, I'll put up a better one once I refine it, thats why I want feedback.
I think I know what reversal your talking about, if not, well I'm sure what I'm thinking of will work
By doubles and triples, are you refering to those I got on the bottom of the deck? If yes, then I understand compleltey what your saying, thats a weak point of mine.
I like the half body shot idea, I might use that, thanks.

Also for the selections, I could introduce a new one, then use those same two for the third phase, I like it. That way it keeps the audience from having to keep track of so much and they can focus on the magic more.

Thanks for the advice man. Check your PMs

 

[canadamagic]

Needs a lot of work. I'm glad you said it was a test phase, but there were a lot of little things that shouldn't have been as sloppy as they were. I only watched it once so my advice is what struck me the most.

Reversing the bottom card...It was blatantly obvious. An option would be control it to the top instead of bottom and reverse it with (can't put my finger on the name) reversal. I can PM you a few suggestions if you're interested...trying to think of how to make it flow

Getting into doubles at the end (doubles, triples..etc) it shouldn't be obvious you're doing something, it was very clear to me that you got a break and then went to pick it up.

Next time (if you don't mind showing your face, some people don't like doing it over the net) try and do a half-body shot, waist up. This way you can make 'eye' contact and possibly direct our attention somewhere other than the deck where we notice everything.

Also, maybe find a way to have the first selection used in the second phase. No need to have two new ones selected if you can get by with only one new one.

I'll watch it again tomorrow and see about anything else.

Just a few suggestions, I like the idea, just need some time to develop the routine.

I agree with everything here, I walso want to add some patter suggestions. It seems as though the phases just jump around, that they aren't really connected with each other. I think that you should either rethink your patter or create a new one that will tie everything in together

 

[Jacob L]

I also want to add some patter suggestions. It seems as though the phases just jump around, that they aren't really connected with each other. I think that you should either rethink your patter or create a new one that will tie everything in together

Ok, the patter hasn't really been thought out much, I'm focusing on structuring the routine first, then the performance aspect comes in. I appreciate your feedback though.

 

[Erlos]

Hmm, the reversing of the bottom card is a little tad too obvious imho.

I don't know why, but phase 2 give me a feeling that the handling its a little too complicated i feel, from what i saw from the video, you gave me the feeling u need to do lots of sleights to make the thing work, I think you can make it simpler, like, instead of saying the joker finding the card, maybe is the spectator's card is the 'cops' catching the joker out of the deck.

Lastly, I love that bluff pass at phase 3 but the movements are a little too much i feel, it may grab a little too much unneccessary attention!

All these are just my humble opinion! great routine!

 

[TheatreHead]

clip shift doesn't accomplish that for me in this situation.

Second phase: For the dribble, are you refering to the svengali-like dribble or the second one?

The second one. The svengali-like dribble is justified, and has intent; the second one is just... there. Why is it there?

 

[Jacob L]

The second one. The svengali-like dribble is justified, and has intent; the second one is just... there. Why is it there?

The only thing I can think of is its a bit of a habit, I tend to dribble just periodically, I should probably cut down on that.

 

[TheatreHead]

The only thing I can think of is its a bit of a habit, I tend to dribble just periodically, I should probably cut down on that.

yeah. layman get suspicious if you do too many unnecessary actions with the deck.

 

[Jacob L]

yeah. layman get suspicious if you do too many unnecessary actions with the deck.

Thats true, which is why I'm thinking of a replacement second phase because there is a lot of messing with the deck. I'm thinking of making the three phases be that the joker can:
1. manipulate cards (reverse one)
2. Find cards (to locate the additional selection)
3. Become cards (lose the selections then do the third phase)

 

[jok3r]

yeah. layman get suspicious if you do too many unnecessary actions with the deck.

I watched david blaine do i trick during his thing for haiti.
He dribble the cards several times for no reason.
I dont think its as bad as everyone is making it to be

 

[Jacob L]

I watched david blaine do i trick during his thing for haiti.
He dribble the cards several times for no reason.
I dont think its as bad as everyone is making it to be

Well thats david blaine lol.
If you look at the second phase, I do more than just dribble, it looks like I'm doing something fishy (because I am) and thats whats drawing suspicion.
The dribble thing isn't terrible IMO, but it's not aiding me either. Aaron Fisher says in one of his podcasts that the less "noise" you make with the deck when you're not doing a sleight (dribble, spring, riffle, ect.) the less suspicious your audience will be when your hands do come together for a sleight. Because with all the springing they are like "woah! thats interesting! Lets look at that instead of him and always watch when his hands touch the deck to see what he will do next!"
.....Ok so its not exactly like that, but you get the idea.

Thats not aimed at you, its for everyone and anyone who wants to take that in. I think its good advice.

 

[jok3r]

Well thats david blaine lol.
If you look at the second phase, I do more than just dribble, it looks like I'm doing something fishy (because I am) and thats whats drawing suspicion.
The dribble thing isn't terrible IMO, but it's not aiding me either. Aaron Fisher says in one of his podcasts that the less "noise" you make with the deck when you're not doing a sleight (dribble, spring, riffle, ect.) the less suspicious your audience will be when your hands do come together for a sleight. Because with all the springing they are like "woah! thats interesting! Lets look at that instead of him and always watch when his hands touch the deck to see what he will do next!"
.....Ok so its not exactly like that, but you get the idea.

Thats not aimed at you, its for everyone and anyone who wants to take that in. I think its good advice.

i just came up with an effect that uses alot of dribbling, just because i like to dribble cards hahahaa

 

[Jacob L]

i just came up with an effect that uses alot of dribbling, just because i like to dribble cards hahahaa

I'm glad thats what you got out of that lol.
Nice, show me next time we hang out.

 

[Liderc]

Cheers mate,

like others have said, the half pass of the one card was quite obvious. and also in phase two. tilt the pack down a bit. obviously with misdirection you will have a little more shade. but still.. are you using Aaron Fishers Gravity half pass?

also the svengali-Control, you were a little slow and flashed the strip out. try to dribble the cards faster to cover that.... looking at it again it wasn't really that bad.. maybe a little faster could cover it more because there was a little flash


your bluff pass was very good. off the buck twins trilogy right.. Tivo or something?

also the placement of the joker between the two cards selected in phase two was obvious as well. a big break, and after the obvious half pass the attention is on those cards and your eyes follow them.

also your shape-shifter was quite nice

hope you don't think i'm trying to take the piss out of you mate.


Cheers

 

[TheatreHead]

I watched david blaine do i trick during his thing for haiti.
He dribble the cards several times for no reason.
I dont think its as bad as everyone is making it to be

not by itself, but it's cumulitive.

 

[Jacob L]

Cheers mate,

like others have said, the half pass of the one card was quite obvious. and also in phase two. tilt the pack down a bit. obviously with misdirection you will have a little more shade. but still.. are you using Aaron Fishers Gravity half pass?

also the svengali-Control, you were a little slow and flashed the strip out. try to dribble the cards faster to cover that.... looking at it again it wasn't really that bad.. maybe a little faster could cover it more because there was a little flash


your bluff pass was very good. off the buck twins trilogy right.. Tivo or something?

also the placement of the joker between the two cards selected in phase two was obvious as well. a big break, and after the obvious half pass the attention is on those cards and your eyes follow them.

also your shape-shifter was quite nice

hope you don't think i'm trying to take the piss out of you mate.


Cheers

Oh no, your not taking anything out of me.
I'm still working on Fisher's half pass, and its pretty difficult with only two cards, I'm brainstorming ways to do the reversal differently.

Thanks for the advice on the Svengali control, I'll be sure to check on that.
The second phase is being redone, so the huge break is eliminated now.

That bluff shift is taught on Vanishing inc. by Johsua Jay, but the one the Bucks teach is pretty much the same things.

Thanks for the help man, I really appreciate it.