Here it is! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EErPhqKzZeo
Please comment on areas where I require improvement!
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Thanks!
Please comment on areas where I require improvement!
.Thanks!
My Ambitious Card Routine
- Thread starter Chadesius
- Start date
OK, here are a couple of areas:
In your own description, you said you knew it was sloppy. It may seem obvious, but I would recommend practicing until it's not sloppy. If you know your own shortcomings, then you aren't likely to get any useful help from anyone else, as they will probably just point out things that you know already. However, if you practice until it seems perfect to you, and then ask for help, then the criticism you recieve will inevitably be useful to you, as it will illuminate areas that you weren't aware of yourself.
You haven't got any patter. To my mind, the ambitious card doesn't work very well as a silent routine, as there is no drama and no tension. It's just a card moving from one place to another over and over again with no meaning behind it, and that quickly becomes boring. The one exception to this would be if you were performing a highly difficult and technical routine aimed at magicians, in which case silence might work so they can marvel at your move mastery without misdirection.
I don't think it's worthwhile criticising your moves, as you said that you knew it was sloppy, so you probably know they weren't brilliant anyway, but hopefully the two points I've made will help.
In your own description, you said you knew it was sloppy. It may seem obvious, but I would recommend practicing until it's not sloppy. If you know your own shortcomings, then you aren't likely to get any useful help from anyone else, as they will probably just point out things that you know already. However, if you practice until it seems perfect to you, and then ask for help, then the criticism you recieve will inevitably be useful to you, as it will illuminate areas that you weren't aware of yourself.
You haven't got any patter. To my mind, the ambitious card doesn't work very well as a silent routine, as there is no drama and no tension. It's just a card moving from one place to another over and over again with no meaning behind it, and that quickly becomes boring. The one exception to this would be if you were performing a highly difficult and technical routine aimed at magicians, in which case silence might work so they can marvel at your move mastery without misdirection.
I don't think it's worthwhile criticising your moves, as you said that you knew it was sloppy, so you probably know they weren't brilliant anyway, but hopefully the two points I've made will help.
@TeeDee Hey. Thanks for going through my video. I get what you mean. The patter really is required, I guess to some extent. I normally explain the selection as "oil" and the rest of the deck as "water" and carry on from there. I'll work on it. thanks. .
@re-tabed Thanks for the advice, I'll try and incooperate what you said into my ACR. I think what you said really make sense. Thanks for the tips..
.@re-tabed Thanks for the advice, I'll try and incooperate what you said into my ACR. I think what you said really make sense. Thanks for the tips.
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my sister told me the same thing when i was starting, but you look kinda like robotic/stiff almost. the only way to really work on that is to keep practicing.
also with your ambitious, one of the parts is when you cut the deck and the card was on top. that is not magical. its cool how you could cut to the card, but why would u cut to the card if you could just snap and have it come to the top? maybe do the double cut first and be like yea i could cut the card but im not gonna.
also try to keep the all around square ups minimum. i see lots of magicians (usually the ones starting out) doing the allaround square up too much. i used to, but i dont anymore. i try to keep the moving of the cards to a minimum.
those are some things to work on.
also with your ambitious, one of the parts is when you cut the deck and the card was on top. that is not magical. its cool how you could cut to the card, but why would u cut to the card if you could just snap and have it come to the top? maybe do the double cut first and be like yea i could cut the card but im not gonna.
also try to keep the all around square ups minimum. i see lots of magicians (usually the ones starting out) doing the allaround square up too much. i used to, but i dont anymore. i try to keep the moving of the cards to a minimum.
those are some things to work on.
You moved your hands wayyyyyy too much. It just looked fishy the entire time. Go slower and smoother. By doing such, it's more entertaining and more magical. And as Chris said, don't just cut and thats it. I would also suggest a little variety. You seemed to be doing the same thing over and over. Keep up the practicing.
Too long.
Not magical.
Looked like sleight of hand, not an ambitious card rising over and over.
Most magical part, 1:17 (ish). You show it on top, put it in the middle, with no movements you show it on top again.
Practice more, take out all the hard phases and make it simple. Simple is good.
Not magical.
Looked like sleight of hand, not an ambitious card rising over and over.
Most magical part, 1:17 (ish). You show it on top, put it in the middle, with no movements you show it on top again.
Practice more, take out all the hard phases and make it simple. Simple is good.
Way way way too many moves to your ACR. It was Bam bam bam bam bam. move after move. Even though it lasted 1-2 minutes. Which is okay time for an ambitious card, it felt like an hour due to so many moves happening, all accomplishing the same thing. An ambitous card routine can easily last that long with 4-5 solid moves. It's important, to me anyway, that each accomplish something different. That they increase in impossibility. The finale needs to be stronger as well. I personally use a card to mouth finale since the psychology is perfect and I love the image. But there are many others that can take its place. Slow down. You seem to have an okay understanding of card handling. Meaning, it looks like you've been playing around with them for a little bit now. Just slow down. Let each move sink in before moving to the next.
I would recommend working on a no shuffle, no cut ACR for starters. It will force you to trim down your moves. Once you get a 3-5 phase, no shuffle, ACR, then you can start getting creative. Add some shuffle and cut work, play around with new moves, play around with your patter. What you have right now looks like a great routine for practicing your moves but I wouldn't call it a performer. Thats okay BTW. I have about two ACRs I never perform. They exist only to help me practice stringing moves together. Have fun and keep at it.
Cheers,
Erik
Cheers,
Erik
Thanks everybody. it's really great seeing so many people having watched my video and giving me pointers. I'll take into thought every one of your advice(s). I really appreciate it! I'll post a "revised" ACR soon!
Few things...
Slow it way down.
Lack of patter
Slow down your erdnase change a lot. Keep your windows (spaces between fingers) closed when pulling backwards, then open them quickly once your all done to reveal the changed card.
Your DL was way too obvious and took too long to setup.
Slow it way down.
Lack of patter
Slow down your erdnase change a lot. Keep your windows (spaces between fingers) closed when pulling backwards, then open them quickly once your all done to reveal the changed card.
Your DL was way too obvious and took too long to setup.
