Two Card Monte and Daniel Garcia

[dejavu05]

I have two questions in this post. First question is what do you all think is the best 2 card monte. I am thinking about buying the trick but I would like to know from you guys what the best is.

Second question that is totally unrelated to 2 card monte. Where did Daniel Garcia's ninja powers come from. Like did it start on a DVD or what???

 

[Sean_Raf]

'Daniel Madison' has a pretty sweet 2 card monte called Monte sonata found in his ONE - Notes. It's VERY visual and really quite simple to perform, because of this it also opens up for you to play around with your presentational aspects

Also, I'm unsure as to your second question but I hear Michael Ammar bestowed his powers upon Garcia against the backdrop of a sunset on a beach... I could be wrong though.

- Sean

 

[J.R.]

First question is what do you all think is the best 2 card monte. I am thinking about buying the trick but I would like to know from you guys what the best is.

What do you actually mean by this - what is the best source how to do the trick, or who does the best presentation, or what ?

 

[dejavu05]

What do you actually mean by this - what is the best source how to do the trick, or who does the best presentation, or what ?

Kind of both. I mean though where can I buy a good two card monte that will look good when I present it.

 

[Toby]

There is also Kard Klub on Ellusionist. It teaches 2CM.

 

[J.R.]

Kind of both. I mean though where can I buy a good two card monte that will look good when I present it.

This is a clip of David Blaine doing the trick:

David Blaine - Two Card Monte

These are the two best moments of David doing the trick. In my opinion this is the best presentation you can have. I have watched it hundreds of times.

 

[Sean_Raf]

Oh, please don't do that!!! (>_<)

PLEASE: I urge anyone who is wanting to learn tricks, DO NOT REVERSE ENGINEER PERFORMANCES ON YOUTUBE!!!

It's unethical.
It's frowned upon by other magicians and in the long run you'll want help from them.
You won't get everything out of it that you want.
You'll get annoyed when people go looking on youtube.
You won't get all the tips that you get from actually purchasing a proper product.

Now that I've had my little rant, here are a few places you might be interested in:

Ellusionist Kard Klub - This focuses mainly on the Two Card Monte but you'll learn some other cool stuff in it too: Including 'J. Bayme's' Triple-Z-Rotation Cut

Daniel Madison's One - Monte Sonata can be found in here along with a lot of other powerful magic. This might be one for your later stages in card magic if you're just starting out.

Ultimate 3 Card Monte by Michael Skinner - I know it's not a 2 Card Monte, but it is VERY powerful and easy to do!

I'm sure others have many other sources for you to look at - for instance 'Chris Kenner' has a nice short little 3 card monte (again not 2 but hey) found in his book Totally Out of Control in the context of the trick Five Speed.

- Sean

 

[dejavu05]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the help!!!

 

[manipulation4food]

well...i REALLY like perfect 3 card monte, by penguin. I have it and it's great...just forgot my PM password...so i can't relearn it...more into impromtu stuff...Anyways good luck.

 

[Guardian18]

I heard that Michael Ammar did that to D.G., but then the evil Brad Christian cursed him, and that is why the bug flew "accidently" into his eye.

 

[Brad Henderson]

The "two card monte" is a name often given to a trick properly called "Be Honest, What is it." It was created by legendary bar magician Eddie Fechter. It is in his book Magician's Nightly. That book also has dozens of other tricks that he used to use to entertain real people at a very popular bar in New York. If street magic as it's come to be thought of today had a beginning, it was with guys like Eddie.

Robert Bengal was the first magician who I ever saw perform this trick. He has several lecture notes filled with very strong material. He has a card penetration effect that looks great and some fabulous Okito box magic (and I usually hate Okito box magic.)

If you want the "real" two card monte, it uses two gaffed cards and is often found in beginner magic kits. Having said that, I just learned a super cool version of it that is different and ends clean.

Brad Henderson

 

[J.R.]

Oh, please don't do that!!! (>_<)

PLEASE: I urge anyone who is wanting to learn tricks, DO NOT REVERSE ENGINEER PERFORMANCES ON YOUTUBE!!!

It's unethical.
It's frowned upon by other magicians and in the long run you'll want help from them.
You won't get everything out of it that you want.
You'll get annoyed when people go looking on youtube.
You won't get all the tips that you get from actually purchasing a proper product.

- Sean

I have to disagree somewhat. Indeed reverse engineering a trick for which you do not know the technique, would be a very bad idea. Very bad!

But I didn't give the youtube link to Blaine doing the 2CM for that. I suggested that if you already know the technique, to go study the clip to learn the presentation, misdirection, etc.

Let's say you know how to do an ambitious card routine. It would be a crime, I think, to not watch Michael Ammar, or Tommy Wonder, or David Blaine perform it, just to get an idea of different presentations and audience communication.

Once again - NO reverse engineering, No exposure - just 'sponge' a little from the performance. Besides, watching Blaine or Tommy Wonder perform, is such a delight, to me as someone interested in magic, that I will watch it many times just for the fun of it

- J.R.

 

[Sean_Raf]

<what he said>

- J.R.

Ah, my mistake. I agree watching top pro's perform can really give us the confidence to show people some powerful magic.

- Sean