Witness

[Pssst]

I'm really considering getting Witness by Lee Asher for two main reasons.

First, I like how it's self working
Secondly, I like how it happens all in the spectators

However, I have a few questions to ask about it. I realize that there is a gimmick involved, but does the trick end cleanly? Also, has anyone ever questioned the gimmick (this is for those who have it).

I've read a ton of threads about Indecent versus Witness. When I saw the trailer for Indecent, it looks awesome, but does the card really end inside the bag? I figured it was just outside of it, and then would pretend to reach in and grab it. Plus, every time I read about it, the card always APPEARS inside the bag. And I heard some people can't perform Indecent. Would small hands be a problem?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lucas B.]

It actually does not really use a gimmick, and if you just check all the reviews on Witness, you will notice that you end really clean. The card is really inside the bag, and since the performance is really easy, small hands should not be a problem.


Best regards
Lucas

 

[Pssst]

Oh, sorry. I might've posed my question in a bit of a confusing manner. When you perform indecent, does it really go inside the bag? And would small hands be a problem when I perform it?

 

[AllanLuu]

You could go into this dvd knowing nothing about magic and be able to perform this effect.

 

[Glenn West]

Witness requires no gimmick and ends completely clean.

Indecent, small hands are NOT an issue. If you ever think that small hands ARE an issue, look at Asher's hands. He has a page on his website where you can compare your hand to his.

Any who, with Indecent, you do "end" clean, but only because you clean up. And that cleaning up is done under the pretense of removing the card from the bag. I don't think I can say much more without getting into exposure.

 

[Davejusttyped]

Yeah, that was teetering on the edge of exposure there.

Witness is an amazing trick. It is a beautiful snapshot of the type of magic that has come from Lee Asher- stunning, self working, kick your self simple and above all else, explained by one of the best cardicians I've come across. (He's good people too)

Indecent is another great trick and as stated before, ends cleanly as "the cleanup move" is beautifully intertwined into the routine of the trick itself. Every motion makes sense- unlike some TnRs for example where when you watch it the first time you say to yourself "Why would someone do that with their hand unless there's something in it?.." you know what I mean?

As for gimmicks. Indecent is as impromptu as you could ask for- a purchase of knowledge, not of a 'card trick'. So long as you have a deck of cards in the same room you can find a ziplock bag, you're in business. Walk into a room, use completely borrowed materials, make a miracle happen.

Witness does require a 3 second "private moment" between you and your cards but is something I setup before I go to school and I have in my pocket all day-ready and waiting to blow someone away. Lee mentions the great segway from witness to indecent in the witness dvd. (Ending with indecent is smoother because of the no setup.)

These are two tricks I perform on a more regular basis (because they're simple, to the point, undetectable and startling to say the least.) If after you purchase them you have any questions regarding either trick, other than contacting the artists- Lee is amazing with email response- feel free to shoot me a pm or IM on aim.

Always,
Dave
Davejusttyped@aim

 

[cenafreak0709]

Get witness! It is not a gimmicked bag, there is just preparation. ex-you wouldnt call 2 card monte a gimmicked deck.

 

[Glenn West]

Actually, with a bit of thought, you could openly set up for witness right in front of the specs.

"Show" the Joker, and feed it into the bag face down, then wrap it up, and show the joker in the bag again as you set it aside, saying you will return to it later.

 

[Davejusttyped]

I'm glad you mentioned that Glenn as that brings up a great point- for any thread:

As magicians, we are performers and as performers, we are artists. An artist doesn't make carbon copies of Starry Night (van Gogh) every time he sits in front of a canvas and is asked to paint. If you've thrown creativity out the window and are going to copy Starry Night, make it your own. The more you work at making your performances your brain children and not merely carbon copies of someone else's work, the sooner you'll discover that the limits you've understood to be already in place are a lot further away than you thought.

Back to the thread,
As per the DVD's version of Witness, there is a setup.

As per my interpretation of Witness, I've performed this a few different ways- with most of them having needed to have the setup pre-arranged as I was table hopping and needed something quick and hard hitting. Personally, I'm growing to like the challenge of walking into a room "naked" or unsetup and knowing where you have to get to but having to figure it out on the fly. (I'm at point A, I need to be at point M, how do i get there w/o them seeing everything in between). This is, in my opinion, easier in an intimate situation like a party where you can take people aside and in moments of thought or conversation, get everything ready go to.

Glenn's smooth enough to pull off something like a double display, single insert and, with misdirection, get everything set up for the next leg.

As for your interpretation, I'd be intrigued to hear what you come up with.

Dave

 

[Glenn West]

YAY, I'm smooth.

 

[Jakeh]

Witness doesn't have a gimmick.. just a set up. You end totally clean. No questions asked.