Learned Pig - My Stuff.pdf

My Stuff

Tricks and Stuff

Missing Things March, 4, 2007 Here is a list with links to all the tricks and articles I had posted on the old website. The tricks are very thoroughly explained with many color photographs so you don't have any trouble to understand them. Click on any title below: Rossini Flying Cards An easy but effective trick: A packet of blue cards change places with a packet of red cards, both kept by two spectators in a pocket. Good for close-up or parlor shows. Sacrilegious! How to use a chick pan for a very strong trick. The Simple Things A very simple but highly effective Torn and Restored Newspaper trick. Two from our Online Library Freezing Ice in the Hand by Long Tack Sam and The Eye Popper Card Feat by Annemann. Both tricks illustrated with many photographs. Fogel plus Annemann A very strong prediction trick, streamlined from the late Fogel's Bewitched, Bottled and Bewildered. A Magical Lesson With a thumb tip and two silk handkerchiefs you can perform a very good "sucker" trick. Bergeron's Reds & Blacks Two red cards change places with two black cards. Perhaps the easiest version of this impromptu card trick. Satan's Shears A very flashy card revelation for parlor or stage shows. One Card Pete A forgotten gem from the past! A very effective presentation with a handful of cards. The New Baby Gag An humorous but strong prediction. Great opener for a mental type act. My One-Man Show in Boquete In this article I talk about one of my shows plus the Blindfold Drive publicity stunt. Getting Rid of Magical Clutter Read what I did one day with all the magic tricks I had hidden away in drawers and boxes.

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/index.php3/6/2007 8:35:18 PM

Rossini Cards

The Trick Seeker Back to Tricks and Stuff Some years ago I wanted to publish a magic magazine with that name: The Trick Seeker, only in Spanish (El Buscatrucos). However I finally decided to call it El Puerco Sabio (The Learned Pig) and I published it for many years when I used to live in Barcelona, Spain. The idea of The Trick Seeker was to publish old and hidden jewels of magic; tricks magicians have forgotten or even don't know about. There is plenty of material, I tell you. Take for example the Paul Rosini card trick published in TLP Magic eZine, Vol. 3, No. 5 (April 19, 2005). I think it's a great trick, don't you? It's so easy but it really fools the audience and can be built up nicely.

The preparation is simply placing 15 cards of the opposite color at the bottom of each deck of cards.

Then each deck is returned to its proper case. To perform have two volunteers, one on each side of you. Take one deck, let's say the blue one, out of its case.

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Rossini Cards

Fan top section of deck holding bottom cards (different color) together. Show fan to audience on both sides.

Extend only blue cards for volunteer No. 1 to pick a card. Ask volunteer to look at his card and show it to audience.

Extend cards backs towards you and cut off all the bottom red cards PLUS one blue card. Discard rest of deck.

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Rossini Cards

Fan the 16 cards, backs towards you, of course, and insert chosen card in middle of fan.

Close fan leaving card upjogged for about half its lenght and turn hand so audience can see backs. Slowly push chosen card flush with rest. Place cards in volunteer's shirt or coat pocket. Take out top blue card and give it to him to hold in front of him as a color-reminder of the cards he has in his pocket. Repeat all the above with second volunteer using the red deck. All the hard work is finished and from now on you only have to act the magician: command cards to change places and let them take them out of pockets. The blue guy has now all the red cards.... except one, ditto the red guy. Odd colored card in each group is chosen card. Well, there you are. Hope the photos convince you to give the trick a try. Back to Tricks and Stuff

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/rossini.html (3 of 3)3/6/2007 8:35:49 PM

Sacrilegious!

Sacrilegious! Back to Tricks and Stuff That's what many of you will surely think when you see me using a blatant magician's prop for a mental type trick, however I'm sure there will be some who will like the idea. I do. In February 2004 I was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, performing at the FLASOMA convention there. I visited my good friend Carlos Raggi at his magic store [i] Buenos Aires Mágico[/i] and there I saw the cutest Chick Pan you can imagine.

Carlos told me it was a Viking Magic product and even though it was a first quality item it had been about two years at the store without anybody buying it. Maybe it was too expensive. Anyway, he offered to sell it to me at half price and I jumped at the chance to own such a beautiful piece.

Here is the idea I'm currently working on. Haven't yet done it in public but I think it will work fine. You can try it too, even if you don't have the fancy chick pan I have :) Take a sheet of 8-1/2" x 11" paper or whatever size is normal where you live and tear it in 16 pieces. In 8 of those pieces write the same word, nothing too long, for example "house." Fold those papers once in each direction, in other words in http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/sacrilegious.html (1 of 4)3/6/2007 8:35:55 PM

Sacrilegious!

quarters, and place them on the load compartment of the chick pan.

Place the lid or cover on the load compartment locking it in place and you are set. Prefold the other 8 bits of paper and open them again. Get some cheap pencils, break them in two and sharpen each half. Have a lighter handy. To perform, pass the pieces of paper and the pencils to eight audience members and ask them to write any word they want. When they are finished they must fold the papers and you pass through the audience with your chick pan, lower part in one hand, lid in the other and have the persons drop their folded papers into the lower part.

When all 8 papers are in you put the cover on the pan and with both hands you shake it up and down as if to mix well the papers.

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Sacrilegious!

Now you lift the lid and going to some audience member you ask her to pick any paper.

What happens is that the spectators' papers have been exchanged for yours so she can pick any paper she wants and she'll get "house." While she holds the paper in her fist you burn the rest of the papers with the lighter.

Now you raise one sleeve and take the ashes in the other hand. Ask the spectator to open the paper she is holding and to read in a loud voice the word. She reads "house" of course. You rub the ashes over your bare arm and the chosen word appears.

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Sacrilegious!

Okay, okay, I know that in the photo above it doesn't say "house" but "vaca" which is "cow" in Spanish but I originally prepared this photos for my new Spanish website and forgot to take one in English and I already washed my arm. The secret to this last part is very well-known, of course. Previously and secretly you write the word on your bare arm with a pointed piece of soap. You can also do it with a small brush and glicerine. Lemon juice also works. See below. That's me writing with soap.

Well, there you have it. As I said at the beginning most magicians will just hate the idea of using a shiny chick pan for this type of trick but I'm going to perform it in public first chance I have and will tell you what. Meanwhile, if somebody wants to try it would be great if you could tell us how it went. Back to Tricks and Stuff

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Simple Things

The Simple Things Back to Tricks and Stuff Have you ever seen the Slydini book with all those hundreds of photos? Well, now I think I know how Slydini must have felt after any of those photo sessions having myself posed for the images to ilustrate the trick below. I'm exhausted! Well, I also had to edit the images and that is an advantage Slydini had over me in this case. I sometimes have thought about the following problem: a magician finds himself on a strange city with only 50 dollars in his pocket, no magic props and a show that evening.... What can he do? The answer lies in knowing some tricks like the one I'm going to explain which are cheap or cost next to nothing and then going with the 50 bucks to the supermarket and some other stores and buying odds and ends to build a show with these cheap tricks in a couple of hours. It can be done and we'll talk about it some other time. Right now I want to explain what is perhaps the simplest version of the Torn and Restored Newspaper trick. There are many versions of the T&R Newspaper trick and some are really spectacular. However a simpler version has some advantages. If you have some glue already this one can cost you zero because you pick up some of those advertising tabloids they usually give away and you have enough to perform it several times. Some other advantages are ease of learning, fast setup time, and, in the case of this version you can perform it surrounded. How do I know this T&R can be performed surrounded? Because it was taught to me by a street magician friend by the name of Shadow. He performs it right in the middle of the street with people all around and with a little care nobody sees anything. OK, time for the trick.

From two tabloid size newspapers take two identical sheets.

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Simple Things

Put one aside for the moment and fold the lower half of the other one upwards as shown in first photo. The end result is shown at right.

Next fold: left half towards right. Second photo shows end result.

Third fold: bottom half folded up. End result at right.

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Simple Things

Fold top third down.

Fold bottom third up getting a long folded strip as shown in second photo.

Fold bottom third of strip upwards and then top third downwards marking this last crease well.

Unfold the strip a little bit. Notice in the first photo how I squeezed open the lower end. Tuck the upper end into this opening as shown in second photo.

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Simple Things

First image above shows the end result: a small packet which is locked close. Now take the duplicate sheet you placed aside and fold it up to the third fold as already explained. Glue the little prepared packet to the center of the folded duplicate (second photo). That completes the preparation. Now for the performance.

Take the folded paper and open it in front of you.

Avoid holding the newspaper with your fingers closed. This happens when you try to hold the glued packet with your thumb. I've seen magicians do this when doing T&R paper effects and it seems they are holding a brick behind the paper. There is no need to do this. Remember, the little packet is glued and glue works. Have faith.

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Simple Things

Tear paper in two halves lenghtwise and place half with glued packet behind the other one. Everytime you tear you'll place the pieces with the glued packet behind.

Turn both strips horizontally and tear together the first quarter of both. That's where the glued packet is. Place torn pieces behind main pieces and tear second quarter. Repeat for the third quarter.

This photo is just to show you the situation at this moment and it doesn't have to do anything with the performance of the trick. You must have in your hands a bunch of pieces and the glued packet towards your body.

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Simple Things

Place the pieces on your left hand with glued packet in contact with left palm. Right hands takes several pieces one by one from the top as if counting them and shows them on both sides. Do this for about half the pieces and finally stack them all together again.

Hold pieces in front of body (glued packet towards you, of course) and fold right side third to the front. Then fold left hand side to front too.

Fold bottom third upwards. In first photo I positioned my hand downwards so you can see the action. In performance it looks more like second photo with your hands covering the glued packet.

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Simple Things

Put pieces in your left fist as shown and squeeze open lower end. Tuck upper end of pieces into the opening as shown is second photo.

As before, this photo doesn't have anything to do with the performance of the trick. I took it to show you what you must have inside your fist right now: two folded packets back to back. The front one is the pieces and the back one is the whole duplicate paper.

To affect the magical restoration you must turn the papers around. Do this in a subtle way as follows. First photo shows closed left hand, papers are inside. Turn toward your left as in second photo and as you do so extend left arm at the same time turning left hand back to audience. Do some magic gestures with free right hand.

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Simple Things

Now turn left hand palm to audience. Whole duplicate will be to front with audience none the wiser. With right hand open the first folds as shown in second photo.

Open paper a little more and as you do swing body towards right so you again face the audience. Second photo shows how you should face straight to audience when opening last folds of paper. It also shows the kind of silly faces you sometimes get when they photograph you.

Finish opening the paper. Notice what I told you about holding it at fingertips: it makes it really clean!

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Simple Things

That's all! I hope you like it and give it a try. Back to Tricks and Stuff

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Two From Online Library

Two from our Online Library Back to Tricks and Stuff All material on this website is already in the public domain and a lot of it is in danger of disappearing because there isn't any commercial interest in reprinting it. I don't know if you are aware of the fact that paper has a limited lifetime, specially acid paper and many magic books printed in the 19th century were printed in that kind of paper so you can be sure the day will come soon when that paper will turn to dust and with it all the wonderful magic it contains. That's why I began TLPP some years ago. Almost all this time it has been a one-man effort except for a couple of years when one of my sons was helping me. The boy, alas, got married and now lives happily with his wife and TLPP is again on my shoulders. But I'm not complaining. I've been a lover of books all my life, specially magic books, and working with them for TLPP has been more fun than work. I've rediscovered a lot of great forgotten tricks in those pages. Take for example the one titled "Freezing Ice in the Hand" by Long Tack Sam, explained in "The Golden Jubilee Book of Magic" at http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/books/golden/03.html Don't you find the idea fascinating.... Freezing ice in the hand? Wow! Using my trusty, shiny and new digital camera I would like to illustrate this trick for you in case you hadn't already noticed it. I'll use Mr. Sam's words but will add my comments where appropriate.

FREEZING ICE IN THE HAND Long Tack Sam THIS is a favorite trick of old Chinese magicians and is very old, though. I believe, entirely unknown to the performers of other countries. The effect depends upon the trick being worked neatly and upon the assurance of the magician, but this is very largely true, of course, of every bit of magic either Occidental or Oriental. The Chinese magician is taught while an apprentice to learn the routine and patter of a trick thoroughly and not to vary its performance. Unless every move is the result of studied effort the trick cannot have its full effect. With a bow to Lu Tsu Bing, the patron saint of the Chinese magician, I begin. The effect is good not only because it is mystifying, but also because it is

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Two From Online Library

surprising. From a bowl filled with water, the magician dips out a handful and changes the water into a small block of ice. The hottest weather and the most iceless small town are no hindrance. The ice is made from a heavy colorless piece of plate glass, chipped to look like an ice block. It should be about an inch and a quarter thick, and must have no sharp edges, so that it can be palmed like a billiard ball.

Note by Marko: Above you see what's needed: a fake ice cube (I bought mine at a novelty store) and a bowl with water. Contrary to what Mr. Sam says, I find that sharp edges help you to palm the fake ice cube easier. In performing the trick, the magician has a bowl of water on a small table behind which he stands. Any small opaque bowl will do.

The ice is palmed in his right hand.

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Two From Online Library

He shows the left hand empty and pulls up the right sleeve. Chinese sleeves have tight cuffs. The sleeves are pulled up, in effect to keep them out of the water, but in reality as a means of showing the hands empty.

The left hand is again shown empty after the sleeve is pulled up and the ice, by a change-over palm, is transferred to the left hand.

The right hand is shown empty and the sleeve is pulled up. All this is done without any apparent trickery, the purpose seems to be to keep the sleeves dry, http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/two.html (3 of 10)3/6/2007 8:36:15 PM

Two From Online Library

and It is done with slow enough motions so that the audience win not suspect that either hand holds anything.

The left hand is now palming the ice. The right hand is cupped and dipped into the water. A handful is brought out with a flourish, then poured back into the bowl. This should be done to make as big a show as possible of the quantity of water you dip up. This is done several times.

Finally the motion of dipping is repeated, but no water is taken up. This time the "water" is apparently poured into the other hand. The left hand is closed around the ice and held thumb up so that the water seemingly goes into the hole made by the curved thumb and first finger. Again, apparently, water is poured into the hand. There will be enough water on the right hand from its previous wettings to shake off a few drops after giving the effect of filling the left hand. Note by Marko: There is a little error in above paragraph: the left hand is dry at this point and not wet as Mr. Sam says. Also, I find it better to really take water in the right hand and pour it into the left fist. As fist is held over bowl you just let water fall back into it.

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Two From Online Library

The left hand now seemingly squeezes the water so that it forms the ice block and slowly opens to reveal the ice.

You must give the effect of the cold ice freezing your hand. To do this put it first on one hand then the other, each time rubbing the fingers of the free hand over that hand. This should not be overdone. It is well to try this with a piece of real ice to see what you would do naturally. The ice is finally dropped into the bowl of water. The Chinese magician then walks amongst his audience with the bowl so that the ice may be seen. A piece of chipped glass looks like ice at any time, but in the water it may be shown with safety right among the spectators. As I said before, this is an old effect in China, but it is very effective and audiences like it. It is pretty safe to say a trick found to be effective in one part of the world can be used to advantage in any other part. THE END.

The second trick I took from our online library appears in Annemann's Card Miracles at http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/books/annecard/004.html

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Two From Online Library

and is titled "The Eye-Popper Card Feat." I will again use the original author words and just add some photos.

THE EYE-POPPER CARD FEAT Annemann For the last few years the ambition of every manipulator has been to achieve that masterpiece of the modem card sleightist--wherein a noted card placed SECOND from the top of the deck, instantly appears back on TOP; placed In MIDDLE of deck, pops back on TOP; again, SECOND from top, and pops back on TOP; then finally on bottom and pops back on top, etc. Well, this is nothing less than a method by which YOU, WITHOUT A MOMENT'S PRACTICE and WITHOUT THE USE OF A SINGLE SLEIGHT, can do this effect BETTER, easier and SLOWER than any manipulator ever dared to attempt it. And far CLEANER than it has ever been worked before. Shuffle deck and take out about a dozen or so of RED cards and ONE BLACK card. Place it obviously SECOND from the top of this packet of red cards. Merely flip the deck with your fingernail and it is back on TOP! You do this several times, until your manipulator friends are at a loss because they cannot see the move that they feel sure must be taking place. Then you plainly and SLOWLY pick up the card and place it plainly on the bottom (you actually do so). Snap! And the card is BACK ON TOP! Even when you finally place it in the center--Snap! and it pops down to the bottom and can be examined. Every card is shown back and front and all the others are red. Hand the entire deck out for examination if you wish, and spectators will find nothing but red cards. Explanation You must first prepare one simple thing. Take two extra cards, having the same back design as the deck you are using. One is to be a BLACK card and the other a RED.

Glue the BLACK card to the BACK of the RED card AT ONE END ONLY (for 1/2 http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/two.html (6 of 10)3/6/2007 8:36:15 PM

Two From Online Library

inch) as shown in FIGURE. This double card can be handled freely, dealt and shown back and front as a SINGLE RED CARD.

Place it on FACE OF PACK. At BACK of deck, have a single UNPREPARED DUPLICATE of the BLACK CARD (which is the unseen card of the glued pair).

To start: Hand this top card to spectator, saying that with the ONE BLACK CARD you will use a number of RED ONES.

Turn deck face up, and deal, ONE AT A TIME on table, the FIRST DOZEN RED CARDS you come to. As the "double card" was dealt off first, it thus becomes the TOP card, when a moment later, you pick up this packet.

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Two From Online Library

Place face down on left hand.Openly place the SINGLE unprepared black face card on top of the pack in left hand. With forefinger of right hand, lift the OUTER END of top card, showing it to be the BLACK card (as in photo).

Letting it drop, you openly place this TOP CARD second from top (really under double card).

"Snap" top of deck, lifting outer end of the now top card, again, you show that the BLACK CARD has RETURNED to the top. Really though, they are looking at the BACK CARD of the GLUED PAIR, which is being raised at its outer and loose end!

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Two From Online Library

Once more take TOP card (double) and place SECOND from top. Again you "snap," and show it to have returned.

Next time, you openly shove TOP card (single unprepared) on to bottom of pack. "Snap," as before, and once more it is on TOP.

Lastly you place TOP card (double) openly in center of packet. "Snap" pack, and....

TURNING PACKET COMPLETELY OVER, show that the card has gone http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/two.html (9 of 10)3/6/2007 8:36:15 PM

Two From Online Library

THROUGH TO THE BOTTOM

Immediately you deal the cards into a face up pile, one at a time, and show ONLY ONE BLACK CARD among all the other red ones!! THE END.

There you are. I think it's really great to be able to call your attention to these two old and forgotten (but good) tricks by using this software. I hope you find them worthwhile enough so you give them a try. Back to Tricks and Stuff

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Fogel plus Annemann

Fogel + Annemann Back to Tricks and Stuff This is a very good routine by the late British mentalist Fogel streamlined with a very useful idea by Annemann. My only merit is adding both things together. The result is a very stunning prediction. First I will tell you about Annemann's idea.... This is a three-way faked envelope that has a lot of uses, specially in prediction tricks. Please notice I say "tricks" even when writing about mental stuff. That's because I believe mental.... uh.... tricks are just.... well.... tricks. I say this so the new breed of Mentalism Talibans can save their time sending me corrective emails and etc. To make an Annemann Three-Way Envelope for this Prediction Trick you first need 3 long opaque envelopes.

Cut off the flap from TWO of them. Cut also a thin sliver around both envelopes so you can separate the front or address side of each one. Discard the rest.

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Fogel plus Annemann

This is what you must end with: A complete envelope (A) and two address sides minus flaps (B and C). Notice the marks on the pieces. These marks are just for this explanation so you must not mark your pieces. The dashes mean you will apply glue on top. Apply it on a strip a little less of 1/2 inch -- more or less 1 cm. The dots mean you will apply glue to the bottom of the piece. This is clearly marked on the photo. NOTE: Do not glue all pieces yet. Glue only C on top of B applying glue only on the dashed parts of piece B. Don't apply glue to the underneat of B (dot marks) or the top of C yet! Piece B with piece C glued on top of it will be like a sort of sandwich.

This is how you apply the glue. Use a glue stick for neatness.

Write three predictions using half a sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 or DIN A4 paper. Make them read: Chosen drink will be #1 Chosen drink will be #2 Chosen drink will be #3

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Fogel plus Annemann

Fold each prediction once lenghtwise. Photo shows folded prediction compared to envelope.

Place prediction #3 inside "sandwich."

Place prediction #2 on top of "sandwich."

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Fogel plus Annemann

Place prediction #1 under "sandwich."

Apply glue to all parts marked in previous photos, including whole envelope (A) and slip sandwich and predictions into it. Finally seal flap.

This shows the final envelope. As you can see I have marked it with small numbers: 1, 2 & 3 on the ends and top. This is done on the flap side so that I can easily know where to cut to get to any of the three predictions. If I have to cut anyone of the two ends I use a small pair of scissors....

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Fogel plus Annemann

....If I have to cut the top I use a small letter opener. I have both things: scissors and letter opener on my table and pick one or the other according to what I need to cut, either an end or the top of the envelope. The small secret numbers are always hidden on the side away from audience. NOTE: I always ask someone from the audience to take out the prediction and when they do I ask them to see if there is nothing else inside. Then I show the "empty" envelope to rest of audience and discard it before proceeding with the trick. Now for Fogel's part in this combination:

Get three very different beer cans (full!).

Cut off three manila envelopes and use them to cover the three cans. However, make some secret marks to the back of the envelopes so you know where each brand of beer is. I mentally number each beer 1, 2 or 3 according to how much I like each one! Then I mark 1, 2 or 3 small dots on the envelopes so I know what

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Fogel plus Annemann

envelope covers what beer. PRESENTATION: Show covered cans on your table and tell audience what they are: three different brands of beer: Balboa Ice, Soberana and Atlas. Here you will use your own local brands, of course. Ask somebody to come on stage and while you turn your head away this person must move the cans around WITHOUT uncovering them so at the end you don't have the slightest idea where any beer could be. Now ask this person to point to anybody in the audience and ask this second person what is his favorite beer of the three you have covered on the table: Balboa Ice, Soberana or Atlas. Suppose she says Soberana. For me Soberana is number 2 so I look towards the covers and I immediately know (by the secret marks) where Soberana is.

You have three cardboard squares, each one with a number: 1, 2, 3. Give these cardboards to the person on stage with you and ask her to place each cardboard in front of one of the covered cans. She can place them any way she likes. You even give her the chance to change them around if she pleases. At the end notice what number is in front of Soberana and that is the prediction you must take out of the envelope so....

....in this case you must cut open the top of envelope using the letter opener. http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/fogel.html (6 of 7)3/6/2007 8:36:26 PM

Fogel plus Annemann

Have spectator reach inside envelope, take out prediction, and check there is nothing else there. Show envelope otherwise empty to rest of audience and discard. Have spectator open, read in loud voice and show prediction. Take away cardboards 1 and 3 and lift covers from these cans showing unwanted brands. Discard. Finally take away cardboard 2, lift cover and show your prediction is correct. I used to perform this mental trick a lot. When I was living in Spain I performed it on live TV with a person on the telephone line from the island of Mallorca while I was in the studio in Barcelona. It was very successful. The secret to performing this in your show on a regular basis is to sit down one day with plenty of time and prepare a couple of dozens (or more) of faked envelopes. In Fogel's routine you poured the beer in a glass for the person. You can do that if you want depending on where you are performing. Of course you can substitute other things for beer cans and they don't even have to be liquids of any kind. Use your imagination here. I encourage you to study this trick and add it to your repertoire as it is very good and don't let the fact that you aren't a so-called mentalist stop you from doing it. I used to perform this one right after the egg bag. For me mental tricks are just a different kind of tricks but magic tricks nonetheless. Only in the case you want to make people think you are special and have some psychic powers, or you want to tell fortunes and make some extra $$$$ and use mental tricks to convince them of your powers, or have a personality problem that pushes you to do these things, or even if your artistic taste takes you in the direction of pure mental stuff, only in these cases, I say, will you want to make a difference and consider mental tricks a breed apart from all other magic tricks. Back to Tricks and Stuff

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/fogel.html (7 of 7)3/6/2007 8:36:26 PM

A Magical Lesson

A Magical Lesson Back to Tricks and Stuff

Using two 12 inch -- 30 cm. silk handkerchiefs of contrasting colors and a kingsize thumb tip you can perform a very nice and quick trick. It is also very easy to learn.

This shows starting position from your point of view. Notice how TT is on middle finger. PATTER: I want to teach you a magic trick. As you know magicians can't reveal tricks but I don't see anybody from the Magician's Sindicate here so I will teach you one. The trick is called: "The Red Handkerchief that Changes Color" and for this you will need.... a yellow handkerchief! First thing: you secretly stuff the yellow handkerchief into your left fist.

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A Magical Lesson

As both hands get together in order to push yellow silk into left fist, secretly load the TT as shown. Having TT on middle finger makes this very easy.

With TT hidden in left fist push yellow silk into hand. NOT into TT.

This is what you'll have at the end: the yellow silk in hand besides the TT. PATTER: This is the secret preparation. Stuffing the yellow handkerchief into your left hand. You do this before going in front of the audience. Do it in the bathroom. The trick is called "The Red Handkerchief that Changes Color" so now you need.... a red handkerchief! Take red silk from pocket or wherever with free hand and show to audience. PATTER: You show the audience the red handkerchief. Remember to always keep your left hand closed! Now begin to push the red handkerchief into the top http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/lesson.html (2 of 6)3/6/2007 8:36:34 PM

A Magical Lesson

of left fist.

Pushing red silk into left fist. The silk actually goes inside TT. PATTER: Now, when you have pushed a bit of the red handkerchief into left fist from the top you take out a little bit of yellow handkerchief from the bottom.

This photo shows exactly what you tell them in patter above. PATTER: You push a little bit more of the yellow handkerchief from the top and take some more of the red handkerchief from the bottom. Doesn't it look like the red handkerchief is changing color as it passes through the hand? That's why the trick is called "The Red Handkerchief that Changes Color."

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A Magical Lesson

At this moment most of the red silk is into left fist and you pull most of yellow silk out.

Use right thumb to push in last bit of red silk and steal TT with this thumb. PATTER: You finally push the last bit of red handkerchief inside left hand and pull yellow handkerchief completely out from the bottom.

Right hand comes out of fist with TT and goes to lower corner of yellow silk to pull it completely from left hand. Photo shows this moment. Notice TT on right thumb. This is your point of view, of course.

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A Magical Lesson

In the last few seconds you have turned your body to the left so that this is what audience sees. Pull yellow silk completely out of left fist. PATTER: The only problem is I teach this trick to everybody I meet. Half the city already knows it so when you perform it many people will know you have the red handkerchief hidden in your hand. It happens to me too! What I do in these cases is another very nice trick called: "The Red Handkerchief that Disappears."

Open your left hand showing it empty. PATTER: But I'll teach you that one some other time! THE END. There you are. Isn't it simple? It doesn't call for any difficult move or anything new you have to learn. It might even be that you already have the two silks and the TT so the only ingredient needed is a few rehearsals and you'll have a nice little addition to your repertoire. Back to Tricks and Stuff

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/lesson.html (5 of 6)3/6/2007 8:36:34 PM

A Magical Lesson

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Bergeron's Red and Blacks

Bergeron's Reds & Blacks

Back to Tricks and Stuff I want to thank Bev Bergeron for his kindness in giving me permission to publish this trick here. I have been performing this since Bev sent me a set of his lecture notes almost 20 years ago. It is a very quick and surprising trick. It is also very easy to master.

This is what you'll use: two red aces and two black jacks. Show them to audience and mix them a little in your hands so that they end up....

....like this: alternating aces and jacks. Ask a spectator what she wants: jacks or aces? Whatever she says cut cards so http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/bergeron.html (1 of 4)3/6/2007 8:36:41 PM

Bergeron's Red and Blacks

one of those is at the face. Suppose she said aces. Show card on face to spectator and rest of audience, turn hand palm down and....

....glide back bottom card.

Pretend to take bottom ace, really taking second-from-bottom card (a jack).

Place this card face down on spectator's palm.

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/bergeron.html (2 of 4)3/6/2007 8:36:41 PM

Bergeron's Red and Blacks

Since the bottom card is glided back you won't have any trouble at all to take two top cards together as one and turn them face up showing the other ace.... an automatic double-lift.

After showing the ace turn the double card face down on top of the one in your hand and take top card only (a jack). People think it's the ace you just showed.

Place this card on spectator's hand. She thinks she has the red aces.

Here you do your usual magical gestures and turn your cards face up. You have the red aces!

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/bergeron.html (3 of 4)3/6/2007 8:36:41 PM

Bergeron's Red and Blacks

Let her turn her cards face up: the black jacks! This is short and sweet and very effective. Try it. Thanks again,. Bev! Back to Tricks and Stuff

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/bergeron.html (4 of 4)3/6/2007 8:36:41 PM

Satan's Shears

Satan's Shears Back to Tricks and Stuff The above title was given by Peter Warlock to a very showy trick of his which was published many years ago in Annemann's The Jinx. I have changed it a little bit to add a change by David Devant which has some more applications besides this trick. Satan's Shears is a revelation of a selected (well, forced, really) card. Let's say you'll force the 4 of Diamonds.

Here's what you need: 2 pieces red tissue paper, 2 pieces white, 2 pieces black. Use any size that you can handle. I use half sheets.

From one of the red pieces cut four diamonds and glue them to one of the white pieces.

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Satan's Shears

Put one of the black pieces together with the prepared red and white and fold all three together to make a small package. Place the prepared packet behind the unprepared black paper on your table. On top of it place the other two unprepared papers.

First thing: force the 4 of Diamonds. Second thing: pick up from table the three papers holding the packet well hidden behind the black paper on back.

Show the three papers one by one. Shake them a little bit so as to give the idea of unpreparedness.

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Satan's Shears

Put them all together and fold them the same as the hidden packet.

This is what you will have at the end. Prepared packet is near your thumb.

Using both hands push prepared packet so it shows above your right hand fingers. Unprepared packet is hidden behind fingers.

Left hand opens lapel of coat. Left thumb and forefinger prepare to grab prepared packet.

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Satan's Shears

Right hand moves towards inner jacket pocket. As it passes behind left hand, left thumb and forefinger grab prepared packet without it going out of audience's sight.

Right hand doesn't even stop. It continues moving and goes into jacket taking with it unprepared packet and leaving prepared packet well visible in left hand.

Right hand drops unprepared packet in jacket pocket and comes out with a pair of small scissors. Make cutting motions in the air towards packet in left hand.

Unfold packet and take away black paper.

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Satan's Shears

Separate red and white papers showing that diamond shaped pieces are missing on the red one and have magically attached themselves to the white card to form an image of the chosen card. NOTE: The reason for using red and black papers (besides white) is that the chosen card could be either red or black and supposedly you don't know what color it is. That's why you have to use both colors. I suggest that when you take scissors out of pocket you should little by little reveal the identity of the chosen (forced) card. Then say they haven't seen nothing yet and proceed to make the cutting motions with scissors toward the packet of papers and then open it to show the card image. Back to Tricks and Stuff

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/satan.html (5 of 5)3/6/2007 8:36:47 PM

One Card Pete

The Story of One Card Pete Back to Tricks and Stuff I would like to call your attention to one of the tricks contained in a book in our online magic library. You can find it in "Magic Annual 1938" by Jean Hugard, which, by the way, contains some other goodies. Credit goes to Elmer Applegit for this fine performance piece. If I was an English-speaking magician I would add this to my repertoire immediately. However, not being one, or rather, not living in an English speaking country, the only thing I can do is try my hand at translating the patter into Spanish for my own use. If you live in an English speaking country then lucky you as everything you need is already worked out! I have always read bad things about patter in rhyme for magic. However over the years I have seen some magicians get great success with verse patter so I suppose the authors of the bad comments must have seen really bad magicians using this form of patter. Rhyme isn't necessarily bad. It can even be cool. Last September I was in New York City visiting one of my daughters who is married to an American boy and lives there and I took them to the Newyorican Poets Cafe. The place was really really crowded and the audience was enthusiastic. What was the show? Young contemporary poets saying their thing. Of course there is a long way from magic patter in rhyme and modern spoken poetry, or rap, for that matter, but the fact remains that in verse everything lies in the delivery. I'm sure someone will read what comes below, will see that he can deliver it right, will rehearse it real good and then he will have something that people will really like.

This is the setup: 2D, 2H, 4D, 3H, 4H, AH, 3D, 5H, the Five of Hearts being the eight card.

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One Card Pete

Bridge or crimp the pack so 8-card setup can be taken from the top cleanly when required.

Here is the false count you need to learn. It's easy. Hold 8-card packet in left hand as in first photo. Secretly glide back bottom card (second photo). Count cards one by one by pulling them off the top with right thumb. After four cards have been counted take the next three top cards together as one card at the count of five. The bottom card is then snapped with the left thumb and fingers plainly showing that it is a single card, thus completing the illusion of a honest count. The cards should be held in the left hand with as much of the back of the packet showing as is possible and the count made rather deliberately; a too rapid count must be avoided. From now on I'll write the patter in italics. Keep in mind it is in rhyme and must have a sing-song quality to it. Numbers in parenthesis throughout the patter refer to actions you must do. These are explained a few lines further. One Card Pete was a gambling man... They knew him well in Reno. He'd cheat in every kind of game From Tiddlywinks to Keno. He sat once in a poker game In a low smoky dive, And when the dealer gave him cards, He thought he gave him five.(1) http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/pete.html (2 of 8)3/6/2007 8:36:53 PM

One Card Pete

(1) Lift off the packet of eight cards from the top of the deck and hold it up showing the 5H as if to illustrate the word "five". Discard rest of deck. When One Card Pete looked at his cards(2) A glad sight met his gaze. A goodly hand! A noble hand! A hand well worth a raise.

(2) Turn the face of the packet towards yourself and spread the cards very slightly, square them and turn the packet face down. He looked again and with chagrin (3) Thought he, "I'm in a fix. The dealer gave too many cards, One, two, three, four five, six." (4)

(3) Turn the packet towards yourself again slightly spreading the cards, then square the packet and hold it in readiness for the false count.

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One Card Pete

(4) Draw the bottom card back, pull off four cards singly with the right thumb, at the word "five" draw off all the remaining cards except the bottom one, then count "Six" and....

....snap the 5 H with the left fingers and thumb. Place this card on top of the others. You'd call "Misdeal" in a case like this, But not this gambling chap. He just took out the poorest card And hid it in his lap.(5)

(5) Take off the top card, 5 H, and place it face down on the table. And then he checked the cards again... He still was in a mix. Again he found instead of five, One, two, three, four, five, six. (6)

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One Card Pete

(6) Replace the packet in the left hand and in similar fashion make the count of "Six". Place the last card on top of the others. This card will be the 2 D. How this could be perplexed poor Pete... He did not think it right. That's why he stole another card And hid it out of sight. (7)

(7) Take off the top card, 2 D, and place it on top of the 5 H on the table. Once more he checked the plaguey hand... Lest I become prolix Just let me speed this sorry tale, One, two, three, four, five, six. (8) So once again he conned the hand And this is how he did it: Once more he took the lowest card And in his sleeve he hid it. (9)

(8) Count again and as there really are just six cards make the count very deliberately. (9) Take the top card, 4 H, and push it into your sleeve.

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One Card Pete

"And now," thought he, "that pesky card Will trouble me no more." But then he found instead of five Just one, two, three and four.(10)

(10) False count as four. A remedy had to be found The one he used seemed grand. He took the card from out his sleeve... Returned it to his hand.(11)

(11) Take the 4H from the sleeve and place it on top of the packet. Alas, the plans of mice and men Sometimes don't even score. He checked the playing cards again: Just one, two, three and four.(12)

(13) Again false count as four.

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/pete.html (6 of 8)3/6/2007 8:36:53 PM

One Card Pete

He stole another playing card To give him one card more. Again he found the cards he held Were one, two, three and four.(13)

(13) Pick up the 2D from the table, add it to the top of the packet and again count as four only. He took the last remaining card... Ah, sorry was his fix Because he found not four, not five, One, two, three, four, five, six. (14)

(14) Add the 5 H, the first card that was discarded, to the top and make the false count of six. He left that fateful game forthwith... No more was seen in Reno. He settled down to honest toil And played not even Screeno. The sad part of this little tale, As sure as you're alive, In spite of all perplexing counts, One, two, three, four . . . and five. (15) (15) Mr. Applegit's original called for palming the two extra cards but in my opinion palming cards when all eyes are burning your hands is a little risky so I took the liberty of changing the routine a little bit.

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/pete.html (7 of 8)3/6/2007 8:36:53 PM

One Card Pete

Take cards face up in right hand as shown.

Left thumb pulls cards one by one from the face of packet arranging them in a fan..

Count up to five cards. Ace will show. The two extra cards are well squared behind ace. Place ace on face of fan in left hand.

This is the end result. The two extra cards remain hidden behind ace. No need to palm anything. The description in Hugard's Annual ends by saying: "This presentation makes the trick a complete novelty and it is a sure fire applause winner." I think this is true. Back to Tricks and Stuff

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/pete.html (8 of 8)3/6/2007 8:36:53 PM

New Baby Gag

The New Baby Gag Back to Tricks and Stuff Maybe you have heard about The Baby Gag? The original idea is that you hold a big envelope and ask any audience member to name any movie star. Let's say the person names Mel Gibson. You then say that, believe it or not, inside the envelope you have one photo and one photo only.... a photograph of the freely chosen movie star: Mel Gibson. From out of the envelope you take the photo of a baby, saying: A photo of Mel Gibson.... when he was one year old! The above gets a nice laugh but then you continue saying: "The other day I did this trick and somebody said Denzel Washington.... Well, this trick never fails." You turn the photo around and on the other side there is the photo of a black baby. That's the original idea. Some people find it offensive. I myself have never performed it even though I live in a country in which many races are intermixed and people are not as racially conscious as in some other countries so they will not be easily offended by this gag. I have a different reason for not performing it and it is that it lacks magical effect; it is only a gag. Well, using a Larry Becker idea for a force I came up with the following trick which is included in "The Best of TLP Magic eZine" among other equally nice things.

THE NEW BABY GAG

Take a big manila envelope (9" x 12" or metric equivalent) and cut flap and a thin http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/baby.html (1 of 6)3/6/2007 8:37:10 PM

New Baby Gag

sliver from bottom and two sides. Keep address side and discard the rest. We will call this address side the "flap" from now on.

Insert the flap into an uncut envelope.

Mark the contour of the opening on flap.

Slip flap out of envelope and cut off at mark.

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New Baby Gag

Slip flap back into envelope all the way down. The end result is an envelope with two compartments. Now you need two famous persons' portraits. It's better to use movie stars as everybody is familiar with them but you can use politicians or historic figures, it's up to you. For our example we will use Arnold Swarchtzenneger (hope I got it right!) and Jack Nicholson.

Paste a baby's photo on one side of a piece of stiff cardboard and on the other side paste Nicholson's portrait.

Do the same with Arnold's portrait.

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/baby.html (3 of 6)3/6/2007 8:37:10 PM

New Baby Gag

Slip both cardboards into envelope, one in each compartment. Baby photo must look to flap side.

Now here is Larry Becker's neat force idea: On address side write four names of famous movie stars. The force names are in the odd positions (1 & 3). Tell audience you have a list of four famous movie stars and show them the list. Read names out loud and tell audience you will eliminate names until only one is left Ask somebody to chose "odd" or "even." You are going to interpret their choice to your advantage:

If they say "odd" you reply: "Fine. You said odd so we'll eliminate the even names. If they say "even" you reply: "Fine. You said even so we'll eliminate the even names.

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New Baby Gag

So you are down to two names, both even. This second part of the force is what gives it the appearance of cleanliness because here it doesn't matter what name they say because you have both covered so be very open and fair about it. You can even give them the chance to change their mind on their final choice. Supposing they stick with Arnold you cross out Jack.

Turn envelope around and announce that, believe it or not, inside the envelope you have one photo and one photo only.... a photo of the freely chosen movie star..... (take out the photo out of the proper compartment showing the baby side) When he was one year old!

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/baby.html (5 of 6)3/6/2007 8:37:10 PM

New Baby Gag

Say: "This is very, very stong, don't you believe? The only explanation is that I have four baby photos inside this envelope. This is not true. Only one baby photo. See for yourself." (Show envelope otherwise empty holding flap to hide other photo). Discard envelope.

Say: "Don't you think this is amazing? What? Oh, you don't believe this is a photo of Arnold Schwarzenegger when he was one year old? Well, how about this one?" (Turn photo around.) That's him alright. I wouldn't cheat you for the world!" Back to Tricks and Stuff

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/baby.html (6 of 6)3/6/2007 8:37:10 PM

My One-Man Show in Boquete

My One-Man Show in Boquete Back to Tricks and Stuff Some time ago I performed a show for the Lions Club in Boquete, a nice little town high up in the mountains near our border with Costa Rica. Boquete was named by Modern Maturity, the magazine of the American Association of Retired Persons, as one of the Best Places to live in the western hemisphere and it has also been rated No. 4 top place to retire in the whole world by international specialized media. It seems all this publicity is working because foreigners, both tourists and settlers were in evidence everywhere.

This is a view of Main Street. It still looks like one of our native towns but I bet it will change a lot in a couple of years.

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My One-Man Show in Boquete

This is me in front of a beautiful wooden house more than 100 years old. New constructions are going everywhere you look and outside the town proper there are several big develoments where already retirees from Europe, Canada and the US live. The climate here is spring-like all year round.

Boquete is known as "The Land of Flowers" and there are flower gardens everywhere.

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My One-Man Show in Boquete

This is my girlfriend, Nubia and in back of her a tablefull of Americans. Foreigners are much in evidence, as I already said, and they participate in community affairs. On Saturday morning and noon a group of American retirees were having a food sale on the park gazebo to raise funds for a new taxi terminal in town.

The hanging bridge was built in the 1920's.

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My One-Man Show in Boquete

This is the view from the bridge with the hazy mountains at the back. Beautiful, don't you think? My show was on Sunday but Saturday at 2:00 in the afternoon I performed a Blindfold Drive. This was my staple publicity stunt many years ago when I used to tour a medium sized show and I hadn't performed it in a long time but it went perfectly.

Here I am having the witnesses examine all the stuff that will be used to blindfold me. The guy in the red cap is the Mayor of Boquete.

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My One-Man Show in Boquete

Here is how I look after they place cardboard, modelling dough, cotton, gauze and adhesive tape to my eyes. The Mayor is beginning to look worried.

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My One-Man Show in Boquete

The black hood over my head. The Mayor is really worried. He asked if the town police car was going to drive in front of me.... just in case. I invited him to come with me in the car but he was too scared. The Lions president and another guy from the town rode with me instead. The police car did drive in front of me which was great because I just had to follow him. I put on a show for the guys in the car with me like almost going out of the road a couple of times, etc. They were really scared.

The car I drove was a brand-new Skoda provided by a local distributor. Nice car! THE SHOW Next day (Sunday) I had the show. I performed the following tricks: Sympathetic Silks Linking Rings Rice Bowls Cards up the Sleeve & Diminishing Cards Miser's Dream Cut & Restored Turban Change Bag Routine Torn & Restored Paper with sucker explanation The Egg Bag Escape from 100 feet of Rope INTERMISSION Vanishing Bird Cage 20th Century Silks Back Palming and Production of Cards Cut & Restored Handkerchiefs Silk Production with Botania finale Blindfold Routine

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My One-Man Show in Boquete

It was a much varied show featuring flash magic, comedy, manipulation, mental magic, and an escape stunt. It went very well and two local groups want me to perform for them in the near future. The Change Bag routine I performed is the one explained in my book "The Best of TLP Magic eZine" and it is a winner. The Cut & Restored Handkerchiefs is the routine explained in a recent issue of the eZine. This is the first time I perform this for an audience and am pleased to say it went over very well. Several ideas came to my head while I was performing this and I will apply them next time and will tell you about them. The Blindfold routine is my own which is included in TLPP Magic Book CD No.1. It is very strong and has been my closer for many years. I also premiered another routine which is the Cards up the Sleeve and Diminishing Cards sequence. This goes along classical lines and uses only palming skills, no fake cards. It went OK but can be better. I suppose that the more I perform it the more it will improve. I have some photos:

The Sympathetic Silks. A good and colorful opener.

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/oneman.html (7 of 10)3/6/2007 8:37:18 PM

My One-Man Show in Boquete

This is my introduction to the Linking Rings: 24 separate rings become a chain. I then say maybe this was too quick so I will do it slower and here I show the normal Linking Rings.

The Linking Rings routine I use is a stripped down version of Vernon's Symphony. It takes less than 2 minutes and that's it.

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My One-Man Show in Boquete

The 100 feet of Rope Escape can be very effective depending on how they tie you. Sometimes it might look too easy and the effect is not what you would like. However most of the time you get real mean guys that can tie you most impresively.

I opened the second half with The Vanishing Bird Cage. This is one of the most magical small effects in magic.

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My One-Man Show in Boquete

The 20th Century Silks. Great, colorful trick. Will publish my routine in a book I'm currently planning. Nothing fancy but it works fine with an audience. Nubia, my girlfriend, took these photos and, unfortunately, there was no more memory left for the rest of the tricks. The guy from the Lions Club took a lot and he will be emailing them to me. Will post them here if they are interesting. Back to Tricks and Stuff

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/oneman.html (10 of 10)3/6/2007 8:37:18 PM

Getting Rid of Magical Clutter

Getting Rid of Magical Clutter Back to Tricks and Stuff Like many magicians I had a lot of tricks I have bought over the years and they were stored in boxes and drawers and closets without giving them a second look in years. The curious thing is that when I bought each and everyone of them I really thought, I was convinced, that I was going to learn and perform them. However, once I had them in my possesion they went into some drawer or box and they were there for many years until some time ago (when I was still living and performing in Spain) when I finally decided to put a little order into my magic life. My first step was to take an inventory of my working repertoire; those tricks I use when I perform. My second step was to make another inventory, this time of the tricks I have bought but never used and which lie forgotten in all those drawers and boxes. If you have never done something like this you don't know what you are missing. It was fun, even! I found tricks there that I didn't know I had! Many were still in their original wrapper. I felt like a kid in a toy store! Or better yet: like a magician in a magic store! I could immediately see that some of these tricks weren't suitable for my style of performing, looking at them with the sobriety afforded by the long time that had passed since I first bought them. I put these in boxes marked "for sale." Maybe new owners can use them better than me. I also discovered other tricks that really excited me. I would say I was more excited than when I bought them. I put these in other boxes marked "close-up" and "stage." I made lists according to whether the tricks were "close-up" or "stage" and also wrote down in what box each trick was. For this I numbered each box. Once the lists were made I forgot about the tricks and studied the lists so see what tricks I wanted to learn first. I concentrated on stage tricks first since I had some shows coming and these were excellent oportunities to perform any new tricks in front of a live audience. So, thanks to the fact that I had taken the time to check over and organize a big quantity of tricks, some days later I could add to my repertoire: 20 Century Silks, Die Box, Bounce-No Bounce Ball, Spirit Slates, the production of 3 flower boxes from a paper bag, and the Linking Ropes. This last trick, The Linking Ropes, had been in working my repertoire some years back but I thought I had lost my ropes until I found them again when I decided to organize all the tricks I had in storage.

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/clutter.html (1 of 2)3/6/2007 8:37:22 PM

Getting Rid of Magical Clutter

But that was not all. Thanks to all this I could add about 8 new tricks to my working repertoire. If you add you will see that thanks to my inventory I had enough new tricks for a brand new show. So, in a way, I duplicated my repertoire without spending a single additional cent but, instead, by using the things I already had. In regards to the many tricks I decided to sell, I passed the word around and not only got back some money but I also took a solid step towards liberating myself from useless clutter. I'm thinking now of doing an inventory of my books, not only magic books but all the books I own. I plan to classify them into: Books I have already read and I don't plan to read any more Books I will never read Books I would like to read but haven't Books I have read and want to keep (for the moment) I have also promised myself that I won't buy a new book until I have read all the books left after the inventory. I know this promise will be hard to keep but I'll try, anyway. The lesson I learned from this is that I must use what I own and I must control the urge to buy more and more things just for the sake of having them. I know some women that own 40 or even 50 pair of shoes, many of which were bought on impulse and they have never wore them. Some of these ladies have clothes with the original price tags hanging in their closets because they have never wore them. I was critical of them before I realized that we are all guilty: they buy shoes and clothes they never wear and we buy magic tricks we never perform, books we never read and videos we never watch. If you think you have this problem I can recommend you take a weekend to sit down in tranquility and examine the tricks you own... all of them... and clasify them just as I have told you I did or any other way you wish and then take the list and pick a few of them, not more than two or three, and begin rehearsing them so you can add them as soon as posible to your shows. I can assure you that you will spend many happy hours and maybe you will discover, like I did, that you have tricks which you have forgotten you had. But the best part is that you will increase your working repertoire, with all the advantages that brings. Back to Tricks and Stuff

http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/marko/clutter.html (2 of 2)3/6/2007 8:37:22 PM