Via former card trick kind of guy Julian Sanchez, something completely different:
Scott Stein at C-Net wonders if this is the future of magic:
So, is this what magic kits will consist of in the year 2014–goggles, a camera, and a deck of coded cards? It certainly suggests that we’re about to enter a fascinating (and slightly terrifying) new age where nothing that you see–even live footage–will be able to be truly trusted.
If it is, I sure feel foolish for ordering the 500 page hardcover book of sleight of hand now sitting in my mailbox. Ultimately I don’t think that’s where we’re headed (though Marco Tempest’s demonstration above is very cool and certainly has its place). The modern ease of camera trickery and special effects make genuine demonstrations of skill and performance ability even more valued. This was part of the genius of David Blaine’s first specials. How do you make simple magic tricks play well on TV? By shifting focus to the dramatic reactions of real people on the street, who authenticate the reality of the illusions. This is part of what made him stand out from the staged, slickly edited magic shows of the time.
Below the break (bonus pun for the magicians in the audience), a couple other videos in the full-deck “story trick” genre.
Many magicians have scripted patter for running through an entire deck of cards while it’s repeatedly shuffled and cut. The classic version is Sam the Bellhop, invented by Chicago bar magician Frank Everhart. Here it is performed by Bill Malone, whose energetic personality and deft handling of the cards turn a simple trick into a memorable piece of live theater:
A few years ago Simon Lovell published his own effect with a different presentational twist, that of improvising a story based on however the cards come up. Here’s Danny Garcia trying that ploy with very NSFW results. Played late night at a magic convention, this becomes the card trick equivalent of the aristocrats joke:
[Hat tip to Ellusionist for the C-Net link .]
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Jacob Grier is a freelance writer, barista, mixologist, and magician in Portland, OR. He writes, eats, and drinks a lot. His articles have appeared in The Washington Post, Reason Online, The Oregonian, and other publications.
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