Sleight of Hand.

A NEW SITE HAS RISEN

unseenforces — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:23:59 +0000

http://www.doublefacers.com

New day people. I have been thinking a long time for a new name, about twenty minutes, and came up with this name. This site will not be updated anymore. Don’t worry, all the content here are now on the new website. For the few that commented today, sorry they will not be in the new website. Feel free to comment again. They are always welcome.
Thank you all for keeping this site alive. I wouldn’t of made a new site if there wasn’t anyone reading it.
By the way… I made a new video. A little magic but its about the movie. Comment and enjoy guys.

-Tony Chang

New video coming

unseenforces — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:56:09 +0000

Sorry for the lack of updates. I have been busy getting a new camera setup for doing movie shorts and filming magic. I am going to be shooting something Saturday with one of the best magicians I know in the city. Mostly a test shoot to test out the new setup.

This will keep you busy while you wait.

Challenge #1 Ambitious Card Routine

unseenforces — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:54:37 +0000

Every magician knows it. Every magician has a version of it. It’s the staple of any card worker. Besides the routine being a playground to practice your amazing controls to the top, the routine has lost its magic. Here are some problems I see with the routine in general.

Too many phases. I have seen magicians do up to 20 phases in a Ambitious Card routine. First of all, It ruins suspense and surprise that we all love about magic. Of course the card will come to the top… it has the last 19 times. A friend of mine, Gary Au once told me in a drunken haze that in order for magic to become a miracle we can’t dilute it. If Jesus H. Christ back in the days cured some person of their blindness (I know a method) it would be a miracle. If he then turned and said “…and for my next act…” and performed the water to wine miracle (I know a method) then he would be lessening the impact of the first act. I see it like this. If the audience can only go from 1 to 10 on the WOW Scale®. The first trick would usually be up to a 9 or 10 if they never seen good magic. If you keep performing, then the audience will only have your other tricks to compare to on the WOW Scale®. This is why I try not to perform to laymen when I have other magician friends around. Instead of the audience saying “Wow that was great!” They say, “Tony Chang was clearly the best out of all you magicians. Stop what you are doing please.”

The raping of the D.L.. Now don’t get me wrong this move is great. It is basically in every crouch magic card trick known to man. But the use of it in almost every phase of Ambitious Card? I personally think using this sleight and showing the card coming back to the top is the BEST method there is. Then why do it 5 times in a row? You dilute the impact it has to give.

So here is my challenge.

Create a Ambitious Card Routine that only has three phases and the last phase is the standard D.L.. This means there is no D.Ls until the last phase. I think it will be a good exercise to strengthening your magic without adding more phases. Make those three moments last. Make them different. Make them connect together as a single piece of magic.

I will be posting my version in a week. I have never given much thought to it, so it will be fun. Also give some good patter with it. If you talk about a puppy that lost his way home and the only way to bring him back to the “top” is to pet the deck like a dog… then I will kill you. Magically of course.

Sound of Magic

unseenforces — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:20:28 +0000

Ever accidentally drop a coin while doing a routine? Make sure you brush it off by saying “don’t worry, that’s the sound of magic.” Its funny. ha ha.

This kid has taken that joke to the next level. Make sure you turn up your speakers. Its hard to hear the sound of magic.

Prime Examples of Visual Noise

unseenforces — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 05:22:56 +0000

I wanted to talk more about visual noise in magic as mentioned in Lesson #1. I really want to stress the importance of having less tension and awkward moves just for the sake of the method. Laymen’s perception of magic usually boils down to a few things. We are “faster” than the eye and misdirection. It’s not good if the spectator says “Well you did it while I was looking away.” Even if they can’t figure out the real method, they will tell you that you are just doing sleight of hand (horrible at that). What other explanation do they have since all they see is you man-handling the cards. These are prime examples of having visual noise. Does it make the effect weaker? Would people even understand what is going on? Dai Vernon said it best, “Confusion is not magic.” Roll Film. Excuse my language. This stuff pisses me off. Please don’t do it.

you are god damn right. It is fucking confusing.

did you catch his “classic” pass?

Happy Turkey-day!

unseenforces — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:05:52 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Eat lots of turkey… unless you are Ben Pratt. He doesn’t like Turkey-day! BOOO!

Ben Pratt disapproves of Turkey-Day.

I have a dream. The perfect Classic Pass.

unseenforces — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:06:09 +0000

This will be my diary on learning the classic pass.

I had never really thought about the classic pass before but the blog has given me a new excitement for this move. I will be able to share my thoughts and thinking process. I think the best way to learn from others is to also learn side by side with them. I am not a beginner in any sense but I am aware of the weaknesses I have with the move. Every time I post, I will post a video of me doing the classic pass. Hopefully looking back in a few months it should get better.

Whoever wants to tackle this with me please feel free to send me a link of you doing the classic pass. (preferably on vimeo and passworded). I will put your video side by side as this diary progresses. I think it will be a great experiment for all of us. So here is a video of me doing the classic pass as of 11.26.08.

Password is “What is a form of a pass/shift that the basic packet movement is opposite of the classic pass?” Answer is “______ Pass.”

If you guys think this is a stupid idea, feel free to express it in the comments. I feel this would be a interesting way to collectively try to learn one of the most difficult moves out there.

Push-off Double Tutorial taken off

unseenforces — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:21:11 +0000

I am taking off the tutorial because of the lack of credits for the move. I too hastly put the tutorial on without giving credit and references to the move. That is my fault and I apolagize. I will put the tutorial back on in the future when I find proper credit and also make it better and more refined.

Watch those angles…

unseenforces — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:04:56 +0000

So I was driving down the road practicing my classic pass when I saw this sign.

big dog is not happy

I guess we always need to be aware of our angles and who is watching. Practicing or not, the big man did not approve of my sloppy passes.

Photograph

unseenforces — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:55:10 +0000

The kid amazes friend with the S.W.E Shift