Pasteboard Alchemist - Coming Soon!

Tips on Managing Nervousness

Performing close-up magic can be a challenging task especially if you perform for a group of people. If it's your first time to perform, you are bound to be nervous. Of course, this applies to everyone and the question is how well you manage your nervousness. 

One of the most useful techniques that I learned over the years is "pattering" that really can effectively bring down your adrenaline. The reason is because when you patter with your hand movement as well as your eye contact, you take your time to relax and at the same time, you build a rapport with your audience. Performing magic is meaningless if you do not build a relationship with your audience. You have to make them like you, your magic as well as your charisma as a performer. 

By the time you patter, say after 30 seconds, you will find that you may in a relax mode. When you patter, as I mentioned earlier, you must build an eye contact with your audience. Just remind yourself that a good magic should start with a good storyline. Once you are in a relax mode, and then you are able to give full concentration in performing your magic.  Performing any magic should be in a relax manner that includes your whole body should not be in a stiff mode. Tell yourself that performing magic should be a lively and fun experience. 

If you are like me, performing card magic stresses on your hand movement and it should be gentle and graceful in handling cards. As the old tip still proves to be very useful; that is to perform in front of a mirror and try to practise and see for yourself how well you carry yourself when you perform on real situation. The level of confidence that you have also proves to be of paramount importance as well.

In addition, choosing an ideal spectator or table for you performance is one of the crucial factors in increasing your confidence in your performance. For instance, when you approach a spectator, the first thing to do is try to find a suitable table or a spectator that tends to be friendly and thus, giving you the confidence in building a rapport with your spectator. How do you know whether you have chosen the ideal table for your performance? The answer is if that group of spectators show their warm and easily entertained by your magic, this is regarded as an ideal situation for you to put up a good show. 

I always find that women are the most responsive to magic, you can tell by judging their enthusiasm and expression by your magic. If you spot the ladies, by all means show your magic to them.

Once you have chosen the ideal spectators, approach and greet them confidently. Introduce yourself and explain to them that you are about to show them something special or spectacular to cheer up the day. It is crucial not to forget to seek their permission whether they would be interested in watching some magic. Based on my experience, especially some people they would like to have a private conversation or meal with their partner. Therefore, it is advisable not just chip in and perform your magic. Seek their approval first before performing and remember, be courteous always as a performer.  

Another tip I would like to share is you must familiar with your routine on what you are going to say on each of the phases because I believe any routine you do is somehow divided into phases. Each of the phases is very critical because it has elements of surprise, misdirection, execution of moves or sleights and so on. Plan each of the phases well and of course, you could start performing a routine that you find very easy to do that stresses on effortless card magic.

For example, card magic that utilises card principle and you may ask your willing spectators to do all the work and the like. That is the time where your patter comes into play. Once you find yourself in a less nervous mode, you may proceed to performing something that you find challenging. 

Perhaps allow me to share with you an example that I went through in those days when I first time to perform for public as a part-time performer. I remember vividly when I tried to perform for a group of 5 people as I know they loved gambling. So, the first routine triggered my mind was “Royal Highness” (you may find this at my online store) and I set up the cards earlier beforehand. Without undue hesitation, I performed and pattered accordingly to the requirement of that routine. Surprisingly, I realised that my nervousness slowly fades away. Eventually, I had the confidence to go on with my challenging card routines. 

In a nutshell, managing your nervousness is critical to your performance success as well as the brand that you carry as a magician. As we know it, we hate to screw up our tricks or doing mistakes during our performance that due to our nervousness. It is our goal to present our professionalism being as a magician. If you are a person that easily become nervous, perhaps try to apply some of the techniques above and I hope you are able to manage your nervousness well. 

I sincerely wish you in every success of your magic performances. 

ALSH

New eBook - Coming Soon!

Surprise awaits you on the coming weekend...

ALSH

The Hand is Quicker than the Eyes

I am very excited to announce that very soon, I am going to complete my favourite card fusion routine and release as an eBook. 

If you are looking for an offbeat, practical yet entertaining card fusion routine, this is the item that you might be interested to take a look. Basically, this effect involves two spectators each select a card and both cards can be signed.

You remark that all over the years, you prove that whether the magicians' favourite quote "the hand is quicker than the eyes" really proves its effectiveness or otherwise. You demonstrate the phenomenon in which the spectators will look very closely on your hand while performing this little miracle.  

In spite of the spectators really look closely in terms of what you do and perform this miracle as slow as you could, you manage to deliver them a huge wave of surprise; that is their signed cards are now fused together. Best of all, you may hand out the card for a thorough examination or simply give them as a souvenir.

The routine is perfect for walkaround situation and is great for breaking the ice especially if you perform this as your opener for close-up performance. I have been performing this routine for quite some time now and I think it is time for me to share it with the magic fraternity. I really, really enjoy the reaction from the audience when I perform this routine that is well received over the years. 

The release date still remains unknown, however, once everything is finalised, I will keep this post updated.

ALSH

New Card Magic PDF and Promotion

It has been quite some time since the last I updated this blog. I was terribly busy with my work schedule and am glad that I am back on track.

I am very excited to share with you that there would be a new eBook coming soon, which you will find a huge collections of magic effects from excellent contributors and including myself. However, the released date still remains unknown but I am very certain it will available for the next few days. 

I contributed two card effects and one of them was published in my "Miracle Hands on Deck" series. It's a two-packet transposition effect that looks impossible and magical. Don't miss those series as you will find some of the gems in there. The other effect is my unpublished item that you need to check out especially for those who love gambling theme; this might be your favourite item and you will fry your audience out from the blue.

As a bonus, once this book is available and if you purchase the pdf directly from me, I would be happy to send you a pdf (below $10 value) for FREE! Just choose and quote the name of the eBook of your choice and send me the list through email. 

Well, that's it! I hope you will drop by my blog again as I will announce my next card magic eBooks to be released very soon.

Thanks for reading.

Available at: http://www.cardicianden.com

ALSH

February 2013 Card Magic

A brand new card magic eBook is on the way...

Stay tuned...

The Magnificent Queens

“The Magnificent Queens” is regarded as one of my favourite pet routines that have been with me over the last 8 years. It is easy to do as there is no card sleight involved and very entertaining. Did I mention there is no gimmick at all?

The effect sounds like this, imagine you have a spectator named Janet, she is given a chance to call out any number within a range and deal that number of cards onto the table. She will be amazed to locate her own selection without knowing how. In addition, she discovers that not only one of the Queens successfully hypnotises her to choose the particular number but all the mates of the particular Queens emerge on each of the piles.  

Some magicians may call this kind of routine as self-working but I would rather regard it as effortless card magic. As a bonus, I also provide a handling where you cause the whole deck to turn blanks and best of all, the whole deck can be given out for a thorough examination.

Here's what a few of them say:

"This is a very direct effect and has multiple moments of magic combined with a simple procedure. I am sure this will garner lots of very good reviews."

-- David Gemmell 

"What is great about the effect is the number of free choices that the spectator gets to make. If the performer reminds the spectator of all of these choices as the effect goes along, the climax will absolutely floor them. The ffect was clearly explained with wonderful diagrams and the little set up is easy and can be done on the fly. Overall, this is a great effect and I would recommend to one and all."

-- Andrew Galanter

"As I like semi-automatic tricks and tricks and ebooks produced and published by Andrew Loh. I read Andrew’s ’The Maginificent Queens’ with high expectations. I wasn’t disappointed after reading the trick: it became one of my favourites Andrew Loh-trick. The trick is very easy to do: you need to do only one ’move’. The spectator finds her own selection and finds a four of a kind. Andrew also shares a terrific variation in the end notes. You should try it out!"

-- József Kovács

"This is a BEAUTIFULLY constructed routine! I love it. I have about 30 or so tabled magic to do tonight for some friends birthday party and I'm going to do your trick for them! I love the blank deck idea, too. It really does add an element of impossibility for the laity, that's the way I'm gonna do it for these guys. I love the work/reward ratio in your effort here, Andy. You have basically zero work needed for a deep, deep, fooler.  The Queens come as a complete surprise, this is a really well constructed fooler."

-- Shannon Clark

Available at: http://www.cardicianden.com

ALSH

Triple Charms

This eBook features 3 of my favourite personal impromptu miracles that culled directly from my working repertoire.

In this collection, you will find popular effects such as card sandwich, Hofzinser Ace Problem and a signed card transposes magically between cards that is ideal to perform for couples.

The material in this collection is not very difficult to do with the exception that the card sandwich routine may require only a little dexterity in executing the card control.

However, please note that for the card sandwich features in this eBook, I presume you are familiar with the Neil Elias's "Multiple Shift" as there is no explanation included.

CONTENTS & EFFECTS

A Sign of Time: This effect is ideal to perform for couples. A kiss card (signed) magically transposes under impossible condition and everything can be left for examination.

Astral Projection: Four Kings are removed and placed onto the table. A card is selected and it's placed under the spectator's covered palm. The performer casts a magical gesture and one of the Kings changes places. The performer has the spectator's selection and the King that matches the spectator's selection (suit) is now under the spectator's palm.

One Cut Sandwich: One of the fastest card sandwich that you could do with the use of Neil Elias's "Multiple Shift" that is very direct and magical.

Here's what a few of them say:

"I really love your 'A Sign Of Time' and 'Astral Projection' tricks. The plot is so beautiful in 'Sign Of Time'! I think that all its readers will put it in their repertoire immediately. And one more thing which could be very important, very easy to do. Ideal trick for a couple. I think that 'Astral Projection' is a nice solution of the Hofzinser's Four Ace Problem. I like that the magic happens in the spectator's hand."

-- József Kovács

"I just got done reading Triple Charms and it's very good! I really enjoyed the effects. Solid, simple methods and very strong effects! Well done!"

-- Cameron Francis

Available at: http://www.cardicianden.com

ALSH

Metabolism in Card Magic III

This collection features a final collection of my 3 favourite card magic effects.

In this volume, you will find some challenging card effects, which require intermediate skill in sleight of hand. As before, I include a mixture of plots and I cherished these routines all over the years in my career as a close-up cardician.  

You will discover all the three effects in this collection are impromptu card magic. For over the years, I really appreciate the impact of impromptu card magic as you need not to worry when someone comes to you and say, “Please show me a card trick”. There you go; you can perform the magic straight away without the need to worry any gimmicks.

If you like card sandwich, “Instant BandIt” may be one of your favourites as this item is based on my previous release and in this version; there is no Modified Stanyon Count Switch. “Invisible Entities” is an effect where great presentation and patter are come into play. If you have what it takes, I am sure your audience will be entertained with this very simple, yet direct effect.

For the final piece, “The Paradox Spades” is one of my pet routines. I will let you to discover this on your own and this item has been in my repertoire for many years until today I am still using it in my performance.

Here's what a few of them say:

"Good stuff! Elegantly constructed routines as always."

-- Cameron Francis

"I really enjoyed the material. This series of books could be your strongest yet. I look forward to a 4th in the series!"

-- Peter Duffie

This e-book is not suitable for beginners. While all the moves are explained clearly but some previous card handling experience is preferable.

Available at: http://www.cardicianden.com

ALSH