Removing Visual Distractions From Card Tricks
Today, I received an email from Docc Hilford sharing what he described as a “seemingly small, yet highly significant tip”. In a short excerpt from his new “Super Vixens” project, he shares how you can control audience attention with a card box. (For those unaware of his work, Docc Hilford is a well-respected mentalist who has been creating and performing original effects for over fifty years.) In the short video, Docc describes how he tries to remove the cards in such a way that his audience sees the backs of the cards first. The following quote demonstrates why he thinks that this is important:
“The first thing that I want the audience to see is the back of the cards. Why?… Because, again, I want to keep their attention fully focused on what I’m doing.” 1
I was delighted when I heard Docc say this because I’ve been thinking about the same thing recently. When performing card magic, especially packet tricks, I often need to temporarily place the deck on the table. When holding the pack in dealer’s grip, the most natural way to do this is to simply turn your hand palm down and deposit the deck on the table. However, this has an unintended consequence: the pack is left face up, and the face card of the deck produces unnecessary “visual noise” that detracts from the magic that’s happening in your hands.
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| A face-down deck of Bicycle Rider Back playing cards. Photo Credit: novelrobinson via Pixabay. |
So, how can you avoid this issue? The simplest solution is to flip the deck face up using your fingers and thumb before turning your hand palm down. (You can also use the T.G. Murphy Deck Flip if it suits your style.) This leaves the deck face down on the table. Of course, this is a minor touch, but it costs you nothing and helps your audience concentrate on what’s really important. In addition, it improves your showmanship, as Docc points out in the video:
“It’s a very small thing, but it can increase the showmanship of a trick. What cost is there to it? Zero cost.” 2
Of course, you can also place the deck down, keeping it face down, by shifting your fingers below the pack and gripping it with your thumb from above. This can result in a slightly messy pile of cards on the table, though, so I prefer the former method whenever it is practical (this method is often better when performing a secret addition).
Removing unnecessary visual distractions from your performance is essential when performing a trick with several magical effects. This will help keep the audience focused on the trick's high points, reduce the risk of confusion, and make it more difficult for them to spot any sleight of hand.
An even better way to remove visual distractions from a card trick is to put the rest of the deck and the card box away when you’re not using them. This is especially true when performing a packet trick, like “Twisting the Aces” or Dr Daley’s Last Trick (basically any trick that doesn’t involve any chosen cards). There is no need to have the entire deck on the table. Instead, put it away in a jacket pocket, drop it in your close-up case, or replace the cards in the card box and put them out of sight. This will help create a cleaner, more focused viewing area for your audience. It also provides the perfect opportunity to perform a deck switch (if you need to). If you need to retrieve the deck quickly at various points during your routine, it is wise to wear a jacket so you can drop the pack into your pocket and retrieve it when necessary. You can also use an elastic band to keep the cards together if you don’t want to bother with the extra hassle of a card box.
All the Tabletop’s a Stage
Think of it this way. When you watch a play at the theatre, props used in the previous scene are not left strewn haphazardly across the stage. Instead, stagehands will surreptitiously sneak on stage and remove any unneeded scenery, objects or items. This does two things: it transports us to a new location and also controls where we look. Often, this transformation is as entertaining as the acting!
In other words, the placement of scenery and props directs the audience’s gaze to what’s most important: the actors. It controls our visual attention in a subtle but impactful manner. When performing close-up card magic, we should do the same. Treat the tabletop (or your close-up pad) like a stage, and remove all unnecessary props before performing your next trick. Unless you have a glamorous assistant, you’ll have to cope with being your own stagehand, though!
Stop Fidgeting!
Of course, there are lots of other small things that you can do to improve the clarity and impact of your card magic. I won’t list them all, but if you only do one thing, stop fidgeting! First, stop riffling and springing the cards unnecessarily because this bad habit, which many magicians suffer from, produces a lot of unnecessary noise as well as motion. As a father of three young and boisterous daughters, I have a very low tolerance for excessive sound and movement! Stand still and be aware of your body language. If you are fidgeting or moving around too much, this can also be visually distracting. Finally, stay calm and focused, even if you have a lot of nervous energy, so the audience can focus on the magic.
Here are some additional tips for removing visual distractions from your card tricks:
- Use a dark background, or wear dark clothes, to help the cards stand out.
- Avoid wearing jewellery or other accessories that could distract the audience, unless they are part of a costume designed to enhance or strengthen your performance persona.
- Ensure the lighting in your performance area is adequate but not too bright.
- Finally, practice your tricks in front of a mirror to see how you look from the audience’s perspective.
By following these tips, you can remove visual distractions from your card routines and create a more magical, professional and polished performance that will amaze your audience.
Super Vixens
Seeing as Docc shared this excellent tip with us free of charge, it is only fair that I promote his product a little. Super Vixens is a new mind-reading effect from Docc and part of a new ongoing project called the Docc-anetics Study Series. Here’s what happens: A deck is shuffled by two people. You turn away while each person cuts the deck, peeks at a card, and remembers it. Next, the deck is spread face down in front of you. You name both cards correctly! Then, you slide two face-down cards from the spread. They are the two thought-of cards!
The trick isn’t cheap. Even with a discount (use code “VIXEN” on checkout for the next three days), it costs $99.99! This puts it out of the reach of most amateur magicians and mentalists. But, to be fair to Docc, he designs his products for working professionals and prices them accordingly. I wish this product were cheaper, though, given that this is an instant download and not a physical product. However, having bought products from Docc in the past, I’m sure that the information, tips and ideas he shares in the video are worth the investment.
If you’d like to watch the short video that I mentioned above, you can do so below:
Footnotes
Docc Hilford, “How to Control Audience Attention with a Card Box,” YouTube video, 0:00 to 2:58, Not Docc, Jun 4, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKgHr_ILPws.
Docc Hilford, “How to Control Audience Attention with a Card Box,” YouTube video, 0:00 to 2:58.
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