Tuesday, May 29, 2012

New week and finally routines.

He just slipped into sleeving and although it is important, I'm skipping that section.
I simply don't wear sleeves. I am glad it is there however. I viewed it and now understand
a few more things about sleeving.

The DVD, by going through basics, sets up the theme to be 'for beginners'.
Since this is his 'first' routine, I would have expected something a bit more basic.
His 'first' routine is rather difficult for 'beginners'. Palming is very difficult.
So is Han Ping Chien.
In addition is dropping one of two coins from a palm. 

Well, I'm having a blast with the routine.
I've now put it with Mirage et Trois. So together, these two sets form a nice coin routine.

Using Han Ping Chien does have a draw back. You need a table to complete the routine.
Although in his "Audience show" he does not use a table. He does not teach that technique.
I'm assuming he is simply using the spectator's hand as 'the table'. I'll practice that.

But the HPC doesn't really make sense in the routine. You need to get the two coins from one hand to the other while making it appear as if you are showing the original two coins.
In other words, you have two coins in say your left palm.
You end up, from the spectators point of view, with those two coins in your left hand's fingertips.
"Why do you need to drop them to pick them up" a spectator might ask.
From Eric's point of view, it's "the way" to move the coins for the next part of the routine.
And with his smooth actions and moves, he makes it look like a very natural thing but you can't really tell.
The camera-man stops shooting the 'move' and is shooting a man who is not really looking at the action.

DVD Editor:
Please show us the moves and not the people.
For entertainment: The David Blaine shot is great.
For learning, the David Blaine shot is terrible.
Show us the full front of Eric so we can see how his eyes move, his body moves, he hands.
For learning, I don't want to see the people.
Show me the people in another action sequence or simply leave it out.

AHHH Stop saying "Check it out make sure it's real". (referring to the coins)
The audience won't think they are not real unless you say "Check it out make sure it's real".
Ahhhh Stop saying that.

DVD is still A+ though. 98% :D

www.StephanieBeachMagic.com
YouTube: Eric Jones Experience

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Metal is falling behind

It's a bit of my fault because I have some paying gigs I need to attend to.
Also I'm performing in June at the http://unknownmagiciansandclowns.com/ event.

So I've been concentrating on one aspect of Eric's teachings.
And that is Michael Ammar's wiping.
I've had a lot of trouble with the palming. My index finger tends to contract making my flat palm look like it's got a dent in it. Not very natural at all.

You can see in this picture my hand is dented while palming the coin.


My goal is to have the hand look very natural so I can do the swipe.
What I've done is to develop an exercise to keep the little finger 'out of the picture'.
Place your palm face down.
Now move your thumb in then out. Don't have a coin just move your thumb.
Notice that your little finger does not move in.
With your other hand lift a coin into the palm of your hand and just move your thumb in.
Betcha your little finger moved in. Mine does automatically.

Turn your hand over now and just move your thumb. 
Try to find that spot that will hold the coin but not move the little finger.

And that is the move I'm working on trying to stop.
So far I've found that I can keep my hand relatively 'normal' but I need to slightly bend my fingers.

Back to practicing and I'll post my 'show' called "Do or Die, Dori" when it's done.
Hope you enjoy it. ugh drop my coin again..... :D




Monday, May 14, 2012

Week 5 is done.

Click Pass - wow this was hard holding that coin. I was able to make the click but to make it look natural holding the palmed coin is tough

Jones click -Eric is really really good. He makes this look so easy. And it's not too bad. About 40 minutes of practice got me started.

Shuttle Pass - Yeah Jay Sankey does this better but don't think Eric isn't fantastic. Jay will actually have the hidden coin 'tossed' into the air. Check out Jay's Coin Revolution series. Really nice.


Week 6

Utility Switch - advancing the Click Pass concept but with more coins.
This is useful but need this in a routine.

Hand washing.

Wiped Clean -Michael Ammar's. - WOW this the Classic Palm challenge. In this utility move you MUST keep that coin cleanly classically palmed.

Jonathan Townsend's Hand Washing routine.

Bobo Switch - Back to Bobo. Switching coins.

----
Here is the real value of this DVD. Value meaning quality with quantity. I've gone through 1/2 the DVD.
There is still 50 minutes of material left to work with. WOW.

In my mind now is building a practice routine that will remind me of all the moves or at least most of them, and allow me to practice them at the same time.  Break over back to work.



Nope I have not forgotten this blog nor my practice.
What I recently did was to request to perform at the www.unknownmagiciansandclowns.com
convention coming up June 2nd. This meant writing a 10 min script, getting sound, music and practice.
I've had to spend virtually all my time on that.
Well the script is written and my friends are reviewing the performance tonight.
I do quite a few practice and review session.
I'll film it (in my basement) and post it just as an FYI.
Meanwhile, while I'm at work...oh look! A Coin...oops it's gone...ah back again...gone oh my!

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

My bad...oops on the last two vids. I needed to 'pull' them.
I did not realize that I looked like a train wreck. I was concentrating on the handling.
I'll redo them.

I've been practicing the pass click and discovered something cool.
Here's the illusion.
Coin in left palm is tossed to right palm
Coin picked up in left hand and placed in left palm.
The left coin is then tossed into the right palm. An audible 'clink' is heard.
Both coins are found in the LEFT hand.
:D

Monday, May 07, 2012

Well week 4 is done
Some important practice notes are;
Minimum finger movement when "taking" a coin
Practice quick moves. I found that I was practicing just a bit 'too slow' and that lead me
to have rather awkward 'take'.
Also in that "takes" i find that actually touching the coin with your fingertips makes a big difference when 'taking'. You make contact with the coin for some brief moments. I'm betting it also 'moves' the coin slightly and that subtle action is a bit more of a convincer..
I guess check out Week 4 ending to find out.

Week 5
OK with the stylized retention vanish, I'm also attempting to put the coin into an immediate Thumb clip. After all, you need to do something with the coin so might as well clip it.
He middle finger carries the coin into the thumb clip position. Best if I could have the coin actually go into many different clips and positions. If I can get t into the Motabe clip, that would be about perfect

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

OK Week 4 starts
And with that I'll be heading straight into VANISHES. Oh boy.
1. Taking - Quick vanish
2. Putting
3. Elusive Vanish
4. Retention Vanish (Bobo)


With these you MUST Believe!
That's something I did no mention in my vid for this week.
Believe that the coin was taken or was put into the hand.
If you don't believe it then they won't.

The audience gets its cues on how to react from your reactions.
You mus be excited (or whatever theme you are going for) when the vanish happens.
Don't be 'oh look *yawn*'. This is MAGIC!
:D

No no NO i have not neglected my practicing....just my blog.

Ok the only excuse I have for not having an update is that we just
completed a show at the Wetherbee Primary School in Lawrence Ma.

Practice sessions, packing, setup, perform, packing, putting all stuff away then
chasing my 3 1/2 year old grandkid around the house with a shark all put a damper on my doing the blog.

HOWEVER, I did practice AND perform.

Before the performances began, a  7th grader came up to me and said: HEY YOU'RE the magic lady. Do a trick.
Thank YOU finger palm.
 ---------------------
As she approached i ducked my hand into my pocket.
Palmed two coins then switched one coin to my other hand.
Do her amazement i produced a coin, using JW grip production on the other and a finger drop,
the coin jumped  across then I split a coin into two.
 --------------------
Meanwhile, check out my YouTube of the event.
I think this will get you there.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2C5D7792C7C335C0
I started a Wetherbee playlist.

Vid ya Soon!