Hidden Magical Gems

Neither blind nor stupid by Juan Tamariz

Neither Blind nor Stupid is published in "Sonata" by Juan Tamariz, although it also appears on Tamariz' video/DVD "Lessons in Magic - Volume 1". Unfortunately, Sonata is out of print, although it can be found on eBay. I strongly recommend learning and performing Tamariz material from a book rather than from video, because Tamariz' performance is so strong that once you've seen it, it is difficult to avoid his style swamping any of your own ideas. Once you have got your own ideas bedded down, there is benefit in seeing his performance, because it is brilliant as always.

On to the trick:

The performer shuffles the pack and puts it on the table. From now on, he or she need not touch the pack. Two spectators cut the pack several times and then each takes and remembers a card. The cards are returned and cut into the pack.

The performer points out that he might have estimated where the cut was, so he gets the spectators to cut the pack several more times, so that the cards are truly lost.

The performer now points out that he knows that the two spectators cards are together and so has them deal the pack into two piles to guarantee that they are separated. NB some performers deal the cards here themselves to prevent a misdeal, which would destroy the effect. I much prefer to find someone who I know can handle the cards and then watch them carefully - whilst riskier than dealing myself, it strengthens the magical effect at the end.

The performer points out that he knows that the two cards are in roughly the same place in their respective piles, so he has each spectator shuffle their own pile to completely lose their card. This is the moment of brilliance in my view, because both magicians and savvy spectators have a feeling that you could have followed where the cards are. This shuffle completely throws them as you move from tight control to allowing them complete freedom to shuffle the cards.

The performer picks up each pile and immediately removes a card from each, apparently at random. The spectators name their cards and those are the ones chosen.

Elements that commend it to me as a "hidden gem", notwithstanding that it is just a "pick a card, lose it and I'll find it" plot:

• The magic is incredibly powerful, mainly because of the last shuffle occurring in the spectators hands, which completely throws savvy audience members off their track (see Tamariz' Method of False Solutions in The Magic Way)
• It gives the performer the opportunity to roam through the audience, which widens the performance area and involves more of the audience.
• The repeated pointing out by the performer of how he could be doing the trick creates an interesting conflict between the performer and himself. There is plenty of room for entertainment in this conflict, as Tamariz shows!

Interestingly, notwithstanding that the pack has been thoroughly shuffled, the trick ends with the pack secretly stacked in a way that allows for an enormous number of additional effects. A great bonus!

posted by Alexander Crawford @ 5:16 AM