Trick Question from Erdnase...

Okay so I asked Darwin if he considered this fair Erdnase trivia and he said it's too much of a trick question. But I'd be impressed if anyone can answer it so I'll post it anyway.

Where does Erdnase mistakenly mention altering clothing?

It's inbetween pages 20-40 in Dover edition.

50-70 in most other editions.

I'll give a new hint everyday until someone gets it in the comments.

Tribute to Erdnase

Every year or two I make a new 'tribute to Erdnase' video just to keep a log of my improvement. It's taken me a few weeks, but I've finally finished the latest video.

Can you cheat at Poker?

Laymen have very little interest in actual gambling technique. When someone asks to see some "cheating moves" they want to be entertained. They want something with a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can start showing your chops by doing some false deals, mucks, and stacking- but the end result will be maybe a smile and a nod. This is not a good reaction especially if you want to sell DVDs. There needs to be structure to your demo's, and sometimes a kicker ending.

On the other hand...

There are a few people you run into that actually know what they're talking about and really want to see some of the work. I was called out miserably once by performing Harry Loraynes Poker Deal for a real hustler.

The bottom line is that you need to know your audience, start off with something small and go off their reaction.

P.S. I'm not talking about paid gigs, those are easy to plan out. I'm talking about those impulsive moments where you are on the spot suddenly without any time to prepare.

Videos at MVD

There's a difference between asking people to critique your pass vs saying "look how good I am". A video with a bunch of transitions/cuts showing us your best passes out of who knows how many takes is not meant to be critiqued. Seems like false advertising to me.

"Work on your Zarrow"

Why is it that whenever someone posts a video with a zarrow someone always comments with "work on your Zarrow"?

Let's face it, anyone that can do a zarrow can spot one. It's not a move that can be performed without a single tell. The only way to hide it is to totally cover it- which is just as bad.

Every magician wants to think he is exceptional at what he does. By telling someone to "work on your zarrow" they are just trying to let everyone know that they could see the move. Let's give good zarrows their due credit people.

How to demo a shift and not look like an idiot..

It has always baffled me why magicians, when demonstrating a gambling shift, will place the deck on the table and cut in a manner that wouldn't work in a game. They place the deck on the table with the long edges going perpendicular to their body, and cut the deck to the right or left.

Okay so far...

But then when placing the bottom half on the original top half, they pick up the deck with fingers on one short end and thumb on the other. This works great when the cut is performed DIRECTLY in front of you, but if you tried it in a game, you would quickly find that your elbow goes into the face of the person who cut the cards.

So then what do we do?

Take a look at good ol' Erdnase:

"When the cut is made, pick up the packet that was under, by the sides, near end, between second and third fingers and thumb of right hand, and lay it on top of packet cut-off, so that the then under packet forms a jog or protrudes about quarter of an inch toward the right wrist. Pick up the two packets the instant the one is placed on the other, by a sliding movement, with the fingers in the same position, and place the deck across the left palm with the left thumb on top to hold it in position. Then release sides of deck with right hand and seize ends to square up. In doing so the right thumb comes against the inner end and in contact with the jog or projecting under packet. Press this down a little with the thumb and square ends of deck, forming break at thumb end. Now shift the left hand slightly so as to hold the break with the tip of the left little finger at the side, close to the end"

Problem solved!