To gimmick or not to gimmick?

OliveroG · 04-23-2012, 06:19 AM

It simply depends on the construction of the effect, i say: "If it's better with a gimmick, use it", remember that magic is not about the method but the effect it produces, if you can do an effect that looks truly magical with a gimmick, then do it, gimmicks sometimes can be good, i personally don't like them, but sometimes i just need them in order to accomplish some effect i really want to do.

When it goes to Gimmick Vs Sleight of hand, yes, sleight of hand gives you more prestige among magicians, and sleight of hand can make miracles with completely examinable objects, but gimmicks can also make miracles, easier, and with much less risk; i say, combine them, just like Helder does, those effects use gimmicks, but also really strong pieces of sleight of hand.

la0o9 · 04-23-2012, 01:20 PM

well, in my opinion, "Use what you can", if you are able to produce an awesome effect with just sleight of hand, do so. If it's sloppy, put some practice into it. if there's no other way than to use a gimmick( this includes one-shot kinds as well as utilities), then by all means go for it.

i personally like SoH more, since it gives me something to play around with, and it's also impressive to other magicians when i do them, but spectators don't really care about the method, so if there is a chance, i'd just pull a stripper deck out and do whatever i do normally except the spectators themselves get to shuffle the card this time, and that one minor detail makes it so much more mystifying.

P.S: i keep at most 2 special card gimmicks every time i perform in the back of my wallet, just in case i'm in the mood, but i mostly am not.

04-23-2012, 01:20 PM	#2
la0o9 Move monkey atm Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Not where you'd want to go :P Posts: 747	well, in my opinion, "Use what you can", if you are able to produce an awesome effect with just sleight of hand, do so. If it's sloppy, put some practice into it. if there's no other way than to use a gimmick( this includes one-shot kinds as well as utilities), then by all means go for it. i personally like SoH more, since it gives me something to play around with, and it's also impressive to other magicians when i do them, but spectators don't really care about the method, so if there is a chance, i'd just pull a stripper deck out and do whatever i do normally except the spectators themselves get to shuffle the card this time, and that one minor detail makes it so much more mystifying. P.S: i keep at most 2 special card gimmicks every time i perform in the back of my wallet, just in case i'm in the mood, but i mostly am not. __________________ "Doubt isn't the same as saying people are bad, it simply means you actually care, 100% trust is nothing more than ignorance"~ Akiyama Shinichi- Liar Game "It's not the destination but the road to it that is worth the trip" "Be careful what you wish for... it might just come true"~ old saying "It's a small world, but only relatively" "Reality is not the world, it is the way humankind depicts the world, thus when you alter a person's way of seeing the world, you alter reality itself"

04-23-2012, 06:19 AM	#1
OliveroG Marcos Olivero Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Venezuela Posts: 103	It simply depends on the construction of the effect, i say: "If it's better with a gimmick, use it", remember that magic is not about the method but the effect it produces, if you can do an effect that looks truly magical with a gimmick, then do it, gimmicks sometimes can be good, i personally don't like them, but sometimes i just need them in order to accomplish some effect i really want to do. When it goes to Gimmick Vs Sleight of hand, yes, sleight of hand gives you more prestige among magicians, and sleight of hand can make miracles with completely examinable objects, but gimmicks can also make miracles, easier, and with much less risk; i say, combine them, just like Helder does, those effects use gimmicks, but also really strong pieces of sleight of hand.