Outs Precautions & Challenges by Charles H. Hopkins
This work is a hidden gem in the world of card magic, often overlooked yet immensely valuable. Few are aware of its existence, and references to it are scarce. Upon reading, you’ll wonder why every card magician isn’t familiar with it. Many who have explored its pages hold it in the same regard as Erdnase, with some valuing it more than all card magic books published in the last decade.
This practical guide addresses what to do when things go awry or when faced with challenging spectators. With this knowledge, you’ll gain the confidence to perform new tricks, even if the audience catches you off guard. You’ll learn how to conclude your act successfully and leave them amazed.
The content is divided into three key sections:
- Outs – Strategies for when things go wrong.
- Precautions – Preventing mishaps through careful planning.
- Challenges – Techniques for handling difficult spectators.
By studying this ebook, you’ll eliminate the fear of card trick failures or disruptions from spectators. You’ll be equipped for any scenario, ensuring smooth performances every time.
This resource is invaluable for magicians of all levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals. While it primarily focuses on card magic, the principles and insights apply broadly across various magic styles, from close-up performances to stage acts.
1st edition 1940; original 80 pages; PDF 57 pages.
Table of Contents
Page |
- PREFACE…
- Contents
- Introduction
- – When Asked To Do The Impossible
- – School Yourself For All Emergencies
- – Experience Still the Best Teacher
- PART I: “OUTS”
- Chapter 1 – Facing The Music
- Whose Fault When Things Go Wrong?
- The Psychology of Failure
- Use of “Sucker Gag” Technique
- Chapter 2 – Organizing For Victory
- Secret And Open Outs
- When Error Is Still Under Cover
- 1 – Card correctly identified, but slips out of control.
- 2 – Identification correct, but placement for climax is wrong.
- When Error May Be Visible
- 3 – Incorrect identification of selected card.
- 4 – Card lost before identification.
- 5 – The selector forgets what his card was.
- Either You Know You Are Wrong – Or Else . . .
- Chapter 3 – Information-Getting Subtleties
- This Time You MUST Be Right
- Attitudes That Get Co-operation
- 6 – When they refuse to tell.
- 7 – For the extreme “hold out.”
- 8 – Use a thumb writer.
- 9 – Impression methods.
- 10 – Pencil reading.
- 11 – Friendly mirrors.
- 12 – To meet an absolute refusal to tell.
- Chapter 4 – Some Handy Sleights
- Old Ideas Brought Up To Date; Also, A Few New Ones
- 13 – The “Top Peek.”
- 14 – Fan Crimp.
- 15 – The “Deck Crimp.”
- 16 – The “Crimp” as a Locator.
- 17 – Fan jog.
- 18 – The quarter-bridge.
- 19 – Gambler’s Bridge.
- 20 – The “Change” Throw.
- Other Useful Standard Sleights.
- Chapter 5 – “Outs” To The Rescue
- Fit The Weapon To The Needs
- Getting Down To Brass Tacks … And The Selected Card
- Quick Switches And Other Fast Closers
- 21 – Just a gag.
- 22 – Out-in-the-open changes.
- 23 – Forced replacement of wrong card.
- 24 – Using “locators” for “outs.”
- Methods For Counting And Spelling Effects
- 25 – The “Pilot Card.”
- 26 – New start from wrong turn-up.
- 27 – The “220 Count” as an “out.”
- “Outs” Productions From Pockets And Other Places
- 28 – In performer’s pocket.
- 29 – Pocket index.
- 30 – Card in wallet.
- 31 – Use of spectators for “outs.”
- 32 – The “Eveready Life Saver.”
- Apparatus Alibis
- 33 – When force is missed.
- First Aid For Feeble Memory
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