One of the great things about a holiday party is reconnecting with people you haven’t seen in ages. That’s why I was very happy to see Oliver Meech.
A decade or so ago, Oliver released a few books that really prioritized the entertainment value of the effects. The books were very well received, but then he sort of fell out of magic. At least on the magic-producing side of things. From what he just mentioned, real life has gotten in the way, but he misses sharing his creations. So I’m going to help a brother out and pass over the reigns of the blog to him for a moment…
The Other Three Magi by Oliver Meech
One of the great things about being a magician is getting to experience an audience member’s reaction when you reveal their card. I started thinking about how to give a few audience members that experience and came up with this fun routine.
It’s ideal for informal gatherings of family or friends, as it takes a little longer than some wham-bam tricks, and the playful interaction involved suits occasions when you might play charades. I did it over the Christmas holidays a couple of years back and people got really into performing their roles.
Choose participants who are willing to let loose but will still follow instructions.
Plot
Three people select a card, then each finds another’s selection.
Requirements
• A cased deck of cards.
• 3 small pieces of paper to act as place names – ideally about the size of a business card, but any torn scraps are fine, even leftover wrapping paper.
• A pen or pencil – whatever’s to hand.
Set up
Write the following stage names on the three slips (inspired by Houdini’s name):
Slip 1: Move-ini.
Slip 2: Flip-ini.
Slip 3: Gone-ini.
Remove the deck from the case. Place the slips, writing-side down, under the empty case.
Have this on the table near the third person.
Method and presentation
The gist: The deck is separated into three packets. You position the first selection third from top, reverse the second, and load the third under the case – all relatively early on in the trick.
The details: Hand out the deck for shuffling, if wished, then have an audience member cut it into three roughly equal piles, one for each person.
If your performance setting allows, position the three people at the three points of a triangle, facing each other. Or, if there’s a larger group watching, have the people in a line facing the audience.
You are going to have each person choose a card and return it, then you’ll show that it’s not on the top or bottom. In the process, you’ll control each selection to where it needs to be.
First selection:
Spread the first packet to offer the first person a card. While they focus on remembering their card, square up and get a tilt break under the top two cards. Keep the break quite small, as the packet isn’t that thick. Take back their selection with your right hand, show it to the audience one last time, then insert it into the tilt break. Square the cards, then turn over the top card to show the selection is not on the top, and turn it face down again.
Rotate your left wrist to show that their selection is not on the face of the deck either. Place this packet face down in front of the first person.
Second selection:
To the audience, it will seem like you are repeating the same actions, but you’ll actually be reversing the second selection in the middle. Begin as before, spreading the packet for a selection, but this time insert it into a tilt break that’s only under the top card, so the selection ends up second from top.
Spread the cards slightly so you can get a pinkie break under the second card as you turn the top card face up to show it’s not the selection. With your right hand, from above, take the top two cards (a face-up indifferent card with the face-down selection below it) as one.
Rotate your left wrist, as before, to show the bottom card isn’t theirs either, and insert the double card into the middle of the face-up packet, so the hidden selection ends up reversed.
Place this packet face down in front of your second person.
Third selection:
Repeat the process with the third packet, again with a tilt break under the top card, so their selection ends up second from top. Show the top and bottom cards aren’t theirs, as before.
Now keep hold of the packet as you explain that normally, as magician, you would find their card. To illustrate this, double undercut cut the top card to the bottom (so the selection ends up on top), getting a break under the top two cards as you square up. Do a double turnover to show that you haven’t cut to their selection. Turn the double face down and get a break under the top card. Say that, instead, they will become magicians and find each other’s cards. And for that, they need magic stage names, like Houdini.
Under the pretext of accessing the slips, pick up the case with your right hand and place it on top of the packet in your left hand. Turn over the slips with your right hand to reveal the writing. Now take the case from above, with your right hand, taking the top card (the third selection) underneath it. Causally place the case down on the table, to one side but still within reach of the third person. Place the third packet down directly in front of them. Your outward focus should remain on the slips, and on freeing up your hands so you can hand them out.
Have each person move around the triangle, one place, so they end up in front of another person’s packet. Now read out each stage name and place the slip by the relevant packet.
Move-ini goes with the first packet, Flip-ini with the second, and Gone-ini with the third.
Teach them each a dramatic gesture that suits their magic power, as follows, by having them mirror your movements:
Move-ini moves objects to where they need to be. Their gesture is to hold out their hand, palm outwards, like they’re stopping traffic. They start with the hand near to their chest, then move it forwards in a few jolting steps (see Figure 1 – excuse the scrappy selfies!).
