Talkmagic.co.uk

nymanscuzz · New User Joined: 22 Feb 2010 Posts: 9

I'd love to perform this, see if I can adapt it to my style, but where to start? Is the method in the Berglas book?

SamGurney · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:44 am Post subject:

You are not the first to ask such a question.
The berglas book is out of print and very expensive- it is very useful to catch a glimpse into the mind of David Berglas (hence the name) and his magical thinking which is very insightful, the method is not 'the' method, it is 'a' method.
There are many many ways of doing it, each with differing degrees of 'cleanness'. If you are interested in adapting it to your own style, then create your own version with your own methodology- O have my own variation on the effect with which I am very pleased and it suits my style and presentation. That is the way to create 'magic' personally taylored effects and performing skill which every performer can only constantly humble and improve himself on. That is why the berglas effect is so good, because Berglas is a master performer and an origional thinker. If you are interested in understanding the making of legendery effects then get the book, if you are mereley interested in a method then don't, you won't understand the purpose book and you'll be throwing your money away.

cymru1991 · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:49 am Post subject:

What Sam said. there is an entire thread (or possibly even two!) devoted to this particular effect somewhere in the miscellaneous section I think... Very Happy

TheStoner · Senior Member Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 856

Learn a memorised stack (e.g. Mnemonica)
Ask them to name any card
On an offbeat cut that card to sixth from the top and cull it under the deck
Ask them to name a number (make sure it's between six and 51)
Count through the cards
Show that their card is at their number
Easy!

Farlsborough · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 11:11 am Post subject:

I wouldn't bother, it's a poor effect anyway Razz

Something really bugs me about ACAAN. Firstly, it involves counting, and despite people on L&L tapes hollering every number, counting is never much fun in real life magic. And then there's this awful smugness about dragging out the counting to a card which - let's face it - was always going to be their named selection. Then there's the fact that there's nothing really "impossible" about it - the card could have been in that position, so at best it's a coincidence.

Yet magicians seem to love it...! Rolling Eyes

IAIN · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 11:45 am Post subject:

the version i use is a card is mentally thought of and found in the deck by the punter, then the deck is mixed, they do not name the number out loud only in their head...and they merely say "stop" when we reach that number...

the card is then placed to one side...the rest of the deck can be shown (if needed)...

the card is turned over by the punter, and there is the card...

mark lewis · Elite Member Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 2301

I half agree with Farlsborough. I have never understood what the big deal is about this trick. It is just a good card trick like any other good card trick.
Anyway that is the half I agree with. The half I don't agree with is that I still think it is a good trick. It is just no big deal. And there are ways of making into something interesting whether there is counting or not. A good showman could probably make this into something.
But then a good showman could make a lot of other card tricks into something. I just don't know why this should be singled out for special attention.

TheStoner · Senior Member Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 856

I agree with some of the comments above - with the wrong presentation an ACAAN can seem more like a "puzzle" than anything else.

cymru1991 · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 12:58 pm Post subject:

spooneythegoon · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:18 pm Post subject:

mark lewis · Elite Member Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 2301

I have no idea what our young Welshman is blabbering about. I have never stated that card magic receives pity applause. Just as well since I do rather a lot of card tricks myself.
No doubt the child is referring to someone else and has got a trifle mixed up.
Yes. I am afraid self rule for Wales is still a long way off. It is rather obvious why.

SamGurney · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 5:12 pm Post subject:

magicianDo · New User Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 3

Good evening guys,

Just a question concerning ACAAN effect, I have been considering different ways of presenting it (I use the method of Matthew Johnson, which in my opinion is the greatest and cleanest one today, magician never touches the cards, and the deck is on the table before card and number are named).
Is it better to perform the ACAAN as itself, I mean asking any card and any number, and then the spectator counts the cards etc…, and it matches, OR do you think it may be better to do a presentation which uses a peek-pad, I mean the first spectator writes down his tought-of card, for example 7C (you peek) and then you give the pad to another spectator who writes his number, for example 47 (you peek). After that, you give a deck of cards to this last spectator, who deals the cards, WITHOUT revealing his number (he is counting silently in his head), and then stops at his number, and the card where he stopped is the 7C, it matches! Here, for the spectator's point of view, you never know the card, neither the number...

Would you advise me to do a “simple” presentation, when you know the card and the number, or does the use of a peek-device add a "plus" to the whole routine?

Thanks in advance for your answers Very Happy

A_n_t · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:36 pm Post subject:

jim ferguson · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:52 pm Post subject: Re: ACAAN presentation