Some discussions on Erdnase

If Erdnase was all about doing things the ``natural way" then why does he teach bottom dealing and second dealing with a very unnatural grip.

I have seen all laymen deal cards with 4 fingers on the side of the deck. I learn't magic with cards holding the deck with forefinger at front and 3 fingers on the side. It might seem that for the laymen my way of holding the deck was very unnatural.

Was it common in his time to hold the deck with 2 fingers at the front ? Dai Vernon in the Revelations video series tells us that this grip is the ``mechanic's grip" and it was used to guard against the ruse of edge marking important cards such as aces. By holding the two fingers at the front the front short end of the deck was hidden from view.

blasphemy

A shocking behaviour that I have been putting off by is a form of idol worship amongst magicians. As in any art form, magic too has its share of heroes. Magic enthusiasts tend to accept without question whatever comes from the quarters of their heroes. Amazingly they don't wait to really understand and then simply lift the spoken words as they were. Then later on they cite their heroes in defense of their own stupid acts or words.
This should not be interpreted as an outrage against the big names in magic, why should it be. My only concern are the idiots who would criticize any question against their heroes. I mean those heroes were after all humans and to this date I am yet to find a human who is always right. That simply can't be. What is wrong in being critical of everything, this after all is a rational approach to everything.

An often abused dictum is from Dai Vernon. Supposedly he said, "Be natural!". Do people really try and understand what he really meant to say? Should we simply take for granted the literal meaning of the phrase? Could it not be that he was really summing up the philosophy of the ideal body language and handling of props while performing magic and while explaining that a lot and lot was said before he summarized by saying those final words?
Unfortunately there are a whole lot of idiots who would attack you with "Oh man! That did not look natural. Remember what Vernon said".
Would some body explain to these idiots that the very nature of a magic effect is in not being natural ?

Then they would argue strongly along the lines, "Go hand a deck to a lay person and see the way he would turn a card over". You stupid idiot if you see the way a lay person handles a deck of card you might get a heart attack. The truth be told most of the magicians handle decks of cards you would never find a layman do. And why should the case be any different.

things I hate in magic

1. Patronizing Patter
2. Expectation that the spectator will be in awe of you
3. Making fun of spectators or in any way demeaning them or making them feel uncomfortable
4. Mentalists claiming that feats of Telekinesis, Telepathy and Mind Reading and other pseudo science bullshit can really be done IF you put your mind to it.
5. Fellow magicians NOT calling out the bad moves and performances of their colleagues or other performers out of POLITENESS or PROFESSIONAL COURTESY.
6. Patter line, "Have you bee hypnotized before ? "
   

Dai Vernon's birthday is on 11th June

Dr. Elliot was a Harvard Graduate

John Mendoza's Lines

John Mendoza is an adorable guy and while his skills are never amiss I like him more for his sweet and honest nature. Two of the lines that I really like right out of his patter are as follows

1. While offering a card for selection to a spectator : " Look at the card and remember it, might be a long time before I ask you. Ok ? Don't forget the card. "
2. "This won't fool you !"

Love you John