The Arch Illusion

The Great Divide vs. Angle Separation

There is this recent thread in the workers section of the Green Monster. Again arguing about the possible theft of The Great Divide, published by Harry Lorayne in 1972, by Lennart Green who calls the move the Angle Separation.

Starts at 1:49

I'm not gonna argue. Just saying this. Both moves are similar in concept, but different. And a Classic Cull is superior to both of them. So why bother?

Gregory Wilson is getting old!

What's up with all the coffee magic lately. Tricks with straws, office supply and coffee stirrers? I get the natural approach, of doing magic with "real" items. I also understand that glitter boxes should be avoided at all cost.

But why is breaking and restoring a wooden coffee stirrer a trick that is being sold? Whats wrong about a ball of yarn being unrolled, breaking off the thread in several pieces and then restoring it? It plays bigger, it is much more visual and has way more class.

Yeah that's it. Magic needs to have class. Mentally figuring out which coffee creamer has been selected has no class. However knowing which bill has been selected has class. The performer's class needs to be reflected in the props and vice versa. Doing magic with three quarters has some other level of class than doing magic with three silver dollars.

Impromptu magic with seemingly borrowed items by design is cheap magic. Supplying your own classic props breaks the illusion of it being impromptu. I agree with that, however appearing prepared has more class and magic needs that.

Here is an example you are going to hate me for. Card to Wallet is a bad - I repeat a bad - trick in a regular show. However it is an excellent trick as an impromptu trick. Let me explain: In a paid performance the client expects a bit of professionalism. The client will expect that you are clean. The client will expect that you are nice and kind to the guests and the client will expect that the stuff you do is professional and well done. So how the hell does your wallet fit in there? Your wallet is your private thing. Your wallet should be locked away with your private stuff during the show.

After the show is a different thing. Let's assume you packed your stuff already. You wear no more formal wear but you everyday wear. You are asked to do one more trick. Suddenly your wallet makes perfect sense. Suddenly it seems like you can do the magic everywhere, every time, with everything.

So it comes down to the simple fact that in a professional setting tricks with "impromptu" items have no right to be there. Which makes me realize that all the released magic is not for the professional. So please don't sell it as such.

Lol, really? Dan Hauss you're killing me ;)

Dan Hauss came out with Stir Crazy. On the DVD in the bonus section is a trick with a straw, changing color. (well the strip on the straw changes color). Really? Does that belong on any DVD, even as bonus material?

Almost four years ago I gave away that idea for free. Did you steal it? Of course not. I would not call that creative enough to publish it at all.

Somehow I think we magicians are not alone anymore!

Poor guy, if this wasn't staged: