ACAANC

I’ll give you three guesses as to what the last “C” stands for in ACAANC. I’ll give you a hint; it rhymes with “rap.” Any Card At Any Number. To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld, What’s the deal with that plot? Spectator number 1 names any card. Spectator 2 names any number. Spectator 3 counts down to the named number only to find that the card at that number matches the card named.

It’s a decent effect. However, many of the methods are way to fidgety and call attention to the wrong place at the wrong time. Additionally, many methods use crazy tricked out decks and/or insane calculations that need to be done in your head while you’re still holding a conversation with the spectator.

For some reason, magicians have sought after the perfect method for this effect like an HCG dieter longing for pie. Pie, by the way, is much better than ACAAN. I have yet to find a method that is worth the extra effort/prep time/gimmicked cards/etc for such an average effect.

Here’s the thing, however. I’m sure that many of you at this very moment are burning Stone Cold Magic dolls in effigy in an attempt to punish me for my dissident dissertation. It wouldn’t be the first time that I was hanged as a heretic. So here’s the deal . . .

Root:

Let’s remember our roots. This month’s root: Form your own opinions. Don’t fall for the hype of the latest and greatest method number nine thousand two hundred eighty six for “solving” a plot. The last thing you want to do is perform an effect because other magicians think it’s cool. You should perform it because you like it and your audiences like it. If it doesn’t fit those two criteria, then don’t do it! Just because I hate ACAAN, doesn’t mean you have to.

Branch:

Let’s build our branches. This month, go through your working repertoire. Find the effect you like doing the least. Evaluate it, and decide if it should stay in your repertoire. Additionally, post the effect you eliminated in the comments below. I’d like to get a dialogue going. Here’s the point gang: If you go through this exercise every month or so, you’ll be forced to remove stuff you don’t like and add stuff that you do like. Eventually you’ll elevate your repertoire to something you not just like, but love.

Now go study the classics and go discover your true magical self.