Presentational Premises

Why do you do what you do? Are you a show off who likes to flaunt it to everyone who will watch? Are a tipsy Englishman who is reacting to thing happening to him? Are you a master of time and space? Are you a bender – someone who bends the real in unexpected ways during normal daily activities? Who are you?

Root:

Let’s Remember Our Roots. The Root: Premise. Why are you doing the trick you’re doing. Knowing who you are helps. My kids and I are total Rubik’s Cube addicts. We’re constantly timing our solves and competing with each other. We use a Stack Mat Timer (typically used for competitive cup stacking) to keep score and time ourselves.

The way it works is that you place both hands on the timer buttons. Then when you lift your hands off, the timer starts. As soon as you’re done, drop the cube and place both hands on the timer again to stop it.

I thought it might be fun to use the same timer to do a “find the selection” or “find the aces” routine. Have several cards selected and returned to the deck. Then set the deck on the timer mat. Place your hands on the timer; lift them, find the cards; drop the deck; stop the timer.

What’s the premise? I’m the fasted card finder in the world? Maybe . . .

Branch:

Let’s Build Our Branches. Your Challenge: Give your tricks meaning, premise, context. Think about your magic. Why do you do what you do? Who are you? Why are you doing the trick? Take some time and look at a few of your effects in your repertoire and come up with a definitive answer to why you are doing that trick. What’s the point? Feel free to post your discoveries below.

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