Favorite ACR ending?

[fridoliina]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering what ACR endings you like? Iv been working on an acr but i dont have an ending yet.

Iv seen sean fields Ambition Impossible and it looks amazing, what do you guys thing about that one? is it practical?

[filth0013]

braue popup is good, but overused, and it bends 2 cards(bad). i usually do a shake change, though.

[JoeCarr]

shifty...... end of really

[spikormikor13]

Not really a traditional ACR move, but I like Bound.

[Tjernobyl]

I am actually practicing to use Daniel Madison's R.I.P Torn and restored signed card. A card that is able to restore itself is very ambitous in my opinoin ;-)

[Rmana]

having the card in your pocket is always good.

[quick_trick]

Any torn and restored card routine end an ACR pretty well. My favourite ending though is an in the hands triumph routine.

[J.R.]

Fr. Braue pop-up move - this is too good to not be used and can only be used at the end.

A little piece of advice, if I may - do not use the classic pass in ACR, it is meant to be used as a secret control with misdirection, not as a look-what-I-do move!

[youngd94]

It depends on the situation

if the angles are good then fallen (or if i decide to purchase, shifty)

but if not then i use the pop up move

[adjones]

Pop Up Move, then card ends up being inside a paperclip, which has been in full view the entire time.

[quick_trick]

A little piece of advice, if I may - do not use the classic pass in ACR, it is meant to be used as a secret control with misdirection, not as a look-what-I-do move!

I disagree, if used properly in any effect, you can do anything anytime. As long as you use adaquete misdirection and are confident, you can pass when ever you want. As long as you don't flash of course. The ends always justify the means, if done correctly.

[Shodan]

My personal favourite ending for an acr is the puppy levitation. Great for walkaround!

Failing that, Tommy Wonder's ACR ending takes the biscuit in my opinion.

[J.R.]

I disagree, if used properly in any effect, you can do anything anytime. As long as you use adaquete misdirection and are confident, you can pass when ever you want. As long as you don't flash of course. The ends always justify the means, if done correctly.
You just confirmed what I said...

[Jakeh]

A little piece of advice, if I may - do not use the classic pass in ACR, it is meant to be used as a secret control with misdirection, not as a look-what-I-do move!

Wait.. I don't get it. Who would use the pass and then show off about it? :confused:

Anyway, at the moment I've just been using "Waving The Aces" at the end of it.

[Mitch.Conroy]

When I do ACR, my finale is Torn Too. Only because I can say, "Look, even if I tear a corner, watch." Then do the restore. It makes a nice ending. Though, I do not do ACR that much.

[2ndDeal]

It depends on your routine. If you follow the real Ambitious Card plot, card to impossible location (pocket, paperclip etc)makes no sense. If you do Card Jumps to the Top Multiple times, then card to impossible location is fine. Fallen is crap (in my opinion of course) so I wouldn't use it. Shifty looks great, but I think that Pop Up move is more magical.

And that two card bend isn't so difficult to remove. (about 2 secs)

[J.R.]

Wait.. I don't get it. Who would use the pass and then show off about it? :confused:

Anyway, at the moment I've just been using "Waving The Aces" at the end of it.
Well, you could put the card face down in the middle and then bring it to the top with a pass, or even face up - then it will look more like a color change. The best use is if you put it face up in the center covered with another face down card and then secretely bring both to the top; then do an Erdnase change or a Cardini change.

But in all cases the spectator is staring right at your hands which is why I said that you are practiacally inviting him to see your pass, although you don't verbally say it. In other words, unless you manage to build some misdirection in your ACR by design, then doing a pass is not advisable. But that's off-topic anyway :)

[Bernard Brandon]

My fav. endings for my acr
1.Fallen by DG
2.Indecent by W:H
3.Braue Pop-up Move
4.I sometimes use Lee's Witness move

[cardartist23]

My favorite three are:

1.Fallen
2.Pop Up Move
3.Air Flip Over (Crash Course 2)

The Air Flip Over might not seem like a good ending, but use it with an Invisable Pass and it gets a pretty good reaction.

[GosuTricks]

I use multiple climaxes, but for the very last one, I take a different colored backed card, put it on top, and bam the card's on top with the different back. Very strong impact as they handled the card before too.

[Guardian452]

that would be exposure about bending the cards
thanks to you everyone knows how its done, thanks flith, nice name

[Flyingdonkey]

card to mouth for me is the best becuase they unexpected it, If not use card to box or paperclip

[Thgiels]

This may sound simple but its worked well for me for years. I end my ACR by saying "and something odd happens if I just use half the deck" and put half aside - "insert" the selection in the half remaining in my hand and have it rise to the top - but instead of the "top" in my hand - it has risen to the top of the half of the deck on the table and the spectator can turn it over themselves. Like I said, its simple but ALWAYS gets a huge reaction. People just don't believe their card found its way to the half of the deck that has been sitting on the table. I use a drop change (I think that's what's it called) to pull it off. Simple is good. This has been a very practical and powerful ending for me.

[Big George]

Omni Deck. I have seen people lose it in a big way when i do this.

[senchi]

I present ACR as demonstration of ability to control a chosen card invisibly. To me, "card at any number" is a suitable ending and very logical one. I think that problem with most ACR endings is lack of logic and consistency with the rest of the routine. "card to impossible location" is commonly used but totally out of place.
For the CAAN ending I use Berry Richardson's impromptu handling which is great .

[tsarothpaco]

1. Braue Pop-Up
2. That thing from Brian Tudor's Heckler when it appears in your other hand w/o the deck then doing a deck vanish
3. Shifty, only at 3rd since I haven't bought it yet so don't have hands on expierience.

[RichmanMatthew]

Card to Mouth or Card to Wallet.

[Medifro]

A little piece of advice, if I may - do not use the classic pass in ACR, it is meant to be used as a secret control with misdirection, not as a look-what-I-do move!
A little piece of advice, a pass doesn't need a misdirection. In general, all sleights that look like you're not doing anything ( top change, pass .. etc ) are better done under misdirection, but some of these can be done with skill, that you don't really need misdirection to achieve the effect.

Many card workers use the pass with great success. As a color change or a control. Anyway, my favorite ender is Braue's pop up.

~ Feras

[Wreq]

I always end with a "card to pocket" or a "card to mouth". I occasionally do the Paper-clipped ending except that i don't always carry paper clips with me.

[jackal422]

Great ending to any routine is the signed card on both back and face torn and restored inside persons wallet... Great ending to a fluent ACR routine and ofcourse the braue pop up move but lets be original and open our minds many great effects to use at the end of such a classic magic routine.

[Randomwrath]

I quite like card to mouth as an ACR ending

[aznofspades]

Jay Sankey's Extremely Ambitious contains a lot of great closers including

Vernon's Bend- the pop up move

Rubber Room Rise- an impromptu version of Daryl's Ultimate Ambition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZqnhQAUmws

Compact Closer- same as above, except the card appears folded up

Top Card- an indifferent card is marked on the back as the "Top Card", the signed card is inserted in the middle, and the indifferent card changes to their card

Leather Bound- card to wallet (no palming)

Through the Roof- cards are put into case, with a shake, the card jumps up through the case and appears on top

Round Up- same idea as Through the Roof, except the deck is wrapped in masking tape first

Hammered Deception- similar to Paul Harris's Solid Deception, after the routine, the deck is revealed to be one solid block of cards, nailed together

I would strongly recommend this DVD. It has helped me come up with 2 more complete Ambitious Card Routines. It really helped my creativity, and I was able to break away from my old standard "David Blaine" ACR.

[Chr!s]

i have a few favoured finale's, all of which are designed to take the effect far away from the realms of traditional ACR's.

-solid deception, by paul harris, is amaz-az-ing.
-back in time, by spidey, published in 'talk about tricks', is an unbelievable descendant of solid deception.
-my own personal, time machine plot, very different from above, has it's pro's and its con's.

but...

-the braue pop up move is awesome
-a visible rising card is visually different (though i'm not sure if i would use it, i'm sure others would have had great success with the phase)


C!

[Toby]

Pop up move
Shifty
Daryl's ACR ending (just briliant).

[gymaster97]

make the card end up inside the box

[filth0013]

triumph....

[DLeerium]

I realized recently that the rising card technique does not fascinate laymen as much as magicians.
My ACR final is a combination of a rising card, deck disappearance and 4 of a kind revelation. I posted it on T11 recently, so check it out :p
Hopefully my little idea has helped a few.

-DL

[Ben Long]

A deck vanish--Brian Tudor's method.

[Medifro]

triumph....
I would love to see that! :)

aznofspades, the pop out move is Fred Braue's, not Vernon's.

Cheers,

[ElisG]

aznofspades, the pop out move is Fred Braue's, not Vernon's.

Medifro is the everlasting fountain of crediting details :D.

In an impromptu setting, torn and restored card to shoe.
If I have the gimmick I do WOW by Masuda.

[Llero]

A version of Card to Mouth, usually either the Buck's version of Hand to Mouth, or David Stone's French Kiss.

[Frank]

I usually do a card to mouth second last, then perform shigeo futagawa's elevator card.

[dukehousemagic]

I use Braue's popup most of the time. If I don't, i usually reverse the card in the middle of the deck.


I would suggest using Braue's popup technique. Yes, it bends two cards at once, but it's very easy to unbend both of them discreetly (just bend your deck the opposite way!). I would also suggest having a few specific decks that you use only for ACR, as you ALWAYS want to get the card signed.

[Morgician]

Really surprised nobody mentioned Daryl's Ultimate Ambitious - I mean, the ambitous card routine won FISM!

I personally enjoyed Jamy Ian Swiss ending where all 4 of a kind appear face up at the top.

Tyler Wilson has some interesting thoughts with a post it note.

Overall, I think Gary Kurtz has a really interesting ambitious design in "Leading with your Head".

[aznofspades]

I would love to see that! :)

aznofspades, the pop out move is Fred Braue's, not Vernon's.

Cheers,

Ok that's what I thought. Thanks!

That's just how Jay Sankey credited it on the dvd.

[adjones]

The Pop Up Move- but my way. The card pops to the top, while in the spectator's hands. They see the unbent card on the top, I don't touch the deck, and it "pops" to the top.

This came about one day while I was sitting around at my Dad's work, pretty bored. I was practicing my ACR, and decided it would be cool to do the Pop Up Move, but with the deck in their hands. So I tinkered around with it for about an hour and came up with a method. No gimmicks or anything silly. Although I did play around with Invisible Thread.

I'm not claiming originality, or claiming to be the creator of it- but I was pretty proud that I came up with it by myself. Anybody that wants more info can PM me about it... I'd be more than happy to share it with you; assuming it hasn't been previously published! Medifro- I'm sure you know about this one!

[JCwebs09]

the omni deck rocks!
that would be my favorite to do

whenever i do impromptu i do that pop up move everyone is talking about

also something like david stones ghost tricks works pretty well
or a in their hand sort of thing (they shuffle it...)(its still on top)

[Jakeh]

Really surprised nobody mentioned Daryl's Ultimate Ambitious - I mean, the ambitous card routine won FISM!

It's too much of a hassle to make for me, personally. But I did adapt some things from Daryl's ACR into mine.

[LingLing]

Hand to Mouth from the Trilogy. So easy, and so hard-hitting!

[dukehousemagic]

Euh... What is with you people ending ACR with a card-in-mouth? It's not really comparable to other effects such as Braue's Popup, or a card in a spectator's pocket, etc...

[adjones]

Euh... What is with you people ending ACR with a card-in-mouth? It's not really comparable to other effects such as Braue's Popup, or a card in a spectator's pocket, etc...

Yeah, I'm going to have to agree. Braue's Pop Up in the spectators' hands is much more awesome than a card to mouth, I think.

[Morgician]

Tyler Wilson writes about this kind of thing in his book Domina-tricks. The concept of the ambitious card plot is that the card...despite all efforts STILL comes back to the top. I never understood two things:

1) What is with all these non-sequitur endings? Card in mouth, card in pocket, deck in pocket, card in wallet...and so on. We build the plot that the card is coming to the top, but then feel good that a completely unexpected direction in plot deems a reaction? It is like shuffling a deck of cards face up and face down and building a triumph plot…but then having the card appear in your pocket after the deck rights itself? It would get a reaction? It would fool people? Yes, however, I wouldn’t agree that it is good magic.

2) Like Tyler argues – what justifies when to stop? The pop up move is impressive, but who decides that this move is as good as it gets? The magician. The magician arbitrary decides, “Bending the card, and seeing it bend as it arrives on top, gets a big reaction, therefore, that is as good as it gets? Then the magician stops as to say...it is like a magicical tap out, with the magician submitting - stating, it doesn't get any more magical than that – is giving up a good ending? Nothing, but the visual nature of the bend, makes the pop up move more impressive than many other ambitious sequences, and although it is great, it has flaws like other moves (can't show the face as it goes in, for example). Moroever, is it not stronger that the audience believe they did it all - what if they took the card, put it in the middle, and turned the top card over themselves - would this be a better ending? Anyhow, I wish we would start to think about better, or more logical endings...see above (point 1) for BAD examples of logical endings.

This is one reason I do enjoy Daryl’s FISM act, as he does everything in his power to make it impossible to bring the card to the top, and the act builds. The effect is clear, and never gets muddled with displays of other magic effects (card to wallet, card under glass, etc) It climaxes when he “sleight of hand” proofs the deck – I know some might say it’s a “hassle”, but I don’t see why – as it’s only half a deck thick gimmick and is as easy to ring in as any pocket deck switch. Then again, I am sure these same guys already have their pocket full of gimmicks and a card guard, so I can see how this would be a problem.

Anyhow – I think ambitious card should have a logical build, where each phase becomes more impressive and cancels the method of the last. Endings for this plot can be difficult and have always been a problem, unless you are just focused on obtaining a reaction alone, then that is easy to use a grab bag of stand alone effects to solve the issue. However, I choose to work on the problem, than be satisfied with a band aid solution.

Cheers

[4757joshua2]

It depends on the situation

if the angles are good then fallen (or if i decide to purchase, shifty)

but if not then i use the pop up move

Me too. Short message.

[LingLing]

I think card-to-mouth is so impossible, and Dan and Dave's hand to mouth provides so much misdirection that iti's quite easy to pull of, and you end totally clean. So I think that it's suited to be a closer.

[b-llusion]

i would end by doing "BELIEVE".....i think that would shock the spectator....

[Addy]

Tyler Wilson writes about this kind of thing in his book Domina-tricks. The concept of the ambitious card plot is that the card...despite all efforts STILL comes back to the top. I never understood two things:

1) What is with all these non-sequitur endings? Card in mouth, card in pocket, deck in pocket, card in wallet...and so on. We build the plot that the card is coming to the top, but then feel good that a completely unexpected direction in plot deems a reaction? It is like shuffling a deck of cards face up and face down and building a triumph plot…but then having the card appear in your pocket after the deck rights itself? It would get a reaction? It would fool people? Yes, however, I wouldn’t agree that it is good magic.

2) Like Tyler argues – what justifies when to stop? The pop up move is impressive, but who decides that this move is as good as it gets? The magician. The magician arbitrary decides, “Bending the card, and seeing it bend as it arrives on top, gets a big reaction, therefore, that is as good as it gets? Then the magician stops as to say...it is like a magicical tap out, with the magician submitting - stating, it doesn't get any more magical than that – is giving up a good ending? Nothing, but the visual nature of the bend, makes the pop up move more impressive than many other ambitious sequences, and although it is great, it has flaws like other moves (can't show the face as it goes in, for example). Moroever, is it not stronger that the audience believe they did it all - what if they took the card, put it in the middle, and turned the top card over themselves - would this be a better ending? Anyhow, I wish we would start to think about better, or more logical endings...see above (point 1) for BAD examples of logical endings.

This is one reason I do enjoy Daryl’s FISM act, as he does everything in his power to make it impossible to bring the card to the top, and the act builds. The effect is clear, and never gets muddled with displays of other magic effects (card to wallet, card under glass, etc) It climaxes when he “sleight of hand” proofs the deck – I know some might say it’s a “hassle”, but I don’t see why – as it’s only half a deck thick gimmick and is as easy to ring in as any pocket deck switch. Then again, I am sure these same guys already have their pocket full of gimmicks and a card guard, so I can see how this would be a problem.

Anyhow – I think ambitious card should have a logical build, where each phase becomes more impressive and cancels the method of the last. Endings for this plot can be difficult and have always been a problem, unless you are just focused on obtaining a reaction alone, then that is easy to use a grab bag of stand alone effects to solve the issue. However, I choose to work on the problem, than be satisfied with a band aid solution.

Cheers



Hey Morgician, great post.

I couldn't agree more to your first point. An ambitious card should proceed in logical phases. I've seen many people do a card to mouth in an ACR and to me it just doesn't feel right. The whole purpose of the routine is for a card to rise to the top, each time in a more impossible or visual way. Why suddenly have it jump to your mouth? Just seems illogical to me.

Just my opinion.

[kwlasianmagic]

i like to use card to mouth as my finale, I like how impossible it seems to the spectators for the card to jump to my mouth and how great their reactions are because of that, the trick hasn't failed me yet

[Guardian452]

Tyler Wilson writes about this kind of thing in his book Domina-tricks. The concept of the ambitious card plot is that the card...despite all efforts STILL comes back to the top. I never understood two things:

1) What is with all these non-sequitur endings? Card in mouth, card in pocket, deck in pocket, card in wallet...and so on. We build the plot that the card is coming to the top, but then feel good that a completely unexpected direction in plot deems a reaction? It is like shuffling a deck of cards face up and face down and building a triumph plot…but then having the card appear in your pocket after the deck rights itself? It would get a reaction? It would fool people? Yes, however, I wouldn’t agree that it is good magic.

2) Like Tyler argues – what justifies when to stop? The pop up move is impressive, but who decides that this move is as good as it gets? The magician. The magician arbitrary decides, “Bending the card, and seeing it bend as it arrives on top, gets a big reaction, therefore, that is as good as it gets? Then the magician stops as to say...it is like a magicical tap out, with the magician submitting - stating, it doesn't get any more magical than that – is giving up a good ending? Nothing, but the visual nature of the bend, makes the pop up move more impressive than many other ambitious sequences, and although it is great, it has flaws like other moves (can't show the face as it goes in, for example). Moroever, is it not stronger that the audience believe they did it all - what if they took the card, put it in the middle, and turned the top card over themselves - would this be a better ending? Anyhow, I wish we would start to think about better, or more logical endings...see above (point 1) for BAD examples of logical endings.

This is one reason I do enjoy Daryl’s FISM act, as he does everything in his power to make it impossible to bring the card to the top, and the act builds. The effect is clear, and never gets muddled with displays of other magic effects (card to wallet, card under glass, etc) It climaxes when he “sleight of hand” proofs the deck – I know some might say it’s a “hassle”, but I don’t see why – as it’s only half a deck thick gimmick and is as easy to ring in as any pocket deck switch. Then again, I am sure these same guys already have their pocket full of gimmicks and a card guard, so I can see how this would be a problem.

Anyhow – I think ambitious card should have a logical build, where each phase becomes more impressive and cancels the method of the last. Endings for this plot can be difficult and have always been a problem, unless you are just focused on obtaining a reaction alone, then that is easy to use a grab bag of stand alone effects to solve the issue. However, I choose to work on the problem, than be satisfied with a band aid solution.

Cheers

i just crapped myself

NOW THATS A POST that makes sense and is filled with great advice

[Big_Hoos]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I'm glad I found this thread as I've been doing a lot of work on redesigning my ACR.

For years, like lots of magicians who got into the art during Blaine Fever, I ended my routine with the Braue ala Blaine. I'm a bit tired of it, though. The audience reaction is still great, but I'm restless. I've sifted through a lot of different routines in the last couple of weeks trying to find one that suits me, but I'm not quite there yet.

My thinking mirrors Morgician's (very impressive post, by the way!): why end with a non-sequitor like Card to Wallet or Card to Pocket? There's a logic to the routine, and a sense of builidup. The performer certainly satisfies the buildup with an impressive ending, but it's not an especially artful or interesting or sensical ending.

That having been said, I've been working on the possibilities of Card to Mouth as a reasonable and justified ending. I'm considering something like pinning the deck between the chin and the chest, performing my Magical Finger Snap, feigning surprise/shock/choking, and then producing the card from inside the mouth.

I've also taken a shine to the idea of "inserting" the card into the bottom half of the deck, handing the top half to a spectator to "simplify" things, then showing that it's on top of the packet in their hands. Nice rise/transpo combo that really gives it a sense of magic. I know there's a name and originator for this, but it slips my mind.

I hear good things about Garcia's "Fallen." Does it honestly fool them?

[Sean_Raf]

I hear good things about Garcia's "Fallen." Does it honestly fool them?

Hey, just a note first - Welcome to the forums! Hope you enjoy your stay :) an I like your idea of pinning the deck between your neck and your chest. Nice thinking :)

Second, Fallen is - for me personally - a really really nice effect. I can tell you of one time I was doing an ACR and I finished with Fallen. It was a 1-on-1 kind of situation and the person I did it for was shocked, they didn't scream running away but because of the way I presented that particular ACR they were genuinely entertained I can quote (with actions) "*looking closer* Wow... How is that possble?... That's amazing man"

The most concerning thing about Fallen is the angles, which by the way Daniel Garcia covers VERY well (In that the camera moves to different locations so you can see how well you are covered). But an important factor in this is also audience management.

It certainly fooled her, but moreover it entertained her - the expression I saw was one of awe. I kid you not.

I must admit I haven't tried this for a crowd yet and it's something I "have up my sleeve" for those certain occassions y'know? :)

Hope that helps a little there.

- Sean

[C=B]

I have a somewhat interesting history with the Ambitious Card Routine. Originally, it was one of my favorite effects bar none, loved it. Then, after some psychology set in (i'd be happy to explain said psychology elsewhere) I actually boycotted the routine for several months before returning and making it what I wanted.

My personal favorite is the "Card Duplication" (Flustration) as used by David Williamson, fantastic finale.

[Morgician]

Love David Williamson - hate the Flustration count - least convincing move in magic.

Love to hear the Ambitious psychology SharpestLives.

[C=B]

Love David Williamson - hate the Flustration count - least convincing move in magic.

Love to hear the Ambitious psychology SharpestLives.

I respectfully, totally, disagree. I have never been let down by the Flustration and I use it frequently.


There was a thread on E many many moons ago that talked about how the Ambitious Card could spoil your magic. Something along the lines of showing them how you can make any card come to the top of the deck makes *some* other effects lessened because they know you can control the cards in some fashion. Usually, people know that magicians control cards anyhow, but I like to be in the gray of people not knowing what to expect, or what I can do. And I really agree that by constantly making a card rise to the top of the pack you are somewhat saying "Hey look, I can control your card!". So I now present my routine as something completely different.

I use heat as a theme. The signed card goes back in and I talk of how heat rises. I then attempt to "heat up" their card in the deck, bam, its on top. This is the ONLY Ambitious Rise in my entire routine (unless, one time out of a hundred, I perform Fallen). The rest of the routine moves slowly away from the heat theme/idea causing the card to jump straight out of the deck completely, to my mouth, duplicate and cause the 4 duplicates to vanish. This routine has served me very well for about 6 months now and never fails to have the spectators in the palm of my hand by the end.


While thinking about it, Solid Deception is one of the best Ambitious finales I have ever seen.

[Big_Hoos]

I was doing a bit more thinking on someone's call for the "Shuffling Rebecca" of the ACR, and it occurred to me: what about Joshua Jay's "The Remote Control?" It's an ACR where all the magic happens with a prop in the spectator's hand, it makes sense (not 'your card is magic' or 'my magical finger snap' but 'This remote control has been programmed to control your card') and its got a kicker ending with a card-to-impossible location (inside the remote control's battery compartment) that makes more sense than most.

How's that tickle yr fancy?

[Morgician]

I also respectfully and totally disagree - the flustration count does not fool as much as people think. In proper context it is a convincer from a previous phase...like in Jumping Gemini by Ortiz - but if the move is expected to act as the actual proof to the claim all the cards are the same, I find it fails. Don't believe me, ask your audience/friends or someone you trust that is not a magician. See what they say. Anyhow, I am not aiming to change your mind, and honestly - this could be a thread of it's own. I would like to say in closing, it is funny that you don't want to showcase a move like a DL from an ambitious card routine, as it shows control - but what do you think the flustration count shows? Do you really think people believe the cards are the same? I would argue that you are confused with the strength of the metrhods used for the magical claim and effect you are choosing. When done properly, an ambitious card, like Daryl routine for example, can be very magical...although, I can see where you can argue it showcases a move. Sort of like G-Force by Gregory Wilson, and how it just highlights forces to start the effect.

As for the ambitious card presentation, I really like that both of the last posts are trying to find motivation. However, (and I would love to discuss this) how far do you ask your audience to suspend their disbelief in your plots. Depending on your venue, it may be hard to have people "buy in" to this claim. We wonder why people see what we do and say...MY KIDS WOULD LIKE THIS - when we just did a knuckle busting high end magic effect we know their kids would not understand. I think that presentations that have the same feel as the classic....

I have 4 jacks and their robbers...one goes to each floor...blah blah..they escaped presentation for that effect that has been passed down in books like Magic for Dummies and other Chapters magic books.

I would recommend reading "Transformations" by Larry Hass to get a better understanding on how to make your words/scripts/presentations more powerful and have meaning.

Before you reply - please think about what I am saying. Presentations that make claims that people know are absurd, insult the intelligence of the crowd and can make magic look immature.

There is a difference between saying:

The card comes back on top because I can TRAVEL back to time when it was there and saying imagine if we could travel back in time to the point where your card was on top. Anyhow, for those that get it....

Thanks for reading.

[C=B]

I would like to say in closing, it is funny that you don't want to showcase a move like a DL from an ambitious card routine, as it shows control - but what do you think the flustration count shows? Do you really think people believe the cards are the same?

That is a very good point, and one I, in a sense, agree with. However, I do not play it off as duplicating one card "magically". I am simply showing 3 cards I had "prepared earlier" and then a 4'th which is the card they signed. The real magic is that the 3 duplicates vanish leaving just the single, signed, card.

[jtmorris]

Man, there's a ton of great ideas here! I use the pop up move, but recently tried Sankeys Paperclipped move. Awesome.

ANd to those who say that card to impossible location is not logical... what do you think is so impressive about the ACR? ="How did it get to that 'impossible location' AGAIN? I was watching that time!" Then boom, to a totally crazy place. Very cool, especially if you work that into your patter. ;)

j

[Big_Hoos]

And to those who say that card to impossible location is not logical... what do you think is so impressive about the ACR? ="How did it get to that 'impossible location' AGAIN?

My complaint with most C2ILs (if you'll forgive the abbreviation) is that they aren't justified even within the context of the routine. Why should the card shoot to my pocket other than "because I said so?," and shouldn't the logic behind our magic be a bit more compelling than that?

I'll bring up Jay's "Remote Control" again: the remote "stops working" (i.e. card is no longer rising) so the magician opens the battery compartment to check the batteries and instead finds the selected card folded inside. This makes a strange kind of sense, doesn't it? The logic is a bit flimsy, obviously, but there's a motivation within the context of the routine.

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, this is just a pet peeve of mine. Let's get back to the fun stuff!

[Randomwrath]

My usual patter is "So, the card can rise to the top but occasionally it keeps going, it gets a bit excited" (Card to Mouth) "and once it's turned up in my mouth, it starts turning up pretty much anywhere." (Card to Impossible Location)

[Morgician]

Wow Randomwrath...you must do the trick REALLY quick if that is your patter, lol. Anyhow, that is still just verbal rationale, as you are now personifying the card, giving it feelings as the card gets "excited".

In short, adding illogical words as filler to illogical sequences does not make it logical - two wrong making a right kinda deal.

PS - SharpestLives - thanks for responding. Nevertheless, it is not the presentational framing that concerns me, although I wonder how your framing truly changes the logical minds of the actual method, but it is the actual method that I feel don't fool, as it is very apparent that you are continually showing the bottom card...and if it's signed, I think that is the proof of method to the on-looker. Regardless, we can agree to disagree...but then who would post in the threads?

Back to ambitious card - C2IL is not always garbage, as I have seen some effects where the wallet is brought into play early, but I still feel it can lack.

So, what is the ideal ending...and why?

I think Kurtz had it - he did 5 phases...each with an increasingly more stringent and challenging criteria...and the final phase reads like this..."Cut the cards yourself, cover the cards yourself, square the cards yourself, snap your fingers, turn over the top card yourself"!

They do it all themselves and the card is on top. If sponge balls is one of the strongest effects...because it happens in their hands, why doesn't this hold true for ambitious card?

Really great threads, glad I could write in it.

[Randomwrath]

...it was slightly abbreviated lol...

Anyway my magic isn't logical. I'm not a logical typa guy. I think my magic reflects that. XD

[nspikito]

If CardToImpossibleLocation is such a poor ending, how do you explain the success of Tommy Wonder's ACR, where it ends up in his ring box? His ending works so well because of the way he changes the narrative, claiming that if you like the trick so much, he'll explain it to you. Sure, his explanation is as nonsensical as any story a magician weaves. But it flows smoothly from the rest of the more traditional ACR routine. Also he sets you up for the surprise ending right from the beginning, by pointing out the ring box even before the card is signed.
I think the narrative is absolutely essential to great magic. Otherwise it's just deceptive athletics.
Spike

[SKSleighofHand]

A great way to end this ACR routine is Card to Mouth, great reactions when I performed this trick.

[FOO:L]

always thought the omni deck concept was good.(the whole, deck-to-clear-block) never bought it though..

[Big_Hoos]

I've actually designed one of my walkaround sets so that I use ACR to lead into Paperclipped. I'll admit this completely throws my previous criteria for "logic" out the window, but spectators take to it wonderfully!

[Medifro]

I've actually designed one of my walkaround sets so that I use ACR to lead into Paperclipped. I'll admit this completely throws my previous criteria for "logic" out the window, but spectators take to it wonderfully!
I think magicians restricting themselves to ACR ideas only, and neglecting all other ideas for being out of logic, when using an ACR, is a bad thing.

I have 3 ACRs, one of them ends with a complete deck change, other ends with a torn and restored. They all blend together nicely, as the presentation justifies all.

On an intresting note, the number of phases shouldn't be restricted too. Daryl's routine is 13 phases, but people argue that all these 13 phases are done in a specific venue. Well, Darwin Ortiz's ACR is 8 phases, all go very nicely and performed close up.

Mine are 4, 6 and 10 :)

Cheers,

[spades]

I end with a card to mouth, or the card face up in the center of the deck jumping to the top.

-S♠

[thecavschosenone]

I'm seriously surprised that nobody mentioned this. If someone did, then I'm sorry I must have missed it. My favorite ambitious card ender is Ray Kosby's Raise Rise. Its simply beautiful!

[BrianationX]

I don't end It I keep it going and going

[Teddy94]

I like when you double lift the top card to show the chosen card, put down the indifferent card on top of it, and dribble on that until there is one card on top: the chosen card.

[Jakeh]

I like when you double lift the top card to show the chosen card, put down the indifferent card on top of it, and dribble on that until there is one card on top: the chosen card.

That's one of my favourites as well.

I always treat it as a second thought. Like, "Oh, and if I do this.."

[WilliamMckeehan]

This may sound simple but its worked well for me for years. I end my ACR by saying "and something odd happens if I just use half the deck" and put half aside - "insert" the selection in the half remaining in my hand and have it rise to the top - but instead of the "top" in my hand - it has risen to the top of the half of the deck on the table and the spectator can turn it over themselves. Like I said, its simple but ALWAYS gets a huge reaction. People just don't believe their card found its way to the half of the deck that has been sitting on the table. I use a drop change (I think that's what's it called) to pull it off. Simple is good. This has been a very practical and powerful ending for me.

i have been using the pop up move but i started using this move too.

[Shakutau]

Ambitious Explosion.

[elipark]

I use a CTW. Floors people, every time.