As an opener to a routine we know that the effect must not be too strong because if it's too strong then you wouldn't get very good reactions for the rest of the routine,as an opener,I usually will perform an effect in which will help you to relate with your spectator,and strong effects in the middle.I also wouldn't perform your strongest killer effect for the last,nor will I want to perform more than 10 card tricks,by the time you reach the 10th card effect,reactions wouldn't be strong,thats why it's not recommended to perform your strongest effect for the end of your routine.

Effects like perceptive deception,stabbed in the pack,or mindreach would be simply too strong as an opener.For my routine I would produce 4 aces using an Larry Jenning's move.So whats yours?

I think this was recently discussed in another thread but this is a good topic.
I've been doing some thinking recently, and have decided :-

1) my 2nd strongest effect will be my opener. This is to give them an idea of things to come (whether the whole show is as strong or not is another story :wub: )

2) My strongest effect to be my final. That way when the go off, they'll most likely remember my last effect being the most recent one performed, and they'll remember strong stuff.

I havent read enough theory books yet, so I hope I get this right.

In my opinion, opener has to be quick, strong, visual and easy to understand in order to capture their attention. Simplicity doesn’t mean you have to perform an easy-to-do trick but you have to ensure the audiences know what you are doing. Tricks that required memorization or counting is bad for an opener. They get confused easier than they are amazed.
After the opener, you can perform some effects with more audience participations.
Always save the best for last. B)

Good points there,I'll look into it and improve my routine soon.I've did some research and found out that there is a topic alike started by Isaac,the topic is about what you start,what you do in the middle,and what you end.But it's already quite old though.

Baalan should have a lot to say,besides,he did say that he was a theory freak. ^_^ ;)

a comedy opener would be fine. Like jeff i usually put my best effect as my last effect and 2nd best effect as opener. and like jeff i havent read enough theory books yet. haha

Firstly, I would start off with a great impact, very short kinda effects.

Always finish your strong routines at the end as this is your chance to astonish your audience and they will remember your performance whole life should you successfully amaze them.

John

Every magic done has to have a theme as mentioned as written by Henning Nelms

In my opinion, before you start performing any magic, a theme must be pre-conceived in your mind. In addition, although opener for a magic is important, but the routining or in other words, the flow of your performance plays an extremely important role. For example, a theme: You are a magician and your hand is the STAR of your performance. Everything that you touch is magic.

Let's take an example a general simple routine can be: Borrow a few business cards from one person and some coins from another person go into coin matrix/coins assembly routine. Done that, take your drink and finish it up and use the cup for cup through table. The coin would be still on the table, so take a napkin, wipe your sweat of mouth and disappear the coin by using napkin and then lastly end your routine by doing torn and restored napkin combining appearance of the coins.

Just a routine that flash through my brain, I am sure Baalan and Jeff Gan can give useful theories on improvement of the above routine.

Jeremy, that routine sure links like linking rings. Good words there, thanks a lot man. I will definitely take action and improve my routine.

two card trasportation

i think you mean "transposition" ?

If I'm not mistaken, in the book "Maximum Entertainment" by Ken Weber, it does state that generally you start with your second strongest effect, and close up with the strongest one.

**Off topic a bit**

Eric,

Which chapter..? I can't recall it.

the trick where you show a King of Spades (just for example) to the spectator and have the card sandwiched between his hands.

I then show an Ace of Diamonds to him. Wave the Ace and the Ace changes to the King of Spades.

He opens his hands and the King he holds all the time changes to the Ace.

-that would help :P

Its also known as "Here and There"... one of the strongest tricks u can perform on the streets.....

That trick and 2CM always a must when doing street magic.... but.. its too strong for an opener IMO.

combine both tricks (Here and there and 2cm) together as a routine.

After done performing Here and There, wait for all the shocks and laughter to gradually stops and tell them that you are going to teach them how to do the switch. Proceed to 2-Card-Monte and that'd would yield a great reaction.

NOTE: Don't for God's sake teach them how to do it :P it's a just a.... way to have them focused. whatever :)

* Has anyone tried Here, Ripped, There, Restored trick? How was the reaction? I haven't done this trick - because I always want to have all 52 cards back in the box after performing a card trick :P

As far as I remembered, Eric Nordvall says he like put effects which Bang! BAngs! BANGS!! for his routine. 2-3 strong effect followed by 2-3 mid n ended with the strongest. (hope im not wrong in that). This is just to put the logical mind offguard from trying to nail u down with every move u make. First few strong effect would cause that person to be completely speechless. Then the rest would be completely be MAGIC to that person. The last is to keep the max impression in mind so the audience would remember everything at the best.
As for me, i like to keep it till a very suitable time. I don like walking to a person and say.. Hey! watch this.. haha. Just personal preference and needs to be visual. It can start with a simple dollar change and end with a dollar levitation where the dollar can be borrowed. In the end, i can ask for another RM50 (audience would take the trouble to find one and be more than willing to offer). Thank them once u have it. Then, Say it's a performance fee. Everyone laughs. Definately u don take it, u return it. Just for the sake of comedy. Thats just me.
Sometimes, i'll try to "sink" in the impression by even more by asking them what impresses them the most. U just listen, their mind would do the rest. This and that, sometimes, it don't even exist. XÞ Nice!!!

I like to structure my whole performance, and the patter I use is that my deck is well-trained, so I start with a sandwich effect where I ask my jokers to go into the deck and help me find the spectator's card :)

I think I agree with Jeff Gan.Take your second strongest trick for the opener and perform your Strongest trick at the end because usually the audience will mostly remember your first and last trick.