Why I NEVER perform this magic trick...

Today, let's talk about the most overdone magic trick maybe ever. Ambitious Card Routine is a staple of almost every magician's repertoire... but is it too repetitive? Overused? Are audiences bored of it?

Camera: Sony FDR-AX33 & GoPro Hero 7 Silver & DJI Mavic Mini 2
Microphone: Rode Videomic Pro+
Tripod: Velbon EF-51
Lighting: ESDDI Softbox Photography Lights
Editor: Adobe Premiere Pro

#Magician #Magic #MagicTutorial

[vrtxbeta]

i had an idea (not claiming its original), where the magician wants to do ambitious card, but for some reason some other card (like a joker) keeps coming to the top under growingly impossible circumstances, much to his annoyance. Can even throw in a couple of forces in there, even a torn and restored. just for gags

[malachigrindle]

My thoughts on the ambitious card routine, too. I'm trying to inject more meaning into my magic, and a signed card jumping to the top of the deck doesn't fit the bill for me.

[naser]

When u flipped the cards for the last time they were blue for like one millisecond

[DailyFitnessDad]

Totally agree - needs to revamped. Turned a classic ambitious card into a simpler, yet significantly more diverse routine. 4 discovery phases - 1st find the signed card with vanishing jokers, 2. with a double lift, use a wand roll on the table to reveal the changed card, 3. Card in mouth while spectator is shuffling the pack, 4. In the clear - folded card transpo with card that has been in cellophane on the table the entire time. Is this still considered an ambitious card lol?

[gutefrage]

The only signed card routine I did for a longer time was the Gary Kurtz routine with this cool presention idea. I always look for presentations where I can present a special phenomnen or story.

[philjenkins]

Finally someone who thinks the same way I do. Lost count of the number of arguments I’ve had with other magicians saying it’s the greatest trick ever and everyone should be doing it. Yet, we’re constantly being told to be different, to be original!!

[mbcxts]

There's only around 20 different card trick plots, not performing ambitious card is like if a band never performed their best song. I see why a magician wouldn't perform an ambitious card because it tells the audience that they are able to easily control a card to the top of the deck.

[cort]

I've had a similar story as you regarding this trick. A kind of love/hate relationship doing some moves automatically when practicing at a point where I was just bored and not surprised anymore by the result.
As a matter of fact I did not perform it for years as you described until I was just fumbling with a deck and doing the move carelessly while a friend was just flabbergasted looking at it.
It remind me that not everyone as sawn this trick and that it is still in it's core a really powerful trick and now I'm having a lot of fun doing it from time to time, particularly using the ray's rise move.
Loved your thoughts and this format !

[shikuz.]

These were my exact thoughts when I started making a show for myself. I started with an ambitious but when I saw other perform it over and over it cut it from my show.

[FreddotheWheelchairGuy]

Hey Cavan, unrelated to your video, I’ve been doing some magic recently (I basically dabble when I come back to the UK to be fun uncle Fred) and have had some incredible reactions. I recently got a PW for some mentalism and OMG the reactions I got were mind blowing. I was practising in real time for my nephews wedding, and most tricks I’d never performed before.

I was trying to get away from card tricks in general as last time my god daughter has never seen cards before.
I was really inspired by something you said in one of your videos that a true magician shouldn’t need props.

Long story short- I’m convinced my family think I’m actually magic now, and it’s very addictive.

Just wanted to thank you for all your videos as I watch them regularly but rarely practice. Will definitely keep it up after this week.

[retrogiftsuk]

I've recently been watching 'Don't Blink' (the magic series, currently available on Amazon Prime). It's hilariously obvious that the series has been thrown together, as it features a whole bunch of magicians performing on the streets... With clearly no idea of what the other magicians will be filmed doing, so yes there's a ridiculous amount of signed card / ambitious card tricks.

Having watched dozens of variations in the last week, one common problem with the tricks is that it's hard for the magician to not come across as an arrogant d*ck, doing the same thing over and over again (in the same routine). It's verging on a 'sucker' trick ("I put your card in the deck, and now it's on top, or in my pocket, or my shoe")

[MyTardisGoWhoosh]

I like turning it into a color change, always kills

[chasingtheillusion]

Okay... I'll be honest... I don't think I've ever properly performed Ambitious Card... 😅

Oh and... THE FINAL 2 SECONDS OF THE VIDEO WHAT!?

[Bruh-kgnw]

Ambitious card is so so good if you do one phase. Seriously. The moment you do repeats it cheapens it. Some of the best reactions I've ever got are with a single phase ambitious card using only a double lift. If you build it up correctly it's a wonderful thing.

[Kristian]

here's an idea for a video: Why people hate Mentalism magic tricks

[TheSleightDoctor]

I do an ACR, but get where you're coming from about relying on it too much. One issue you don't mention here, is exposing all your best controls by jazzing with the ACR to the extent that any other pick-a-card effect you do afterwards is less impressive, because participants know you can instantaneously move the selection to wherever it's needed. It doesn't matter whether they know **how** you do it, only that they know you **can**. So it should never be a centerpiece routine, imo, more like just snappy, incidental stuff that uses basic controls (with no more than three phases) that you won't be repeating for that audience. Save the really killer moves for other effects.

[robertthejack]

I understand what you are saying but I've done that routine. Is there a tutorial on it ?

[DrDoge.]

For ambitious card, IRL I've been adding in "When I touch it it's my card, but you touch it, it's yours"

I do a double lift to display my card, and hand them theirs when explaining, and they go "Ok" to show they understand, and then I tell them "Yeah so now you can check" and it gets some pretty good reactions.
Since that's with the cards faced down, I'm practicing to optimize a snap change so that when they go to take the card out my hand, JUST before they make full contact, doing the change, so it feels like on contact it changed.

I'm not too great at tricks, but just what I've been doing. I do like adding different flavors of the routine ❤
Thank you for the great tutorials and content, with perfect explanations :)

[GFCSoft]

no offering more free trial on the magician club? :(

[Chadillac]

Ambitious ia a staple...its easy to jazz wiith.... Very good reactions...will continue doing ambitious