I have been practicing the pass in front of a video camera. This camera is mounted on my wife’s very nice tripod. Tonight, I decided to push myself one further and connect the camera to my video capture device.
The camera is teaching me more about angles than a mirror ever could. I can also revisit my attempts to look for what works and what does not work. Plus I have all the tools to zoom in, slow down, or otherwise scrutinize my efforts.
They need scrutiny. Much scrutiny.
Yet, my revenge against this move is well underway. I was able to watch a couple of my attempts with the same happiness normally reserved for other people learning this art.
My current regiment is to perform this maneuver a specific number of times on every possible night. I am also working on another, more basic technique in order to make that run as smoothly as possible. One night, when I tire of performing the pass, I will begin working on this other movie.
As an aside: I have been thinking about this blog. I will happily name the two books already mentioned. The Amateur Magician’s Handbook is almost certainly perfect for anyone wanting to start out in traditional magic. Expert at the Card Table is something that anyone reading this either owns or needs to know about. Any videos I own will be mentioned by a code that makes immediate sense to me, but does not provide an actual name. I have already tried to be vague in explaining what the pass is, why one would use it, or provides any direct exposure.
I know what I owe to the generations before me. I hope to pay appropriate tribute to them.
Tags: cards, magic, pass, small victory, video