The Mechanics of Sleight of Hand: Discovering Darwin Ortiz's Striking Magic

Darwin Ortiz is a renowned magician who is known for his skillful and striking magic performances. His unparalleled ability to captivate audiences and leave them in awe has earned him a well-deserved reputation in the magic community. Ortiz's style of magic is characterized by its precision, elegance, and attention to detail. He seamlessly incorporates sleight of hand techniques, psychological manipulation, and misdirection to create illusions that are truly mind-boggling. His routines are meticulously crafted, and every move is executed with a level of finesse that is unmatched. One of Ortiz's most striking magic effects is his "Jumping Gemini" routine.

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Known worldwide for the many books that he has released on both subjects, Darwin is sure to delight with his charming presentations and ridiculously smooth handling of some of the most intricate of techniques. Make no mistake, gambling demos and card cheating themed magic are amongst the most powerful things you can do for a lay audience if not the most powerful.

One of Ortiz's most striking magic effects is his "Jumping Gemini" routine. In this trick, he performs a series of seemingly impossible card transpositions that leave audiences dumbfounded. The cards seemingly teleport from one location to another, defying logic and leaving everyone wondering how it's possible.

Striking magic darwin ortiz

Hello,
I've herad so many good things about this book and would like to know if it IS a book that I MUST read. I'm still trying to figure out my persona/thruline and how to constuct/present magic. More thought goes into this than anything else, I'm trying to figure out everything so that it all goes together like a fineshed puzzle. How much thought goes into your magic? Do you simply just dabble in card tricks and do them without any thought on every little nuance?
This might sound silly or a bit over the top but I'm trying to figure out EVERYTHING, everything from what my working name will be to the brand of cards I use, I could list endless lists of things I'm contemplating with my magic. Do you take your magic this seriously? Or am I overdoing it?
And will Strong Magic help me figure this out?

Hi John,
Take a deep breath - All the things you've outlined above are important - and Mr Ortiz's book will definitely help you with the thought processes - If you've never performed - SM will help - If you're already performing - SM will help - If you're never going to perform - SM will help
The most important aspect of this book, I feel, is it's propensity to make you think about every aspect of performing and developing an act
Everything in this book shouldn't be taken as "Gospel" - This book is a "brain stretcher" - Just what you seem to want - Go for it!!

I don't care much for Darwin Ortiz, Jon. That is just my opinion though. If you like gambling tricks and demonstrations of FLAT-OUT sleight of hand rather than magic. this book is for you!

If you get bored go to www.a-miller.idz.net and watch some magic.

I've been performing (and I use that word loosely) for about four years and only realised about six months ago that I was doing it all wrong.
I know that I want to stay with pure sleight-of-hand card magic but am really trying to first figure out what to do, probably card magic and fancy card work like flourishes and things (not manips, productions, back palming, et) and elagant handling of the cards but I'm not sure about gambling demos, here are a few reasons why.
1. Most people don't care for this kind of card work, like the average layperson will really care that you've spent 20 years on your second deal, (most people don't even know the difference between perfect second deal and a poor second deal) I think this type of stuff only works for card players and men in pubs et.
2. Card sharping is not really magic and as I would like to use fanciful handling and flourishes I feel as a gambler (cheater) you would not show you skill.
3. I feel sick at the thought of magicians calling themselves card sharks and card sharps, cheaters et, REAL card sharks DON'T brag about the fact that they can handle a deck of cards, they pose as ordinary card players.
4. Why break your fingers working on sleights for sleights sake? There's a time and a place for second/bottom deals, you could work on a effect, routine or flourish or just your patter , persona and presentation in the years it takes to deal a perfect second. If you/I want to practice knucklebusting moves why not do something like a flourish, you will be more rewarded from this as flourishes are pleasing to the eye and pretty to see and obviously show that skill you've masterd, the average lay person will appriciate a nice visule colour change or fancy fan over a perfect second.
To them what's so special about taking the second card instead of the top?

That's all for now.

On 2002-12-24 01:55, RegalFan wrote:
I don't care much for Darwin Ortiz, Jon. That is just my opinion though. If you like gambling tricks and demonstrations of FLAT-OUT sleight of hand rather than magic. this book is for you!

Strong Magic has NOTHING to do with gambling routines. There are no routines at all. It is a treatise on how close-up magic should be presented. Everything from your character to how you want your audience to percieve your magic. Strong magic will improve ALL of your existing routines. And its NOT just a book on theory. Theory only takes up the first chapter. The rest of the book gives you clear, practical advice along with examples about what he is trying to teach you. You will think twice about your every action in any routine.

Lets put it this way. There is a testimonial on the back of the book by Bob Read that says "I found your book fascinating. I'd far rather know how to make my one card trick 10 times more effective than learn 10 new card tricks."

That statement explains the whole purpose of the book. And if you think you already know, you don't. The truth is, Darwin is probably the best card handler/magician and expert in the world, and he is giving away valuable advice that he collected through many years of experience that no serious magician should ignore. It took me a long time to purchase this book, and I regret not buying it sooner. But now that I have it my magic will be stronger.

This book is out of print too. I would get a copy as soon as possible.

Although Mr. Ortiz does teach many gambling routines in his other books, he also teaches some of the best card magic to be found! Magic so good, it really does not even need to be defended.

Believe me, the card world is lucky to have this guy out there doing exactly what he does!

This topic has been discussed extensively in other places. Do a search on it and you'll find some very good sound advise.

Cardguy did a very nice job explaining Strong Magic so I'll have you refer to his excellent post.

I will provide some answer to your questions:

"1. Most people don't care for this kind of card work, like the average layperson will really care that you've spent 20 years on your second deal, (most people don't even know the difference between perfect second deal and a poor second deal) I think this type of stuff only works for card players and men in pubs et. "

I can tell you first hand that this is simply not true in the least. First of all, laymen can tell the difference between good technique and poor technique regardless of whether you are performing a magical sleight like an Elmsley Count, a gambling sleight like a second deal or even a coin vanish. Although alot of cards are purchased by magicians, most cards are purchased by laypeople for the intention of playing games. Laypeople applaud skill. I have performed plenty of gambling demos (or pseudo gambling demos) for women with tremendous results. Not to mention, a common male fantasy is to be skillfull with a deck of cards. (I won't go into this thought too much on this thread).

"2. Card sharping is not really magic and as I would like to use fanciful handling and flourishes I feel as a gambler (cheater) you would not show you skill. "

I agree, however when people perform gambling demos, they are displaying what a skilled card cheat can do with a deck of cards. The goal is to entertain through this medium.

"3. I feel sick at the thought of magicians calling themselves card sharks and card sharps, cheaters et, REAL card sharks DON'T brag about the fact that they can handle a deck of cards, they pose as ordinary card players. "

Once again, you are not trying to cheat anyone, you are trying to entertain them. I don't understand why that would cause ill feelings.

4. Why break your fingers working on sleights for sleights sake? There's a time and a place for second/bottom deals, you could work on a effect, routine or flourish or just your patter , persona and presentation in the years it takes to deal a perfect second. If you/I want to practice knucklebusting moves why not do something like a flourish, you will be more rewarded from this as flourishes are pleasing to the eye and pretty to see and obviously show that skill you've masterd, the average lay person will appriciate a nice visule colour change or fancy fan over a perfect second.
To them what's so special about taking the second card instead of the top?"

Once again, if you perform for enough non-magicians you will find that most gambling routines play stronger than any magic routine will. If you fool them with magic, most people will be entertained, but pretty much no one will think you can do real magic. If you think people are going to believe you are a sorcerer's apprentice because you perform magic instead of gambling demos, you are in for a big surprise.

Granted if you don't like gambling demos, don't perform them (why torture yourself?). Make no mistake, gambling demos and card cheating themed magic are amongst the most powerful things you can do for a lay audience if not the most powerful.

For an essay that is worded slightly better than what I could have said, Darwin Ortiz has an essay in the back of his newest book. The essay is called "Showing or Hiding Skill".

Regardless of what I just wrote, magic should be for your enjoyment. If you don't want to do gambling stuff, it's OK. There are plenty of fine magic routines that you can perform that are entertaining.

I agree with Cardguy and Mark Ennis on this.

To suggest that Strong Magic is a book which advocates you adopt Darwin's style is wrongheaded. In fact, the opposite is the case. It's true that Ortiz discusses gambling themed magic but that is a minute fraction of the text. The book is a practical text on methods you can use to make your magic stronger by imbuing it with meaning, changing your pacing, analysing the conditions that matter to a lay audience, developing your character and style, developing structure in your act, increasing conviction and learning techniques for controlling audiences. And that's not an exhaustive list.

Darwin even points out that he doesn't care if you ignore everything he says - as long as you think about what you're doing.

I would urge you to read the book before you make assumptions about its content.

Season's Greetings
Andrew Wimhurst

Whenever I find myself gripping anything too tightly I just ask myself "How would Guy Hollingworth hold this?"

A magician on the Genii Forum

"I would respect VIPs if they respect history."

Read into this what you will, but.

This is my absolute FAVORITE book about magic of all time. I have NEVER been accused of being a technician, a "move-jockey" or boring!

People you may respect who feel the same way I do about this book include Juan Tamariz, David Williamson and Bill Malone--hardly the kind of people who only care about sleights and gambling!

"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
My Lybrary Page

Hi John, again
I'm not sure if you asked a question to get your chance to get your feelings written after an initial response, or if you went off, on a tangent -
Maybe I misunderstood your first question - I thought it was a query for opinions on this book - I have read this book twice - It is not my favorite book, but it is an interesting read - Mr Ortiz (whom I do like and admire)has written a book that brings up points that are obvious to most of us - but not until they're pointed out to us - In other words; after you've read a passage - you're apt to say "Yeah, I knew that"
It gets the reader to examine performances from a couple of different viewpoints, and of course Mr. Ortiz gives his point of view and opinions - What works for Mr Ortiz is not necessarily what will work for me or anyone else -
As told to you a couple of times in this thread - This is not a book of tricks

It's interesting to note Richard Kaufman's opinion of the book on the Genii board though. (not that i necessarily agree with it, it's just interesting).

Mark,
I know people don't believe in REAL magic so I have decided to show my skill with fancy flourishes and visual card magic as I stated above.
I work very hard on my magic and only use my hands and the cards and want people to know what skill and hard work goes into it as they won't believe it's magic.
I guess I'm more of a conjurer/juggler (with playing cards) than a magician.
The situations I perform under don't invite gambling demos, I find what I'm doing now has the best impact on people, modern, visual, fancy card work (they appeciate skill and flourishes ARE the BEST way to flaunt that skill, I stand firmly with my statement that people appreiciate a visual coluor change or some mind bogging flourish that just looks impossible over a gambling sleight, you see a flourish CAN look like magic if it's a mind boggling one like what Jerry Cestkowski performs and at the same time it shows skill, the best of both worlds in my opinion).
I hate to say this but standard card tricks are becoming a little dull and boring and less impressive to modern day audiences, (epsecially after David Blaine, who I do NOT copy, what I'm doing bears a very small similarty but is totally different) I don't want to be seen a the guy who DOES CARD TRICKS, I want people to see me as the one who PERFORMS elegant card effects and has complete control/mastery over a deck of cards.
And, gambling demos CAN be presented just a well as Nash or Ortiz does them with a poor second deal and the wright presentation, flourishes and fancy card work can NOT be.

You have some fair points and I would be interested to hear what you think about this.

P. S. Of course, whatever magic you are doing requires proper presentation, simply flourishing while very impressive is not really like performing art.

Hi John,
First let me say off the bat that I do not use any gambling demo,s in my acts most people in the UK would not know much about poker. like you I do not think that modern audiences believe in real magic, I also used to use lots of fancy cuts flourishes ext but stopped bout 15 years ago. Please try doing your visual magic. colour changes ext but without the flourishes. I think that you will find a greatly increaced reaction to your work. the comments will move from "boy your quick" or " I would not like to play cards with you" to "that's amazing" they will still associate you with the same skill and infact much more as you appeared to do nothing. I would reccomend the Ortiz book and also "Close up presentation" by John Mendoza if you can find a copy
Phillip

Strong Magic is one of those books for certain people.

Let me clarify:
If you don’t need any work on your presentation, you don’t need the book (read: if you honestly think your presentation is perfect, and you have nothing to even think about, there is no point in you getting this book….all the useful knowledge would simply be lost on you).

But if you acknowledge that there is always room to improve, and you might have problems with your presentation, effect/routine structure, understanding of magic in the minds of spectators, etc., you should run out and get this book asap.

PS When I say “you” I refer to anyone, not a “you” in particular.

Another thing,
With powerful, stong, visual magic many audiences assume "It's a trick deck", I never use gimmicks just my hands and the cards and will not have anyone think otherwise if I can help it, and besides flourishes are fun.
And it sets you apart from uncle Albert (while he's dealing out seven rows of four cards and asking them to memorise which row their card is in) and that novice with a stipper pack of cards and every packet trick on the magic market.
And flourishes (and visual card magic) are pleasing to the eye which is a most important thing, they also make people smile and feel good just like when you see a pretty girl.
And many of the eccentric flourishes just look so mind boggling and more impossible than any magic trick.
Jerry Cestkowski to me is much more frightning than any magician or mentalist I've seen, you have to see what this man can do with a deck of cards to know what I'm talking about.

"And, gambling demos CAN be presented just as well as Nash or Ortiz does them with a poor second deal and the wright (sic) presentation, flourishes and fancy card work can NOT be."

No. Sorry. You're wrong. Neither "fancy card work" nor gambling demos can be as good if the execution is poor. I can't imagine how you would ever have come to such a conclusion.

All the best for the holiday season.
Andrew

Whenever I find myself gripping anything too tightly I just ask myself "How would Guy Hollingworth hold this?"

A magician on the Genii Forum

"I would respect VIPs if they respect history."

Andrew,
You misconstrued me, I didn't say fancy card work could be done with poor technique, I said gambling demos can with poor technique and proper presentation.
Read the post properly next time before you respond.

Well, John, we tried, You asked why should you read Mr. Ortiz's book - We tried to answer with the tools at our disposal and the parameters you set - But you wanted to argue about flourishes versus magic -

Mr Ortiz's book is a good read - It may not impact your magic performance one iota - Personally; It's not my favorite perfomance book - I rather enjoy Michael Close's opinions, found in his workers series, more than Mr Ortiz - Mainly because I don't take myself or my magic as seriously as Mr Ortiz does. I could never hope to perform like Mr Ortiz because I laugh and screw around too much when I do a trick.

However! You will be cheating yourself if you have an opportunity to read this book, and you choose to ignore it.

Read this Section if you're interested in Why one should read this book. "Strong Magic a controversial book?"

Lets put it this way. There is a testimonial on the back of the book by Bob Read that says "I found your book fascinating. I'd far rather know how to make my one card trick 10 times more effective than learn 10 new card tricks."

Ortiz's ability to control and manipulate the audience's perception is another aspect that sets him apart. He understands the psychology behind magic and uses it to his advantage, creating illusions that are not only visually stunning but also deeply impactful. His performances are not just about creating a spectacle but also about creating a lasting impression that lingers in the minds of his spectators long after the show is over. Moreover, Ortiz's attention to detail is truly remarkable. He understands that even the smallest subtleties can make a world of difference in the effectiveness of a magic trick. He pays meticulous attention to the timing, angles, and presentation of his routines, ensuring that every aspect is perfectly orchestrated for maximum impact. In conclusion, Darwin Ortiz is a master of striking magic. His skillful execution, attention to detail, and understanding of psychological manipulation make his performances truly unforgettable. Whether it's his mind-bending card tricks or his captivating illusions, Ortiz never fails to leave audiences spellbound. He is a true magician's magician, and his contributions to the field of magic will continue to inspire and astonish for years to come..

Reviews for "The Sleight of Hand Secrets of Darwin Ortiz's Striking Magic"

1. Jennifer - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Striking Magic Darwin Ortiz". The tricks were too predictable and the performance lacked any real excitement or energy. It felt like Ortiz was just going through the motions without any real passion. I was hoping for some mind-blowing illusions, but instead, I got a lackluster show that I could have easily seen at a local amateur magic performance.

2. David - 1 out of 5 stars - "Striking Magic Darwin Ortiz" was a complete waste of time and money. The tricks were so basic and unimpressive that I was left wondering why I even bothered watching. Ortiz's delivery was also lackluster and uninspiring. It felt like he was just going through the motions without any real enthusiasm or effort. I would not recommend this performance to anyone looking for good quality magic.

3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I found "Striking Magic Darwin Ortiz" to be quite underwhelming. The tricks were not as impressive as I had anticipated and lacked the wow factor that I look for in magic performances. The pacing was also off, with awkward pauses and transitions that disrupted the flow of the show. Overall, it was a mediocre performance that failed to capture my attention or leave a lasting impression.

4. Michael - 2 out of 5 stars - "Striking Magic Darwin Ortiz" fell flat for me. The tricks felt outdated and lacked any originality. It seemed like a regurgitation of tricks that have been done countless times before. Ortiz's stage presence was also lacking, making it difficult to stay engaged throughout the performance. I was hoping for a more innovative and captivating show, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver.

The Secrets of Striking Magic Unveiled: Darwin Ortiz's Techniques Exposed