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Kyle Merck – Of Cabbages And Kings

Hello out there. As your humble narrator into this journey, let me mention a few points before we begin. Jeff McBride stated once that there is more material produced each year regarding the performance of magic than of all other performance arts combined. Thank you for welcoming my material into the fray. I hope that it serves you as well as it has me.

The routines you are about to read are from my personal performance repertoire and have served my well these many years. The execution of the routines have all been audience tested in a variety of venues. Some of the effects are exclusively for the strolling magician (Ultimo Transpo, Peer Pressure) while some are geared for the stage (E.B.T.P. and Card Cleave). All of the routines can, and should, be changed to suit your venue and performing style. In some cases I have been intentionally vague about the patter I use. This is done for two reasons. In some cases I have performed these routines so often that I find the patter to be like that of jazz music. Changing with the mood of the performer. Other times the presentation has been slimmed down to encourage your own creativity.

You will notice that I have a penchant for mentalism. I find it to be the last safe haven for creating a magical impression with an audience. Somehow the audiences of today seem to dismiss magic as something for children or as a puzzle to be riddled out. I have seen even great close up magicians have their work dismissed with a simple, “You must be fast with your hands.” or “I would hate to play cards with you”. These same people only days later will call some psychic hotline to find out what color tie to wear to work. (If you doubt me consider this, the telephone psychic industry makes billions a year). It is for this and other reasons that the effects in this manuscript lean towards this nature.

In this same vein consider this, I am by nature a joker. I love sticking my tongue out at authority, teasing the edges of good taste, and saying anything that I think will get a laugh. Because of this you will find that many of my presentational themes fall into that of the silly as opposed to the cerebral. I have tried to tame that impulse for these set of notes. Some may feel that mentalism and mirth do not mix. I feel they are wrong. I hope whether you choose to use my presentations, you find something interesting within my methods.