Encounters and Disagreements – 2016 – 102 pages –Lecture notes Self edition

This work was presented for the first time at “Jornadas del Teatro Encantado” in 2016, it includes a set of effects developed and refined by Gabi during those years. It was later marketed by some magic shops for a short period of time. The routines are characterized for their external and internal simplicity, magical impact, and also by the fact that most of them do not require any special preparation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Oil and Water REDUX
Version of the classic inspired by a premise by Lao, a magician from China, who showed his idea to Gabi on a visit to Barcelona years before. The routine begins with 8 cards, 4 black and 4 red then various phases of magical separation of the colors take place, with the particularity that at the end of each phase two cards (one red and one black) are removed to make the effect with less cards. Finally, an unexpected climax takes place involving all the cards.
While explaining this effect, Gabi addresses the concept of “Intelligent Technique” that has been covered on the blog.
- Signature meets signature
Version of the classic effect where two signed cards that merge into one. In the last decades countless versions have been published whose origin dates back to a routine called “Matched cards” published in 1969 and a subsequent version of it by Roy Walton called “They match” published the next year.
The version proposed by Gabi features a preliminary phase that provides context, it stands out for the optimal balance of economy and clarity, an appealing presentation, and a maximum contrast between the two cards seeking a maximum effect.
Throughout the text, Gabi incorporates theoretical considerations such as a classification of the controls or a handling for the direct DL, which he uses in this routine.
- Intuition
It is a very unique effect and representative of the direction of Gabi’s study in his last years. As he admits in the introduction, he considers it more of an experiment in the psychology and perception than an effect to be incorporated into the repertoire.
Externally, the effect is that the spectator freely chooses a card, and it turns out to be the only one with a different back from the deck.
Internally, what happens is truly striking, the method is grounded in the perceptive phenomenon known as “blindness to change”.
In the text, Gabi takes the opportunity to make some considerations about the lap and one of his favorite forces in recent years, which he always referred to as “Kaps’s favorite force”
- Follow the leader
This brilliant version of the classic devised by Dai Vernon is developed with the premise of overcoming the main obstacles that most versions present.
From an internal point of view, method wise, the goal is to prevent that the idea of both packets having cards of both colors from arises in the spectator’s mind. From an external point of view, the goal is to avoid monotonousness result of each phase does not offer anything new about the phenomenon presented at the beginning. This version offers a solution to these problems and presents qualities such as economy, elegance, and the possibility of improvising its preparation.
- Un-Memory
A quick effect in which four cards transform into the four aces. Its extraordinary simplicity stands out, which is grounded in a single technique (the Kaps change) and perceptual bias.
- 2 face up 2 face down
A transition or interlude effect that Gabi proposes as a continuation of the previous effect that can also be used as an encore for other four-card effects such as “Turning the aces”.
The effect is presented as a curiosity, or surreal paradox in which there is no clearly defined magical gesture. Four cards face down are displayed. Two of them are turned over face up, placing them as the first and last of the packet. When the pack is turned over, surprisingly it is shown that all of them are face down.
- Four way ambitious
This routine is a version of an effect popularized by John Carney called “Sanverted”, originally by the French magician Jean-Jacques Sanvert “Moving up”. This effect is ideal as an add on to the previous two. Gabi’s interpretation solves the main problems or challenges of the original effect, despite the modesty of its approach, it is such a master class in magic.
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