David Blaine Performs Double Cross Too
Watch The Video Now
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Last week, David Blaine was a guest on the In Depth with Graham Bensinger podcast. He took the time to share some magic with Graham, his wife and the team. In the clip, Blaine performs a version of Double Cross (which officially settles it: every magician in the world performs Double Cross) and some card tricks you may have seen before.
When Blaine initially took the world by storm, he caused quite a stir in the magic community: many magicians were taken aback and angered by the fact he was, in their words, simply performing āoff-the-shelf magic tricks on the street.ā The thought of these magicians getting so upset by such a thing bemuses me. Especially when, years later, working with Dynamo, the number one complaint I heard from magicians was that Dynamo was performing magic that they couldnāt buy and do at their gigs too.
Blaineās early TV work featured commercially available tricks like the coin bite, rising card and self-tying shoelaces (all brilliant tricks). I remember reading a quote from Blaine along the lines of being in disbelief that a deck of cards had taken him all around the world.
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So, what is it about Blaine thatās led to his success? If anyone can buy or learn these tricks, what makes him so special? Is it his choice of magic? Perhaps itās his relentless pursuit and devotion to the history and future of the craft or the talented humans he surrounds himself with.
I remember working with a talent booker at the BBC. She adamantly swore that the only magicians who become world-famous are the ones who are interesting without the tricks. If people want to watch a magician on a talk show for ten minutes and theyāre not thinking, cāmon, then show us a trick already, then you may have found a new star.
But Blaine performing Double Cross genuinely surprised me. The two subtleties he adds are nice. Blaine performs a version that is unique to him, for being unique-to-himās sake. But will spectators notice it is any different from the regular version?
Heck, Iāve seen people perform Double Cross to spectators who have said theyāve seen this one before. Itās perhaps the most done-to-death trick of recent years.
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While I was working with Dynamo, he began performing an excellent addition for a version of a well-known kiss card trick. He wanted to perform a version no one else couldābecause he wanted to perform that trick because itās brilliant.
I recall being incredibly proud of the addition but unsure of its impact. Years later, I still get asked about it by hobbyists and professional magicians alike.
On a magic project abroad, the director only recently asked about how Dynamo did the trick. āIāve YouTubeād it,ā they said, ābut no one explains how he can show the card one last time! Thatās real magic, that.ā
Of course, no layperson has ever mentioned the variation to me.
But thatās beside the point, perhaps; Dynamo was able to perform a good trick knowing no one else could do it the exact same way.
I suppose even I, preacher of the idea that you donāt need more tricks, sometimes need a reminder.
This new Blaine video was that reminder.
Focus on good magic.
Perform it well.
Update: Blaine appeared on Jimmy Fallon last night. He performed new magic. Expect to see more of Blaine as he continues to promote his six shows in Las Vegas this year.
āš¼Hey! This essay is featured in my new book āMagic Musings.ā If you want to collect a limited edition book filled with magic essays like this one ā buy the book.
I think it was Al Baker that said that magicians stop thinking too early. A lot of people have interpreted that to mean about methods - but as a writer, I always thought it was about presentations and subtleties
Blaine is a good example how your presentation doesnāt have to be over the top - but with the right hook - you can create a miracle
Blaine has mastered the art of performing great magic in his own style! His live show is fantastic, itās got all his stunts but also some really beautiful classics in between, but all altered to suit his style and character.
Also got the chance to see Rob Zabrecky live in Chicago this summer. Same idea again, and we even had a conversation about it afterwards, he performs great, classic tricks that so many magicians perform, but he puts his own spin on all of them through his character. A masterclass in character performance.