Nothing drops a performer’s style rating than to see him stick his finger/thumb into his mouth before dealing a pack of cards. Many do it and some do not even know they do it – it’s a reflex action.

DAI VERNON- overcame the problem by having a small phial of rosewater and glycerine in his jacket pocket and he would dip his hand in the pocket, pick up a few drops and rub them around his hand. He tipped Jack Avis off about this and Jack used to make up the mixture and lightly moisten his hands before showing a trick.

CARDINI – had a similar method so Bobby Bernard tells me. He had a small tin of wax sewn into the inside of his dress suit and if his hands became dry during the act he would rub his fingertips on the wax to restore their tackiness.

DARYL- showed me a cute impromptu comedy idea. If he needed to dampen a finger or thumb before he started the routine he would say “I have to check the direction of the wind for this trick” and then he would openly put his finger in his mouth, hold it aloft and walk around as if checking his position! Then he would transfer the moistness on his finger to his thumb. It’s a fun bit very much in Daryl’s style that overcame the problem of  getting a sticky finger.

Filed under: Magic Miscellanea