Anonymous asked: Hey Jon, Have you ever flourished for a live audience on stage? If so; how did they react, could they see everything properly from stage (did you have some camera arrangement), and what flourishes did you perform?

I have performed for a live audience on stage. A couple of times actually. The audience has always reacted positively. I’ve never had any camera set-up, but I made sure that I moved around to best show off the sequence I was performing. 

Usually, I start simple with fans. From there I will do a spring and some aerial moves like Andrie’s card in fan. Then I just gradually move into the more complex moves. I’ve once performed ‘Twisted Rain’, from Daniel Madison, on stage and they loved it. To finish off the performance I perform some displays. Such as ‘The Werm’ and ‘Lethal X’. 

Now, each time I’ve been on stage I’ve not only performed live, but I follow the live performance up with a video of mine. I project a video for them to watch on a big screen so they can really take in cardistry. Luckily, every time I’ve been on stage I’ve been able to do just that. They love the live introduction, but the video is always gets them. 

Thanks for asking,

Jon R. 

Anonymous asked: Hey Jon, What do you think of SOLO, and are you gonna get it even though most of the material was already on Project one? =)

Well, so far, I think ‘SOLO’ looks great. The teaser and the featurette has done a good job at givings us a lot of information about the project, how they’ve approached it, what we can expect, and the scope of the project. I can’t wait to see the full length trailer.

I am going to be purchasing ‘SOLO’. I know Michael is recycling some of the material from his self produced ‘Project One’, but I’m okay with it. The reason why is because I’m going to be purchasing ‘SOLO’ for the entertainment value more than the material. I love Michael’s material, but I’ve already learned a few of the sequences he is including for his Theory11 debut from ‘Project One’. Nonetheless, anything Michael does is great. With his Theory11 team up, I’m sure ‘SOLO’ will bring us a very unforgettable experience.

Thanks for asking,

Jon R. 

Anonymous asked: Can we get Inner Thoughts bloopers? :)

Ha, dang, I didn’t even think about putting out a blooper reel. I’ll look over all the footage, again, to see if there is anything worth showing besides me just messing up. That is why I made the ‘Memory 3’ bloopers; I thought we said some really funny stuff. So, maybe I’ll attempt at putting some bloopers together. :P

Thanks for asking,

Jon R. 

Anonymous asked: What was it like to work with Josh Brand on "Inner Thoughts," and what can we expect in this project?

Working with Josh was an overall awesome experience. We had a bunch of fun working on the project. Especially, filming it when he flew down here to Colorado as it was fun days of filming and fun nights of pizza and video games, haha. Like any collaborative project, there were different opinions about how things should be done when it came to a few aspects of the project; however, Josh and I always found a way to proceed positively.

So, what should you expect with ‘Inner Thoughts’? Well, you should expect amazing quality as Josh filmed the project on his T2i. You should expect tutorials that go from multiple angles to make sure you can see/learn the flourish entirely; with the benefit of help screens that point out important grips/details. Expect some of the best editing I’ve done. Also, expect amazing music by Tyler Chase that takes the overall enjoyment of the project higher. When it comes to the material, expect to watch/learn four of my creative sequences that I’m very proud of. Overall, expect an experience that is entertaining and of value. 

Thanks for asking, 

Jon R.

Anonymous asked: Hey Jon, In your opinion, which move of yours do you think is your most creative one yet?

I would have to go with ‘Re-Glitch’ or either of my three versions of ‘Integrated Circuit’ as my most creative sequence. 

Thanks for asking,

Jon R. 

Anonymous asked: Hey Jon, How did/ does you practicing Cardistry affect your grades?

Thankfully, the only time my grades were ever effected was during my sophomore year in high school when I first started cardistry in 08’. Since then, my grades have been great. Although, college work makes it extremely difficult sometimes to get practice time in. 

Thank you for asking,

Jon R. 

Anonymous asked: Are your parents supportive of your flourishing?

Well, it is only my mom, but yes! She supports everything I do with cardistry. 

Thanks for asking,

Jon R.

Anonymous asked: What was your very first creation? (flourish)

The very first move that I ever created was my card shot “Starscream”. I created the move in 2007. Now, that was before I even started to get into magic, or before I even knew cardistry existed. So, where did the idea come from?

Well, on Friday nights my cousin, my friends, and myself would get together, and play the card game “Bullshit”. One Friday led to us having a card war, and while that was happening I noticed my cousin Baruch had his own way of throwing cards. Being the 15 year old I was; I wanted my own way to throw a card too. So, I went about messing around with how to do that. Eventually I saw exactly what I wanted to base it off of. So, what did I see?

Well, I’m a huge transformers fan, and In 2007 the movie “Transformers” was coming out. In the official trailer (at 1:14) there is a scene in which my favorite Decepticon Starscream jumps up, transformers in mid air, and then takes off really fast. When I saw that I knew that was what I wanted it to look like. Now, the actual technique used for executing the card shot is 100% original, but the name “Starscream”, the motion of the spin, and the rotation of my shot was adapted from that transformation, and Decepticon.  

Thanks for asking, 

Jon R.

cardflourishing-deactivated2012 asked: Hey Jon,
Do you perform flourishes live, and how do you feel about performing live.

I think that it depends on the 'style' of Cardistry you do, that would make it entertaining for a layperson...

Hey Cardflourishing,

Regardless of whatever ‘style’ it is you have; my perspective on performing live is to only do it if they ask you to. I was at a movie premier the other week, and I was sitting there just flourishing when a laymen saw me, and freaked out (this has happened many many times). He proceeded to ask me if I could perform some of my flourishes for his friends. I feel that being noticed first is the key to performing cardistry for laypeople.

However, if you are to be performing magic, and throughout your performances you are able to slip in a few moves of cardistry, and the people you are performing for are (again) asking you to show them some more of that; then by all means, perform some cardistry.

Even though I do not agree with going up to a random person to perform for out of the blue; I still think that laymen very much enjoy cardistry. Be creative with an approach, or wait to be noticed. n_n 

Thanks for asking, 

Jon R. 

Anonymous asked: Is there a place we can learn any of your flourishes, like Integrated Circuit?

Or do I have to work them out because to do them too fricking fast=)

-Moiz Jehangir

Hey Moiz,

Sorry, but no, there isn’t any place to learn any of my original material right now. I’m am trying my very best on a project that will feature my original work, but I can’t even try to tell you when that will be ready.

Thanks for asking,

Jon R.