I am starting to learn card sleights. Card sleights are not necessarily tricks in and of themselves, but elements that make tricks possible. Most of the sleights I have seen are a means by which the placement of a particular card in the deck (usually one chosen by a volunteer) is controlled.

The first sleight I learned is the 'jog control.' When doing the jog control you appear to cut the deck, and then pull random sized packets of cards off the bottom half of the cut onto what was the top half of the cut. Thus 'shuffling' the cards. The process is done twice. What happens in reality is a card that is placed on top of the deck before jogging begins is brought back to the top of the deck. I am getting fairly good at this.

The next trick I am working on is called a 'pass.' There are different passes, but this one involves placing a card in the "middle" of the deck, catching a pinky-break at the point the card chosen card is, and then pulling the top half of the deck under with the finger tips of the hand that holds the deck, while covering the move by appearing to square the deck, or some other maneuver. This is more difficult than the jog control and it taking me awhile to learn.

I am aware of other variations on the pass, half-passes, double and triple cuts, and a couple of other sleights.

While these are much more difficult to learn than hopping spots, chinese sticks, hot rods, and magic coloring books, they are very versatile. The sleights can be used to do classic tricks, like ambitious card routines, and to invent your own magic tricks. All of this has the advantage of packing in the space of a deck of cards. Card tricks tend to have a high "WOW" factor when done well.

I have started this thread to increase awareness of this option for clowns, and the value of the time and effort to learn a few sleights. I was relunctant to put in the effort at first myself, but it seemed so logical for a hobo to have some skill with a deck. How else might a hobo while away the hours spent riding a boxcar? I decided to try to learn some simpler tricks, but got hooked in the process.

Does anyone else do card tricks? What are your favorite sleights and/or tricks?

I love watching skilled card magicians at work. I am very lucky in knowing a couple of hugely talented professional magicians with world wide renoun and reputations. However, I have absolutely no interest in performing with cards.

I learned a few card moves when I first became interested in magic but lost interest very quickly and now, as a clown, have very little interest in them at all. My dislikeing of card magic centered around it is just too obvious. Everybody in the Western world has seen a card trick. From the age of about ten every kid I ever met knows a simple card trick or two, themselves. If I pull out a deck of cards, my audience immediately expects a magic trick. For me, that ruins every thing. Half the magic is instantly lost before I have even started.

I want my magic to be magical in every respect and that means it has to be differant unusual and unexpected from the very start. I decided to focus on every day objects, things that people are familiar with in their daily lives and then create magic with these objects. Elastic bands, knives and forks, match sticks, coins, handkerchiefs, cigarettes, safty pins, bits of string, tea cups, bits of paper, affords a much broader repetoir of unusual and amazing feats that can also be totaly impromptu or when you are sneeky, (as I am) apparently impromptu.

For me, as a clown, the ability to create magic in the world around me is far far more important than demonstrateing manual dexterity with a bunch of cards.

you know what would be a great idea? use a beat up old deck of cards! that would be very hobo! :applause:

(hmmm?... that is a great idea? good thing i thought of that... :???:)

yeah try to learn as many sleights as you can to improve your card skills. skill is always something good to have. who knows someday you might be able to invent your own moves? try to learn "forces", "breaks", "peeks", "glimpses" and "outs" too, so in case you or your spectator make a mistake you can easily remedy it, instead of saying "oh im sorry i messed up" or worse "you messed up, you were supposed to pick this card"

just dont make your tricks too trivial, magic should be entertaining and not a puzzle. and remember when working with cards "control" is the name of the game.

try not to do more than 2 or three cards tricks when doing walk arounds. it may be hard for you to accept it but no matter how much skill you have with cards. people do get bored with it and sometimes are just too polite to let you know. save the other card tricks in your arsenal for a different group. do something else, "chewed up bubble gum to balloon trick" "brown paper change bag" etc.

try to learn the "three card monte", that's very hobo too ;)

i have a friend who performs it very well, his patter is an interactive poem about the game. done a la vaudeville style:

"come everyone, big and small, see the game that beat them all..."
"follow the lady wherever she goes..."
"where do you think she is?..."
"id hold on to my wallet if i was you..."

or something to that effect.

good luck! 8-)

Yes you will need good luck learning and performing card slights and manipulations with a beat up, battered, old, hobo deck. I know of no professional card magician who would willing choose to work with an old and battered deck. If you are just starting out learning card magic, you definately need all the help you can get, furry greasy cards that stick together may well be in keeping with the hobo image but are a ridiculous idea for anyone attempting even quite simple slights.

I always forget just how much importance you American clowns attach to the notion of costume, catagory, type, charachter, correctness. Thinking now more specifacaly about magic that is in keeping for a hobo clown, I would agree with Mr. Bag-ends, "three card monte" is a great idea. Its a classic piece of card magic and no card magicians repetoir is ever complete untill he can perform a version of this effect. But is it really the kind of image you want to be projecting? The "three card monte" is also a staple for the dirty dealing, con artist, drifting flim-flam man.

Performing a miracle with a bootlace taken from your hobo boots, would be every bit as magical without raising the notion of gambling. A torn and restored newspaper is a lovely visual effect that again is something you would expect a hobo to have on his person. To produce a flower from a hanky for a girl is again a very hobo type gesture. These kind of effects have a second great advantage over card tricks in that they are very visible. Cards by their very nature are small and as such are only suited to close up magic situations. The above mentioned tricks can all be performed close up but can also be used in parlour or stage settings too.

I dont want to be knocking card magic or peoples efforts to learn and perform it but there is something about card magic that really puts me off. Other than the fact that it is a well known vehicle for magic, as mentioned in my previous post, it is also very adult in its nature and for the younger ones, dosn't have a great deal of interest. I want my magic to be be loud visual and flashy. Card magic can seldom be described as that. Even the youngest children can understand the magic of watching a glass of milk being poured into a newspaper and then watching the newspaper being torn to pieces. This trick has been seen by many adults on TV but has seldom been seen by them in the flesh. Take a paper out of the rack in a bar (there is impromptu and there is apparnently impromptu) and do the same with a fresh pint of beer will, make all the adults eyes pop out too, I gauruntee it.

That's cute. I like it.

Exactly, Bgrdnz. Charlie Chaplin got magic out of something as mundane and ordinary as a couple of forks and a couple of potatoes.

yes magic is all about presentation! :seltzer:

i believe chaplin used dinner rolls, but they did look like potatoes! ;)

My interest is not so much being in keeping with a character type, but the character himself. I spent a number of years playing table top role-playing games and have experience creating, and pretending to be, compelling characters. My character is a hobo, but I am working very hard to make him a three-dimensional type of character that attracts the audience with a good combination of the predictable (for familiarity and comfort), and the unpredictable (to make the character worth getting to know). All of my tricks and props have stories behind them, even if only for my benefit. Most are linked to distant and often fabled lands that maybe only a clown could find. Card tricks are only part of the assortment of tricks and gags I am developing, with a wide variety of age groups in mind.

Card tricks play better to the later end of the elementary school age upwards to adults. Rope tricks, ring, rope and ring tricks, a balloon trick, tricks with paper clips, matchbooks, pieces of paper are all coming together as part of my available material. In addition, I have found plausible ways to incorporate a pair of Chinese sticks, a hopping spots (spot changing card), a magic coloring book, a hot rod, d'lites, sponge balls, and a change bag into my selection which are in keeping with my character. Though many of these tricks don't require a great deal of skill, they each have their place and value for different audiences and age groups.

There are a number of tricks I need to get better at. I practice for a minimum of 20 minutes each day, and more when I can find the time. My practice has put me in a position where I can do a 75 to 90 minutes of magic and gags out of a shoulder bag. I am no expert magician, but I think I have come a long way in a few short months.

There is no intention on my part to rely on card tricks exclusively, though I may rely more heavily on rope and card tricks than other mediums for awhile.. My intent in bringing up this subject is to encourage those who have been apprehensive about doing card tricks to look into it. Yes, it takes more work to learn card tricks, but they can be well worth the time and effort put into them, especially on this side of the Pond where fewer people know them.

Is there an expectation of magic being done with a deck? Yes, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. I had a woman offer me double what she paid me for balloons to do a magic trick at a festival where I was twisting for kids. I didn't have any props and hadn't learned much yet, so I had to turn her down. Whipping out a deck of cards at a moment like that would be very appropriate. Playing to an expectation is not always a bad thing. It is the quality and unexpected nature of what you do to play to the expectation that makes a difference. You don't go to a comedy club to get a lesson in oil painting. You go to hear someone tell jokes, or perform comedy. That is playing to an expectation.

Can card tricks be over done? Absolutely, but the advantage of learning sleights that can be put together into tricks is that it is fairly easy to put together fresh material periodically that cannot be done with many other mediums. You can't do much to change up a Chinese sticks routine, because there is only so much you can do with Chinese sticks, but there are tons of different card tricks you can do with a few skills and some practice. This could keep you out of a situation where your audience has seen you do a given trick before and already knows how it goes.

Part of my character is the claim that I don't know how to do magic. Magicians know how to do magic. Either my props are magical, or I do something and magic just happens, and I don't know how. Often I attempt magic tricks that never go quite right, but something unexpected happens that seems magical. I never seem quite in control of anything that happens (at least that's my goal). Sometimes I am not aware that anything unusual has happened. Sometimes I think something has magical has happened, and I am real proud of myself for pulling it off, but the audience knows it's not magical (they are in on the secret I am not). There is a point where this can be over done, so I mix in gags and things that are just jokes from a clowny perspective.

So, back to my point. Card sleights can help clowns be more versatile, and offer a greater range of tricks if one is willing to put the work into it. It isn't for everyone. It isn't a cure all for a magic act. Sleights can be valuable skills.

Yes you will need good luck learning and performing card slights and manipulations with a beat up, battered, old, hobo deck. I know of no professional card magician who would willing choose to work with an old and battered deck. If you are just starting out learning card magic, you definately need all the help you can get, furry greasy cards that stick together may well be in keeping with the hobo image but are a ridiculous idea for anyone attempting even quite simple slights.

Who said anything about furry or greasy? I see battered old decks all the time which are neither. Just easier to manipulate because the slickness has worn off. Do I have any old cards? No. Do I have new cards? Yes.
My mom used to play with old beat-up cards, though, and they were never greasy or hairy. I don't think she would have touched them if they were.

That's cute. I like it.

That would be Grock, Bgrdnz.The One and Only; Adriann Wettach

Greasy and Harry? Weren't they a pair of vaudville card manipulators who used to open the bill on the Loew's Circuit? Seems I remember Greasy went on be a writer in the early days of radio but I don't know much about what happened to Harry . . .

What's that? Hairy, not Harry? Sorry, never heard of him.

That Greasy was one slick character. Not, however, to be confused with his brother, Slick, who worked as a mechanic, so was a "grease monkey." As I recall, Slick had a pet monkey who wasn't a greasy or Greasy, but was, in fact, rather hairy.

<Somebody STOP ME!>

To those who suggested using a worn out deck, it would be in-character and rather novel to have a hobo clown using a worn deck. The problem, and the reason most magicians don't use worn decks, is that worn decks don't handle well. Cards tend to stick together. They don't fan well. It is hard to do some sleights that require sliding one or two cards across the top of the deck and then sliding them back to achieve a break, etc.

Here is a rather nice looking alternative I have found:

Ellusionist.com - Vintage Series 1800 Playing Cards (http://www.ellusionist.com/vintage-series-1800-playing-cards.html)

I am going to purchase a deck to see how it handles and wears. I will let you know if it lives up to the claims made about its handling.

I got my deck. I have to say the cards look worn and weathered. Most people I have shown them to don't believe at first they are printed to look old, rather than being old.

The cards do not handle as well as a new standard bicycle deck. They just aren't as slick. They do handle fairly well though. They are comparable to a bicycle deck with a small degree of wear, and well within my tolerances for handling. They would not last long as a practice deck, but as expensive as they are, I would not practice with them. I am saving the deck for performances. As a performance only deck, I would expect plenty of use.

I also bought a master deck. This is printed on slightly heavier stock than a standard deck, and has a really nice finish. The look is clean and the Ace of Spades is fancier than a standard deck. These handle very, very well out of the box. They aren't nearly as expensive as the Vintage 1800 series, but about twice as expensive as a standard deck. Again, I wouldn't use these as a practice deck, but would reserve them for actual performance time. These are too clean for my character, however, and my master deck will probably be a practice deck I will enjoy until it is worn beyond being useful for sleights.

ellusionist.com has a number of decks printed in the same quality as the master deck. At least one of these decks intrigues me. It is a gaff deck in which all the cards are printed with some variance or errors. The intention is that some of the cards in the gaff deck would be used to replace cards in a master deck, either to some effect, or just to add some character and mystery to the performance. There is a video available on how to incorporate the gaff cards into a performance.

ellusionist.com also included a sample ace of spades from their Ghost deck. This is a master deck which is printed in black-and-white with only red suit symbols being their normal color. The back of the deck is white with black printed bicycle riders and decorations. It is very different looking to say the least. There is also a gaff deck to go with the ghost deck as well.

Bottom line - I am pleased with the decks I recieved. The Vintage 1800 series deck (I ordered the blue back) will work great for performances. The master deck will be fun to practice with. I will probably order more of the Vintage 1800 series in time. Were I a magician, I would never use the Vintage 1800 series, but as a hobo clown these are a very cool prop that fits right in with my character.

RIGHT ON!!! i just started working at a magic shop recently, and lo and behold i saw the faded bicycle deck! and remembered this thread, and they all lived happily ever after...

THE END...

I would not recommend a clown or magician using regular playing card tricks on kids. I tried it many times as a magician, and it does not seem to get a good applause. One reason is because a lot of kids do not understand playing cards. Another reason is because some parents do not feel their children should be around playing cards at an early age. That is why I prefer using flash cards with pictures instead.

If flash cards are used at a party for children, I prefer the jumbo size cards. It makes it easier for the rest of the kids to see what card was selected.

There are a lot of good cards effects used with sleight of hand. I think self-working cards will fit a clown better because of the gloves most clowns wear. Sleight of hand is more difficult to perform with gloves on. A person can perform the same type of effect with self-working card tricks that they can with sleight of hand.

Happy writes,

"There are a lot of good cards effects used with sleight of hand. I think self-working cards will fit a clown better because of the gloves most clowns wear. Sleight of hand is more difficult to perform with gloves on. A person can perform the same type of effect with self-working card tricks that they can with sleight of hand".

This is exactly the problem that I was alluding to yesterday Happy, in the thread about red plastic noses and string. This continual need and desire to follow conventions hampers the creative and artistic side of clowning. Thinking of limiting your self to self working tricks, so that you can follow your rediculous glove wearing clown conventions, drives me nuts. These clown conventions and rules are for clowns to show off to other clowns, they mean nothing to the children who are your real audience.

creative magic has a great line of flash cards...

Barry, those were just my personal suggestions. It is really up to the individual clown himself/herself.

I took it that Happy was talking from experience as a children's entertainer in what he has found to work or not for audiences. Sharing such wisdom isn't insisting upon certain conventions (pun partially intended) but, rather, practical learned wisdom which he's sharing by way of suggestion.

Also, one must consider cultural contexts. If "card games" are associated with gambling among adults who would rather protect their kids from such vices, then it won't go over well with an audience.

I, personally, think that there are numerous card tricks which work well in close up situations, but might not translate quite as directly in a stage sort of situation - and certainly not on the typical living room/birthday party circuit which most clowns work. That said, have I seen magicians use stage card tricks to solid effect? Yes. But such is often some clever witted thing that shows well with oversized cards, and not your typical sleight that might translate at table or with a few people gathered round. Or it is geared at an adult audience.

I really really love magic, there is something about it that totaly enchants me. I enjoy it in all its forms whether it be clever, skillfull and desterous manipulations that the practitioner has taken years to hone through dilligent practice, or simple self working things that you get in a christmas cracker. If it baffles and astonishes the audience, it dosen't matter what the mechanics that under pin it are. Because I have studied magic and spent years practicing, I now know many of the secrets but often, this does not matter. I do things regularly, where even though I know exactly where the coin, ciggarette, handkerchief, etc. is, it still looks magical. Even to me, despite the fact that I have seen it a thousand times, in my own hands, I never tire of watching it happen. And if it does that to me, how can it not work on my audience?

I stated in previous posts on this thread, my reasons for my reluctance to perform card magic. In general, it does not compliment the charachter of the image I wish my clown to project. That said, I do have a few slights in my armory, that when confronted with a deck of cards, I know will be winners. But there is one card trick that when performing with kids, I will always have to hand. It is a lovely piece of business that every child can appreiciate, it takes absolutely no skill what so ever and is totaly self working. There are no gameing or gambling conotations that can arise the ire of even the most protective and conservative of parents and this is Dan Harlan's "Cardtoon" YouTube - Cardtoon 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G0mHZ-PBZM) I recomend this one, without any resevations.

After the quicker kids, have seen it once or twice, I happily teach them how to do it and then loan them the deck so they can show off to their parents or siblings with it. The magic happens twice, once when they see it for the first time and secondly the kick they get from makeing other peoples eyes pop out.

I stated in previous posts on this thread, my reasons for my reluctance to perform card magic. In general, it does not compliment the charachter of the image I wish my clown to project. That said, I do have a few slights in my armory, that when confronted with a deck of cards, I know will be winners. But there is one card trick that when performing with kids, I will always have to hand. It is a lovely piece of business that every child can appreiciate, it takes absolutely no skill what so ever and is totaly self working. There are no gameing or gambling conotations that can arise the ire of even the most protective and conservative of parents and this is Dan Harlan's "Cardtoon" YouTube - Cardtoon 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G0mHZ-PBZM) I recomend this one, without any resevations.

After the quicker kids, have seen it once or twice, I happily teach them how to do it and then loan them the deck so they can show off to their parents or siblings with it. The magic happens twice, once when they see it for the first time and secondly the kick they get from makeing other peoples eyes pop out.

I have that trick, too, and agree that it is easy and fun for all ages. (Though, again, I feel that it works best for, say, table magic in a restaurant environment or other up close uses.)

There is actually a "Cardtoon 2" where the character goes to the circus and gets shot out of a canon. I think the magician who once demoed it for me was having a little clever fun in subtly and saucily working levels by naming him "Herman."

Personally, I like card tricks - and have since I was a kid. They are not the mainstay of my act, but I have no problem tossing down something fun in appropriate environments. It gets attention and draws others into a sense of mystery, which I think is important to stretching our imaginations.

Does anyone else do card tricks? What are your favorite sleights and/or tricks?

My two favorite card tricks:

Card on Ceiling - The proverbial "packs small, plays big" trick that not only has a wow effect, but is terribly easy to perform. All it takes is controlling one card to the top of the deck, a double life, a quick sleight, and a toss of the deck. Universal in that it can draw a crowd or end a routine. It will have people talking and will make your next crowd draw that much easier. Use Stick-Um in place of magician's wax and you can pull this trick fifty times for around $1 (not counting the cost of cards which will need to be replaced as your deck diminishes).

I put a card on the ceiling of a fifty foot theatre that will likely be there for decades. People still see it, ask about it, and want to see the trick. Learn it, Love it.

Sam the Bell Hop - this trick is a routine more than a single trick. The patter and audience interaction can run this trick 5-7 minutes or more without the crowd dispersing. I'd rank the cuts and sleights needed for this routine closer to the advanced end of the spectrum but with practice, it isn't all that difficult. It does take some set-up so you just can't grab a deck of cards and run with it, but the routine is fun for the crowd and for the performer as it encourages participation from the spectators.


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As for the thought that clowns should only use self-working tricks... I don't agree with that line of thinking. It limits your ability and eventually the tricks become stale. Maybe it hasn't happened to you yet and with luck, it never will but sooner or later you'll run into a kid who stopped at a magic shop on vacation and owns your trick.

Most are going to say it doesn't matter and pull out the presentation card and while I agree that presentation needs to be stronger than the magic itself, there are times when a reveal can ruin a show for someone and a nice sleight will bring the show back under your control much quicker than a self-rising card or some other gimmick.

If you can't pull a trick in gloves, I'd suggest losing the gloves rather than losing the trick.

Well thats a bit of a christmas surprise, we haven't seen you for a while Jolly, are you well?

Doing well indeed and I hope the same holds true on your end.

ok this thread has a lot of good info seem card tricks are not for kids but great for table as your dealing with kids and adults and most people do know a few card tricks but not many know real sleights so it might be good to pull a few off to try and get a gig as they do pack small is what i gained from this so far but i am confused about size when using a jumbo deck is it mostly self working tricks as manipulating them should be near imposable and specking of which i have always bought poker or rider back sized decks if i was to try and learn real sleights should i be buying bridge sized cards???

Standard poker playing cards. Preferably Bicycle brand cards as most professional decks are going to be Bicycle reproductions so swapping out decks can be done easily.

i have always bought poker or rider back sized decks if i was to try and learn real sleights should i be buying bridge sized cards???
As "The Professor" Dai Vernon said, "Practice makes permanent." If you put so much time into bridge size cards it will be hard to let go. It is best to start with a poker deck as Jolly Well mentioned.

I tried several types of decks when I started out to learn sleights. I ended up sticking with the standard-size playing cards. "Feel" is important as well. I tried some expensive poker decks and while they were good dribbling decks, they did not have the right degree of "slide" for my likes. It is nice to have a deck that dribbles well, but dribbling is just a flourish. Really cheap decks stuck together like velcro and were worthless from the instant I opened the pack. The standard Bicycle decks worked best for me.

I did purchase a Master Edition Deck from Ellusionist.com. This deck is a standard-size rider-back deck, but is just a little thicker and sturdier than the regular rider-back decks. I just wanted to try them, and intended them as a practice deck. Much to my surprise, the Master Edition Deck has lasted hours without any notable reduction in "feel." Cards don't slide well after they have been used for a bit, but these Master Edition cards have lasted about 4 to 5 times longer than the standard decks, and are only showing the first signs of loosing their slick finish, which shows in little gaps when I try to fan them. At about twice the cost of a regular deck, the Master Edition seem to me like a good value.

ok i seena vid and a guy talked about a maching that put fanning powder on cards but he also said for us cheap guys we can use a ziplock type bag and just shake a few cards at a time but then wipe off the powder but it will still leave just enough is this only for flourishes or does it help the sleights too

Scoop, fanning powder have nothing to do with sleights. It is only good for fanning the cards evenly when it comes to flourish.

If you do use powder in a bag, it is best to do it outside or a well ventilated area because a lot of powder comes out when the bag is opened. It is not good for your lungs.

which is why we hold our breaths so hard when we set our make up with baby power lol

Congratulations on getting into "Card work". Imagine being able to entertain for hours with a single or two decks of cards. I have been a Magician for over Thirty years and part of my reputation is Card work.
False shuffles and cuts are impresive but not necessary the most important part is the "Force". The best part is the Blow off or how you discover the card.
A GREAT ROUTINE

A great way to discover a card is to work with two decks. The Red deck has the force card (Let's say the Three of Clubs) on the top and the Blue deck has no three of clubs, because you have removed it and placed it in your wallet and bound it with a few rubber bands.

First you force the deck by saying. "There are two decks here please pick one". The object here is that you want the Volunteer (Known as the Trickee) to seemingly pick the red deck because the force card is on top. If the Trickee picks the blue deck Just say, "Ok, that will be your deck and the Red deck is mine" If the Red deck is selected say "Ok, we'll start with that deck".

Pick up the Red deck and place a Scarf or large silk over the deck but as soon as the silk cloth is covering the cloth turn your hand over so the deck is upside down hidden under the coth. Ask the Trickee to cut the deck where ever they wish. When the deck is cut is cut and during your motions to remove the cloth, turn the deck over so that when you remove the coth it is face down. Point to the top card (Three of Clubs) and tell the Trickee to look at the selected, cut to card. Hand all the cards and the cloth out for inspection ansking to verify that nothing is fake and ask them to put the deck back together because it's not needed any more.

Point to the Blue deck and ask them to remove the selected card. After searching and not finding it, make excuses for making a big blunder and explain that you always carry an extra card. Show your hand to be empty, use only two fingers and remove you Wallet. Open it and let the Trickee see the card. Now remove the card, show it and take your bow.

For a better effect, use a flamming Fire Wallet to reveal the card.

Uncle Willie Silly
aka
harrythemagician
aka
Harry W.

Fanning powder? Not necessary. A little practice and you can produce a good fan from any new or fairy new deck. Try this.

Hold the deck in what is known as the dealing position. The deck is resting in the palm of your non-dominant hand. Grab the deck with your other hand by placing your four fingers on the top of the deck and your thumb on the bottom.

Apply pressure on the deck and form a very slight downward bend in the middle. Rotate your hand while slighty releasing finger pressure. The more pressure you apply the wider apart the cards will be in the fan.

Let me know how you make out.
C YA LA TA Going to the beach for a swim.