Up and Coming: A new section to push the art forward
Posted on: November 5, 2009
Let’s start a new section here. I’m going to call it Up and Coming and I’m going to be posting videos of beginners and amateurs that I think might hit hard in the future if they keep up the good work.
I mainly do this to encourage everyone to start being creative from their early days on card flourishing and move away from topics and overused patterns.
I’ll try to post at least once a week to leave you guys enough time to discuss positively the ups and downs of the videos in order to help them, from our experience, to become better flourishers and eventually kick our asses.
I might also consider doing a few unexpected contests every X months to see who is helping the most and even reward your favourite beginners.
The top contributors will get to chose their favourite “Up and Comings” to share the sweet prizes i’ve been stocking up for you all this time in my basement.
How can you help?
Post comments, give some advice, teach them something, retweet the posts, share them on facebook, introduce them to your friends, meet up, do collabs, form a group, get involved.
When I say there will be prizes I’m talking in terms of bricks of cards, maybe DVDs too, you name it. Trust me, you will love to take part in this iniciative.
You know this is not a forum, this is a family!
Start now.
-Alejandro Portela
.thecuso
Photography by Eugene Soh





November 5th, 2009 at 1:42 am
I knew that you were going to create something like this, sweet :)
November 5th, 2009 at 1:47 am
Brilliant idea man.
Congratulations on your forward thinking!
-Dave
November 5th, 2009 at 1:49 am
This sounds really awesome man, you have every last drop of my respect. Your probably the most giving and caring person in this community, you always have been. Im tuned in, and i cant wait to help out some of our new friends. It will mean a lot to them to get positive comments, instead of the usual “noob” label. Thanks Alejandro,
Stephen
November 5th, 2009 at 1:55 am
Thank you guys, don’t lick my butt just for the prizes though, i want this to be a honest initiative to make it a win-win for everyone.
If you have ever tried to teach a friend that is starting out, you already know how rewarding it feels every time he comes back to show you his progress.
Be someone’s sponsor, be a godfather.
:P
-Alejandro Portela
November 5th, 2009 at 1:56 am
Would I be considered a beginner/amateur?
November 5th, 2009 at 2:01 am
David, aren’t we all? ;) I still have a massive way to go.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:02 am
David! Oh man, thanks for dropping by :)
I think you should fall into the godfather category, not because you look like a pimp or anything, you already have great skills and top level style and you know that ;)
People would love to hear some hints from you, i’m sure.
You can try with Sofus, who knows, maybe he picks up cards again ;)
November 5th, 2009 at 2:05 am
Jonas, we never stop learning, that is true, but we certainly have more experience and knowledge than most of the guys.
Instead of complaining about how dull all new videos are because we only get to see the same old flourishes we can try to change that by showing them the light path (no cosplay needed).
;)
November 5th, 2009 at 2:37 am
im going to start releasing videos posing as an amateur.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:43 am
hahaha, it is a rewarding feeling! You’d be suprised how many people see you at school playing around with cards, and bring a deck the next day and ask to teach them something! By the end of the day, they’re a pro at 52 card pickup, but I make sure they learned something haha :) as long as this art exists we will never stop learning, because we will always have someone make up something new :) thanks again man
November 5th, 2009 at 2:46 am
Nice! idea cuso well this is a cool one. We are the flourish family.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:10 am
what about me cuso am i a beginner?
November 5th, 2009 at 3:22 am
I’m in Alejandro, cuenta conmigo.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:37 am
I really like this idea. Ive seen a few vids lately that have really been quite good considering I have no idea who some of these newcomers are.
I also think that the “old-timers” should be rewarded for the best advice! Get ahold of me man, Ill put up a deck or two to help encourage the more experienced folks to contribute.
Good idea man!
November 5th, 2009 at 4:03 am
Sounds interesting :) looking forward for(?) it.
November 5th, 2009 at 4:25 am
really sweet idea man!!
i hope everyone gets involved in this and it turns out fantastic!
i hope to help and learn much in this event.
i take it im still considered a beginner…? :)
November 5th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Alejandro can you define the meaning of “we”. Anywways nice ide, should be nice to see videos of rising stars xd
November 5th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Hey !
So how is this going to work mate ? Can we like give in our videos and stuff ? And you decide if it goes up here ?
November 5th, 2009 at 10:47 am
ill be here! i think it is important to push things forward,,,and keep the intrest in the community flowing …a great idea.. look forward to seeing alot of videos and hopefully some new tallent that we dont already know of…
peace!
November 5th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
@Palmer: I think the experienced people should contribute for the furtherment of the art, and not for any personal gain. They don’t need encouragement in the same way as newer people do.
If we “prize” every single thing people do, it becomes worthless.
Do it for the love guys, I know I will, and it feels rewarding enough!
November 5th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
love it i will tell my N00b friends :).
thanks Don corlenone !
November 6th, 2009 at 1:54 am
I’m considered a beginner right? lol
November 6th, 2009 at 2:03 am
im sort of new to thecuso.info, so yeah this is cool. i guess im sorta a noob lol.
November 6th, 2009 at 2:06 am
i’ve been here before, but i haven’t posted anything, so hi people lol.
November 6th, 2009 at 3:43 am
nice =D hope it comes out soon
November 6th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Good initiative. I’m eager to see how it goes !
November 7th, 2009 at 1:43 am
Sounds like a great idea. I’m in.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Hmm, my impression was that there was no need to “sign up” be saying “I’m in, i’m in!” in this post, and that anything new that thecuso finds well be fairly and objectively judged by him, regardless of any other factors?
November 8th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
well any godfathers for a new flourisher? :P
November 8th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I do have a concern….I’ve bought the All the DnD stuff (andthensome,trilogy,system) and I do have a big problem doping most of the flourishes such as the molecule cuts. And I also struggle doing some of the tricks espically the colour changes…these problems are from the size of my hands and I know that HURON HAS POSTED SOMETHING ABOUT THAT THE SIZE OF THE HAND DOES MATTER and i wondering if there are any tips of solutions to overcome this……I do hold the cards in the right hand
November 8th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Hey Rhodri!
How long have you been flourishing for? DnD stuff is regarded as intermediate/hard stuff, and probably not the best starting material. You might consider Xtreme Beginnerz 1 and 2 to get a starting point established. (Again, I don’t know where you’re at though)
You’re left handed (which means you hold the deck in your right), which is somewhat difficult, as many DVDs are taught by right handed people.
It depends a lot on how you position your hands, as Huron says, you have to move your hands to get into a position which will work for you.
My hands are average sized (with long fingers!) which makes it easier for me to just copy what the tutor is doing, but for you, you’ll have to watch the move, and memorise the mechanics, and then follow that up by moving your fingers further up the packet, or further down etc.
A lot of testing and variation will finally give you the right result :-)
If you have not been using cards for very long, you’ll be finding it harder anyway, so keep at it, and keep checking back for advice!
Hope this helps, even a little!
-David
P.S. Your name is Welsh, are we “blood”? :-)
November 8th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
I guess I’ll have to start filming stuff now that I’ll have people to critique them, besides people on YouTube comments.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
To Rhodri and Tarvi,
I think you should go straight into Genesis instead of XB because there you have some AWESOME fundamental moves plus a bunch of other stuff to get you started in creating original stuff.
Andrei holds the deck in his right hand and, as HE puts it in the Thumb Cut explanation, hand size does NOT matter.
So yeah, get Genesis and ask about how to “put fanning powder into a bag and shake it” to your friends.
Will be much worthy.
Hugs,
“Cusi”
November 9th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Alejandro what should i pick up after Genesis?
November 10th, 2009 at 9:52 am
im a noob so whats the difference between xcm and cardistry? who is devo? i heard he sucks is that true?
^_____^
..mhe:D
November 11th, 2009 at 12:51 am
@Sean – You should pick up Genesis vol.2 when it comes out. :)
November 11th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
welll how do i get in :D
I’d love to do so x)
November 12th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
hmm i should make a video to get some advice from cuso and some other good flourishers
November 17th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
great idea. I want to learn
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
[...] If you are looking for something less “retro” you might wanna check Kate’s post where she offers her “Secret Books of De’vo” as a donative to the Up and Coming initiative. [...]
November 29th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
[...] Make a vid for the up and coming! [...]
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:39 pm
[...] guys, the first Up and Coming post is here! I want to introduce you to these new french flourishers, Ferrand Jeremy and [...]
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
[...] Thanks for visiting!You might also enjoy these posts…Up and Coming #1: Mayo and Jeremy from FranceUp and Coming: A new section to push the art forwardThe Luxury Deck – Smoke and Mirrors V3 by Dan and DaveSunday Cards – Bicycle Lefty [...]
December 6th, 2009 at 9:11 am
cool idea
December 6th, 2009 at 9:11 am
i like it :D
December 6th, 2009 at 9:12 am
hope we get featured :D
December 7th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Nice ahihi..meryy xmas to all…hmmmm…here a quote for you all…
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
December 12th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
OH yeah! this is really great for a begginner flourishers like me.
December 15th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
[...] Anaconda DVD is already Up and Coming property thanks to Ekaterina who donated it for the views and comments she received on her [...]
December 17th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Brilliant iniciative. I’ll have to subscribe.
December 18th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I’ll post constructive comments not only for the prizes but also because one day I would like to see a video of mine posted in this section and being commented.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
New Up and Coming coming… :P
February 8th, 2010 at 11:50 am
[...] chosen this video for the third Up and Coming entry because I was shocked when I saw this guy. He opened me a chat on facebook and said, [...]
February 8th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
hey, I’m just about to start flourishing. it just about a month. and I’m so confused where am I supposed to start with for the 1st time practicing.
what should I have 1st ? is it Genesis ? or XB ? or anything else ? thank you.. :)