talkmagic.co.uk

A few weeks ago I bought myself some cards and allowed the promise of an Air-Flow Finish to seduce me, even though I wasn't even sure what that meant to me. Anyway, today someone asked to see some card tricks and so I did a couple of things. Throughout the effects the guy kept looking at the backs of the cards and generally examining them rather closely. In the end he asked if I was using a trick deck of some sort.

Occaisionly people do suspect marked cards or similar but this guy seemed particularly sure that they were in same way gaffed. In the end, after my protestations, he picked up the box which lay on the table and pointed to the bottom which bore the slogan visit Ellusionist.com for unique decks.

I hadn't noticed that before.

Bah.

Geez that sucks! I hadn't noticed that before

What was his reaction? Did you just insist that he see the cards for himself?

i know what you mean. it has never happened to me, but i am a little concious of the fact the cards look the "same" but the box looks different. i started "recycling" old Bike boxes. I also note there are a few guys who make gimmicked cards (like Neil Lester) who sell empty boxes.

perhaps consider keeping some regular bike boxes for "performance".

it's worth the messing around because the cards are so much better!

Mahoney wrote:Geez that sucks! I hadn't noticed that before

What was his reaction? Did you just insist that he see the cards for himself?

Anything I said would have just made him more certain that the deck was somehow gaffed. I told him that Ellusionist were a magic supplier (they obviously are by the name) and that as far I was aware the unique thing about the deck was the Air-Flow finish. I said the cards were tougher than standard and don't crease as easily which is why magicians use them. Leaving it up to him to assume that because magicians manhandle cards a lot they need extra tough ones.

They only gimmick most people know about cards is marking them. So I did a trick where he selected a card without me seeing and the deck was put back in the pack. It was set up in the Si Stebbins and I'd never actually tried getting the peek card to the bottom with my eyes shut but I gave it a go. I then had him put the deck back in the pack (which I held open, still with my eyes shut) and got a peek when I closed it. Once they were in the pack, I told him to put them in his jacket pocket. With the pack in his pocket (so I could say, "I never saw them, you put the cards back in pack and put the pack in your pocket" if he continued doubting). Then I got him to stare at my palm and imagine his chosen card burning into it. Having gripped the cold metal of the table leg with my other hand. After revealing his card I even got him to feel how hot my hand was (after he burnt his mental image into it) compared to the other one.

After all that trouble, he took the pack out of his pocket, looked at it and said "that's a pretty good pack of cards."

I got home and put the cards into an old bicycle box and they got stuck!

So like the skilled forger I am, I peeled off a price sticker from a packet of plastic spoons (don't ask) and stuck it over the visit Ellusionist.com bit.

good idea! treat yourself to a "pricing gun" for xmas!

and also hope now the ellusionist bit is covered up that they don't notice the barcode says 2 of spades...sort of

I blame E, they must know that having something like that on the box is downright bad for magic. Anybody can look at that, go to E site, and see some exposure. It's public advertisement in a way, plus it makes the magician look bad.

The magic world would maybe be better without E?

copyright wrote:In the end, after my protestations, he picked up the box which lay on the table and pointed to the bottom which bore the slogan visit Ellusionist.com for unique decks.

It makes me wonder just who the hell that advert was aimed at. I personally think it was a rather daft thing to put on a deck of cards designed for magic. Anything that raises suspicion is a bad thing.

i've gone right of 'em...i actually prefer the normal decks...

but im a bit of a card-tart to be honest, it's all about the looks for me..i still return to my fourniers like a drunken lover...

I don't mind the barcode thing (probably because I didn't even notice it until someone pointed it out in this thread)

Are these cards slightly bigger than regular Bikes? If not, cardsmagic.co.uk sell unused 'ordinary' bike boxes in blue or red for a very small cost.

They pile higher than regular ones. There not longer or wider (as far as I can tell).

In which case that scuppers the standard card box idea well and truly! To say the least, it does seem rather short sighted that El would choose to advertise on the box - is there any way of covering that part up with a sticker, price label or something similar?

Mandrake wrote:is there any way of covering that part up with a sticker, price label or something similar?

copyright wrote:So like the skilled forger I am, I peeled off a price sticker from a packet of plastic spoons (don't ask) and stuck it over the visit Ellusionist.com bit.

Its the same with Ghosts and Tigers. The advertising is on those too..

''Exclusively sold at ellusionist.com''

I personally think that Ellusionist dont mind who knows about them and warnly welcome the ''I want to be famous in 5 minutes .. I love youtube'' crowd!!