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Thanks man, am happy you like it.

The dutch version was on Belgian TV. I'm trying to get on TV here in Scotland, but sofar unsuccessfull .
But I'm not giving up

Never give up. Giving up only leads down one path...

And which path is that?

pegasus wrote:And which path is that?

Giving up leads to failure. And we don't like failure, do we???

I like to think that there's no such thing as 'try'. If your attitude is to try, you aren't assertive

You CAN have the deck examined. My book explains how.
Incidentally my book is reviewed in Genii Magazine in the February issue. I bet Kaufmann doesn't know and I expect he will have heart failure when he sees it.

I got a whole 10 minutes entertainment out of a Sven deck last weekend.

YES there were overhand shuffles.

YES the spectator handled the deck.

YES the method remained secret.

YES I even let the spectator handle the deck.

It's all possible. You only have to think outside the box, or better still, read Mark's book.

Spectator management keeps what's yours YOURS. Sure, they may suspect foul play, but even then, don't leave a situation open where the deck is up for scrutiny.

One thing I always do is have an identical normal deck "up my sleeve" for a deck sleight. For me it's easier than sweating heavily as I cringe, letting a spec handle my sven (sounds like I'm a dirty-minded Swede, I know).

To anyone (Seige, Markdini, or Mark Lewis) that is experienced in performing and namely handling the Sven (my favorite deck); since you can so easily switch decks. I've never been called on it, but then again, I likely haven't nearly as much hands-on experience in illusion.

My question is, is this advisable? Or do you all find it better to learn how to carefully let them handle your svengali?

Also: Does anyone else here construct (or destruct) their own Svengalis? I like it because you can use any type of deck that wouldn't be expected to be a gaff. (Is 'gaff' the right term?) One time I was doing a routine at a hotel and bought a load of their own decks in the gift shop and have 26 different Svens (I only used 3 of them, lol). But even now, these decks look harmless, since it isn't expected that Radisson would be manufacturing Svengali decks.

One more thing, for Mark Lewis:

Are there any plans on writing a follow up to your work on the Svengali. Dealing with the Hindu-style (if that's the right term???) of Svengali. You could name it "Through Thick and Thin" sorry... that was bad...

Seriously, though, I really think the title for your book is very clever and perfect. You have a new customer, here, in the very near future. I don't go anywhere without my own Svengali. One thing is that people don't expect you to have one on you on the spur of the moment.

The title of the book came from Michael Close rather than me although I did think of it independently. However he came up with it first.

With regard to the examination of the deck it depends entirely on what situation you are performing in. Sometimes you have them examined and sometimes you don't. Sometimes you tell them blatantly that it is a trick deck and sometimes you don't. Sometimes you even tell them it is a trick deck but when they examine them they can't find anything wrong with them. Sometimes you switch the deck and sometimes you don't. And amazingly enough there are times when you do NOT switch the deck and STILL have them examined! Yes! They actually examine the trick deck that you are using!

How?

You will have to buy my book to find out...................

pAdDed ceLL wrote:

Also: Does anyone else here construct (or destruct) their own Svengalis? I like it because you can use any type of deck that wouldn't be expected to be a gaff. (Is 'gaff' the right term?) One time I was doing a routine at a hotel and bought a load of their own decks in the gift shop and have 26 different Svens (I only used 3 of them, lol). But even now, these decks look harmless, since it isn't expected that Radisson would be manufacturing Svengali decks.

I don't think it's really necessary. 99.9% of laypeople have never heard of a svengali, so all decks look harmless. It wouldn't fool a magician either, as the handling technique would probably tip the method anyway.

I've been doing magic for about two years now. The svengali deck was one of my first purchases, and i still use it but now its one of my mentalism effects.

This was one of the first things I started out with. I actually got involved by a carne at an amusement park and have stayed with it ever since.

AceofHearts wrote:This was one of the first things I started out with. I actually got involved by a carne at an amusement park and have stayed with it ever since.

What's a carne? Never heard that term before.
Apoligies if it was a spelling mistake.

I think its an american term for a carnival worker, a bit like a gypsy on this side of the pond. That travels about with them awful fairgrounds which feel like they're gonna break when your on them. Or a pikey as the English would call them.

The svengali deck was one of my first purchases as well and like others I have never grown tired of it and the effect it has on a crowd. The way I see it is, the more simple the trick the better the reaction when you are first starting out as a magician. I have only done tricks for about 2 and a half years now so I still need the simple yet amazing tricks. I am always practicing and do hope to get better with time.javascript:emoticon(':wink:')