Mirage deck

Review area devoted to tricks and effects where props are involved.

Moderators: nickj, Lady of Mystery, Mandrake, bananafish, support

Best prices around! MagicWorld Magic Shop for Magic Tricks World-Of-Magic, Suppliers of quality Magic Worldwide Sorcery Shop - Home of the ITR Web Design for Magicians Dude That's Cool Magic

Mirage deck

Postby bob70011 » Apr 2nd, '05, 20:59



Info: This is a tricked out Svengali deck. The only diffrence is that it has been roughened so you have the ablity to fan/spread the deck without showing the secret.

Difficulty:(1=easy 5=hard) This is a really simple deck.... 1

Pros: Instant reset, difficult to find out secret, Killer effect.

Cons: Not inspectable

Price Range-6.00-10.00

Score 96/100

bob70011
Junior Member
 
Posts: 36
Joined: Feb 24th, '05, 23:59
Location: THE SWEET USA

Postby wingman04 » Aug 10th, '05, 00:12

does anyone know a website that sells this trick for no more than5GBP or 7 dollars??

wingman04
Preferred Member
 
Posts: 261
Joined: Jul 31st, '05, 01:19
Location: New York City [EN:15]

Postby katrielalex » Aug 10th, '05, 00:41

Hrm...I'd say that you don't need to go for this kind of deck.

My recommendation is that you order Born To Perform and a deck or 2 of Bikes. That should be plenty to start with.

There are two reasons that you shouldn't, IMO, start with gimmick decks. One is that knowing some basic grips and flourishes makes it look like you know what you're doing - e.g. not to be boastful, but I think there's a difference in the way I handle the nudist deck to the way my brother does it. If you look like you know what you're doing the audience is more impressed and also see you as a magician instead of a kid with cards.

The other is that if you rely on gaff decks to do magic, you'll often have to make excuses if somebody gets you a deck of cards. It doesn't sound like it happens a lot but I've had 2 or 3 people realize that I do card magic and give me an old deck of theirs to do something with. If I do, say, the Biddle trick, it impresses them ever so much more because they know I did it with their deck! Note: this is why I'm feebly trying (and failing) to do coin magic - I want to be able to do something roughly magical if there are no cards about...

You can always pick up Born To Perform and then get a gaff deck or 2 later.

One thing to note is that if you are going to get a gaff deck, I wouldn't recommend the Svengali (or hence the Mirage). The reason is that these are sort of one-trick ponies, and also nowhere near examinable. One good one to get would be the Wizard/Stripper deck - I'm not going to tip the gaff but in essence it allows the spectator to put their card in the deck, shuffle (risky but more impressive) then you can find their card instantly, with one cut. Very useful.

I can't speak for any other gaff decks as I don't use them, except to say that the ID has saved my neck several times when I mess up a control...

I've gone on long enough...

Kati

In hibernation but half awake - will stick my nose in every so often!
User avatar
katrielalex
Elite Member
 
Posts: 2545
Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 22:32
Location: 16:AH (in hibernation! will try to check up here every so often though)

Postby Stephen Ward » Aug 10th, '05, 01:56

Well said, i think we have all advised wingman04 what he should do. YOU DO NOT NEED GIMMICKs YET :lol: Build up basic card skills and handlings first.

Stephen Ward
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 5848
Joined: Mar 23rd, '05, 16:21
Location: Lowestoft, UK (44:CP)

Postby wingman04 » Aug 10th, '05, 02:01

then it is ill buy Born To Perform as advised by about 10 people...ill get it as soon as i can get my folks to pay half. :roll: ..dont want to waste the $70 i got :) but CUPS will probably take over and seeing as i have a bday next month sep 19..ill end up buying in a month or 2, invisible, svengali, stripper, and red hot mamacita...then 3 books Royal ROad to Magic by Hugard, Modern COin magic..and mark wilsons complete course in magic :wink:

wingman04
Preferred Member
 
Posts: 261
Joined: Jul 31st, '05, 01:19
Location: New York City [EN:15]

Postby Stephen Ward » Aug 10th, '05, 02:19

I think the problem with many learners is that they try to learn to much too fast. You need to start with basic card skills. Know what the different grips are, know some basic shuffles, how to fan cards etc. Then you progress and begin to learn more advanced stuff. Before you know it you will be performing great effects with normal cards that entertain people.

Take your time learning, you should enjoy yourself and not rush to see how fast you can learn. Learn one thing at a time and practise that one thing until you do it smoothly and with confidence, see if you can talk and perform at the same time. Make sure your actions are natural as possible. When i table hop i only use a few gimmick cards, most of mine are sleight of hand tricks i have picked up over the years.

The same with coins, learn the basics first and don't start buying £30 - £50 effects yet.

Last edited by Stephen Ward on Aug 10th, '05, 02:23, edited 1 time in total.
Stephen Ward
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 5848
Joined: Mar 23rd, '05, 16:21
Location: Lowestoft, UK (44:CP)

Postby wingman04 » Aug 10th, '05, 02:22

how many grips are there i know the mechanic to do a hindu shuffle and dealer...

wingman04
Preferred Member
 
Posts: 261
Joined: Jul 31st, '05, 01:19
Location: New York City [EN:15]

Postby Stephen Ward » Aug 10th, '05, 02:24

...biddle. The books will tell you all. I am sure other CPs will agree with what i have said (i hope :lol: )

Stephen Ward
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 5848
Joined: Mar 23rd, '05, 16:21
Location: Lowestoft, UK (44:CP)

Postby Happy Toad » Aug 10th, '05, 02:31

I certainly do.

"Hodge scored for Forest after 22 seconds - totally against the run of
play" (Peter Lorenzo)
Happy Toad
Advanced Member
 
Posts: 1457
Joined: Oct 3rd, '03, 17:19
Location: Wolverhampton UK ..... ( 41 CP ) .....

Postby Stephen Ward » Aug 10th, '05, 02:33

Thank goodness. I am sure the 'Toad' and myself started off the same, with a good book (and a Paul Daniel's magic set :lol:) .

Stephen Ward
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 5848
Joined: Mar 23rd, '05, 16:21
Location: Lowestoft, UK (44:CP)

Postby Happy Toad » Aug 10th, '05, 10:37

Actually I hate learning sleights from books, but your right about the Paul Daniels set.
I also have a different opinion of Gaff decks like the Svengali, I think it's a great place for a beginner to start, it means they can learn to do some amazing tricks with minimal technical skill needed and often proves to be the foundation that takes them on to learning the sleights needed to make magic happen with a regular deck. Hence the Paul Daniels set et al have a lot of self working tricks in them.

So I say to all beginners get yourself a Svengali/miracle deck along with maybe a tapered deck and a good book or in my opinion DVD and while your amazing your friends with the gaff decks begin to learn the sleights that will eventually allow you to do mini miracles with a regular deck.

"Hodge scored for Forest after 22 seconds - totally against the run of
play" (Peter Lorenzo)
Happy Toad
Advanced Member
 
Posts: 1457
Joined: Oct 3rd, '03, 17:19
Location: Wolverhampton UK ..... ( 41 CP ) .....

Postby seige » Aug 10th, '05, 11:04

Absolutely brilliant point being made here...

The Sven/Mirage/Wizard(stripper) decks have something in common, which is, they allow you to perform near instant miracles with no sleights or complex memorising.

Perfect for beginners, and invaluable for professionals.

I have to disagree with Kat I'm afraid! I would heartily recommend the Sven/Mirage deck to ANYONE. There is scope for much creativity, or simply use it for a one-trick wonder.

The premise of a forcing deck is sometimes an ugly thought to cardies. However, the sheer innocence and handleability of the Mirage deck ensures that the secret remains safe, due to the deck looking so examinable.

Add to this the fact that the biggest THRILL is when you can amaze somebody into a jaw-dropping state and KNOW that the secret is right under their nose. That is a buzz.

Using a Mirage deck should be as with all utility items—just a part of your repertoire. Don't overdo it.

Many classic magic and mentalism effects rely on the Svengali principle, and if I say that it's not just restricted to PLAYING CARDS then I am sure you will let your imaginations run wild.

Heartily recommended, and all time classic.

User avatar
seige
.
 
Posts: 6830
Joined: Apr 22nd, '03, 10:01
Location: Shrewsbury, Shropshire

Postby trickyricky » Aug 10th, '05, 15:09

I agree with siege that these gimmick decks (svengali, wizard, ID etc) are very useful and can give some awesome reactions. They are very good for beginners as it helps them (well, it helped me) to get used to handling cards and keeping any secrets hidden.

That said, i think that the best tricks that i own are not from gimmicked decks and rely on actual skill to perform them. And these tricks require little more than the knowledge of the Elmsley Count!

I must admit, im not a professional, but on the other hand im not a beginner either! If im performing tricks, i prefer to start off with a trick from a gimmick deck and set them up for even better surprises from decks and cards that they can examine as much as they like! It kind of makes them think that i may actually have some skill if they cant find anything wrong with the cards they are looking at!

I hope that made sense! Im new here and i struggle to explain what i mean occassionally!

Rich

User avatar
trickyricky
Senior Member
 
Posts: 911
Joined: Aug 10th, '05, 00:21
Location: Cannock! (22:AH)

Postby wingman04 » Aug 10th, '05, 16:41

see? Opinons mix and then I dont know what to get...but will get Born to Perform, 2 regular decks, Stripper and svengali..i guess

wingman04
Preferred Member
 
Posts: 261
Joined: Jul 31st, '05, 01:19
Location: New York City [EN:15]

Postby SlipperyPenguin » Aug 10th, '05, 16:52

As a beginner I started with a packet of Bikes and the Kaufman DVD..

At first I struggled but with time and practice I was ready to start learning tricks. In no time at all I could do some pretty imprssive stuff, although none of it was skillfully taxing (EC was the first thing Ilearned and it's gone from there).

I've been doing card stuff for over a year now and about 2 months ago decided I wanted a break from sleights and the stress of doing these in performance and bought a Svengali.. I took it out of the box.. tried it out in a quiet room.. and promptly put it back in the box and have never touched it since.

I'm not saying that it doesn't have it uses or that effects with it are not impressive (they are) but for me after using sleights I found it really awkward to get on with. Obviously I think to start, as beginner, with a gaffed deck will get you started fairly quickly with some stunning effects but I wonder if anyone has had the same problem as me when they go from SD to sleights just as I had going from Slieghts to the SD.

I just wish I could have got on with it as I know it would have removed some of the stress and nerves when I first started, but I really enjoy what I'm doing with sleights at the moment too much to try again with the SD.

(ID i do use and it's a killer every time !)

Slippery

User avatar
SlipperyPenguin
Preferred Member
 
Posts: 193
Joined: Mar 9th, '04, 16:53
Location: Berkshire, UK (38:EN)

Next

Return to Reviews - Tricks 'n Props

Manufacturer of modern & unique magic apparatus! UK's Online Magic Tricks and Jokes Shop offers kids and beginner magic tricks and jokes. Playing Cards for Magicians Best prices around! Visit Magicbox for all the latest and best effects! Aeternum Servare Secreta A web site set up to sell my book, THE STRIPPER DECK, and future magical/mentalism titles.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests