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Diceman by Andy Nyman
Trick Type: Dice & Choice Cards
Price: £19.99 (February 2003)
Difficulty: 2/5
Examinable: For a short time spec needs to handle some of the props so OK
Angles: Table/Surrounded
Reset: 30 seconds or less on your own
Instructions: 5/5


Effect: There are 2 suggested routines, the first is where the Magician mentions that he’s fed up of having to make decisions – and live with the consequences of any bad decisions – so he lets the roll of a die decide his actions. The alternative version describes how, when Al Capone discovered someone double crossing him, he’d take them into a back room and let them decide their own fate by the roll of a die – either way it’s a goodie!

The spectator is handed a die and asked to give it a few rolls to make sure it’s a regular die (it is!) and a credit card sized case is produced containing 6 laminated cards with the numbers 1 to 6 (and pictures of appropriate die faces!) on one side. The magician states that whatever number the spectator rolls, he will carry out the action described on the back of the corresponding card. Having rolled the die, the corresponding card is cleanly placed on the table along with the other 5 and the selected card turned over. The message ‘BE NICE’ is revealed. The Magician shows distinct signs of relief saying he’ll certainly do his best to be as nice as possible as he doesn’t want a repeat of the last time he performed the routine. In the Al Capone scenario, being nice is only breaking the guy’s legs! Naturally everyone is keen to see the backs of the other 5 cards and, as they are slowly turned over, each one says ‘KILL’

Review:
According to the blurb on the pack, ‘You know those tricks you have in the back of a drawer? This is the opposite’ and I wholeheartedly agree. Based on a very old principle, there’s only a small sleight involved which can be mastered very quickly thus leaving a lot of time to polish the presentation. Novices like me will be happy to have this one as they can accomplish the sleight and feel pretty cool about it. The more experienced will relish it as a change from a normal card trick but still using a well-known technique.

Since the spectator gets to turn over their chosen card the effect is very clean. The rest of the cards can be turned over by the magician or the other spectators to make it look even fairer. Ideal for table-hopping as the result can be different every time.

Props are good, there’s a smart aluminium card case in velvet type pouch, cards nicely laminated and in full colour – so they should be for £20! The die is a bit cr*p and looks cheap so I use one from Dice Thru The Mirror which is larger and gives a good opportunity to follow on with Dice Thru The Mirror if appropriate.
Certainly one to keep in your pocket at all times.

9/10

[Anonymously Posted by: 'Paul Stevens']

Three great reviews Paul, many thanks for them all.

... Tony

I did this one last weekend - totally unprepared - for some visitors at home and it worked exactly as anticipated. As a result I think I may be asked to 'do something' for a bunch of folks at Halloween. The scary side of Diceman can be exploited to the full under those circumstances!

i must admit i've always fancied this one...i think its the "scary" ending that appeals to me, will have to look out for it appearing on a "sale" board sometime

heh heh believe it or not i wasnt fishing for someone to sell theirs...i was just passing comment

i saw andy nyman perform this is davenports earlier in the year.
it worked very well on the small crown that saw it.
On a seperate note, his style and tone (is that right?) are very similiar to Derren Brown's , or, and this may be a touch too controversial for some, maybe Derren's style is close to Andy's?!?

Bug

bugnote wrote:On a seperate note, his style and tone (is that right?) are very similiar to Derren Brown's , or, and this may be a touch too controversial for some, maybe Derren's style is close to Andy's?!?

Oooh, controversy!

I agree about them having a similar style, but the persona of the two guys is totally different. They obviously work very closely together, and I would definately bracket them as one being the showman (Brown) and one being the writer (Nyman). Saying this - they are both MORE than capable performers, and both MORE than capable actors, and both MORE than capable writers. Although Derren has a slight edge, I feel, in is feline elegance and almost 'too handsome' boyish charm.

Although Nyman's career spans eons of hours of film, videotape and literature - his style is definately a little more aggressive and darker than Derren's - who takes great delight in being the 'aristocrat' magician.

Nyman has many strings to his bow (acting, writing, magic) and so does Derren's (psychology, art, writing, magic).

Two amazing guys, who work together to create TWO magic engines - Nyman and/or Brown. Awesome.

Watching the recent rash of Magic programmes on different channels, Andy's name appears regularly in the credits along with the 'third musketeer', Anthony Owen - another writer/performer etc. Suggest we send them all a nice Christmas Card in the hope that they'll keep on producing Magic shows!

I suppose this ought to be under Support & Tips or Techniques but, just going back to Diceman for a mo - the basic working is such that you pass the die and therefore all responsibility over to a volunteer. Then you tell them very scarily (think Kray Twins) that whatever is in the back of the freely chosen card is what you will do to them. I found it more 'emotional' to pick on a guy (Eric) who is there with his lady friend (Mary) and you tell Eric that whatever is on the card is what you will do......to.......Mary. It's amazing how it turns up the pressure - Mary will be giving Eric some serious GBH of the ear and you can almost touch the tension. (I can be a right nasty swine at times!)

I have to agree that this is a great trick. You are right it needs a very good presentation, but as the actual process is so easy - all your energy can be spent on the patter and frankly just having fun with it.

The open mouthed "silent" applause you get from the spectators as they see the cards turned over one by one at the end really sells it for me.

Also(as Mandrake said) this would be a great trick for Halloween. Imagine being dressed as Freddy Krueger and looking so so disapponted as they turn over the remaining cards...