talkmagic.co.uk

I don't quite know how to describe this in the subject, so here's what I'm really asking! :

When card tricks/effects need the deck to be set up in advance (like for example using the 4 aces of the deck or setting up for a 2-card monte) I wonder if it's a better idea to have the already ready at the top/bottom/wherever or just talk to the spectators and say "I'm just going to get the aces and put them on top...here".

In the case of a 2-card monte, you could say you're getting the queens or whatever but then you actually get 4 cards... the point is you saying you're getting specific cards to put them on top... and that's exactly what you're doing (of course you might actually be doing a little more depending on the situation). All of this is in contrast to having the deck completely prepared before-hand and just going into the effect.

I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts/opinions on this. Hopefully I've adequately described the situation. The main reason I'm asking this is that I've rarely seen that kind of talk when somebody is performing a card effect, and even books/videos that I've read/seen usually say to prepare the deck ahead of time. I usually do this and I haven't run into any problems - I'm wondering if I'm playing with fire.

Thanks

On many occasions i prepare the deck right in front of them. Some times blantantly some times secretly using a cull or some other move. Some times i will also carry more than one deck. It all works out.

The best way that I've seen to prepare a deck in front of a spectator (& the method I use), is to pretend to be doing the old "Can you guess which card I'm looking at" routine as though you're testing their psychic powers. Scan through the deck saying "I'll find a card that I think you might be able to have a chance of guessing" while really setting up your deck as you want it. Then go through the motion of holding up a card or two for them to "divine". You're obviously not interested in the result of this "psychic test", but your deck is now prepared for your next trick & if they manage to put on a stunning display of mind-reading it's all to the good!

I think I saw this method demonstrated by Derren Brown on the Devil's Picturebook, but I may be wrong.

Hope the above doesn't count as exposure!? Sorry if it does!

themagicwand wrote:I think I saw this method demonstrated by Derren Brown on the Devil's Picturebook, but I may be wrong.

Yeah you have right. It is in Derren Browns devils picturebook. He used this in the OOTW effect.

I try to set up before I perform and switch decks if needed. Using false cuts and shuffles I can stack at least two tricks in a deck in advance. However if I need to set up "on the hoof" I just do it in front of the spectators. I have found that I can casually look through a decak of cards, pulling one out here or there whilst talking to people and they simply don't question what I am doing or refer to it when I do a trick afterwards. Another magician would spot what I was doing but if you don't know how tricks work and are done it just seems to go unoticed.

well when i set up for 2 card monte i usual have the cards set up. However if im in the position where i need to find the cards then i just simply find the first pair and then say, 'no wait hang on i thought of something else'. it sort of sounds clumsy but its almost genuine. People dont ask questions because in all honesty people do change their mind. As soon as i say this i find the second pair and carry out the trick. Works all the time for me, it would work better people you havent shown the trick to but it still fools my friends

thanks for the replies - but what I was really trying to get at was if it was BETTER to prepare the cards in advance or get them in front of the spectator when it's obvious what you're going to do: as in "OK I've got to get the aces for this trick... hold on let me just go through the deck.... ok we're ready..." or rather just pull out the deck with the aces on top ready to go. Either way, you're going to show them the 4 aces that are on top anyway. I'm not talking about effects where you don't want the spectators to know that a certain card is in a certain place in the deck - obviously those have to be pre-stacked for the more discerning spectators.

..you shouldnt say "hang on a minute i need x cards for this..."...

do it without saying anything (and quickly!!), then a couple of false shuffles and cuts, then go into the effect...

I have set the deck while having a conversation between tricks. You'd be surprized what you can do right in front of someone especially if the working of the trick makes it look like you could not possibly have set it up beforhand anyways.

When you're going to show the 4 aces are on top anyway, I personally, think it would be better if you went through the deck in front of the spec, tossing the 4 aces out onto the table and then replace them on top. If you just produce your deck and show the 4 aces on top - it's going to look like you've set the deck up and look mighty suspicious

I'd be tempted to shuffle the deck first and then patter on along the lines of, "now for my next trick.... hmm.... for this I need the 4 aces..." and then run through the deck, tossing the aces out as you come to them - it just looks more natural in my opinion

There's a very nice full card routine in Dear Mr. Fantasy that uses a borrowed shuffled deck, going through the production of four aces (yes, borrowed and shuffled) and onto... well, I won't give it away but it's very very good.

Kati

Have you ever seen any of the michael ammar dvds he just coolley sets the trick up infront of the spectaor, but he gets really good reactions, so while there all like wow examaning a card he just sets the deck up rather simply