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My mission: To create the most imaginative, jaw dropping gaff deck around. After I pick 52 card and box ideas, I'm going to try design the cards on my PC, and send 'em to the U.S. Playing Card Company in Ohio. Then, if everything works out, maybe I'll be able to order a deck or twelve for everyone who helps on this site. Wait, I did tell you I need your help, right?

Well, I do. I need you guys to post some brilliant gaff card and box ideas for the deck. Sure, the project might not work out, but what do we got to lose? So open your imagination, and post what you think would be a truly magnificent gaff card.

And yeah, I believe I posted this in the wrong section. Feel free to move it. I meant for this to go into miscellaneous.

Donlatt wrote:My mission: To create the most imaginative, jaw dropping gaff deck around. After I pick 52 card and box ideas, I'm going to try design the cards on my PC, and send 'em to the U.S. Playing Card Company in Ohio. Then, if everything works out, maybe I'll be able to order a deck or twelve for everyone who helps on this site. Wait, I did tell you I need your help, right?

Well, I do. I need you guys to post some brilliant gaff card and box ideas for the deck. Sure, the project might not work out, but what do we got to lose? So open your imagination, and post what you think would be a truly magnificent gaff card.

I see a few problems.

Why should people give YOU their ideas?

Even if they would, they couldn't post their ideas, as it would be giving secrets away on an open Forum.

Do you have ANY idea on the cost of getting these done? I could be wrong, but I've a feeling you have to have 10s of thousands made up.


Oh, and why is this in the Magician Talk Forum?

Donlat

Don't want to burst your bubble, but there may be obstacles in your way:

1. Finding 56 different gaff cards will be difficult, and most ideas have already been done (yes—a custom print run is 56 cards)

2. You need to order a minimum of 5000 decks for a custom run from USPCC

3. To make that viable, you need to sell at least 4950 of them to break even

4. Do you REALLY think people are going to donate their ideas to you in order to receive a free deck? Not being rude, but are you simply asking for ideas?

5. In one of your previous posts, you mentioned not using gimmicks???

I don't believe describing a gaff card would be revealing a secret. Let's take blank card for example. All you have to say is that it would work beautiful in color changes, making it seem like the face of the card dissappeared in mid-air.

As for the 5000 minimum, that might be a hassle. Any idea on the cost of a single custom deck?

And you guys are talking about an idea of a gaff card as if it's something they'll be able do use. I mean, what else are they going to do with they're ideas?

EDIT: Would a gaff deck really be considered a gimmick? I mean, you're still using all of the same sleights you would perform with a regular deck, compared to stripper deck, which does everything for you except say "Abracadabra".

Donlatt wrote:As for the 5000 minimum, that might be a hassle. Any idea on the cost of a single custom deck?

USPCC won't do a single custom deck. as Seige said you need to order a minimum of 5000 decks before they will do it, otherwise it's just not economically viable for them to set up a print run, print a single deck for one person, and possibly not use the templates again. If there are some gaffs you want that you can't buy, learn card-splitting, and make your own...

Donlatt

I wasn't criticising your idea... I was just pointing out that even magic dealers and seasoned magicians have a big task creating a gaff deck.

Your idea is a sound one: but I am unsure that you'd get 56 useable gaffs which would make the print run worthwhile. I am convinced that the USPCC wouldn't even entertain making you one gaff deck—and if they did, it would probably cost hundreds of USD, if not thousands.

If you WERE lucky enough to have people submit designs enough to initiate a 5000 deck print run, you would have to market the decks pretty well to recoup your investment.

I'm just being realistic with you!

Making single gaff cards, however, is within your grasp. There are kits available whereby you can create a card on your computer and inkjet them onto special transfer paper. Perhaps this is a more realistic starting point before you go for the big guns!

Last time I was in contact with USPCC - they told me the minimum was 10,000 decks. Maybe the price went down!

As for creating gaffs - as others have said - try your hand and making your own. You seem to have the ability to create your own designs, so you're halfway there. If you're interested in doing this, pm me and we can discuss some of your self-made options.

I know Ellusionist had some kind of thing going where people could send in their own ideas for gaff cards. Perhaps send your ideas to them, and they might end up in an Ellusionist deck. Something to think about, perhaps.

I think the ordered deck price is very high, especially a gimmicked one. If 10 000 decks is the limit, multiply that with a few pounds and you'll get your price. If you have such money to invest just go for it, if not... One more thing, 10 000 is a large number of decks, even for a casino, so what would you do with them? You'd have to sell them like seige said, or build a big deck statue. Now that's an idea, order 10 000 decks, take the Guiness world record for the biggest deck statue and the prize money will recoup your investment + you'll be famous and everyone will want to buy your signed decks.


P.S. I hope that didn't sound rude or out of place. It's a great idea to have yopur own deck printed.

Donlatt wrote:Well, I do. I need you guys to post some brilliant gaff card and box ideas for the deck. Sure, the project might not work out, but what do we got to lose? So open your imagination, and post what you think would be a truly magnificent gaff card.

What have "we" got to lose? Who's this we? It's unlikely that anyone reading this will respect your idea if you don't come up with your own ideas.

My perfect gaff deck right now would be one that automatically puts itself back into Si Stebbins 3 order at the click of the fingers after a thorough shuffle... Actually, I can already do that, so no sale.

One point is being overlooked, the market doesn't have room for yet another 'gaffed' deck of cards. Even E's recent release, despite their mass hype, marketing and deep pockets hasn't been without criticism.

What sells Gaff decks in my opinion is either the being accompanied by some great routines (which I presume you also don't have?) or having appeal to lots of 'hobby' magicians and CUPS sufferers.

Expect to pay a lot of money up front, and be prepared to wait for your investment to be returned over many years, if ever.

As previously said by others, there are easier and quicker ways to make money (legally of course ).

Considering the amount of gaffed cards and gaffed decks on sale by well established suppliers such as cards4magic, Ellusionist, etc, can there actually be a serious quantity of new gaffed cards left to print? I would have thought most of the main ones had been done by now and all that remain would be variations on a basic theme. A DF'er of KH/AC isn't new if there's already one of 3H/4D, double backers with assorted colours and designs are also in existence.

Donlatt wrote:And you guys are talking about an idea of a gaff card as if it's something they'll be able do use.

Er, yes, otherwise why produce one?

Donlatt wrote:I mean, what else are they going to do with they're ideas?

Probably keep them to themselves or use them in their own routines. Passing on ideas isn’t yet compulsory - as far as I know.

Perhaps time to re-think this idea?

Blumunky wrote:

Donlatt wrote:As for the 5000 minimum, that might be a hassle. Any idea on the cost of a single custom deck?

USPCC won't do a single custom deck. as Seige said you need to order a minimum of 5000 decks before they will do it, otherwise it's just not economically viable for them to set up a print run, print a single deck for one person, and possibly not use the templates again. If there are some gaffs you want that you can't buy, learn card-splitting, and make your own...

I realize they wont do a single custom deck. I was going to multiply the cost of one by 5000...

As for dat's post, I wasn't not planning on selling them. I just wanted a a deck that no one else would have. Unfortunately with my plan, I guess I'll have to do that, or live in debt...lol

And as for Mandrake's post, how could they use an idea for a gaff card in their own routines when they don't have the card in the first place? Maybe I didn't explain myself, but I'm not looking for ideas on how to use a gaff card, but ideas of a gaff card itself, and something no one's ever seen as well. I mean, there's thousands of different double-face cards.

Although I like the card statue idea Script. Maybe a statue of each suit?

I guess I'll make my own then. Maybe I'll check out card splitting and see what I can do.

Card splitting is probably the most economic way to produce your own special cards but you'll need to practice a bit until you get the hang of it.

Also check out TM member cardmaker who produces specials for a living and bear in mind that there are places such as cards4magic who do a wide range of specials already. Individual cards aren't cheap but are certainly far less costly than 10,000 decks from USPCC !

Alright then, any idea where to start if I wanted to try card splitting?

LOL! I just made a double backer from two cards I split with a razor blade a few minutes ago.

Yeah, I'm pretty bored...

OK try http://www.worldmagicshop.co.uk/product ... cts_id=581 but the book would probably be cheaper if you can track down a copy. For specials to order try http://www.magicbycardmaker.com/pageID_2850155.html