talkmagic.co.uk

The problem with worn decks allies to other aspects of Magic.
When I used to lecture on IT one of the pieces of advice I gave was; 'Learn the handling with strong white Th first. Magicians are prone to

a. Want to get on with the real thing before they know its stengths
& weaknesses
b. When learning and even after learning they use the item again and
again till it is either worn out or weak & ready to fail.

In Theatre we tend to use a 'stand in' prop, once the actors are ready to put down the book. Preferably something resembling the real thing. Then when the action,biz'lines or moves etc are known substitute the real prop for fake. That way , especially if the real prop is awkward, sometimes as a sword, dangerous, and may be dropped etc. or fragile nothing gets broken or worn out.

So , I know you like breaking the deck well in but try using this one for hard practice then break another one in, not too hard, just enough to have faith in it, and use that for performances.

Allen Tipton

a deck of cards is really just that - bits of card. you cant expect them to last very long under constant use. i suppose you could practice with cotton gloves for a tiny extension but its far from ideal.

just get a load of bikes and waddingtons (hey, theyre great quality ) in bulk, and keep your fancy cards for show. i have been through dozens of decks over the years. i keep them round for card games or give them away.

Cotton Gloves??? or is that a funny remark?
I don't suppose many magicians think to wash their hands well before rehearsing with a deck.
That would help more than cotton gloves.
Allen Tipton

I was at Internation Magic on Thursday Allen, about to make my recommended purchase of some Aviators, when this bloke came in and started having a long discussion about cards! He had brought back a back of Aviators and Tally Ho's un-opened, saying he had bought 2 packs of each and on the first pack, he just couldn't get use to them! Traded them in for good old bikes!

Didn't deter me though , haven't even opened them myself!

If he is so used to one type of card he will find it difficult to use another kind. And they all seem to vary in quality from dealer to dealer.

I wonder why he bought Aviator & Bikes ? Perhaps he's one of those who, even during someone's lectures has to have a deck of bikes in his hands..fiddling!

Persevere, as I know You'll soon get used to them.you will
I do so hope you find they wear for you as they do for me.
Allen T.

As well as the other places mentioned, there are many suppliers on eBay who sell cards by the dozen or half-dozen, mostly at very good prices. Do a search for "Bicycle cards" and you'll find loads.

He was obviously relatively new to Card magic and had sought advice at the shop. I think he just decided to give em a change, like me I guess, Ive always used Bikes and before I get TOO use to them, it is certainly worth giving them a try!

Allen Tipton wrote::D Cotton Gloves??? or is that a funny remark?
I don't suppose many magicians think to wash their hands well before rehearsing with a deck.
That would help more than cotton gloves.
Allen Tipton

just pointing out it a little futile to try and extend their useful life. bit like ink in a pen you know its going to run out so you might as well get the most out of it while you can. if youre really finicky about it you can try loads of tips but its really just postponing the inevitable.

cotton gloves would probably do the trick (pun intended), but really the difference is going to be negligible for a heavy user. no amount of cleaning will stop riffles bending cards - or spectator grubby fingers!

Wild Card wrote:I was at Internation Magic on Thursday Allen, about to make my recommended purchase of some Aviators, when this bloke came in and started having a long discussion about cards! He had brought back a back of Aviators and Tally Ho's un-opened, saying he had bought 2 packs of each and on the first pack, he just couldn't get use to them! Traded them in for good old bikes!

Didn't deter me though , haven't even opened them myself!

Oh gawd, I hate Aviators. Mohawks and Torpedos are also exactly the same just with a different box and a different ace of spades. They're plastic coated instead of the Bicycle air-cushion finish which makes them bad for fanning and spreading. Nasty things!

There are a couple of other brands here in the US that work well. Stud cards and Mavericks. Studs are slightlt thinner than Bikes, but handle great, plus the come with a few blank face cards so the lay people can draw a lost card on it. Magicians have better ideas for them. Mavericks last longer than Bikes and it seems they never warp. I've picked up an old deck in a yard sale and made a perfect pressure fan with it. You really have to abuse them for them not to work well. I think Hoyle cards are like Bikes and I don't use them. You are right about some people thinking that magicians are using trick decks. I tell them if they ask. "Yes , its an ordinary trick deck thats marked so that I can tell one card from the other, but only on the faces." I sread them face up and call out a few cards as I point to them. This usually gets a laugh out of them and then I can go on.
Al

Ive just built a house of cards and superglued them together out of an old deck of bikes! Makes an ace ornament in my games room at home!!

thebigcheese said

Ive just built a house of cards and superglued them together out of an old deck of bikes

My wife's been on at me to buy a wendy house for our daughter, but why don't I copy your idea!!

My old art teacher sent off to mathews sweeties before to get a whole load of uncut rapper sheets sent to him to use as wall paper. I've always liked the same idea with cards.