talkmagic.co.uk

I have a couple of decks of Centurians and Guardians that a friend brought back from the States for me and I'm not impressed.

Whoever said they are the best cards don't know what they're talking about. My own view is that they're close to being the worst. I'm not fussed one way or the other on the design and agree with Queen of Clubs.

You can't beat Bikes and Tally's and can generally buy three 'regular' decks for the price of one of these so called specials.

I sometimes think people who buy fancy decks are... well... trying to cover for something...

Sshhhh! you promised not to tell anyone

I like the Tragic Royalty deck... when I first purchased them. But anything with a gray border looks really awful after time takes it's toll. But the faces are really cool looking.

queen of clubs wrote:I sometimes think people who buy fancy decks are... well... trying to cover for something...

Just like the joke on men who rides fancy cars...it seems they try to compensate for something

IMHO, people who sees you perform with cards different from the usual Bikes or Tallys would often think it's gaffed. In laymen's term: "Cards that are made for magic purposes"

I also have Viper Tally Hos and a Ghost Deck. I never use them in performance because they're damn expensive to be worn out! So they just sit in a glass cube.

I've seen people throw money at "first" edition black ghost decks or whatever, and all they do is leave them in there plastic wrap.

Since when did a Centurion wield a Cavalry Sabre?

While I still somewhat disagree with the "strange cards = trick cards" for laymen, these particular decks don't help discourage such thoughts.

However, I do enjoy the black backs. The Tally Ho Black backs are quite nice! I like that Bicycle has manufactured the different back colors of their standard rider backs, makes finding cards for specific situations much easier.

IMHO, people who sees you perform with cards different from the usual Bikes or Tallys would often think it's gaffed. In laymen's term: "Cards that are made for magic purposes"

I really disagree with this statement and think that it's a myth. I've performed at a number of themed events where I have used ghosts and tigers without any problems at all.

Laymen at best will comment on the cards looking nice or perhaps 'different' but your presentation and ability to hand out the cards for inspection will quickly disolve any suspicion that they have, if they had any to start with. It's your job to remove suspicion otherwise they will be just as suspicious with anything that you introduce to your act.

An audience are generally suspicious of the magician and his skill - and not the cards.

i only like the new black split spades out of all the fancy decks..but im not a card-worker really, so i can use posh looking cards for mentalism effects..

you should all try fourniers..pretty much the same price as bikes, a different finish mind you..and a lovely back design..

oh and their marked deck is spot on, especially for 7 quid..

Interesting comments.

Another one that gets me all the time is the "amazing new inventions" for IT. I mean how many types of reel can be invented and claim to be new? None really, they're all still reels!

There are quite a few areas of magic where the development of the secret has been fine honed already and doesn't need anymore objects claiming to be new inventions... Instead what they need are new and inventive ways of using the well developed secret! And more showmanship. Taking one object called XXX and using it just because you prefer it to AAA when in fact it is the same gaimmick/gaff etc as AAA really irks me. Why not just find a way that AAA can adapt to becoming XXX and become a student rather than a practitioner.

Another one that gets me all the time is the "amazing new inventions" for IT. I mean how many types of reel can be invented and claim to be new? None really, they're all still reels!

Never been a big fan of that area of magic, but iThread looks like it's a pretty new concept. USB connector to program it via your computer etc.

dat8962 wrote:

IMHO, people who sees you perform with cards different from the usual Bikes or Tallys would often think it's gaffed. In laymen's term: "Cards that are made for magic purposes"

I really disagree with this statement and think that it's a myth. I've performed at a number of themed events where I have used ghosts and tigers without any problems at all.

Laymen at best will comment on the cards looking nice or perhaps 'different' but your presentation and ability to hand out the cards for inspection will quickly disolve any suspicion that they have, if they had any to start with. It's your job to remove suspicion otherwise they will be just as suspicious with anything that you introduce to your act.

An audience are generally suspicious of the magician and his skill - and not the cards.

Unfortunately, I had a couple of experiences that led me to that opinion. You are correct that by handling out the cards would dissolve any suspicion if ever they made comments, since I've done that as well. It's the initial reaction that irks me. So I generally use plain red bikes (and so goes all of my gaffs as well)