talkmagic.co.uk

Which deck do you guys prefer:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raider-Bicycle-Playing-Cards-Poker/dp/B002EIMV6C/ref=pd_cp_k_h_b_cs_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Karnival-Midnight-Playing-Cards-Bicycle/dp/B0028SGM7C/ref=pd_sim_k_h_b_cs_2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Karnival-Assassins-Playing-Cards-Bicycle/dp/B002USI7IW/ref=pd_sim_k_h_b_cs_3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Ghost-Deck-Cards/dp/B001CEHE9I/ref=pd_sim_k_h_b_cs_5

I think they all look a bit cheesy tbh, but if I had to choose, the white ghost ones:)

If you ever need to use a trick deck, then use Red Bicycles. All trick decks are in red bicycles it seems, so they need to match, otherwise it looks very suspicious.

If you perform with these decks, I think most people will think you are using a gimmicked deck. I'm not sure why some magicians are so set on using these decks. It just looks like a special deck.

I just use standard Bicycles for card work. Ive also used Tally Ho, which seem to be cut better than Bicycles lately. The trouble with these sort of fancy decks is that they are so unusual looking that people will want to check and handle them. They also have a tendency, as Ben pointed out, to be seen as a 'trick' deck even when they are not. I dont use any of the Bicycle coloured decks (green, pastel shades, yellow etc) either, for the same reasons

jim

I disagree. If a deck looks fancy they will want to touch them yes, but they don't immediately think they they are a special deck. They only see them as special if you give them reason to and handle them awkwardly...

You can get away wth murder if you handle it right...I have even let a spectator handle an ID! It's about control, not how it looks

I still stick with standard cards though...cheaper

Beardy wrote:I have even let a spectator handle an ID !

I agree, but im sure your ID wasnt made in fancy black cards at the time I still think, regardless of how well the cards are handled, they will be seen as a trick deck, especially in this country. Unless there is a reason for it, like a bizzare style routine, the cards should look as ordinary as possible.

This is just my opinion though

jim

Sometimes you can use card backs to your advantage, I prayed my ESP cards dark black to make it "more scientific" and to ensure that "theres clearly no markings".


Stupid Beyond ESP 2 isn't back in print yet

Beardy wrote:I have even let a spectator handle an ID! )

Interesting. I was just think about this idea the other day. Could you recommend me to any switches, or do you mean you let the spectator spread the deck to find it?

This doesn't quite make sense to me.

Thank you.

Eshly wrote:If you ever need to use a trick deck, then use Red Bicycles. All trick decks are in red bicycles it seems, so they need to match, otherwise it looks very suspicious.

Or... wait for it.... Blue! .... (mind=blown)

Yeah, seriously, just stick with the standards, they're less likely to raise suspision of being gimmicked despite being more likely to be.

on that note, if anyone needs a gimmicked deck in some stupied E deck give me a shout!

spooneythegoon wrote:Which deck do you guys prefer:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raider-Bicycle-Playing-Cards-Poker/dp/B002EIMV6C/ref=pd_cp_k_h_b_cs_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Karnival-Midnight-Playing-Cards-Bicycle/dp/B0028SGM7C/ref=pd_sim_k_h_b_cs_2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Karnival-Assassins-Playing-Cards-Bicycle/dp/B002USI7IW/ref=pd_sim_k_h_b_cs_3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Ghost-Deck-Cards/dp/B001CEHE9I/ref=pd_sim_k_h_b_cs_5

Personally, I'd just stick with standard Bicycle cards, as others have said. They feel good, look 'standard' and are pretty good quality for all the stuff you need to do - they're also reasonably priced

Len

spooneythegoon wrote:Which deck do you guys prefer:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raider-Bicycle-Playing-Cards-Poker/dp/B002EIMV6C/ref=pd_cp_k_h_b_cs_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Karnival-Midnight-Playing-Cards-Bicycle/dp/B0028SGM7C/ref=pd_sim_k_h_b_cs_2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Karnival-Assassins-Playing-Cards-Bicycle/dp/B002USI7IW/ref=pd_sim_k_h_b_cs_3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Ghost-Deck-Cards/dp/B001CEHE9I/ref=pd_sim_k_h_b_cs_5

I need to put my prices up on Raiders... only £3.30 on my site

http://www.mapromagic.co.uk

Martin Hunt wrote:I need to put my prices up on Raiders... only £3.30 on my site

Sorry Martin, but you may want to look at number 2 on this post http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic3632.php

I like to use the type of cards that a spectator is likely to have in their own home. Here in the states, it's a standard bicycle deck. Also true that there are abundant gimmicks for this type. For me (I rarely use gimmicks) I prefer to have something that seems "normal" - (and indeed is!).

If you're out working and do so on a regular basis then standard Bikes are the way to go economy wise. Why pay £6 for a deck that you'll throw or give away when you can use a £2 deck?

Most workers will use Bikes for this reason.

You will also find that you're jsut as likely to get a 'trick' deck in blue Bikes as you are in red. Again, this tends to be because they are mnuch cheaper to produce and can be swapped in and out with a standard deck without anyone noticing.

Finally, I totally disagree with the comment about spectators thinking that Ghost, Karnival decks etc. are instantly suspicious. It's all down to you and how you perform with them.

I do sometimes use these myself and have never had anyone think that the cards are suspicious. The comment that you'll hear the most is "they're nice cards" and if you wish to you can hand them out for inspection which takes any heat away from them.

Personally, I wouldn't hand a trick deck such as an ID out to a spec to handle and have never really noticed the need to. I nearly always work with an ID and introduce it right at the beginning and give the spec a magicians choice between that and a standard deck. If you take one out of your pocker mid way through your performance then it's going to look suspicious but if it's on the table at the beginning then I find that it doesn't.