talkmagic.co.uk

Just a quick question, really.

Obviously I've had my share of gimmicks ( m5, gecko, rising / invisible / gaff / forcing decks...)

And I've known about Svengali and Stripper decks but I don't know what they actually do, so I've never bought them.

Please note, I'm not looking for the secret behind these gimmicks, just the effects, their practicality, durability, value and all round if their worth embedding into routines.

Thanks allot everyone

Danny

You should be able to find out a lot of detail just using Google, actually - including how they work!

But in short, a Sven deck can be used as a convincing forcing deck, as well as performing some very entertaining and visual magic. Just ask Mark Lewis - his demo is online.

A stripper deck essentially makes it easy to control and locate cards. Jon Thompson has a good book on turning this 'toy' into a serious accessory.

yep, Jon's book is said to be very good. Worth a look.

As far as durability goes, they're just cards. Nothing to wear out or rub off or anything. Exactly as durable as standard cards.

edit: Of course if they're made from cheap cards though...

Ted wrote:Just ask Mark Lewis - his demo is online.

I seem to be out of date. His demo is not where it once was. This is a shame.
T.

If you are trying to purchase one or the other then you are comparing apples to oranges. Both work differently and do different things. (although there are only a few themes in card magic all together) as for quality? Like everything else, buy cheap and you are going to buy it twice. Get a good quality and they will last just like a regular deck of cards.

The long & short of it is that they are great in the right hands but if used in the way the instructions say then laymen may catch on as they arte fairly well known. However, like I said, in the right hands...

russpie wrote:The long & short of it is ...

Ho Ho Ho

russpie wrote:if used in the way the instructions say then laymen may catch on

yeah, like I just bought an ID but I'm loathe to use it with the original routine because as soon as someone googles that word they'll know the trick, and it's a very distinctive routine so they may already know it.

user24 wrote:yeah, like I just bought an ID but I'm loathe to use it with the original routine because as soon as someone googles that word they'll know the trick, and it's a very distinctive routine so they may already know it.

One of the nice things about the reveal on that trick is the journey to get there can be almost anything.

that's very true, it really doesn't look like anything strange is going on with the deck at all, and it's in no way limited to 'i' style routines.

Another great thing is that if there's heat from the audience, it'll be on the card itself - which is roughly normal.

Ted wrote:You should be able to find out a lot of detail just using Google, actually - including how they work!

But in short, a Sven deck can be used as a convincing forcing deck, as well as performing some very entertaining and visual magic. Just ask Mark Lewis - his demo is online.

A stripper deck essentially makes it easy to control and locate cards. Jon Thompson has a good book on turning this 'toy' into a serious accessory.

I also wrote a follow up that people seem to have found a bit advanced, called Stripped and Stacked about partially-stacked stripper decks. That's where the real power lies in the stripper. You can manipulate whole stacks with what seem to be casual shuffles.

http://www.marklewisentertainment.com/h ... eshow.html

Follow the "Click here to see Mark do a card trick." link on that page for Mark's routine. When I saw him perform this right in front of me when I was a lad it scrambled my brains.

Erwin. I am terribly sorry I scrambled your brains. Let us all hope that there is eventual recovery for you. Where and when did this momentous event happen?

Danny Joseph wrote:And I've known about Svengali and Stripper decks but I don't know what they actually do, so I've never bought them.

If you get yourself a copy of 'The Encyclopedia of Card Tricks' (around a tenner) you will have an explaination of both decks and a few effects with each.

jim