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I like to give the cards away and find most people want them.
I guess in an ideal world you could just get really good at forcing, buy a one way forcer deck or two and use them up for your ACRs, tear and restores, card to beer bottle etc.

But then if you did it all night in the same place everyone has the same souvenir signed card!

I've got at least three mangled decks, used for various gaffs, splitting etc., on hand at any one time.

My solution is to simply grab a card or two from these partial decks, and add them to my performance deck, to force for signing, tearing and so forth.

Sure, it means I always have two dupes in my regular deck, but these are never noticed, and I never have to worry about my deck becoming depleted.

Once my performance deck is grubby from use, it goes into my mangled deck box, and itself gets used in the same way. Of course, well-used cards always look grey around the edges, so I always give them a quick rub with some fine glasspaper, which brings them up nice, white and unobtrusive again.

I *love* recycling


Rob

magicrob wrote:I always give them a quick rub with some fine glasspaper, which brings them up nice, white and unobtrusive again.

that is a good idea

Thanks, JT - it certainly works far better than the old 'rub the edges with a crust of bread', that my old mentor used to advise (yes - I'm serious!!)

Bread?

Hmm

Not sure it would have any effect on the state I get my decks in, a combination of my super acidic sweat (it kills my guitar strings also) and the fact I never put my cards down means my cards never last long.

I will keep a knackered deck with the intention of using to practice with or to use for spares but the edges are so dirty and rough I could never include them in a performance pack.

A trick I do involves tearing and folding duplicate cards (2 cards are ruined) which means I need 2 spare decks that aren't too grubby and noticeable against new cards.

If I had no spare decks 1 trick would require 3 new decks (unless I had a one way forcer).

Glass paper may save me having to ruin a lot of new cards.

Johnny Wizz wrote:I have found that in magic as in the rest of life the easiest explanation is often just to tell the truth. That way also it makes it easier to tell the big lie when you need to.

Agreed!

I frequently have conversations that go like this:

"You're a bit rubbish, aren't you."
"Um. Yes."

At a wedding gig I get people to write a message on the card, rather than sign it, add them back into the deck after use (keeping it at 52) and give the whole deck to the couple at the end of the night.

TheStoner wrote:At a wedding gig I get people to write a message on the card, rather than sign it, add them back into the deck after use (keeping it at 52) and give the whole deck to the couple at the end of the night.

What a great idea.

As long as they don't write something mean? I once had a bloke draw what can only be described as a "comedy c*ck".

The Devil's Tailor wrote: I once had a bloke draw what can only be described as a "comedy c*ck".

Well I suppose if you did a rising card effect with it, that would certainly be an eye opener.

"Or is the card just pleased to see me...?"

The Devil's Tailor wrote:As long as they don't write something mean? I once had a bloke draw what can only be described as a "comedy c*ck".

Your finale revelation could have your spec regretting that

"Hold your hand out in front of you like a table...."

'I have one card in my pocket'

'could you do the honours?'

Reminds me of the time I performed Marc Oberon's Odd Ball.

"Hold your hand out. That's it, now cup my balls."