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Can anyone explain what effects you can do with this gimmicked deck,
is it self contained,
does it take much effort,
and the price,

I am not interested too much in gimmicked decks, just because I dont want to be David Blaine.

It is a great deck,

I just ordered a new one, and it should be in tommarow.

The Svengial Deck makes magic easy imop. But who said easy was bad.

Here are the pros and cons that I have discovered using this deck:

Pros: (this is a long list.)

1) The first thing about the deck is you can do great forces with it. For its force ability alone it is a cool deck.

2) After the force there are a bunch of stunning finishes (there really are some great punch lines.)

3) You can handle it in such a way that it easily looks to the audience like a full and normal deck.

4) It can be cut to the same card every time.

5) (And one of my favs) it can actually be shuffled and still retain its "magic."

Cons:

1) (And it's the only real big one) You cannot let the audience members examine the deck themselves. Most Often you will probably have to switch it at some point for a legit deck.


I can't really think of anything else to say. It is the only gaffed deck I use. Hope this helps.

Svengial Deck - or is that Svengali?

If your not interested in gimmicked decks your not likely to like it as it's heavily gimmicked.

However, effects with it can look like standard deck tricks with no real effort, you can even let a spectator handle it, cut it and with a few small modifications and careful control, shuffle it.

Even professional magicians use Svengali decks. With correct handling and some imagination, you don't even need to arouse suspicion in the audience that it's a gimmicked deck.

Get one in the 'flavour' of your standard decks (typically Bicycle), and use it wisely.

The standard use is as a forcing deck, but there are also some more imaginative uses of the deck such as total colour changes—changing the deck from a red back deck instantly to a blue backed deck, and then back again—(get a red and a blue Sven deck, and you will pretty much get the idea). There have also been uses of the Sven principle for many visual effect decks, which I obviously can't name, but it really is the PRINCIPLE of the gimmicked cards which is important, not just the 'one-trick-pony' which most people associate with this deck.

I can't say I agree with the 'Gimmicked deck = David Blaine". David is actually a very proficient and skilled card magician, and most of his work uses regular decks of cards and deft sleights.

So, in short:

1. The Svengali deck is a very reliable and simple way to force a card

2. It is also an excellent all-in-one routineable trick in it's own right, many books are available on the subject

3. It appears as a totally ungimmicked and normal deck. The spectator CAN handle it—with supervision, and they can even cut the deck to shuffle. In fact, there are at least 2 routines I use where I never touch the deck at all—the magic is done by the spectator.

4. The Sven deck is versatile, and should not be considered a gimmick, more of a utility. The Svengali principle can also (and IS also) used widely by professional mentalists

5. Misconceived as a gimmicked 'beginners' magic item, the Sven deck is sold under the Marvin's brand in most good highstreet toystores for a £5er. The revered Andy Nyman (to name but one) used to demonstrate Svengali decks for Marvin's at Hamley's Toystore in London. And look where he is now

6. The deck is wholly self-contained. Once the principle is revealed by purchasing the deck, it is not impossible for a creative magician to forge his own custom Svengali deck from regular cards

7. The cost will vary, depending normally on the actual type and quality of the cards used. A deck of Bicycle Svengali cards will typically cost £6 from Cards4Magic.

Not much more to say really, except Svengali decks are an excellent tool for the beginner, and an indispensable utility for the professional.

As with all magic—it's all in your presentation. Gimmicked decks are generally self-working, but it's the Svengali deck's massive expandability and 'thinking outside the box' which have kept it at the forefront of card magic.

Svengial Deck - or is that Svengali

oops... sorry I cut and pasted from the questions. I don't know what a "Svengial" desk is? Is there one?

a "Svengial" desk

is probably a desk used to put your Svengials on while you write on them or something!

As far as I'm aware, there's only the Svengali Deck but perhaps the Svengial Deck is just waiting to be invented?

The svengali deck is a useful tool of magic. It costs little and can be used for many things. Buy it, try it. You wont regret it. Try to get a bicycle deck, or one that fits in with your routine, or it will look wierd. Have fun with it and create

Seige - I didn't know about Andy Nyman in Hamleys - just to think that I may have seen him without realising.

The Svengali is a classic as far as I'm concerned - I'd recommend buying 101 tricks with a Svengali deck - cost around £3.99 which is dirt cheap. Whilst you won't use all of the routines, some will interest you and others will hopefully lead you onto developing some ideas of your own.

To suggest that you regard yourself as being in David Blanes league for using a gimmicked deck is a bit naive

I too am not a fan of gaffed decks......however, I find that as long as I am prepared to perform a swap and get a legit deck after, they can be a great asset to you. The svengali/svengial is a great deck for many of the reasons listed in other posts. But if your intent is to find a gaffed deck that offers you versatility, then think again......but if you can do a deck change in your routine, then good tool to have!

I'd agree with that.

One way to change decks is to introduce a packet trick such as twisted sisters. Put the gimmicked deck away, use the packet, put that away and take out an ungimmicked deck

svengali deck is a real nice deck ,
and u can get great effects , but u cant repeat it

by the way i made my svengali myself , was my first gimmick

Svengali Decks? I love Svengali Decks. Especially when you have a stand named Theatrix close to you. LOL
Sorry South African Joke.

There is a little store in South Africa that sells them like hot cakes so everyone knows how they work (Bunch of %^$^&). I like it though because I use normal decks and everyone wants to inspect the deck to see if I am using a svengali deck. They are even more impressed with my tricks when they know I am using a normal deck. So I am all for it.
Regards
Wolflock

I have had this deck and used it when I was younger but then grew away from it but recentlty I witnessed a magician go through an amazing routine with this deck. No I perform this routine all the time incorporating many impossible ambitous card tricks that would otherwise be impossible. For more information on what other kinds of tricks can be done with this deck PM me and I will see if I can help you out.