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To be fair I haven't actually used my BW deck in ages, but then again, I haven't done card or coin magic in quite a while...

Anyway, when I used to, I loved the BW deck more than I ever loved the ID. Possibly not because one is any stronger as a reveal than the other (because realistically the reveal on both is practically identical) but because the BW suited my performance style more.

If I needed an "out" then I had Kollossal Killer set up in my wallet. The BW was a whole effect for me and I spent ages coming up with new presentations and new ways to breathe life inot this. Some of them would have doubled up and worked well with the ID but certainly not all of them.

And that was fine by me, because more people seemed to favour the ID over the BW (this argument is probably as old as the hills! ), so pulling out a prop that magicians knew and showing them something they weren't expecting was great.
And if you can grab a magicians attention with one, then to the average lay-audience they might as well kiss their sanity goodbye

I use the BW although it has been gathering dust for some time.

Im guessing its easier/quicker to find the cards your after with an ID? Does it come stacked in order already or is there a suggested order to keep it in? think i'll have to order one for play times

ultimatecreate wrote:I use the BW although it has been gathering dust for some time.

Im guessing its easier/quicker to find the cards your after with an ID? Does it come stacked in order already or is there a suggested order to keep it in? think i'll have to order one for play times

Are you saying that you have NEVER owned an ID?

Its the best utility device and also the VERY best 'Out' you will ever need. I dare say that a high percentage of card magi's carry an ID on theor person at all times!!

Buy this now without even thinking about it. You will not regret it and the possibilites are endless!!!

Alec

Never

i will however order one this very instant! Why is it the very best out?

I have a question about the brainwave deck.

This isn't a criticism but since the I.D is a gaff deck it can only be used for one purpose. With the brainwave deck are both decks 'gaffed' or can you use one as a normal deck?

I am not sure what you mean by "both decks", JER. The BW is a single pack of cards, and very similar to the ID. So similar, in fact, that I think the names have sometimes been used interchangeably for the ID.

I definitely Like the ID better for reasons already mentioned, the better "Boom!"impact moment, plus it is easier and more logical.

though i must say i modified my ID quite a bit, for example so i can actually get the cards out of the box Backside up, then turn around the deck and spread through. probably doesn't add to the effect but i feel safer with it i suppose

Maybe I'm thinking of a different effect but as I understand it the brainwave deck uses a red and blue deck, are both gaffed or just one or neither?

The reason I ask is because of pocket space. I don't think it's very practical to dedicate two decks to one effect. Especially when it's at least equal to the I.D.

Jean Eugene Roberts wrote:Maybe I'm thinking of a different effect but as I understand it the brainwave deck uses a red and blue deck, are both gaffed or just one or neither?

The reason I ask is because of pocket space. I don't think it's very practical to dedicate two decks to one effect. Especially when it's at least equal to the I.D.

The BW deck is one gaffed deck, it uses the same principle as the ID, but you spread trough the backs instead of The faces.
The one Card That is turned over had a diffrent colored (or coloured) back

I regard both BW and ID as "weak" effects, simply because they're so hackneyed. Yes, as an out, they both work well, and that's fine, but as a stand-alone effect, although devastating to the layman, it's just too risky - too many folks have dabbled in magic and know about these effects. And, you're not doing yourself any favours presenting such hack material.
On the other hand, combine BW or ID with other effects, and you can have a MUCH more powerful tool in your arsenal. After all I've said, I use BW all the time (I made my own deck, with all the same colour backs, as I don't need the colour change). But, I already KNOW the card the spectator is THINKING before I pull out my BW deck.....so the reveal is MUCH stronger.
If you combine magic effects, you can truly startle people, and make them believe in your powers.
Look at other mind-reading effects, and see if you can work out how to couple them up with simple things like the BW - then you can really have something awesome!
I recommend, for those who don't know: Steam by Ali Nouira and Mind Power Deck by John Kennedy. Actually, I use a different effect for my BW routine, but these could also play well. Imagine, for instance (using Kennedy's Mind Power Deck), that someone merely THINKS of a card, and suddenly it's reversed in the deck! (DS required, easy as there's no heat).
Get my drift?

Pirate Potty wrote:If you combine magic effects, you can truly startle people, and make them believe in your powers.
Look at other mind-reading effects, and see if you can work out how to couple them up with simple things like the BW - then you can really have something awesome!
I recommend, for those who don't know: Steam by Ali Nouira and Mind Power Deck by John Kennedy. Actually, I use a different effect for my BW routine, but these could also play well. Imagine, for instance (using Kennedy's Mind Power Deck), that someone merely THINKS of a card, and suddenly it's reversed in the deck! (DS required, easy as there's no heat).
Get my drift?

100% agree, I use my MP deck, but have altered the deck slightly, that way I am able to reveal their thought of card in a TOTALLY different way to how the instructions state

RE: earlier comments on the decks being weak, I kind of agree, you can accomplish a brainwave effect very easily without the need for a gaff deck

Final thing, presentation aside, I think that ID is much stronger. I think that seeing a face down card is the first miracle, its 1 card out of 52 the wrong way ... THEN it becomes their card its like an extra amount of "no way". BW deck can KILL you if the same person sees it twice in one night (no spoilers / reveals here, but people who own one will know what I mean)

Dan

Magical_Trevor wrote:Final thing, presentation aside, I think that ID is much stronger. I think that seeing a face down card is the first miracle, its 1 card out of 52 the wrong way ... THEN it becomes their card its like an extra amount of "no way". BW deck can KILL you if the same person sees it twice in one night (no spoilers / reveals here, but people who own one will know what I mean)Dan

Not sure of your thinking here
Seeing the card face down is not a miracle, its not anything. Unless youre showing the cards all one way first (which Im assuming your not) then the card being face down isnt a magical effect.

I dont use the Brainwave deck, prefering Michael Vincents approach instead. However if you mean that they could pick an ''opposite'' card the second time, and reverse the ending then this is easily overcome by forcing the colour. Since its only the colour thats being forced and the value and suit are free it will be very convincing.

A little thing I used to use when I did use this deck was to eliminate the aces from their choice. I wasnt comfortable passing the deck at this point in the routine when they named the top one (youll know what I mean). After asking them to imagine a playing card Id add not to think of the ace of spades, as ''everybody thinks of the ace of spades''. This effectively eliminates the aces from their choice.

jim

Imo the ID has an inherent flaw in that the astute spectator will catch the even odd thing. I suggest stacking the deck in the 8 kings, and using the odd color as it's mate, if that makes sense?

As far as the BW is concerned I never liked the color change, so I use the same face to face, but with just one deck of blue cards. That way there is no heat on the face of the cards like in the ID, and I can just count to the right card.

I know some of this doesn't make sense to some, but if you own the decks or know their workings, you know what I'm talking about.

jdmagic357 wrote:Imo the ID has an inherent flaw in that the astute spectator will catch the even odd thing.

What are you doing, holding the fan open for inspection?

Such a silly statement and one dripping in magician's guilt.

I do this effect with just hearts and spades one and diamonds and clubs on the other.Each card has it's pair eg-5 spades with 5 clubs

Not once have I ever been questioned on it and Ive done it 100s of times.Litterally 100s!!

Trust me I know