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Most methods of controlling a spectators card require the spectator to return the card with the help of the magician. From my experiance this has aroused suspicion after a few effects and the spectators usually try to trick me into loosing their card. I was wondering if you guys can help me find natural ways for the spectator to return the card to the deck. Have you guys had this problem?

It's just a suggestion, but why not use a stripped deck?

When you get awkward people like that you should consider having an "out". Alot of people here will recommend an ID for this purpose. My personal recommendation would be to look up Kenton Knepper's "Kollosal Killer" as it's a 97% fool proof out that you can carry around in most normal wallets that will blow your spectators away.

DannyHaze wrote:

From my experiance this has aroused suspicion after a few effects and the spectators usually try to trick me into loosing their card.

I think this is sentence is very telling of the real problem here. If you have a spectators card put back in the deck several times and then make it pop up in different ways in different places, then it's only natural that people will think that it's "not really lost". Try diversifying your repertoire to include some card effects that don't involve the "pick-a-card" format. Perhaps an oil and water trick or a McDonald's Aces routine. There's a wealth of stuff out there.

Stripper decks are not flexible and they are expensive. There are alot of sleights that are difficult to do with the deck wich means your missing out on alot of magic. I am looking for a method to use with normal cards and i think that all magicians would benefit from it.

If you want to control a card without suspicious "putting back" activity then don't have the card removed from the deck. Just have them touch a card and show it to them without removing it from the deck.

Stipper decks are not that expensive (no more than £6 from any decent retailer) and provided you use them sparingly they should last a long time. The stripper deck is really just a regular deck with slight addition (or more accurately - a subtraction) which will eliminate some of the hard work involved with locating and controlling cards. Unless you're into doing maniac cuts like the Cybil cuts and stuff like that where packets are getting rotated left right and centre you shouldn't have ANY problems with the stripper deck using it as a normal deck. That's why it's such a versatile deck to own.

I agree with the Evemeister. I think strippers are very flexible (o-er, missus!). As long as you're not being obvious with the gimmick, it's subtle enough that you should be able to perform normally with them, but with the gimmick in reserve. A marked stripper deck would have even more scope, but be examinable too

Thanks for the advice Tomo and Magic_Evmeister. I have had the idea of using the stripper deck before, I just never thought it would be practical (double lifts, passes, flourishes, faro shuffle, controls, etc). I'll take your word for it! Also if you are regularly signing, tearing, and making gaff cards like me, stripper decks are quite expensive. Is there an easy way to make a stripper deck? Plus i would still be interested in any references there might be for a natural way of returning a spectators card to a non gaffed deck.

I would also like to mention that more laypeople know about stripper decks than you would imagine. Magic stores like to catch attention by showing off stripper and svangeli decks to people in order to make sales. People who know about stripper decks may choose to carefully examine the deck you use. By using a regular deck you remove any methods that some spectators may be knowledgable enough to propose. I even know a few friends who have stripper decks lying around in their homes! Furthermore, people who have a background in magic will be more impressed if they believe you are using a regular deck. If you perform for many people, I don't know if stripper decks are a good idea. Although they may come in handy from time to time, i would refrain from relying on one.

no laymen i have EVER seen have ever worked out the principle of a stripper deck, they are cheap yet effective, without giving the effect of the stripper deck away, who ever inspects the deck THAT thoroughly, believe me friend if it troubles you that much just invest in a stripper deck, or just use a classic pass, that always works perfectly for me.

What are you trying to do with the card you have selected? Is it forced? Are you trying to get it back to the top/bottom? Can you be more specific with the information you want, please?

I usually control it to the top or bottom. I was simply wondering if there is a method for having the spectator replace his card into the spread without opening it first or tampering with the card after it has partially entered the deck (supposing you use a regular deck).

Well unless you need the card signed then I don't see why you cant use the method I suggested earlier of just letting them peak the card in some way. No need to have it replaced if it's never removed from the deck.

To control a card I don't think you need to make it obvious that you are interfering with the selection. How about: leave deck on table, have spectator cut and leave card outjogged, you slowly square the card and dribble the deck onto the table (anglejog and dribble pass). Or else, top change the selection for another card, face-down, and you can ask the spectator to replace it as fairly as you like because it isn't their card.

If you don't mind holding the pack while the card is replaced try: spread cull, spread pass, classic pass, etc, etc.

Just a couple of ideas to play with there.

Kati

Where do you get a marked stripper deck?