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Usually when i get out a pack of cards i start by saying "Im going to give the deck a shuffle" but this sometimes leads to people asking if THEY can shuffle the deck. Ok when you doing an improv routine, but when you have a card to control/force, how would you react to this?

Think it would be better to never actually mention the word 'shuffle' and just go straight ahead and do it, while talking - distracting them from the shuffling while it goes on in the background.

Please post your thoughts

Alex

Yep, i think you've got the idea.

Whenever you mention what you're about to do you run the distinct risk or arousing suspician.

So i wouldnt bother saying 'I'm now going to shuffle ..." I would just shuffle the cards in front of them, a few false riffles and things like that whilst talking to them.

Then when you go into the effect they are already satisfied that its not a stacked deck.

Dont bring attention to the shuffle, just make is casual.

Rob

I agree with Rob BUT make sure you are finishing the shuffle as you finish talking so that everyone sees that you shuffled in case you get some people not paying attention who don't think you've shuffled.

"Never describe something that the spectator can see himself"
I think that says it all

One exception to that rule... "I'm just going to put this card in my pocket for now..." - moving to your pocket without a warning is a risky move!

Always have backup impromptu effects so that the spec can shuffle it! When maybe on the offbeat after the effect, you can set up if it's small!

Steve

Never state that you are going to shuffle/cut the deck when you are doing a false cut/shuffle. If a heckler keeps asking to suffle, hand him the deck and say "I'm going to take a break. I'll let you do a card trick and you can shuffle and cut the deck as much as you want." If he starts to do a lame-witted trick, politly ask if you can cut or shuffle the deck. This should prevent him from bothering you any further. That way the rest of the audience will laugh at him and he will probably leave. But only do this to people who keep on trying to ruin your routine. Not someone who requests to suffle the deck once or twice.

my reaction to anything like this is to simple pop a palm on the card you want to control, then let random shuffle away to their hearts content then slep palmed card back into the position you want it. i use this in my ace sandwich routine quite a bit, just to throw people off the possibility that i could be manipulating the shuffles

Spec: Can I shuffle?
You: I have absolutely no idea. Can you?

Best thing about card magic is that it has so many possibilities, that you can always improvize. So if a spectator wants to shuffle the deck, let him do it and show an impromptu trick. Anyway ... I have practiced shuffles for a long time, so I can always do false overhand shuffle, false riffle shuffle, Rosetta shuffle, circulation shuffle or other false shuffles to convince spectators that the deck is really well shuffled, although the truth is different ... and mostly they "buy" it ... I recommend Lennart Green's Green Magic volume 4 and other Lennart Green's videos - there are many convincing false shuffles, and they look very natural after some practice.

I agree that you should just shuffle yourself and not bring any attention to it. They will just see you shuffling. If they do ask to shuffle then I think you have to say yes. I think it's bad to look like you are trying to hide something.

It is only in certain types of trick, where it is important that the deck is shuffled (ie anything that involves dealing out cards, or poker deals etc.) otherwise the spectator has no reason to think it is even needed. The times where they want to shuffle is usually if you say something like "I'm going to shuffle the cards". You just don't need to say that. When they think back over a trick, I bet they don't think "oh yeah but I didn't shuffle the cards at the start".

taneous wrote:Spec: Can I shuffle?
You: I have absolutely no idea. Can you?

:D:D:D:D

Must try that one...

There's another gag I picked up from somewhere that gives you some nice cover for the palm. Say, "sure" and give them the deck. Wait until they look like they're about to shuffle and then grab it back and say, "That's great, thanks!". Easy to top palm the card when they laugh.

Kati

There is definitely no need to say "I'm going to shuffle, it's just too suspicious. Just start shuffleing in the middle of you talking to them, on the offbeat as Greg Wilson would put it.

Sure, there might not be a need to say "im going to shuffle the deck" directly to your spectator. But is it wrong? Certainly not!

Why not go with Lawrences idea purposely to create that moment. Control it to the top, say that, HOPE they will interject, palm it. Can't get more impressive than that. So... what if you need to false shuffle and control 15 cards?

Why not say quietly to your self... "Just gunna giver a quick shuffle..." JUST loud enough for them to hear. Then you aren't saying it directly and it's much less suspicious, but remembered just the same!

Or you could do the ploy... "Well, you COULD shuffle the deck... but we both know it wouldn't matter now anyway! Because you see... " and just continue with the trick.

Or you could do my favorite and throw the deck in their face and yell, "NOT FAIR! NOT FAIR! YOU RUINED MY TRICK!" and run off. But I save that one for a publicity stunt.