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I have created my own version of ACAAN that I think is REALLY good, but I'm having trouble with the patter. I don't want it to have to do with "influencing" them to say certain things, because i just don't think it makes since with that effect.I don't want an "ID" type of act either. Maybe something to do with a connection between them and the pack.
Any ideas?

-Ben

You can easily let them shuffle and perform a deck switch, or get the deck into your desired method after having them shuffled it and talk about how they subconciously see the cards or see a certain card.

I already know how I want to do it, and i think shuffling talkes away from it a little. The cards are in their case the whole time, until a spectator takes them out. But nice start for the patter. Thanks Wild Card.
Still open to suggestions.

-Ben

If the cards can be in a case the entire time why not start your set off by explaining how people and objects can form a connection over time (some nonsense about people growing attached to their car or somesuch here) and ask one spectator to hold the cards, possibly in a pocket, and see if they can create such a connection... "we'll come back to that later".

Then you have the added anticipation of what's to come.

Sub-conscious... connections... it's all getting a little heavy! How about, "watch this, I think you'll be impressed - name a card and a number."

Joke! Perhaps... I do think though that unless it *really* helps the effect, always going for pseudo-mental explanations gets a little tiresome. How about a simple remark about probability?

"Who's good at maths? There are 52 cards in a deck, excluding the jokers. there are 52 spaces in a deck where that card could be. That means that the chance of any card you name being at any position you specify is approximately 2700. Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be amazed!"

I love your idea about the connection. I will certainly try to use what you were talking about with people and objects. Thank you so much!

The problem with probability is that, although it masy seem common sense anyways, what probability is doing is saying it is possible. I know this sound so silly, but you just don't want them to think it is possibele. Obviously if it happens it is possible, but i don't want them to be using common sense. The whole point of magic and mentalism is to steer as far away from reality and NORMAL science as possible. Probability and math just makes it seem TOO realistic. I think it is important to exagerate supernatural activity, even if they know its all a trick. At the beginning of a movie everybody doesn't come out and say, "Remember, this is all fake. I want you to keep thinking about that as you watch." They try to play it out like it is real, so that a part of youy believes it. If you fail in getting that part of the mind to belive it is real, you will fail to entertain and amaze the audience.

I have seen it done the probability way, i just don't personally think it works. Thank you so much anyways for the suggestion. And thanks Mage Tyler for your further patter. I think i will try to use some of it.

If you have any further suggestions, i would be glad to look them over and think about them aswell. Thanks to anybody who was willing to help.

-Ben

I also work with a "connections" style presentation for my own CAAN effect.

Basically, I talk about chance and randomness - how seemingly inconsequential decisions can have a major impact on crucial moments in life. I give a specific (spell that COMPLETELY MADE UP) account of how a completely random and unimportant thing led me to meeting my wife. I then offer to create an experiment that will question whether truly anything is left to chance - or if every decision we make, simply leads us to a predetermined result.

this works for my routine, as one spec comes up with the number, while another comes up with the card. And thus - the "random" decision made by one, somehow affects the situation of another.

i spread the deck at the start, gather it up and use eddie burkes caan, just basing it on how to access the subconcious mind - as that has memorised the deck, and not only memorised the deck, but then tracked me shuffling the cards, and keeping tabs on what card is where...

but its too much for the concious mind, so we use the subconcious instead...

I really like some of your ideas! kepp um comin'