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I'm working on an effect that involves the spectator going through a ribbon-spread deck and assembling two packets more or less at random. I've tried this out on three people so far and the same thing happens every time. Once instructed, the spectator has reached into the middle of the deck, rather then working through the cards from one end. This is particularly frustrating as I've managed to do the subsequent move on each occasion without it being noticed (I know the trick's not going to work, but I need the practice). Does anyone have any advice. The psychology of what the spec is doing makes perfect sense - the cards are ribbon spread, and it doesn't matter how the two packets are assembled. I cue them by saying "work through the deck" and even mime them dragging cards from the top of the deck, but still they take the cards from anywhere.

EDITED for clarity.

Ok, so you wish for them to, in effect, cut the cards by selecing a place in the ribbon to break it into two piles?

Instead of work your way through the deck, what about the phrase "walk your way through the deck"? Mime walking with your index and middle finger along the ribbon - then reinforce: "Walk along until you find a point at which you feel it natural to stop, break the deck into two packets at that point"

wrap them on the knuckles with a ruler.

greedoniz wrote:wrap them on the knuckles with a ruler.

Obviously that's what I want to do, preferably while shouting "what did I just say?"

Mage Tyler wrote:Ok, so you wish for them to, in effect, cut the cards by selecing a place in the ribbon to break it into two piles?

Instead of work your way through the deck, what about the phrase "walk your way through the deck"? Mime walking with your index and middle finger along the ribbon - then reinforce: "Walk along until you find a point at which you feel it natural to stop, break the deck into two packets at that point"

Nope - I'm trying to describe what I want the spec to do without exposing a method, which is making clarity difficult. The idea is that they go through the deck a few cards at a time, assembling two separate packets.

Mr_Grue wrote:Nope - I'm trying to describe what I want the spec to do without exposing a method, which is making clarity difficult. The idea is that they go through the deck a few cards at a time, assembling two separate packets.

So, going through the ribbon from one end, putting groupings of cards in one of two piles as they go?

(let me know if this is tipping anything, I'm fairly confused so I imagine not )

That's it.

Is this an OOTW principle? If so, I just say "Work your way from this end of the deck to the other", hitting "this" and "other". That way they know not to take random cards from inside the spread.

do you need them to work their way through the deck, could you run though it yourself and maybe have them stop you where they'd like?

queen of clubs wrote:If so, I just say "Work your way from this end of the deck to the other", hitting "this" and "other".

I'd been hoping to avoid saying it so explicitly, but I may not have a choice. There's a nice subtlety that would be lost too, of waiting for the spec to get more than halfway through the deck before telling the spec they don't have to take cards from the deck in order.

Mr_Grue wrote:I'd been hoping to avoid saying it so explicitly, but I may not have a choice.

Could this just be a case of Magician's Guilt? I suffer massively from it myself - over-analysing something that will probably just fly by the spec anyway?

If you're not using a sprung packet or a crimp then you could get around it by not ribbon spreading but just placing a square deck infront of them. Or even doing a very tight spread. That way they have no choice but to start taking cards from the top.

Mr Grue, I am sure you can remember me doing some very good magic for that rather drunk fella, simple be like me.

queen of clubs wrote:Could this just be a case of Magician's Guilt.

I think you're probably right - I've just checked back to the DVD I'm working from and the spec is given it as a very explicitly stated instruction. In fact there's so much fannying around emphasising the spec should "start at this end and work through" that it's certainly a known issue with the effect.

Markdini wrote: simple be like me.

This is far too easy an opening for me to get any pleasure from insulting you. You crafty bu**er.

Can I ask what the effect is?

I'm assuming it's an incarnation of OOTW, right?