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I've had a few instances of spectators trying to guess where their card is rather than accepting it's "lost" - heckler types, you know... "I bet it's on top! Mehehe!" etc...

So recently I've been controlling selections to either second from top or to the very bottom. It makes no difference to me - I can retreive the card from there just as easily as from the top - but it removes the possibility of an interruption from one of these sarcy gits as I can clearly display that they're incorrect (and later seperate them from their soul)

Just wondering if anyone else favours these kinds of controls whenever they ad lib a demonstration.

God, yes. It's different for me, though, using a stripper deck. I'm deliberately sloppy.

I always control to top just out of habit, if they say its on top i do a d/l to show it isn't.

Obviously depending on the trick i might control it to bottom though or second top to start an ac routine.

There's so many ways out of the spectator saying that, it never really becomes a problem though.

me, almost always the bottom, because i do the Kelly rather well. If i do say so myself, and i can steal from there nice and quick, (after taking a peek just in case. )

Usually the top but if I have hecklers then I will generally control it to second from top or second from bottom whichever mood I'm in really but 99% of the time it is unnessary

I tend to control the top but follow it up with a riffle shuffle loading one card on top. It's easy to show this card and then displace it to leave the selection on top, or if need be turn it very fairly face-up and steal the selection beneath it, showing the next few cards. It's never come to that, but it's always an option!

Here's a good way to control it to the top deceptively for that sort of sittuation.

use the tilt,put the selected card second from the top...they think its in the middle,show the top card and say ''look its not on top'' keeping the top card in your dealing hand while turning the deck around and saying and its not on the bottom...now take the bottom card with the top card and slot them into the middle of the deck..it will look fair.

Alternatively do the same thing but using a bluff pass.This method might be more suited if your not meant to know the chosen card.To be honest this never happens to me but if it did i'd do a DL.

I'm sure at this stage most of your family members who you practice on are very aware you can control a card

I always control to the top and would counter that heckle with a p**m and then throw a reveal on the spot. A bit of a "no, not the top, not the bottom", etc.

Marvell wrote:I always control to the top and would counter that heckle with a p**m and then throw a reveal on the spot. A bit of a "no, not the top, not the bottom", etc.

I second this....have some reveals in your arsenal. I use my card to wallet, or card to sealed card case on the table, mercury fold and use your shoe...really tons of options, learn some and let your imagination run with it. Hit em quick and hard with a reveal and they will be left speechless.

Be ready and you will actually enjoy being called out on it because it totally throws them for a loop....being able to "kill it" before it grows will also give the added deminsion that they now have been burnt up close and they will back their eyes off to begin trying to watch and a broader scope....once they pull the heat off the cards/hands you are free to let the magic happen again.

Another option....

Depending on your style or performance setting...you can give them the comedey styled response...."of course its on top, I just wanted to see if you were paying attention...."

Proceed to put it very obiously in the middle of a face up spread...close it up while culling to the top (which is actually the bottom of the face up pack) and you are back to where you want to be.

If I ever get somebody say "I bet the card's on top" I say something along the lines of 'of course it is, otherwise I wouldn't be able to find it!' and then pick the top card and show it's theirs!

I then T/C , and say "but of course if we give it a wave it really will vanish.. " and now show the indifferent card, which as far as they're concerned was theirs 5 seconds ago.

Job done - one silenced spectator!

That's nice Carlos, very professional. It sacrifices a little but it would certainly shut up that type of heckler.

Carlos75 wrote:If I ever get somebody say "I bet the card's on top" I say something along the lines of 'of course it is, otherwise I wouldn't be able to find it!' and then pick the top card and show it's theirs!

I then T/C , and say "but of course if we give it a wave it really will vanish.. " and now show the indifferent card, which as far as they're concerned was theirs 5 seconds ago.

Job done - one silenced spectator!

I agree with this type of presentation it shuts up the loud mouthed specs in an instant.

If they say its still on top or something along those lines, i always say of course it is Other wise i wont be able to find it this is magic not miracles. That either gets a laugh or at least they think your not trying to confront them or to show off, then just do a dl or carry on as normal.

I always find they wont say anything else and if they do then just move on to the next group.

Theres is always one that will ruin it for others but hey thats just the way it is sometimes, and as much as we know we can show them up or make them look silly in front of there mates its just not worth it.

Stay professional and show people who want to be entertained.

If a spec is being annoying in this manner you could always control it 2nd from bottom and then after showing top and bottom cards ask for the spec's help in finding it... Tell him to say stop as you riffle down pack then go into a HALO cut and reveal the card. Congratulate him on being so clever and reshuffle the cards, controlling it wherever you wish.... hopefully that'll keep him quiet long enough to perform the trick..