talkmagic.co.uk

Just curious how you guys tell your decks appart, for example you have your regular decks, then maybe a stripped or marked deck, invissible deck, brainwave.... How do tell which is which, without giving the game away to others? I use pencil markings on the bottom of the deck like BWMD or ID, BWD....

I have a subtle marking on the case of my ID that nobody else would even think to look for

In previous threads people have also said how they write initials in the barcode, which seems a bit too obvious to me but if it works for them..

I make each of my decks smell different.

e.g.

My I.D. smells of pair drops

I usually will use two kinds of decks in one pocket. One normal and one gaffed the gaffed deck will have a thin elastic band on it which i can roll of easily when I want to take it out.

If however, you've got enough spare pockets and only two or three decks. You can just keep them in different pockets.

I get a sharpei and write in capitals on the boxes...its so blatent the spec never question anything, its rather amusing...

You can tell them apart, my Brainwave deck look brand new as I hardly use it, my strip deck has this Texas hold'em star thing on the front and my regular deck - will it looks regular I guess.

I stick a yellow "Stick-it" note on the decks I store in my cupboard, where I write what kind of deck I got.
But if I take a deck with me, I usually make a subtle marking on a deck or memorize in which pocket I put which deck.

When I'm performing I always keep the different decks in different pockets so that I'll always know where I am with them. I've got a deck sret up for Aniversary Waltz in my inseide jacket pocket, an ID in the left jacket pocket and a stacked Si Stebbins deck in the right jacket pocket. They're the only three decks that I ever use out and about.

I only need two decks. One red, one blue.

I have a magic cupboard (wive's not allowed!) and my decks on the second shelf. At first I used the small PostIt notes, but changed to printing the names on paper. I then cut them into strips and used Scotch tape (English translation: Cellotape) to make a band.

I also do the same for stacks that I use often, such as Luke Jermay's 10-Card Poker. (Costco sells Bikes for almost $1 a pack purchases in a box of nine, so I can afford to have a few stacks always ready.)

Jean Eugene Roberts wrote:One normal and one gaffed the gaffed deck will have a thin elastic band on it which i can roll of easily when I want to take it out.

I love this idea and might give it a go myself.

Usually, I mark the box with a large pen on the base. As Magic Chris said, spectators never worry about it if you don't.

I identify them from the pocket they're in. For example, if I'm suited and booted, there's an ID in the right pants pocket, an Oracle in the left. In the left jacket pocket there's a Stebbins stacked stripper deck with the 3 of clubs on the bottom, and in the right there's a partially stacked stripper deck with the ace of diamonds on the bottom, so that if I get confused I know which is which when I pull them out of the case. The jacket pockets also contain any prediction envelopes, etc. and maybe the major arcana if it's expected to be that sort of crowd. I build my sets around where those decks start off, and swap them out as I go.

Plus, if you're a USPCC factory-cut stripper deck user, the seal is a different colour from a regular deck, so that's another good way of identifying them.

I generally identify them with the seal. For example normal deck has no seal on it, ID has a seal. I can find the one I want by thumbing over the top.

Years ago, I had this deck, that deck, the other deck and more. Now I have one deck, its ordinary and plain. But if needs be, I can do a couple of hours with it. Its the ability to entertain, not the fancy deck, that makes the performer.

Some of the answers amase me. I have this deck in my left pocket, this in my right and this in my top pocket. You are a magician, what would you do if someone said, 'Here is a brand new sealed deck, do some tricks'

I'd do a couple of hours easy. I've gone through the fancy gimmick/fake decks over the years but they do one or a few effects. A straight deck does thousands. Please learn the capabilities of the basic deck and forget the fancy decks, you don't need them.

Tenko wrote:Years ago, I had this deck, that deck, the other deck and more. Now I have one deck, its ordinary and plain. But if needs be, I can do a couple of hours with it. Its the ability to entertain, not the fancy deck, that makes the performer.

So, for those of us who are less talented, what do you suggest? My glide looks like I am trying to scratch my elbow. My DL look like I am picking a scab off a sore. And, the only way I can handle the classic force is to use my wife as a stooge.

Honest, I enjoy using a stripper deck. If I had to limit myself to a single gimmick, this would be it. I sincerely wish I were as talented as others on this board--but I enjoy my magic, despite my limitations. And my friends and family enjoy the way I perform--so it seems like I have a win/win despite my severely klutzied moves!