talkmagic.co.uk

Hi there,

Just got my new European Reader Deck (Fourier 505) in the post yesterday and I've been trying out a few standard marked card tricks.

Is it just me or does anyone else find the marks ridiculously obvious? I have no confidence in using it for more than one very quick trick...

They are fine. Just don't stare. Staring will make people suspect, no matter how good the marking.

I've been using a Fournier marked deck for ages and never had any problems with it. Trust me, the markings may seem obvious to you, but providing you use the deck properly your audience should never suspect a thing.

This book is cheap and contains invaluable information about marked decks and how best to use them...

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic25061.php

The book is excellent and I highly recommend you get yourself a copy. Some of the numerous effects contained in the book are nothing short of miraculous. Marked decks are largely ignored by magicians and mentalists; I think the decks are misunderstood as many people, like yourself, wrongly assume they are obvious and so never use them. That book will open your eyes to what is possible with a marked deck and show you the light

Regarding the staring thing, the above book also contains tips on how to get your peek without being obvious about it. There are several techniques at your disposal.

Thanks replicant,

I've been having a peep at that book for a while now, I suppose its just about time I went and bought it.

The fornier deck, is the preffered deck of most people i know.

you must stop worrying about it.

If a spectator sees the markings one of two things have happened.
Either you have chosen someone who owns a deck, or you have held the cards still, so they can get a good look, with your finger pointing right at the markings, as you say..." look there is the mark".

nobody ever sees the marks.

Ive shown magicians the marks, and they have not seen them.

Lose the guilt. Learn to read the marking quickly (I'm talking in about 0.5 of a second). Do something extra, above and beyond what is necessary - eg "Okay, now just put the card in your pocket so there's no chance of me peeking or anything silly." Doing this something extra means the routine will be remembered as you not even seeing the card.

I have seen mentalists using cards with big black dots on the cards from a sharpie . I think whatever marking system you're using it cannot be less subtle than that. Often being TOO subtle can be dangerous and fail completley. Marked decks are very powerful things, so enjoy the fun you can have with them!

I use the Fournier every time I work, several times each session. It was spotted once by a 12 year old girl who was too smart by half. This was just bad luck and I picked it up, moved on to the next table and used it again.

Worry about it, stare too hard and people will look for something. Treat it like a bog standard deck and thats what everyone will assume it is.

Most people have vaguely heard of marked cards but don't know what they are and don't suspect a thing.

I've got no idea who said it first but people see what they expect to see. People will expect to see an ordinary deck of cards unless you give them reason to think otherwise. Treat the deck causally and it wont get noticed.

Exactly.
In fact, as i have said elsewhere, i use this to my advantage. Last Haloween i was working at a wedding, and as i took a standard red backed bike deck from my pocket, a kid pipes up " I do magic.. I have some special marked cards".
I looked at the deck, then at those on the table.." what do these marked cards look like?" he told me.

I slowly returned the red deck to my pocket.. looking sheepish, and removed..... my forniers.

Dirty Davey wrote:I've got no idea who said it first but people see what they expect to see.

That was me who told you that

Dirty Davey wrote:I've got no idea who said it first but people see what they expect to see. People will expect to see an ordinary deck of cards unless you give them reason to think otherwise. Treat the deck causally and it wont get noticed.

This is true of adults but not so much with children. Children don't always know what they are expected to see and call it how they see it, which is how it is not how you want them to think it is. If you are going to get caught doing something ballsy 9 times out of 10 it will be a young person who catches you