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I'm having difficulties with performing the self-cutting deck effect in Derren Brown's 3 card routine. I'm not sure whether I'm allowed to divulge or ask for any tips on any of the technical aspects here, so I wont until someone says its ok (am I allowed to, anyone?). Basically while I have some idea of how the sleight is performed, it doesn't seem to work when I do it. Do you need a new deck of cards for it to work?

sorry.. are you talking about a haunted deck here?

erm...possibly lol. It's the effect described in Confessions of a Conjuror where spirits supposedly cut to a card

An impromptu haunted deck, yes.

It certainly helps if the cards are new-ish, although if they're straight out of a packet then they'll probably be a little too slippery. If they're too old then they won't hold shape, and of course may be too sticky to move.

Otherwise the best advice I've ever heard is actually on the same tape - vibrate, and move from the elbow. There's a knack to it, but it can be reasonably effective.

You could purchase The Devil's Picturebook. It's all in detail in there.

Edit: Those questionable new decks you get that have a bit of a concavaty to them can be helpful.

ok, thanks for the tips

I'm not familiar with Brown's approach. Would salt help cc100?

The whole three card routine is described in good detail in Pure Effect also by Derren. Although it's out of print now and a pre-owned copy is going to set you back a fair amount of your Earth pounds

i am trying to work out, exactly why your not willing to use a gaff of some kind. The effect is the same, and its going to be much easier for you to perform.
If you want to do this with a borowed deck, use loops,loose thread, or the levitator gimmick.

As I see it, this part of Derren's routine is fairly simple as long as you can spring a deck and execute the pass. I don't see any need for gaffs at all. I admit I have never performed it for anyone but I have had a go just for fun on my own (I do know how to have a good time, dont I?) and found no need for any extras.

So should it work if the hand is held completely flat? I can get it to work (sort of), but I have to tilt my hand slightly for the top packet to move.

presumably something akin to the haunted key.

Exactly like that Dale, in fact - Osterlind's ideas for the Haunted Key (almost as a self-ideomotor effect) work really well with this method.

It's not really a deep mystery or anything, but it's a little weird, and can help add to another effect. If one was interested in performing a haunted deck effect by itself then I would definitely suggest a gimmicked option.

Ed Fowler talks about the ideomotor idea for the haunted key in Carlyle Touch 2.

Perhaps just try it with Derren's self cutting deck, hold the deck level and just concentrate on it, visualise the deck cutting itself and see what happens.