talkmagic.co.uk

There are a number of tricks where a spectator is ask to "sign a card" and return it to the deck, and many times this card is a free choice.

On some occasions the effect calls for a particular card to be signed, a performer may go to elaborate lengths to ensure the correct card has been signed (not giving away too much I hope). In recent times I have simply been turning over the top(?) card and asking the spectator to sign it before continuing with the effect. My argument is that since the card is signed by the spectator do they really need a "free" choice of card? It's "their" card that is going appear again at some other time or place!

What do you think, a good tip for an easier life or the misguided musings on a magician too lazy to learn the "classic" methods?

Whether a card is forced or not before being signed, the value is that it often enforces in the specs mind that they are in control through having had a free choice of card, rather than having been given a card to sign.

It's sometimes what the spec thinks is happening, rather than what is actually happening. The more that you can do to eliminate the suggestion of a force, then the better the impact of the trick will usually be.

Also, the time that they take to sign the card, even for a few seconds is also an extremely good period of misdirection whilst you prepare for a DL etc.

If you give the spectator what they believe is a 'free' choice of a card, then they not only think they are in some kind of control of the situation as dat says but they also value that card more....whatever you do with it.

I am sure they are thinking that's my card he has brought to the top of the deck or found face up or magically found in his pocket/wallet etc etc....as opposed to thinking I didn't have a free choice of a card and I didn't want the one he gave me.....maybe that one he gave me was a special magic one or a duplicate etc.