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Andy Nyman’s Dead of Night Deck

Available on pre-order as of 25th July 2005 from Alakazam.co.uk http://www.alakazam.co.uk/


Price: £17.59 deck only (literally “deck only”) £22.59 (full Package including performance/explanation DVD and printed instructions)


Difficulty: 2.5 to 3 out of 5 Your level of practice and a natural performance makes the difference!

I have received a pre-release copy to review, so I cannot present you with the “advertising blurb” so let’s get stuck in….

I say:
Andy Nyman's Dead of Night Deck has been long awaited…ever since he himself mentioned it's pending arrival on the "Get Nyman" DVD. Well…it's finally here! Alakazam and Andy have created a fully printed deck that offers performers a triple punch, knock out routine.

The original Dead of Night (DON) was a creation of Andy's both in concept and in terms of his hand made deck/s. This process alone should have flagged up either Mr. Nyman's deep dedication to his craft or a low level psychosis…perhaps a teeny, tiny bit of both. He kept DON close to his chest for a long time (I can see why!) but has finally has decided to share it.

The routine builds in three stages from an impressive and clever "found selection" effect to a seemingly impossible "card at a totally unknown position based upon a totally unpredictable set of parameters" effect, via previously unknown personal information from a spectator! It does this in a convincingly open, clean and honest way…, which, of course is a con! You will be in total control of the whole shooting match. This is where Andy Nyman's genius shows. By offering spectators an apparently free choice of impossible to predict parameters for you to work with, he actually limits the spectators choice to suit the performer…he is sneaky that one! This is so hidden within the clean "logic" of the presentation it feels like you should be tried for deception and fraud.

The trick uses no sleights whatsoever. There are no "moves" to make, no complex memory work, no switching, the deck can be spread and shown and there is a clear "no quibble" clause built in. In other words Mr. Nyman has made sure that what you say to the spectator happens the way you say it will without "word games" or "double talk". How's that for a slice of fried gold? This is not a self-worker but it isn't difficult either. It is the best of both worlds really. The more you practice and develop a way of working the routine, the better the effect will become, this is serious ammunition for serious performers, ammunition that fires every time.

The quality of the cards is excellent. They are printed with blue backs that look enough like Bikes that you really need not worry, especially if you chuck them into an empty Blue Bike tuck box. "Sweet as a nut"…as they say. The cards are made by a top card-making firm and are of VERY professional finish and feel.

The gaffing of the deck is also of the highest quality and the various "tools" used to help you identify where you are in the deck are subtle yet clear as a bell.

You can either buy the deck as a stand-alone item to use in conjunction with your "Get Nyman" DVD that has the full routine and explanation on it… or… you can purchase the deck with a DVD that is an extraction of the Dead of Night performance and explanation from “Get Nyman”. You also get a comprehensive written manual with a graphical layout of the deck with the deck/DVD package.

Dead of Night is of professional quality. It is personal, favoured "magical-child" from one of the best minds in mentalism today. Work with this, practice and learn the subtleties and you will blow peoples minds.

Right…I'm off to practice!


Overall: 10/10

Grrrrr - my bank manager will not be happy to hear this news! (Nice one Mr.N!)

I haven't watched my 'get nyman' dvd for a while, and don't have it to hand at the moment, so I may be wrong. But if you are left handed, would I be right in saying that you may struggle with this deck/effect.

What an intriguing review !
Looks great. Will it withstand basic examination, and a shuffle ?

Will it withstand basic examination, and a shuffle ?

The specs put the cards back into the deck themselves. The idea is that the deck is not shuffled and no funny moves are made at all. The effect is stronger with out a shuffle.
As far as the spec is concerned, its a normal deck, but it can't be examined.

Not to be irritating or anything, but could somone clearly describe the effect for me please?

Kati

AndyRegs wrote:I haven't watched my 'get nyman' dvd for a while, and don't have it to hand at the moment, so I may be wrong. But if you are left handed, would I be right in saying that you may struggle with this deck/effect.

There's only one thing I can think of that might cause such a problem and it's exactly the problem you'd have with any deck of cards.

The effect is a spelling one. Three members of the audience each choose a card from roughly the top, middle and bottom of the deck. The first card is located through spelling the name of the card. The second is found be spelling the helper's name. He or she may even be given a choice of whether to use a nickname, full name, Mr/Mrs plus surname. The final helper cuts the remaining cards and spells his mother's maiden name and finds the final card.

Read that effect description again. It doesn't play so well to friends and family. So, Dad, what was your mother's maiden name?

It's still very impressive, but a lot better with people you don't know well. A friend of a friend might be a good choice for the second part. For the final phase, you should be OK. I'm not sure I know the maiden names of any of my friends' mothers.

Interesting.
Siund s a bit likes some of Jim Steinmeyer's card effects ?
Piers.

There's only one thing I can think of that might cause such a problem and it's exactly the problem you'd have with any deck of cards.

Which is exactly why I don't do that thing. Once more its left hander discrimination!!!! You right handers don't know how easy you have it. Not having to reverse all card trick effects in your head (which can get confusing), etc etc! The only reason I was good at subtraction at school was because I had to be in order to use a ruler!
Rant over! Have fun...until the lefty revolution comes!

Hopefully I should be alright with it, I'm left handed but i do nearly all card tricks and sleights right handed. Anything else (eg coins) I do left handed.

Part-Timer wrote: The final helper cuts the remaining cards and spells his mother's maiden name and finds the final card.

Read that effect description again. It doesn't play so well to friends and family. So, Dad, what was your mother's maiden name?

It's still very impressive, but a lot better with people you don't know well. A friend of a friend might be a good choice for the second part. For the final phase, you should be OK. I'm not sure I know the maiden names of any of my friends' mothers.

But why on earth tie yourself to this (mother's maiden name)? Name of first girlfriend, first pet, favourite footballer, band, beer, random capital city - who cares? It works anway.

AndyRegs wrote:

Once more its left hander discrimination!!!! You right handers don't know how easy you have it. Not having to reverse all card trick effects in your head (which can get confusing), etc etc! The only reason I was good at subtraction at school was because I had to be in order to use a ruler!
Rant over! Have fun...until the lefty revolution comes!

I'm right handed but had an interesting magic learning experience recently. I was loaned a few DVDs by a Magic friend of mine: Lee Asher's "Asher Twist", Chris Randall's "SWEET", and Bill Malone's "On The Loose" Volumes 1-4.

I found it really confusing when trying to follow the explanations (particularly on Bill Malone's stuff) as they're all left handed. It was really strange.

Can't comment on Dead of Night as I haven't got it. However, one of my mates wants to get it and I'm sure he'll perform it for me so I'll let you know how his performance works out.