However, the very few who are willing to share their thoughts on any of my products, can email them to me and I'll feature them here. Obviously any descriptions should fall short of actually revealing the modus operandi!
On Stephen's WHIPLASH DVD, I particularly liked his 'Avalanche' routine. But, not wanting to copy his exact working of it, I decided to use a blank faced deck rather than a blank/blank deck, and I also changed the patter presentation.
I ask my spectator if they remember the story of the 'Emperor's New Clothes' where only intelligent people could see them? When they say they do I add: "Well the US Card Company have brought out a deck of cards that can only be seen by intelligent people". I then ribbon spread the backs and say: "You seem like an intelligent person, so I imagine you can see the backs no problem?" As they say they can, I immediately flip the spread over to show the blank faces and say:"And obviously the faces too?" This creates a comical angle that they are not expecting, and always raises a smile. I then go through Stephen's routine, as explained on the DVD, and when it comes time to reveal their card I just point to one of the blank faced cards and say: "I believe this is your card?" As they say it is, I say: "I am sorry, but I don't believe you can really see the faces as this isn't your card. Your card is here, in this other pile, it's the six of clubs" (assuming that was the card they thought of).
So far, I have only tried this on a few friends, but it never fails to raise a smile!
Although your ACAAN handlings are self-working, I personally use a pass to place the named card in the required position, but it's a turnover pass, which fits absolutely perfectly into your routine! I hope that other customers, who also use the turnover pass, will see that it fits in really well with your handling.
I really like like the 'Alternative Handling' that Stephen mentions at the top of page 7 of the e-book. However, when I use his 'original' (faster) handling... I place a joker second from the face of the deck, which is face up in my left hand. I spread through, up-jog the joker then continue spreading through, as if looking for another. I don't find one but I break the deck at the 'required' card (those who've bought ACCAN will know what I mean by this).
The 'required' card is now at the face of the cards in your left hand. I reach over with my left hand, remove the up-jogged joker and drop it face up to the table. I finally assemble the deck so that the 'required' card is at the face of the deck. I can now hand the deck out immediately for the spectator to deal down to his named number and discover his named card!
For me, this is better than saying,"All the cards are different." Also... it completely flys by everyone, including magicians!
Note: This tip is not from a customer (at least I don't think so). I spotted it on one of the Magic Cafe forums, and thought it was too good not to include here.
It is possible to use Stephen's ACAAN and NOT touch the deck after the card and location have been named. To do so, simply have the spectators write down the name of the card and the location, then secretly gain that info by using any type of peek wallet. Do the necessary and then have the spectators state, out loud, the choices that they wrote down.
What I have done is to simply fix the cleverly gimmicked ACAAN pad inside a Himber wallet, with a similar looking (regular) pad fixed, in the same position, on the other side of the wallet.
Now, as I record the freely named number and the freely named card, it appears that I am writing on a small book (or notepad) inside the wallet, which provides extra cover for what I am actually doing. However, the REAL bonus is that I can close the wallet, table it and then continue with the routine. Later, once the routine has been successfully concluded, I can re-open the wallet (on the other side), tear off the top sheet, screw it up and pocket it. I can then lower the wallet, so that everyone can see the rest of the regular pad and not the gimmicked pad, which is now hidden on the other side of the wallet!
I also printed out the gag-card a little smaller (from the pdf templates that Stephen emailed to me), so that it can be slipped into the wallet... making the routine more self-contained.
I hope that others who have purchased ACAAN will be able to put this simple idea to good use.
Prepare the scene by telling an interesting story about a pirate (or several), represented by the spectator(s), burying ill-gotten treasure on a remote island far, far away.
1. The spectator(s) each choose a pirate/hero - I use a number of printed cards with different images of interesting pirate heroes (or villains) on them (like the one shown on the right). They are stacked in a known order. A memonic, similar to that used with Mind-Map, will help you remember the sequence of the cards. If performing to only one person, and they are not happy with their chosen pirate, they can change their card as often as they like, by replacing it on top of the packet. This maintains the stack order. Once they are happy, by sighting the bottom card of the stack, you know which pirate card they have chosen.
If you have more than one spectator (far more fun), simply have someone cut the packet a few times then hand out the top 2, 3 or more cards.
A brief search of the internet will uncover enough images of famous pirates to supply you with a good sized stack of cards. You could even download the image of Captain Blood (opposite) and prepare a number of cards, all bearing this image, but with different pirate names. The hardest part is coming up with a mnemonic to help you remember the order of the pirates... have fun!
2. Decide on the treasure -The hero(es) next have to choose what treasure to bring to the island. Present a card (like the one show on the left) with symbols of treasure printed on it. Allow them to choose one of these and also indicate the number of kilo's (from 10 to 99) that their treasure weighs or, if they decide on cash, the number of £s it contains.
Have someone write this information down, then secretly obtain it using the centre tear or even a Thought Transmitter (wallet).
If you use the Centre Tear... Give one of them a captain's log type file to write down the type of treasure using the symbol plus a numbered value, e.g. £78. It is important that they all remember and agree (you could use one person only, so that it is easier to remember).
Tell them that no one, but they, should know the content, so... you tear it up and burn the paper.
If you use a peak wallet (e.g. the Thought Transmitter) you keep the wallet, but wrap a rubber band around it so that the secret is securely stored.
3. Where should the treasure be buried? - Using Stephen Tucker's Mind-Map - have them secretly decide on any one of the 58 locations.
4. Finish - The finishing can take many forms. I take on the persona of Captain Crook and verbally reveal all their secrets one by one.
I think that, by incorporating several revelations, Stephen's Mind-Map routine can be transformed into more of a board-game for the spectator's to really enjoy.
I really liked the idea, from Andrew Hawkes (below), of pulling the same card from the same pocket as the spectator, but I've made up three laminated cards, the same size as a credit card, and simply printed the words 'Costco', 'Care Card', and 'Visa' (one on each card) leaving the other sides blank. I also like the fact that I can switch around the outcome at any time.
Another tip... after all three cards are correctly predicted, you claim that you have one more prediction card in your shirt pocket. You remove it and have the spectator read it out aloud. It says."The crowd WILL go WILD". I do enjoy adding this final line, as it gives closure to the trick, as well as bringing you that"extra" applause.
Your Vi$a Cabaret routine does NOT use stooges, but Andy Nyman used one in a routine, inspired by Vi$a Cabaret, in his Fight Dirty lecture notes, and I've been playing around with a similar idea... In performance I say to my stooge,"Please take these three cards, mix them up, then fan them out". He actually mixes and fans them in a prearranged order. I then say,"Please have someone, preferably someone you don't know, remove one of the cards. Let me know when this is done." The stooge then gives me a secret verbal signal to signify which card is taken. For card #1, he says,"Done" (rhymes with one), for card #2 - he says,"OK" (2 letters) and for card #3 - he says,"Yes" (3 letters). This is repeated for the second card. As you know what the remaining card is, your stooge could pretty much say anything at this point (to throw off any magicians listening in for a secret signal).
Picture the scene... You're working in a particularly rough area performing walkabout magic, and you decide to try out Vi$a Cabaret.
A few years back I received a letter from a purchaser of Vi$a Cabaret asking if I could send him the pieces of leather that had been removed from the wallet, as part of the method.
Vincent De Ponto a.k.a. Vanishing Vinny (New York, USA).
Because the spectator mixes up the face-down packet, I prefer the revealed face-up ace not to have developed a different back design; for me its appearance, and the other face-down cards actually being blank, is enough of a conclusion. So, I use blank-face cards with the same red back design as the aces. Then, taking the idea from the improved handling, I use a blue-backed card to replace one of the blank-faced cards, so that the face-up packet can be shown with blue-backs. In fact, I use a double-backer to eliminate one of the behind-the-back moves before counting through the CHaSeD order.
So, two packets of aces, one blue-backed and one red-backed, are shown; I reverse their named (thought of) ace in the blue-backed packet then pocket these cards. I then reveal that I turned their thought-of ace face-up in the tabled packet, before they named it, and so sure was I that they would think of that ace... the other cards are blank.
To elaborate on Jerry Sadowitz's contribution, I have also introduced a 'marked-back' duplicate symbol card to use in conjunction with 'four' blank cards. This will give a 1 in 5 chance of casually showing the face of the reversed card in the first revelation.
Requirements: 6 ESP symbol cards (one of which is a duplicate of any symbol, with a secret marking on its back), 4 blank faced cards. (All the cards have the same back colour/design).
Set-up: Place them in a face-down pile in the following order, the 'marked' ESP duplicate card, on top of that, the four blank faced cards, then the Circle card, the Cross card, the Wavy Lines card, the Square card and finally on top of the face down packet, the Star card.
Routine: Firstly, when I introduce the face-down packet, I very, very, quickly flash the underside duplicate card. This I believe reinforces the statement later that there are 'two' packets of 5 ESP symbols, as well as possibly being a slight subliminal force.
I then count-off the five top cards one by one, turning them face-up, announcing them and placing them face-up on top of each other in the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 order. Whilst asking the participant to think of any symbol.
I ask them to mix-up the 5 remaining face-down cards, take them back and, without hesitation, continue the mixing process to bring the 'marked' duplicate to second position from the top. I then head back into the original routine.
If the symbol chosen matches the duplicate... fantastic, casually turn it over to show it. If not... fantastic, place the packet into your pocket a'la Mr. Sadowitz.
The final revelation is exactly as per the original ESP Omega, but obviously without any colour change of the reversed card's back.
ST: My apologies to Massimiliano if I have misinterpreted his idea. His English isn't perfect. Mind you... it's much better than my Italian!
Another thought: You could show two sets (?) of aces by using two turnover passes.
ST: With Omega, I used to set the aces face up on top of the other face down cards, spread through showing all the cards, square up and make a single paddle-move with the entire packet. I'd then spread through again (showing the same cards), but the illusion was perfect that all the cards had the same back colour and that they were two sets of aces.
My Vi$a Cabaret prediction is not simply a printed list of words, but a drawing of a person with arrows pointing to the pockets. For example: one arrow might have the words, 'American Express Card in Front Right Pocket' printed by it.
This allows you to have some comedy byplay with the spectator. I draw a
pretty good human body with slits for pockets, but the head is just a big
smiley face. This allows me to select a bald gentleman and say
something like,"See, I even predicted your hair style correctly." It's corny, but always gets a laugh.
Another arrow points to the face with the text, 'You, with an amazed look on your face'. Adding the picture does a few things, well two in particular: 1) For stage and parlor, I can use a really BIG drawing and this has a huge impact. 2) You can always read the prediction in the order in which the cards were selected. This is a minor issue, but I feel that it is important. In other words, by using the arrows and drawing, the prediction is not listed
in any order and therefore the cards can be called out in the order
selected.
I have saved three of my old credit cards, which gives me a duplicate of each card that will be taken (and pocketed) from my wallet.
I place these duplicates into my own pockets in accordance with my laminated prediction. This means that once I verbally reveal the content of each of the spectator's pockets, I can then show that I have the same cards in my own pockets.
One thing... when I remove one of my credit cards, I do so with the back of the card showing (to build up some suspense) and I also pull out the lining of each pocket to prove that they are otherwise empty. I then conclude the routine by having the laminated prediction read aloud.
However, you could eliminate the laminated prediction, as the same cards being in your pockets might be just as strong??? I'll leave that to you.
Someone removes your Mastercard, and hides it in his left trouser pocket. He next removes your Visa card and hides it in his right trouser pocket. Finally, he hides your American Express card in his rear trouser pocket. You patter about the prediction you made before the show, and you ask the lady who's holding it to read it aloud, but you hear nothing. You turn around and... EVERYONE HAS LEGGED IT!!!
I know I did at the time.
I eventually managed to find them and sent them to him by return post, with a note asking what improvement he'd made to the original.
A few days later I received his reply telling me that he hadn't made any improvements. The reason he wanted them was that he didn't like the trick, but thought the wallet was extremely nice, so planned to glue the pieces of leather back in place and... use it as his regular wallet!!!
My tip for Vi$a Cabaret is 'not' to have the location of the final item printed on the laminated prediction. I've found that it is a fun ending if the final item (which in my case is a dollar bill) has"BACK POCKET" written on it. It's a surprising ending and for me, and the way I perform it, acts as a big finish, where my previous patter is either forgotten by the audience or skewed to make the trick that much more unbelievable when they tell their friends.
It's a great effect! Thank you!
The improved Omega Plus handling instructions have helped cement the way I'll perform Omega in the future, and I wonder what you and your customers think of the following?
I have reblocked Omega a bit, presenting it along the lines of Annemann's"Magic versus Mindreading".
I present the first denoument as a tongue-in-cheek example of a par-optic vision. When that doesn't convince anyone, I try a card trick instead.
I don't do the spread reveal when I take the aces packet from behind my back, I do a palm replacement followed by a Jordan Count to display four still face down cards. I cause the thought of ace to turn over a la twisting the aces. Then I return to the theme of magic and mindreading, showing the two climaxes.
The Omega routine which suits my style best is the ESP version. I have eliminated the colour changing backs, as I believe this makes for a mind-blowing mentalism effect rather than an outstanding card trick.
Omega will, without question, prove to be one of the strongest 'free-choice'
ESP effects of all time.
When you don't show the faces of your set of aces, before you take them behind your back, some spectators may wonder why? After all, one set of aces 'is' shown!
So, I start with two sets of aces (8 normal aces). I then put one set in my pocket, and the other set on the table and ask the spectator to think of an ace. I now remove the set of aces from my pocket again (really removing the four special cards previously placed there) and take them behind my back.
Next, I say that I will make a prediction and table a face down pile of cards (as in the original routine), but I keep hold of two cards behind my back. I now pick up the pile of face up aces take them behind my back and do the necessary. I continue as in the original and... the routine is finished.
It means carrying four extra aces, but I think the effect is worth it.
You may consider adding, to your instruction sheets, the following idea.
If the spectator names either the ace of diamonds or the ace of clubs, you should give the packet a cut before you bring it back out from behind your back. This will centralise their ace, which looks much better than it being on top or bottom. Just a thought.
Set the aces on top of the other cards, all face down. Spread them out, then lift off and show the top four cards as aces. Replace them face down, holding a break between the two packets. Turn the packet face up, doing a turnover pass at the break point, spread over the top three face up cards - showing four aces. Slightly spread over the 4th ace, and catch a break between the packets again, then turnover pass a second time. Toss the top four cards out, face up, and carry on as per normal. Probably a bit over the top for some people's tastes?
Ps. Your paddle-move idea (below) is great!
However, in the thousands of performances I've given, no one has EVER asked to see the other set of aces, or made ANY comment about me not showing both sets. If you perform Omega in the real world... you will discover this to be the case. Having said all that... Massimiliano's and Euan's solutions (above) work fine if, as in Euan's case, you have the required skill-set.
My tip for your £otto Fla$h Wallet is to replace the pre-play Lotto tickets, that you supply, with actual Lotto tickets.
I have found that a ticket with 7 or 8 lines is virtually the same size as a £10.00 note (see photograph opposite).
Here's another tip... If you're friendly with your local shopkeeper, ask them for say... 8 lucky dips and then have them cancel the ticket. This way you won't have to pay for them! However, whatever you do... do not (I repeat, DO NOT) check the numbers after the draw!!!!!
I have just discovered that a EURO MILLIONS lotto ticket, with just one row of numbers, is about the same size as a £10.00 note as well!!!