Should a Signed Playing Card be Given to People by Magicians?

When it comes to a spectator choosing playing cards, magicians can’t help saying:

“Pick a card. Now please sign your name on the card..“

Why do magicians have playing cards signed by their spectators? It’s such an odd thing to do. Playing cards aren’t supposed to be signed. There’s something else making the magicians get the names of their spectators on the playing cards.

The most popular reason magicians do this to playing cards.

It’s a time stamp.

Having a spectator sign a playing card is a proof that the playing card was in THAT space at THAT time. It elevates the impossibility of the effect, should the playing card be found in another location moments later.

Why do we give the playing cards to spectators to keep?

Hands up, who needs a playing card with their own signature on it? Anyone…?

Our own signatures are not rare, we can make one whenever we want. What’s the value in keeping a playing card we sign ourselves? It doesn’t refer to the magician, it doesn’t even point to what happened in the magic trick. It’s just a playing card with our name on it. Spectators do often keep the playing cards magicians make them sign, as a reminder of what they saw. It’s something to take out at the office a few days later as they tell their friends about the magician. But it could be so much better.

Dominic Reyes talks about alternative ways to give out your playing cards:

DO THIS: Next time you need a playing card signed, try one of the following:

1) Give an autograph – If a spectator signs a playing card, add some text yourself:

To
(signature)
Best wishes
(your name)

2) Make a wish – Ask the spectator to write on the card, a wish that they would like to come try in the year ahead.

3) Draw a picture – Ask them to draw a picture and then you can add a funny comment under it.

4) Turn it into a spell – Have them sign the playing card at the top. Under it, write: A wish to come true.
Explain that they should keep the playing card safe, and if they ever need a single wish granted, they should make the wish as they tear the card in two. They must keep the playing cards pieces safe, and it may come true.

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