How to do a Deck Change or Deck Switch with Playing Cards – Magic Tips

Struan asked for help performing a deck change or deck switch to introduce gimmicked playing cards: 

‘I’m struggling to get ready for my first performance in public. There’s a cafe near me which asks for volunteers to go in and do acts, which I’m going to try.But I’m new to magic, and I’m having trouble stitching together a coherent routine – a few of the tricks I use gimmicked playing cards, so I need to somehow introduce them. What’s my best bet? Should I just be open about the deck change? Or should I do a secret deck change, or palm or cop the gimmicked cards in?’

Firstly Struan, well done for finding a venue where you can practice your magic in a live situation- the best way to improve your magic is to perform regularly for real people, so you are on the right track with what you are doing.

Keep It Simple Stupid!

It is great that you are thinking about how you will transition from one trick to the next, and the fact that you have identified a potential problem at this early stage is a real positive. You may find yourself in a position similar to a lot of other magicians whereby in trying to come up with a perfect solution to your problem you end up over-complicating the deck switch, to the point where your solution is completely impractical for real world performance.

Whatever method you use to achieve the deck switch, your focus should be simplicity. By keeping it simple, there will be less for you to worry about when you perform- and the less you have to worry about the more relaxed you will be. The more relaxed you are, the smoother your performance will be.

Being Direct.

Perhaps the simplest way of switching decks is to be open, and draw attention to the fact that you are using a new deck. It sounds obvious, but sometimes we overlook such straight-forward methods because we don’t feel like we are being deceptive enough.

There are a number of ways you can justify openly switching decks depending on your style and the magic tricks you are performing. If, for example, you begin your act with a regular deck of Bicycle playing cards then you could introduce an old-looking deck of playing cards and tell your audience that the magic trick you are going to show them was first performed by the original owner of these cards years ago (if you have a magic trick which lends itself to a story presentation). You could even bring out playing cards with a different colour back design and cite ‘superstitious’ reasons for the change. As long as you come up with some kind of covering line and deliver it confidently, this kind of deck switch will not be questioned.

‘Bringing In’ Individual Playing Cards.

A simple way of either adding gimmicked playing cards or removing them from a deck ready for your next trick is to put the whole deck of cards into your pocket whilst you show the audience that there is nothing ‘tricky’ with your hands and nothing up your sleeves. You remove the deck of cards from your pocket to continue performing along with any extra gimmicks from your pocket, or without gimmicks from your previous trick that are left behind in your pocket.

Palming or ‘copping’ playing cards to and from the deck whilst it is in play is a very useful technique to have, and if you have mastered these sleights then undoubtedly you are well equipped to switch playing cards in and out without any fancy gimmicks or apparatus. Having said that, if you are at all uncomfortable with the technique then you may wish to consider some easier alternatives for your first time in the new venue so you are not putting yourself under unnecessary pressure…

     Considering Your Options.

Your concern about deck switching is something that some of the best minds in magic have given a lot of thought to- so you are not alone!

Former FISM world champion Henry Evans has devised a truly elegant and simple way of switching decks without actually switching decks! In his excellent trick Modern Times, Henry causes a red and a blue deck of cards to visually switch places. Because this trick requires 2 decks of cards to be used, you can simply put one deck away when you are finished and continue to use the second deck of cards that is already in view. The great thing about this approach is that the method for introducing a new deck of cards forms part of a stunning magic trick on its own!

The great magician Tommy Wonder came up with an extremely straight-forward method for a deck change which a lot of professional magicians still swear by. You can watch Tommy teach this in-depth on his DVD Wonderized or you can read about it in the phenomenal BOOKS OF WONDER    .

Gimmicks.

Sleight of hand or misdirection may not be the way you prefer to perform your deck switch. Sometimes, using a gimmick to do the work for you can speed things up and give you one less thing to work on. Ultimately, we created this blog to help you and your fellow magicians by giving you tips and advice about performing in the real world. This is not just another selling platform, so we won’t bombard you with products because that is not what this magic blog is about. However, this is such a great topic that will be relevant to a lot of people who regularly read the blog so for the sake of completeness we would also draw your attention to 2 relatively new gimmicks from Jeff Kaylor and Christian Engblom respectively called TKO 2.0 and THE COOLER, which are both extremely deceptive and unique sleight of hand free solutions to performing a deck switch.

What You Should Do.

There is no right or wrong answer here. Every magician is different- has their own way of thinking about magic and their own level of capability. Hopefully this article has been able to bring you closer to the answer you seek by highlighting some of the options that are currently available to you, so that you can consider what is right for you as an individual.

DON’T FORGET- whatever you decide, KEEP IT SIMPLE! Don’t try anything on your first night in this new venue that is going to put excess pressure on yourself. Relax, have fun, and BE GREAT.

Best of Luck!

Did you find this post useful? What’s your preferred method for doing a deck switch or switching playing cards? Have you ever been caught out? What tips could you pass on to help? Please leave a comment in the section below:

How to Make Rough and Smooth Playing Cards Without Fluid or Sprays

by Merchant of Magic 2 Comments

We are going to show you the best method to easily make your own rough and smooth playing cards.

The rough and smooth principle is among the most popular ways to gimmick playing cards. Countless packet tricks have been created that use this method. However, rough and smooth playing cards have their downsides:

They wear out over time.
The quality can differ greatly.
Coating cards yourself can damage the playing cards.
You can’t give away the playing cards easily.
Rough and smooth decks can be expensive.
Sometime separating the cards can be difficult
You are limited in the style and design of playing cards.
You need to keep applying roughing fluid or spray to the card.

Here’s a free online video teaching you how to escape those problems with an easy, instant and practical way to create your own rough and smooth playing cards whenever you need them:

Who invented rough and smooth playing cards?

The origins of rough and smooth playing cards have been lost in time. They almost certainly started off being used by gamblers and card cheats. The original idea was to cause the cards to stick together using chemicals. If prepared correctly, the cards could be made to separate when force was applied.

Some magicians attribute the rough and smooth principle to Johann Hofzinser (1806-1875), who is known as the father of modern card magic. However, this is hotly debated. References to his technique suggest he used a chemical called diachylon to fix and stick envelope cards, rather than to create a rough and smooth action used in card magic tricks.

A technique to create a rough and smooth action with Bicycle Playing Cards appeared in Ellis Stanyon’s Magic, 1914 No. 73. This was done by mixing Air Cushion and Ivory finish playing cards.

Karl Fulves writes in ‘The History of the Brainwave Principle’ on rough and smooth playing cards in their modern state. He attributed the concept to Nelson Downs in 1924.

During the early 20th century, the rough and smooth principle remained underground. It wasn’t until the 1930s when Joe Berg brought it to the mass market with the Ultra Mental deck (later renamed to the Invisible Deck). Dai Vernon’s Brainwave Deck followed, and in the 1940’s, the variations we find at the core of so many card magic tricks today became popular.

3 Quick Tips for using a rough and smooth deck of playing cards.

1) Keep the deck in a card clip when not in use. This will keep the cards flat and in good condition. Bent cards reduce the effectiveness of the rough and smooth action.

2) Take time to practice spreading the cards with a gentle touch.

3) Carry an Invisible deck with you as the perfect ‘out’ for a card routine that could go wrong. If you lose a location, miss a move, or pick the wrong playing card, produce an invisible deck as a ‘prediction’ you made some time ago.

How to make your own rough and smooth playing cards.

There is a very simple, quick and easy way to make your own deck of playing cards become rough and smooth. If you haven’t heard of him already, Alan Rorrison is a professional magician and one of the consultants to Dynamo Magician Impossible. Alan Rorrison has created a free online video teaching you the LSQ method to make rough and smooth cards in a quarter of the time it would take to use roughing spray or fluid. Not only is it quicker, but it’s free of charge as you probably have everything you need already.

CLICK HERE TO GET LSQ FOR FREE

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

by Merchant of Magic Leave a Comment

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.