THE BLURB:
A card at any number effect for the real world!
A single red-backed prediction card is placed face-down in
full view of the audience. The spectator names any number
between 1 and 52 (e.g.17). The performer hands him a blue
backed deck and asks him to have a look through it to
confirm that it is simply a regular deck of cards - the
spectator confirms that it is. He is then instructed to deal
down to the seventeenth card and place it next to the
prediction. Without any moves or switches, the performer
turns over both the selection and the prediction - they
match!
No sleight-of-hand? No equivoque? No switches? No extra
props? No problem!
Mike Rose's brilliant approach to the 'card at any number'
plot satisfies the need for a worker's solution to this
commercial effect. This is so clean and direct that it will
go straight into your act!
Comes complete with U.S.P.C.C. printed gaffs.
MY COMMENTS:
In this incredibly intriguing effect, you'll be forcing one
of two cards no matter what number is called out. The
clever principle requires no sleights and you must alter a
regular deck of cards. But it's such a subtle change to the
deck that no one will notice. You'll still be able to do a
majority of mental card routines with the deck in this
condition. And, for those who'd like to re-set the deck, it
can be done and probably right in front of the audience.
The principle involved can definitely be used for other
types of card effects. Tarot cards would be obvious, but
you could probably apply it to other types of cards. Symbol
cards or word cards come to mind. It is important though to
have the cards removed from a box, because there's a bit of
business that may need to be done.
My final comment is about the revelation of the matched
cards. As described in the accurate blurb above, the cards
are turned over on the table. If you did that in an act,
this finale would be hard to see. You'd have to hold up the
cards, which is easily done. As a matter of fact, that's
better. I should also mention that this revelation involves
a gimmicked card. Because the performer has two outs, any
experienced mentalist should be able to come up with other
techniques for the revelation if using a gimmicked card is
uncomfortable.
What makes this an elegant effect is that the cards are in
the hands of the participant most of the time. The
performer only touches the cards long enough to give them to
the participant. And this very direct, hands-off card
routine does seem genuinely impossible. This feature plus
the ability to use this deck of cards for other routines, if
you so choose, makes this product worthy.
This product comes polybagged and includes one heavy folded
sheet that has the cover on one side and the instructions
printed on the other. You also get a new deck of Bicycle
cards, the prediction card (on Bicycle stock), and two
additional ungimmicked Bicycle cards that will make the
whole principle work. (Yep, just two extra cards!)
