Does anyone know if B'Wave originally began without the gimmick card? I have been playing with alternating between a gimmicked version and an ungimmicked version and I get equally good reations from both. I'm sure the idea is not original with me, but it did get me thinking about the evolution of the effect.

What is B'Wave?

I allways confuse it with the Brainwave

Rtgreen:

How about an ungimmicked version using a Himber Wallet? That way you still have your 'outs' but the cards can be examined afterwards if you want.

B'Wave is a Max Maven packet effect with a similar routine much like the Brainwave Deck, however it only uses 4 cards and the card the spectator names is face up and the other 3 are blank. A similar routine by John Bannon is called Twisted Sisters. Both of these are excellent effects and if you are into cards should be in your arsenal.
Rennie

The beauty of B'wave is its SIMPLICITY! Changing the method by adding Himber wallets, or whatever is counter-effective. Just do the trick with the gaff, and don't worry about it. No one wants to examine the cards when you are done anyway. If they do, you are telegraphing to them that something is wrong, and you need to take a closer look at the way in which you present the effect. I do this effect more than any other, and I NEVER am asked for the cards. Besides, lay people do not know about "trick cards". They only know about "trick decks".

I don't have a problem with the gimmicked card. I've never been questioned with it either. And I definitely agree that the simplicity is what make B'Wave a great effect. It is straight forward and like real magic. I am just curious about the origins and evolution of the effect to its present form. With just a very simple modification to the presentation you can easily do away with the need for a gimmicked card.



Here is a little more detailed account:

The spectator is asked to think of any of the four queens. That card is show to be face up in a packet of four cards. Also it has a different colored back and the remaining cards are blank.

Dramatically, it is wonderfully structured. Each revelation builds logically from the previous, but none of them are expected.

Rtgreen... You may want to look at James Swain's version in "Miracles With Cards". It does not use a gaff and is called "Boxed B'Wave"

S.Segal

I have replaced the gaff a time or two with a black queen (either a club or a spade) just to be different. You can perform it without a gaff card but it is better with the gaffed card I think.

When you get to the last selection, it can be specified or clarified exactly which card is to be found face up. As opposed to having to equivoque the final choice.
Thats my 2 1/2 cents anyways.

GlenD

Thank you, both Rennie and rtgreen, for the clarifications

In the many times I have done this, no one has asked to check the gaff card. the shock when they see that the 3 other cards are not queens is enough to knock them off their feet. that's when I just casually keep the cards and move on to the next trick.

I bought copies of the book and tape entitled "Mind Control" by David Eldridge - it's excellent! "Mind Control" is a treatise on Equivoque, that features an excellent handling of B'wave. In fact, it sold me on the idea of performing the effect again, even though I do another mental selection effect with an ungimmicked deck, also.

Thanx, Alan.

I too have my own method of performing this using four blanks and one gimmicked card.

I sort of use a variation of Simon Lovell's "Imagination" where a brief glimpse of a card is seen then changed, as if by your imagination.

simple presentation using elmsley counts and an escagno spread at the end.

The July 2004 Genii has a very amusing story by Jon Racherbaumer in a piece about Murphy's Law where he describes a lucky night where he got to get more mileage out of the peculiarities of the B'Wave gaff than he (and maybe anybody else) is ever likely to get again. It's worth looking up.

Three people so far have posted in this thread that they've never had anybody ask to look at the cards. I'm the fourth.

Dave

I perform B'Wave as the finale to a series. I also do not use equivoque. My packet is custom-made to use Kings, and the spectator may name any King.

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I'm glad so many perform B'Wave. Its a great effect and I'm glad everyone has put so much thought into its performance.

Here's what prompted my original question.

The way I have always used B'Wave is to tell the spectator I am going to mentally remove either the red or black queens. "Which do I remove?"

I then ask them to mentally remove one of the remaining queens and turn it over in the packet.

I was thinking, with only a very slight change in the wording, I could eliminate the gaffed card.

By removing the first pair of cards myself (the spectator chooses which I remove) then asking the spectator to remove the remaining card I am set up for a very natural equivoque:

"Did you remove the queen of hearts or queen of diamonds?"

If they answer hearts, (the force card)I tell them to turn it over and replace it in the packet.

If they answer diamonds, I say, "Which leaves us with the hearts. I'll turn it over and replace it in the packet."

At the final choice, I can even ask the spectator if they would like to change their mind.

"You removed the hearts. Would you like to change you mind? No? Then turn it face up and place it with the other cards..."

"You removed the hearts. Would you like to change your mind? Yes? Then that leaves me with the queen of hearts. I'll turn it over and place it with the other cards..."

Like most of you, I have never had anyone ask to see the cards at the end, but I thought the impromptu version was very natural. I wanted to see what you guys thought.

(Sorry for the stream-of-consciousness nature of the post )

Thanks,
Richard

Andrew Galloway has published a beautiful Brain Wave effect with a regular deck. Check out his book "Diverting Card Magic", Copyright 1980, page 41.

Hardi