I happened to see this essay on the Svengali Deck, and was so impressed with it that I'm posting the link to it HERE.

I'm not sure I agree with everything he says, especially the part about not revealing all the cards to be the same. But I do think he's right on the money about how to handle the deck and what can be done with it. SETH

An interesting article Seth.

I agree with the auhor that when performing with a Svengali, reveal all cards to be the same is too strong to be believable and screams gimickery. However, if pitching Svengalis, the "all card revelation" is probably a big selling point. It also seems likely that most magicians consider Svengalis to be amaturish and rarely if ever use them.

Scott

Scott, I think you hit the nail right on the head here. I have found that the "every card the same" move is always a big finish for the Svengali pitch and really helps to sell the decks. But if I were using the deck in a performance situation, I probably wouldn't do that.

I also agree that a Svengali deck may be amateurish, but it does have its uses, and it can always lead to bigger and better things. I'll bet there are plenty of good magicians, both amateur and pro, who got started with a Svengali deck. Heck, I understand that David Copperfield's first trick was a Miracle Board from a pitchman at Macy's. As they say, "Great oaks from little acorns grow!" SETH

The all cards the same is a MUST for the deck to sell.

WRONG ... many magicians use the Svengali but do not reveal it as such, but use it to force, etc.

I have done Svengali routines for laymen in close up work, and at the end say the toughest thing for a card worker to do is to switch the entire deck, while the audience was burning my hands. Then reveal them as all the same and the audience is amazed.

With proper scripting you can do anything.

Dick Brooks

He writes an interesting article but just as with Mark Lewis' book, he is not PITCHING the deck, only doing "magic". That's wonderful if that is all you wish to do. But, sorry Charlie, I gotta SELL them little devils. So obviously, I disagree with many of his theses.

I had one kid, about 7-8 come back yesterday.

I have a copy of both sides of the instructions on one side of one sheet, along with the "10 tricks" cards, scotch taped to the sheet, this under a page protector. (People kept taking them before they were in the page protector. They thot the paper was part of the deal.)

I have the "admonishment" at the top of the sheet in BIIIG red letters, outlined in yellow--"Don't play with or shuffle these cards before you read the instructions ON BOTH SIDES....." and I ALWAYS point to it and have the kid READ IT OUT LOUD as the last thing before the kids leave. I know it takes more time but so far, usually I have plenty of time.

So, at least in MY mind, there is no reason for them to EVER shuffle the cards before they play with them. So when the kid came back yesterday, he said, "I can't make EITHER of the tricks work."

"What do you mean?

"The deck doesn't show all the cards the same and the 2-card doesn't work at all."

"Did you shuffle the deck?"

"No." Of course they were TOTALLY messed up so he obviously HAD done SOMETHING with them.

"Do you remember reading the instructions when you bought the cards? DON'T shuffle the cards before you read ALL the instructions?"

"No." I knew he was lying because I ALWAYS make them do it.

"OK, look at the top of my deck. See how the cards are there? Look at the top of your deck. See how THOSE cards are? Do you see the difference?"

"Yes."

Go make your cards look like mine. There will always be a key card on the top of the deck."

He left and came back with them PRETTY well put back in order but not quite. So I finished it for him. Told him, "OK, try that "same card" trick now."

Of course, he could do it now, so he was happy. Then he said, "But I can't make the other one work either."

"How do you do it?"

He put 1 in each hand and turned them over that way, separated by a few inches.

"Remember when I said, 'If you can turn your hand over, you can fool all your friends and win all the bets'? Then showed him the correct way.

"Oh Wow, is that all there is to it?"

"Now, next time remember this, I charge $5 for the cards but $10 for instructions." (Thanx, Don!)

I'm wondering how many of these things DON'T make it to the parking lot but the kids are too scared to come back because they didn't follow the instructions?

Jon