When one is demonstrating the Svengali deck for potential customers, is it a good idea to riffle the deck and show all the cards as being the same? Isn't this a dead giveaway that you're using a gaffed deck?

As some of you know, Martin Lewis swears by this in his pitch. I don't think it's a good idea.

Dai Bato

For a pitch routine, I think the answer would definitely be yes. From my own experience, showing all the key cards is the "kicker" that sells the trick. There is no concern about revealing that it's a gaffed deck, because that's the way the deck is sold -- as a "special" deck of cards. If you watch Don Driver's pitch video, you will see that he does the same thing. Click HERE for more info.

However, I only show the key cards once, at the end of the routine. I use Mr. Lewis' table spread move for this, which is very impressive and sometimes even gets a round of applause. Then I riffle the cards, showing that they have all returned to normal, as they were at the beginning. Some people have sworn that it was an optical illusion, or that they were hypnotized into seeing the entire deck change into their selected card. Most people have no idea how the effect was accomplished.

However, if you are using the deck as part of a card act, or have switched it in for a regular deck, then I agree that it wouldn't be a good idea to reveal all the key cards, because it would tip the fact that you're using a gaffed deck. The power of a Svengali Deck lies in the ability of the magician to handle the deck as if it were a regular deck of cards -- doing overhand and riffle shuffles, etc. SETH

Why don't you think it's a good idea? Don't you want people to buy your "magic deck" of cards? After all, that's what you are selling. "A trick deck, a mechanical deck, a deck of cards specially designed to allow anyone, anywhere to perform amazing feats of magic without any special skill or ability whatsoever."

That is what you are selling. It's not a magic show, it's a pitch. People need to see what the deck can do if you expect them to buy it.

Seth and Vandy said it all...ditto...ditto...ditto

Don

Just a reminder that there is a section of the Café' specifically for pitchmen -- the "Step Right Up" section of the "Carnival of Fun."

Although I'm not positive, my guess is that this portion of the Gaffed Card section of the Café' is for the handling of the deck and specific tricks that could be done with it. The pitch section would deal more with the pitch presentation, as this thread does.

Anyway, all "Svengali sellers" are invited to visit the "Step Right Up" section, too. SETH

Posted: Jun 12, 2006 8:08pm
One more thought on this -- the fact that you show all the key cards does not expose exactly how the deck works. The specs still need to buy the deck and read the instructions in order to perform the same effects with the deck. Don Driver even goes so far as to tell folks about the short card in his pitch (in order to get them to come right up to the pitch table and look at it) -- but he doesn't explain that there are more than one of them in the deck.

I think this is an important distinction. I know I'm not doing a magic show, I'm selling a Svengali deck, as Vandy says. But as a magician, I still don't knowingly expose a secret just for the purpose of exposing it. If you want to know how the deck works, you have to buy the deck; that's no different than any other magic dealer, from Tannen's to Hank Lee or anyone else. But I don't give secrets away for free. SETH

Thank you, one and all, for your feedback. I guess a Svengali pitch and a card trick are two different things.

Dai Bato

I think you can use the pitch routine also for normal performances. Pitch routine works great because it gives strongest impact, so it works for any occasion.

Hideo Kato

If showing all the cards the same is a strong selling point, then I must say that I will reconsider my view on that point.

I was thinking that showing all the cards the same being a bad idea if you were performing with the Svengali deck for an audience or friends in a card trick setting.

Dai Bato

Some people will think that the tricks you can do with a Svengali deck are too hard to do for them, and are afraid to buy. So you have to show them that it is a "trick" deck and easy for any one to do these amazing tricks.

Seriously, just get Don Driver's video on the Svengali pitch. He shows you what to do and when. Then get some decks, go out and do it.

You will make money...many here have done this exact thing.

Good luck.

This is quite true. I usually tell the audience that "The deck does all the work for you" and that it's a "very special" deck of cards, things like that. SETH

Dai, are you selling decks or doing a trick? You are not clear about this. Either way the answer is to show the deck all the same. The pitch aspect is obvious, people will buy just to see how it works. From a trick or routine aspect the showing of the cards being different then the same then etc etc is the one thing that makes it interesting as a deck.
Steve V

I don't like the tone of that last post. It's been reported and I've recommended banishment.


HA!! Welcome back Steve.

Steve V, I mean to get into selling Svengalis.

Dai Bato

Dai Bato,if you are thinking of getting into this business even if its week ends at a flea market.You might as well start off on the right foot...you don't "sell" Svengali's you "PITCH" them.

Don

Vandy...don't throw gas on a fire.

Dai, I am going to give you the greatest advice you'll ever get and hopefully I'm too late and you already did what I'm about to say. Get Don Drivers DVD on pitching the decks. You will then be ready to rock. I'm sorry I didn't follow what you were saying, selling and customer to me means trying to get a person to hire you. Get the Don Driver DVD and go forth and become wealthy.
Steve V

Posted: Jun 20, 2006 1:51pm
Dai, in reading your first post you reference Martin Lewis, you mean Mark Lewis. You also reference his 'pitch', which I'm assuming you mean his routine. If you purchased his brilliant routine you got just that, a brilliant routine, it isn't intended to be a pitch. I'm pondering the creation of a Svengali licensing program for pitchmen and wannabe pitchmen, just to keep everyone honest.
Steve V

You're right, Steve V, I meant Mark Lewis.

Dai Bato

Hey Steve,

Didn't Mark once say that Pitchmen aren't honest people? Actually good idea, maybe even require say a 40 hr class prior to the test for the license.

Don could take the east coase, you could take the west, David could take the mid west and Mark could have the international.

George

I hope there won't be a written test! <grin>

Actually, the Svengali Pitch is very honest and straightforward -- what you see is what you get. Anyone can do exactly the same tricks that I do, once they read the instructions and practice for a while. Yes, we do tell people that it works by static electricity and whatever, but nobody takes that seriously anyway. SETH

I admit it...when I wrote the word 'honest' I giggled.
Steve V