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Steve Friedberg Inner circle 1402 Posts |
I've been reading some recent posts, both here on the Café and in magazines like Magic, which talk about how people are increasingly moving away from a mandatory reliance on Bicyles as a "standard" for cards, and toward a wide range of less-expensive cards, and souvenir decks, etc.
Harry Murphy, one of our Moderators, has posted that he's used some off-brand decks recently. I responded that based on his post, I'd try a couple of decks from the nearby dollar store. I have, and I'm quite pleasantly surprised. I bought two decks for...yes, a dollar. The decks are clearly labeled "Made in Malaysia." But the card stock is far heavier than I thought it would be, and rivals Bikes. The deck springs nicely...the printing quality is very good. And the only difference you'll notice on the face of the cards is on the AS, since USPC retains trademark rights to its design. I'm still waiting to see what people think when I perform with these decks...but that's another issue. IMHO, they've already passed the first test, and that's, "are they of sufficient quality for a magician to use?" The answer is yes.
Cheers,
Steve "A trick does not fool the eyes, but fools the brain." -- John Mulholland |
tricky54 New user ohio 50 Posts |
steve ive tryed this before and it seems 2 me that specs feel more comfortable with bicycle because they think that bikes aren't gaffed. the bad part is they think i am using gaffed cards because they are different then what poker players or they themselves would use.
TrIcKy54
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
I'm confused. In someone's home you might want to use their cards.
In performance you could consider a deck of cards as a prop and use whatever is most appropriate to the context of your routine. Most people respond more to HOW YOU handle the cards than the brand or design of the cards.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Steve Friedberg Inner circle 1402 Posts |
Guys:
I agree that most spectators are more comfortable with Bikes, thinking them to be ungaffed cards. Which is why gaffed Bikes are so effective. But the fact I bought these cards at the dollar store can be used as the basis for, say, an Ambitious Card routine: "I couldn't imagine why the decks cost so little...maybe they weren't giving me 52 cards. (fan the deck) "But then I realized the problem; one card in the deck kept asserting itself, moreso than any card in a regular, more-expensive deck." Blah, blah, blah...regular routine follows, with the lesson at the end being to not trust cut-rate decks. My point in my earlier post was to say that my belief, prior to buying the decks, was that their quality would not be up to snuff. I was wrong. On initial inspection, at least, they are.
Cheers,
Steve "A trick does not fool the eyes, but fools the brain." -- John Mulholland |
Glenn Godsey Special user 737 Posts |
I prefer "Stud" cards (Walgreen's) over bicycles because they are more flexible. The last time I saw Alan Ackerman, he was using "Studs", but he was also using some Bikes. It takes me several hours to break in Bikes.
However, I do several routines that use DF and DB gaffs, so I usually use Red Bikes to make sure that they are all consistent. |
Logan Inner circle 2289 Posts |
In Asia, what cards you use really don't make a difference for the spectator, because all cards look 'the same' from the back to them - I've never been questioned about my cards until they ask, "What's Bicycle?"
We don't really have Bicycle cards in Asia and it's not considered a standard, but I always tell them like the fact that they can spread easily - which they do. Most cheaper decks can't be table spread even if you apply grease to 'em The decks you get from Airlines are quite nice...they are thin and flexible, very fun to spring with! I don't mind doing tricks with those, eventhough I can't spread them - DL are a breeze with them! All the best, Logan
You've been hit by, you've been struck by, a smooth criminal.
Singapore's Hairiest Corporate Comedy Magician! |
Magicusa Elite user 478 Posts |
The less-expensive cards fans better. They also have nice pictures on their back. Like water falls and things like that. They really look good with thier backs fan out.
All this for less then a buck$ |
SCGillett New user 64 Posts |
I also like Stud cards from Walgreen's. They faro well for me. They also contain 4 identical jokers.
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RiffClown Inner circle Yorktown, Virginia (Previously Germany) 1579 Posts |
If you look around in the "It's a Dollar" store you can sometime find magic cards (aka stripper deck), miniature cards, jumbo cards and plastic boxes appropriately sized to store a deck of cards.
Rob "Riff, the Magical Clown" Eubank aka RiffClown
<BR>http://www.riffclown.com <BR>Magic is not the method, but the presentation. |
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