Anyone who knows anything knows these are the only Svengali decks that should be pitched. They are the best for pitch purposes. Hands down!

You should easily be able to get 5 bucks for this deck.

http://www.ellusionist.com/product/playi......+back.do

Lets see...if you buy them for $8.95 and sell them for $5.00 your need a BIGGER truck to haul stock....hands down!

(very funny Vandy)

Oh yeah, that's probably not such a good deal?

It's probably not a good deal if you want to make money. But you always told me a good pitchman doesn't care if he makes money. If he puts a smile on one childs face, it's all worth it. Isn't that what you always say?

But if you want to put a smile on a kid's face, you gotta sell him/her a deck first! SETH

I want to put a smile on "MY" kids face when I cover his college tuition

Well, you can say anything you want about the cards but if I'm doing it "hands down", unless they come behind my table, no one can see the pitch, so it doesn't matter which cards I use, right?

I think I'll just stick with Loftus. I just wish SOMEONE over in China would get off the "9 of hearts" kick they are on. I'd like a few ACE key cards. Wouldn't cost any more to print 'em. Wonder how we can get Loftus to do something about THAT?

Jon

I am back pitching, I have been pitching Chinese Svengal on and off for years. The qwualty is not great but they work well. You can not beat the price they are so cheap. Hands down the cheap crappy cards are best.
Mario

The empire ones are great.

Has anyone used the wizard stripper decks that come in the orange box? I want to put them in a magic set and they are very inexpensive.

As I was closing up yesterday, one of the kids who had bought a deck came back with his Mom.

“Can you show me something about these cards?”

I had little else to do and there was NO ONE else in the aisle so I said, “Sure. Did you read the instructions?”

“Yes”

And put the cards together like they say?”

“Yes”

“OK, what do you want to know?”

“Well, when you stab the cards, how does that work?”

Oops....never DID read the instructions. Tho I'd seen mention of stabbing them in magic books.

“Well, (pulling the answer out of the air) you can use a pencil or a knife or anything, just riffle the cards and stick it in. You'll always have the 'key' card under the knife or pencil.”

“OK and how did you make that ace change to an 8 of spades under that box (1st trick)”

“OK, kid, I'm gonna show you something I NEVER SHOW ANYONE! Now I want you to notice when I'm doing this, that my fingers never leave my hands.” (How many times have you heard THAT one?)

So I actually SHOWED him the DL. I know, I know...magician's code and all that. But this was a kid who had ACTUALLY put the cards together AND had read the instructions (more than I can say for ME!)

“So when I SAID I put the ace under the box, what did I actually put there?”

“Oh wow—the 8 of spades!”

“That's called mis-direction, kid. Some folks call it LYING!”

His Mom even laughed at that one!

“So once you get that DL so you can do it without looking at it, you'll be a REAL magician.”

“WOW! I think I can do it.”

His Mom said, “He's read lots of books on magic and when he saw you do it, he decided he just HAD to have the cards. He's been playing with 'em every since he bought them. He can already do the 2-card thing but he was just stumped over the deck. Thanx SO MUCH for helping him.”

Now---was I wrong? Will he become another Houdini or Blackstone? Quien Sabe? But it made me feel good to get the look of excitement when I showed him the DL.

Hey, I may even READ the instructions!

Jon

Jon,
Once they pay for a deck they have the right to know the D.L. so its ok.Good job.

This magician's code thing with a Svengali deck is all B.S. Only wannabe magician's have a problem with it,just something else for them to cry about.

Don

Hey Jon, we are going to start calling you "Johnny Appleseed," because you are planting little "magic seeds" here and there!

I have done the same thing on occasion, and it has always worked out well, in my experience. Any child who has the genuine interest to ask a question deserves a little help if you aren't busy and have the time. Remember, if the kid does master the deck, he will show his friends, and then he becomes a free walking advertisement for you. I also agree with Don that once they pay for the deck, it is OK to show them the DL.

When you do this, the kids love it, the parents appreciate it, and I guarantee that other people, including the show sponsors, are also watching sometimes. Although they won't know what you are saying, they do see it and will understand that you're not just out for the big buck, and word does get around. (In the end, you will make bigger bucks anyway.)

BTW, don't forget to tell the kids to use a BLUNT knife for the card stab. It's much easier on the cards, and much safer for the magician and his/her audience! SETH