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RyanAdams Regular user 104 Posts |
Hi guys,
I was having my annual magic clear out yesterday (we all do it) and discovered a few of the bits that got me started in magic. Anyway one of these was the Svengali deck or long and short deck. It's crazy how you neglect tricks when new stuff comes along! And frankly, I regret doing so because its actually really cool. I can imagine somebody replying to this post with a "well why don't you just use a force" message, but frankly there is so much you can do with the Svengali. I can't believe I've been overlooking this for the past few years so I've managed to find a few cool routines with it. So what do you guys think?? Am I just going crazy or is this really not just a tacky joke shop trick?? Would appreciate any ideas you have with the Svengali. Thanks Ryan |
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seeragain New user 17 Posts |
Have a look at this routine and see what you think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lemy01UJWYo&feature=relmfu The book explaining the actual routine can be purchased here: http://www.marklewisentertainment.com/html/magicians.html |
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pabloinus Inner circle 1681 Posts |
Mark is correct, his booklet, which I have a copy is very good, some drawings, many different sleights for the Svengali deck and a very nice routine.
Another option is a small PDF download by Mick Ayres, it is called The Svengali deck a professional pitch routine, it is more a pitch to sell the Svengali deck but the routine is very good and also well explained, no drawings or pictures, but not really needed. There are also 2 DVDs that I am aware, one by Oz Pearlman, very complete and with a routine that is sleightly different to others and the other DVD is by Rudy Hunter well explained as well. Hope this helps |
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seeragain New user 17 Posts |
I am amused at the Rudy Hunter reference since I taught him how to do the Svengali deck in the first place!
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Woland Special user 680 Posts |
When you understand that the Svengali is not a "self working" deck, you will begin to see its possibilities. Superb card-handling skills such as are seen in the videos linked above, and a natural handling, make miracles possible.
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AdamChance Special user 656 Posts |
I like doing a really simple effect with this deck. have a folded up piece of paper saying that you will select the ace of hearts. then ask them to pick a number between 1 and 52. then if it's an odd number, then count to their card. if it's an even number, count that many cards off and get them to pick the next one. then complete the cut. get them to look at the prediction. then say, "want to know how I did it?" then show them that all the cards are the same.
I start the trick off ruffling through the cards, showing them all different... and saying that some magicians get people to select a card by asking the spectator to say "stop" while riffling through the cards... and that this isn't really fair because they never stop exactly when you say stop. so the fairest way to select a card is to just pick a number between 1 and 52. I like it because you get 2 effects... a mentalism effect and then a magic effect. and it's very simple. I love the routine posted above, but it's pretty complicated and it's hard to spread the cards perfectly like he does... and you need a good surface to do it on. |
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AdamChance Special user 656 Posts |
And one thing to add to my above post. if they choose an odd number... you can flash the even cards to show them that if they had picked the number 6 or 10 or whatever, they would have gotten different cards.
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tomsk192 Inner circle 3894 Posts |
Mark Lewis's handling is rather good.
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seerunder New user 41 Posts |
Yes. I rather thought so too.
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seerunder New user 41 Posts |
Yes. I rather thought so too.
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seerunder New user 41 Posts |
Sorry about the repetition above. There seems to be little gremlins affecting the magic Café for some reason.
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tomsk192 Inner circle 3894 Posts |
Rather, old bean.
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seerunder New user 41 Posts |
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RyanAdams Regular user 104 Posts |
Thanks for the feedback guys! Will check out all the links shortly.
And Adam, nice idea man! I'm doing a pretty basic routine at the moment. Simply asking the spec to stay stop as I dribble (the cards!) so simply making them select the force card. After revealing the card I just show that every card is infact their card BUT then explaining that this is simply an illusion as I can make people see what I want them to see (endless gags at this point). So then I simply show the deck to have changed back to a regular pack. Essentially this is the same idea is yours, Adam. Additionally, you could use the Svengali for multiple selections and then reveal that 3/4 spectators were all actually thinking of the same card. |
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seerunder New user 41 Posts |
"Dribbling" is not a very good method to have a card selected. It is even worse than the old method used in my day where you run the cards from one hand to the other in the well known Svengali manner and say, "tell me when to stop". Dearie me no. Use the SPREAD as seen in the video I showed. And the only trouble with your routine above is that you are going to get people saying that they have a pack like that at home. I and other disreputable pitchmen have sold thousands of these decks so it is a trifle well known.
No. The solution is to use the routine in the video which disguises the usual problem of people seeing the same card all the time and knowing it is a trick deck. To learn the SPREAD and the routine properly you purchase the book "The Long and the Short of It" that I linked to. In Chapter Four there are all sorts of dodges used where the spectators can examine the cards. And I don't just mean deck switches although some are described. There are ways you can have the deck you use examined. No kidding. Of course you will have to buy the book to find out the full details. |
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RyanAdams Regular user 104 Posts |
Seeragain - that is a great routine, thanks for the heads-up!
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sgtgrey Special user Austin, TX 839 Posts |
Thanks for the video find...that just pushed me over the edge and I'll be ordering The Long and Short of It now!
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seerunder New user 41 Posts |
Jolly good. I must congratulate myself on my superb salesmanship.
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sgtgrey Special user Austin, TX 839 Posts |
Very good salesmanship indeed! I've been looking at that book for about a year now, but I really should get it, wipe the dust off my Svengali deck, and start practicing.
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seerunder New user 41 Posts |
Everybody keeps promising to buy it but I haven't seen any money yet! I am not as good a salesman as I thought I was!
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