Good recap of the thread, Nikodemus.

I too plan to eventually use SF as, though I have no issue with DLs, sliding out the odd-backed card from a spread cannot be beaten for strength of conviction.

I gave some thoughts about making the 2nd selection disappear using SF and there’s the easy solution where you treat the (corner short) duplicate face with SF. I can’t go into details here, of course.

However, you’re right, if you let the spec shuffles the deck, there’s no real reason to make disappear the duplicate as there’s no heat on the deck. But, should you need to, you’re always in control as simply riffling the face-down deck will control the dup either to the top or bottom.

As I usually perform seated at a table now, I like so spread the deck face up seeking the 2nd selection, so I do have a need to make it disappear as it’s part of my presentation. Using a SF treated dup would make the effect very convincing and sleight free.

Pretty sure, I originally read this on here, but, simply have the spectator stand on it. You can drop the card on the floor very nonchalantly without fear of it turning over.

I've been playing around with the idea of putting it under a rubber ducky though.

So many interesting ideas here! Thanks, Nick, François, and Robert. I especially like the idea of letting the spectator shuffle the deck before phase 2. I like the other ideas, too, but this one gives a lot of mileage for very little gas (or petrol, for you English people).

I've altered my script to include some of the ideas people have suggested here. I'm still planning to make a video of myself performing.


Bob

François, I've PM'd you. Bob

Pop Haydn -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYEhLqZGnds

Thanks for posting this, Nick. The ending, where Pop names the wrong card, was really fun.

Since we (many of us?) aren't currently getting emails notifying us of new posts we've subscribed to, I'd like to suggest that people look at

https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/view......&forum=2 ,

where I describe a nice success I had in preseting Chicago Opener.

Has anyone ever noticed how Pop takes every effect he does and changes every word in the presentation to fit himself and make it almost unrecognizable from the original piece?

I wonder if there is a lesson in that?

Nah probably not.

Danny, I've noticed! One lesson that you *can't* take from it is, "Be Pop Haydn." But, if you are creative by nature, you'll watch other people's performances, and they'll spark -- sometimes indirectly after many years -- ideas that will enrich your own magic. Few of us can aspire to work at Pop's level, but we can all find a niche and feel fulfilled. At least that's how it's worked for me in fields other than magic, and even a bit in magic.


Oh gosh, end of lecture! Hope that didn't sound pompous.



Bob

To Francois Lagrange: I missed this bit that you wrote on p. 1 of this thread: "In my handling I let the spectator choose their card from a face-up spread (though I can only see the backs) in the first phase. That alone will make sure that they remember their initial choice when it changes to their second “selection” in the second phase."

What a great idea! I'm going to adopt it. I do have a question: Is your spread stationary, or do you move slowly through the cards? I ask because I'm not sure how I'd stop a spectator from choosing one of the cards at the face of the deck in your scenario.

Thanks,


Bob

"Don't take the bottom card, we've all seen it..."

This is fortuitous -- I've just come back to CO to see if I can improve my handling of the DL. I'm confused, though, Pop: if the magi allows the spectators to see the bottom card while spreading, mightn't they later remember that card during the second phase?

Bob, this is why Roberto Giobbi uses a single cover card in his CO routine. This does require you to cut the cards to remove it from the bottom of the deck, though (I think he also recommends a side steal as an alternative). When not using a cover card, I hide the face of the card with my fingers, so they can't get a good look at it.

Marty

Thanks for these ideas, Marty.


Of course this is the continuation of an old thread. I currently use two methods, both employing the "plastic straws as wands" patter I mentioned somewhere. One involves a thick card, which makes the double lift sure-fire. In the other I use the Robert Houdin technique when the red card shows up. I pull the red card off the deck while spreading the top few cards, and say, gesturing with the red card, "Is it my imagination, or is there something different about this card?" Tongue-in-cheek, of course.


I like Leech's original plot very much. Eventually I'll try out your variation. (Your "inside job" 4 burglars comes first, though.)


Bob

Personally I think the selection for the second phase should seem at least as fair as the first phase selection. So I don't like the idea of showing the faces for phase 1 but not for phase 2.

In Chicago Surprise Pop Haydn shows the faces for both phases. If you look at his many performances on YouTube, you will see that no one ever seems interested in taking the face card; nor do they seem to notice it.

Nevertheless it is very easy to hide it with a cover card, as mentioned by Marty. I am not a big fan of the Hindu Shuffle, so prefer to use an overhand shuffle for the spectator to return their selection to a "random" location. It is easy to milk off the cover card as you do this, so cutting or side steal is not needed.