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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Well, I haven't posted on the green place for many years, but my latest acquisition is really so incredibly good, that I feel it deserves a mention.
"Spread" is a deck by Gary Sumpter, released by Alakazam Magic, which has a choice of four very beautiful visual final reveals. The edges of the backs, when spread, give an image of the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Statue of Liberty, or Leaning Tower of Pisa. The images are instantly recognisable. All the cards have beautifully printed images of travel destinations from around the World, and are also printed with numbers and suits like regular playing cards. They look exactly like a souvenir deck, and even come in a specially designed box to make them appear more innocent. And apart from the spread images, the cards are totally ungimmicked. So, can be used as a regular deck of cards. The deck is intended to be used as a stacked deck, meaning that when in order, you will know which cards precede and follow each other. As soon as I got hold of them, I wanted to perform some mind-reading effects, without using the final reveal. There is one issue, and that is that the deck has to be stacked in a specific order, or the spread reveal won't work. So, I've just ordered a second deck. Even fanning the cards slightly, unless they're deliberately mixed up, tends to reveal that there's something about the back design.......but if you start with the stacked deck, and turn every other card end-for-end, then mix them a lot, there's no evidence of the spread reveal. The options are endless. Of course, you can talk about where people want to visit, their favourite holiday memories, dream holidays, etc. I plan to use a triple mind-reading effect with 3 spectators - determining the value of the first card, the location of the second, and both the value and destination of the third. I'll do several other routines with the mixed deck, before switching in the stacked deck - when I'll first do a trick as suggested in the instructions for "Spread" to determine a chosen destination, then a variation of Dai Vernon's "Out of Sight, Out of Mind", which is easy to do whilst maintaining the stack. And the reveal is incredible! The magician reads the spectator's mind......and tells them which destination they merely THOUGHT of! There's a very good chance that one of the four final reveals will be chosen. Whatever, I'll end up with the final reveal, and unlike the suggestion in the video instructions, I won't spread the cards face down, rather face up. ......and will allow the spectator to slip their chosen destination card beneath the cards, and slowly turn them over......the spread flips over perfectly and this allows the spectator to reveal the image themselves. (I work with a close-up table with a good close-up pad on top, that's essential if you want to do the turn-over reveal). Simply awesome stuff! The deck also comes with a duplicate "Las Vegas" card which has "Six of Clubs" on the Vegas sign, should you want it. I've been doing card tricks for 56 years, and this is the best deck of cards I've ever owned. Brilliant reveals, beautiful and evocative images, innocent looking deck, and totally examinable. |
Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Here's the Alakazam promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_INhjlp68M&t=234s
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RNK Inner circle 7491 Posts |
WOW! High accolades! The best deck of cards you ever owned!?! I might have to check this out Potty. Thanks for posting this!
Check out Bafflingbob.com
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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Gaffed & Funky » » Spread. The best ever travel routine with a deck of cards? (0 Likes) |
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