Or maybe you underestimated the damage a rubber band can do to a deck, not to mention all the grime and dirt.

Lots of guys have decks that are really specific and things like that can hurt performance. I’m not one of those guys or gals but I don’t do intricate card work either.

Agin I postulate that it is about how you handle the props and your attitude toward them which makes them suspicious or not. The simple question of “can I shuffle them” can be answered a myriad of ways. The least “suspicious” of which is “sure “. “No” would probably be the most suspicious answer to the question. I don’t care what type of cards you are using this is true.

But I work with guys at Speakeasy Magick who are unbelievable card guys and use many methods you wouldn’t want the audience to disturb. But they are so engaging in the context of what they are doing that it generally doesn’t occur to people to even want to shuffle. What is being done is just so engaging and outrageous and doesn’t seem to involve these methods even though it does. It is just very well disguised in the routine!

I just think it is easier to blame the props.

Performing under "real" conditions for non-magic audiences will open your eyes to a world of possibilities. The trick is to look at your efforts through the eyes of your audience.

Almost 40 years working magic full time and I have yet to work for any other kind of audience.