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MagicallyMe Veteran user Manhattan Beach, CA 356 Posts |
I was wondering if anyone had a method for marking a single card from a borrowed deck while in front of a spectator (could be while they aren't looking, like signing a card)? Specifically, if I borrow a deck and I need to mark a single card (not a crimp though) for the purposes of being able to control it after the spectator has shuffled it into a small packet of cards. Thanks!
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Steven Keyl Inner circle Washington, D.C. 2630 Posts |
Why are you eliminating a crimp as an option? There are many types of crimps that can be made "under fire" and one or more of them might suit your purposes.
Barring that, a nail nick would be another option to consider.
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billmarq Special user State near Arizona 570 Posts |
I believe the fingernail nick just mentioned is the favored method when a crimp won't do. I have not tried this, but I have read in the past that keeping a small folded piece of black carbon paper in a pocket will allow the performer to get a smudge on his finger and apply it to a card. The good part is that it can be rubbed off for a clean finish, but the downside is that the mark might be visible to your spectator. I think it was John Scarne who recommended rouge as a temporary marking "daub." The right shade of red rouge should be fairly inconspicuous on a red backed card. I have not tried this method either, only read about it.
Nail nicks are probably the way to go. Nothing to carry around.
Honi soit quit mal y pense.
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MagicallyMe Veteran user Manhattan Beach, CA 356 Posts |
I don't have a lot of experince with crimps, the few I have used would show up in a small pack of cards, though not in a full deck because the weight holds it down. For a nail nick, you just put a dent in the corner of the card. Is that correct? How easy are they to see when the spectator is dealing the cards?
Any other ideas? |
BarryFernelius Inner circle Still learning, even though I've made 2537 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-10-28 21:08, MagicallyMe wrote: Roger Klause used to scrape the left side of the card with his thumb nail in the process of pushing the card into the middle of the pack. He held the pack in the left hand, put the card in the middle of the pack from the front with the right hand, and as the right hand cleanly pushed the card into the middle of the pack, he would make a subtle mark on the edge of the card with his thumb. Immediately thereafter, Roger would hand you the deck and ask you to shuffle it yourself. The technique was quite deceptive and very disarming. I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work with a small packet of cards.
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Nicolino Inner circle 2893 Posts |
Using the one-way feature of certain decks, maybe?
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ddyment Inner circle Gibsons, BC, Canada 2499 Posts |
There's also daub, which can be made as visible (or subtle) as you need.
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MagicallyMe Veteran user Manhattan Beach, CA 356 Posts |
Good idea about the one way feature, except the spectator is allowed to shuffle the packet and there's no telling what orientation they'll end up in w/o some good shuflling directions (which is a possbility). Bigger concern is that more often than not folks have a bicycle deck.
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MagicallyMe Veteran user Manhattan Beach, CA 356 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-10-30 10:50, ddyment wrote: Not sure I've heard of that. What's daub? |
ddyment Inner circle Gibsons, BC, Canada 2499 Posts |
MagicallyMe wondered:
Quote:
What's daub? Not a topic that should be discussed on an open forum such as this. Ask a magical (or gambling) acquaintance.
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MagicallyMe Veteran user Manhattan Beach, CA 356 Posts |
Thanks. Got it.
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thelearner Regular user Bournemouth, UK 187 Posts |
I agree that the fingernail is great because then you can locate the card without looking. Obviously, this only helps if you're holding the pack.
Tim |
Lance Pierce Special user 878 Posts |
MagicallyMe,
May I ask what effect you're performing? Does the spectator know the identities of the other cards? Do you have the opportunity during the routine to peruse the cards from the faces? Is the selection forced? How many cards are in the packet? What selection process is used? How is the card replaced? Is the spectator female? Do you handle any of the cards and at what point? Depending on the answers to these (and possibly other) questions, there may be avenues that don't involve marking the selection...it may be possible to identify it in some other way. Thanks. |
Vlad_77 Inner circle The Netherlands 5829 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-10-28 23:10, Steven Keyl wrote: Steven is spot on. Crimps do NOT have to be this HUGE bend in a card. In fact, MANY crimps are very slight yet sure-fire. As far as using a crimp with a packet of cards, very light pressure on the packet and/or a tiny spread of the packet alleviates this potential hazard. Ahimsa, Vlad |
MagicallyMe Veteran user Manhattan Beach, CA 356 Posts |
Crimps work well when te cards are in my hands. But how do I see the crimped card when the spectator is dealing them to me? It would need to be big enough to see the card off the table due to the crimp.
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Nicolino Inner circle 2893 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-10-30 10:51, MagicallyMe wrote: Right, you could just casually demonstrate how to shuffle and they inconciously will obey. Quote:
Bigger concern is that more often than not folks have a bicycle deck. This has not to be a problem either in many cases.
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