Does anyone out there have any ideas for an Invisible Deck routine? I just got mine in the mail and I thought of a few.

Any ideas?

My standard ID routine is a pseudo-psychological force. I patter about cards for a while, then instruct the spec to think of one, changing their mind as much as they like. When they're done, I ask them to name it, then I pull the deck out and show them that I subtly influenced their decision.

I have a fun routine that uses an "imaginary scorpion" - a west african black scorpion (not even sure if this is real but sounds scarey) named Bob to be more precise... and then transposes into imagination and cards. It is hilarious if I do say so myself... Has worked everytime for me in my restaurant.

Cheers,

Justin

See if you can find a copy of Eddie Fields' book, Invisible Secrets Revealed. It is a 40 page paperback, so it shouldn't be too expensive. Many good ideas between the covers.

I say I had a dream about you last night. In the dream, they turned over a card in my deck. I ask them what it was...and the rest is amazing.

I like the idea of emphasizing the invisibility.
"Have you ever seen an invisible deck?"
"Mine disappears all the time so I must keep it in a handkerchief"
I use the handkerchief idea marketed by Angelo Carbone (but I have made my own with some alterations).
Show the deckshape inside the handkerchief. Knock it against the table. Unwrap it - and let the spectator shuffle the invisible "deck" while you roll the "empty" handkerchief together and put it away in your pocket.
When the spectator has finished the work, you take the handkerchief from your pocket "again" (switch to ungimmicked) and cover you left palm with the handkerchief. Let the spectator place his imaginary deck in your left (covered) palm and wrap the handkerchief around the "deck". Knock it agains the table and show the shape of the (real ) deck through the fabric. Now you can produce the real "uninvisible" deck from the handkerchief (I leave the details for your own creativity) and talk about the deck beeing visible for a short time.
You want to proove that it is indeed the same deck. The chosen and inverted card is exactly that proof.
After the climax you wrap the deck in the handkerchief "before it gets invisible again" and put it away (No reason for examining an invisible deck!).
You play the same theme all the way and get lots of funny possibilities (?) for entertaining.

Trolle

That sounds really neat, care to share more?

Brucelee

Get Paul Green's I Knew It All The Time. Perfect for strolling, and table hopping, in fact, that is why Paul created it.

http://www.penguinmagic.com/specialorderproduct.php?ID=8194

Recently when rummaging through a used book store (again!) I came across and bought, for $1 no less, a small, 28 page book called Ultra Mental Deck (Invisible Deck) by Geoffrey Hansen, Geno Munari (Ed.), put out by Houdini's Magic in Las Vegas. I can only assume that it was the manual that came with a pre-made ID. On the back there's a list of all the other books in the series, including how to use Stripper, Svengali, Blank decks, TT's, Hot Rods, Linking Rings, Cups & Balls, Scotch & Soda, Lethal Tender, etc. etc.

Inside is a brief history of the Ultra Mental deck by David Avadon, excerpted from The Berg Book (whatever that is ).
Following that is an explanation of how the deck works, and how to set it up, followed by 50 different ideas for using ID's as stand-alone effects, or as part of another effect or routine. A lot of them are quite clever, and include effects using a regular and ID together, and even two ID's at the same time. It sure got me thinking about the many uses other than: "What card was it? The 6D? Really? Well over here I happen to have flipped over....".

Anyone know anything about this series?


Sean

I use a ID with a regular deck. I am usually around pool tables with friends so I spread the regular cards on the table and have the other deck at the other end of the table. Have them hit the 8 ball and see which card it lands on. If they are not satisfied they can hit all they want. Reveal their card in the untouched deck. This is a very strong presentation. You can be completely hands free up until the revelation.

See mine here: http://www.deep-magic.com/magic.htm

Great reaction. You scared the bee-jeezus out of her.

Well, for more detail, I usually start talking about someone in the group or at the table who may have the best imagination of the group. (This usually spot lights someone by the group themselves)... I talk about my imaginary friend as a child, Bob, and to this day I still bring Bob everywhere I go. (I am reaching into my inside coat jacket to bring out Bob - nothing really, just mimed). I go to give Bob to the spectator to hold and I ask them to be careful and cup their hands to keep Bob from running around. So now everyone is playing around and interacting so I begin to tell them about Bob being my "INVISIBLE PET SCORPION" and as not just any scorpion but an East African Black Scorpion. They're all laughing and playing aorund so I continue on... (To Spec) "Now if your imagination is good and strong enough on the count of 3 we can actually make Bob turn "visible" for everyone to see....." (Reactions, no way, don't do it, freaking out, etc...) So I take Bob back and tell them that they may not be ready for that just yet BUT in putting Bob away I mime pulling out a different imaginary item from my childhood. Give them the deck explain it is imaginary... Basic and Routine jokes and gags inserted... I have them examine and then concentrate on their favorite card of the bunch that they like (Using subtleties of course no Ace of Spades, etc...). They close cards up, put back in box, etc.. and hand to me. (Plenty of misdirection to cop ID)... Same thing, If they use their imagination, we can make the imaginary deck visible... (Sometimes people are amazed at the apprearance, and depending on the group, I down play it by telling them I just took it out of my pocket HAHAHA).
Now for the fun part. I take their hand and fully extend their arm for everyone to see. I ask them to grab ANY corner of the boxed deck and hold onto it. I then go "Now if you are using your imagination, the box is going to begin to shake and move" (if they say no at first I repeat exact line with emphasis. I do this until they agree that box is moving). I explain that their favorite card, the one they are thinking of, is turning around inside the box that they are holding. 180 degrees different from all of the rest... I take the box back from them by 1 corner, once they have told me the box has stopped moving. Go into standard reveal of thought of card....

This is the routine that I do standard, ALL of the time, at every venue, just this way. Doesn't matter because it focuses on imagination and everybody playing with one another....

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Justin

Cody Fisher

http://www.codyfisher.com

"Secrets of Invisibility"

It can be instant downloaded as a .pdf

In it he shows some really great ideas for the ID.

Including a way to make an ID where you can show BOTH sides of the deck (when you're spreading).

very cool stuff.

Using this effect in the corporate market I perform in-

Great audience interaction routine

1 part of audience-1 person chooses red or black etc

middle of room 1 person chooses=eg black-clubs or spades

Right side of room-person chooses -A,K,Q,J or nos 1-10 etc.....

Plays very strong for lay audience-establishes credibility very quickly at start of show etc.....

But what is your claim? Are you controlling them to arrive at a card you already turned around? Do their choices make the card magically revolve in the deck? Are you an expert at picking people who will give you the answer you have already committed to in your deck?

One of the most common flaws I see in presentation of this effect (and others) is lack of a clear claim. It can be a fun cool magic trick without one, but it can be the most memorable thing in someone's life if you have a clear presentation.

Alain Nu has a killer version of this effect where his "invisible watch" becomes visible just before the cards do.

Douglas M.

[quote]On 2008-01-19 20:31, Joshua Lozoff wrote:
But what is your claim? Are you controlling them to arrive at a card you already turned around? Do their choices make the card magically revolve in the deck? Are you an expert at picking people who will give you the answer you have already committed to in your deck?

One of the most common flaws I see in presentation of this effect (and others) is lack of a clear claim. It can be a fun cool magic trick without one, but it can be the most memorable thing in someone's life if you have a clear presentation.






Joshua--

My claim prior to the audience Interaction ( the presentation is very clear & precise), is that
before the start of the show I removed 1 card & reversed in the deck & we are now going to do a little test I perform at every show I do-betweeen myself & the audience to see if we are on the same wavelength & are going to have a lot of fun etc for the rest of the evening.......

Works well for me & has been honed to perfection over hundreds of corporate , casino, event management functions that I work in-I don't perform for childrens shows etc

I see your point & agree fully.

cheers

I have a couple of presentations for this in my "Simply Devastating" lecture notes. My web page is currently off-line for the week, but will be back up shortly. You can search the pdf/dowloads forum for reviews.

Hope this helps.

Mike

I used the following routine in a one-to-one setting:
Have a spec close her eyes and imagine a grassland, hills, river, small clouds against a blue sky - the works (you are going for a calm mood here turning into a pleasant surreal dream)
then have her imagine snowflakes coming down - they are not snow flakes, but playing cards - have her hold her hand up and imagine a playing card landing in her hand - any card... not saying what card it is (her dream, noone else's, remember) - turn it round in her hand etc.
then, while concentrating on the card in hand - other cards (face down blue/red (depending on what ID you have)) come flocking to the hand, burying the face-up card. finally a cardbox materializes around the deck. at this point you put your ID (card case with cardback to top) on her outstretched hand.
Have her open her eyes and ask what card she saw in her dream.
Take it from there.
(if you have the extra joker in the deck, then you've got a 50/50 percent chance that the deck will come out 'face-down')