How many of you would let spectators riffle shuffle a Svengali deck?
Have you ever been caught doing this?

I've done it in the past. Usually if I see someone pitching them, I give them a wink and then shuffle the deck and say do it now. When they can, I buy one on the spot.

Just being kind...

In my experience, most spectators are really awful at shuffling. I can see some ways to make them shuffle it, but a riffle might be pretty hard. You might be able to pull it off with a Mirage deck because they are a bit lets unruly, but I don't think I'd leave that in a the spectator's hands if I had a choice.

@Mark005,
OH shuffle, right? RS should keep things as is?

If you know how, it is possible to shuffle a Svengali Deck with either an overhand shuffle or a riffle shuffle. Mark Lewis' pamphlet, "The Long and Short of It," explains how; click HERE for more info.

However, I would never let a spec do this; for that matter, I would never let a spec touch the deck. Instead, just ring in the Svengali Deck when you need it, then ring it out when you're done. Then the specs can shuffle and inspect the standard deck to their heart's content, if you think that's necessary. SETH

Actually they shuffle just fine with an on the table riffle, IF, you do a smooth one. But yes, I'd pick them up, OH run, cut, run them back, then false cut to the table. Usually even the guy pitching would be nervous, unless he was really inthe know. It was fun watching most of them realise that all was well and everything still worked...

Oh, and this is WAY to good for you all....

If you hunt in a very old book called "Routined Manipulation" you will find a stand up routine where you make the spectator the magician. It is VERY powerful and not been seen in a long time!

It uses our old friend the Svengali deck, but the spectator never is aware of that.

I will direct the spectator to cut the pack, any point he wants. This is effective and allows the spectator to feel that the deck is indeed not gaffed.

Mr. Lewis suggests having the spectator handle the deck only as a way of selling the deck. I do this and it works. I wouldn't do it when performing though. Once they find out they can do it also, they buy it right away.

Don't think I would do it

I have done it many times with friends and let them shuffle. Unless they know what to look for they don't raise any questions about it. Makes it more powerful when they are the ones shuffling. Never had a time where they cards got mixed up.

Here goes, my first ever post on this great forum...

I think allowing the spectator to shuffle a Svengali deck probably doesn't enhance the impact of any given effect enough to warrant the inherent risks.

That said, if I were doing an effect where I just really wanted to let the spectator shuffle, then it would be after a deck switch. That is, prior to that effect in a given routine, I would have performed an effect with a deck that they could shuffle risk free, and let them. This would have given me the opportunity to observe how they shuffle. If they riffle shuffled then, the chances are that after my deck switch they would riffle shuffle again.

Kenn

If you use Don Driver's Svengali DVD method, you are SELLING the cards, you tell the people up front it's a "mechanical or trick" deck. So, in my opinion, there is no need to have anyone shuffle, including the pitchman (magician).

If you're not SELLING the cards, only DOING the tricks, it's a different story. Then you may want to shuffle to preserve the image of a "normal" deck. Mark Lewis shows many ways in his book, as Seth mentioned.

Jon