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runawayjag Inner circle 1085 Posts |
This item from Card-Shark in Germany is a very nice item, well packaged and well made. However, I must confess that I flinch everytime I read an advertisement with endorsements like, "...I have never been so badly fooled..." etc. by supposed experts. And, this one really made me flinch because on simply reading the effect, I knew exactly what I would be getting. No, I am not smarter than anyone in magic, the idea is simply very old. If you are familiar with Franklin V. Taylor's Peek Deck (and you might not be since I can't imagine that most reading this are as old as me!) then you know exactly what you are getting. In fact, in the original instructions for that long ago marketed item, it was suggested you use it for an amazing vanish of a freely peeked card.
And, that is exactly what you are getting. A slightly modified Taylor Peek Deck. However, to Card-Shark's credit I will say this gaffed deck is very well made. The demo video suggests the pack can be examined before and after. Well, it could, but obviously there is a big disparity between how I regard the word "examined" and how others regard it. This is further attested by the debate I had over the examinability of the coins in Superfly. In my opinion, the deck can be freely handled by spectators. To that extent, it can be "examined." However, inviting further scrutiny will probably result in the secret being found. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to say I've done this for 8-10 laymen since working it out and every person has looked through the pack, found their card gone and then looked for it a second time without discovering the secret. They "examined" the pack to that extent and questioned nothing further, so maybe my idea of examining is wrong. I must reiterate, the pack is extremely well made. And, the cards feel "right" when spread through. In fact, until I really looked at it, I thought maybe they had mistakenly shipped me a regular pack. I'm sure the care taken to make this deck so perfectly is the reason for the high price. Back in the day, Franklin V. Taylor's Peek Deck sold for $2.00. Today, that won't buy a single gaffed card. But, $80.00 will probably seem a little high to a lot of magicians, especially for a one-trick deck. It comes in the Phoenix back, which is okay since you only do this one trick with it, and the cards are thin plastic out of necessity to the method. Plastic cards tend to get sticky and spread in blocks after use so I hope this doesn't happen with these cards because a smooth spread is important to this effect. Keep in mind that this is a one-trick pack, so if body space is at a premium for your working style, you 'll have to decide if this effect is worth giving up a litte to carry this special pack. The ad says it can be repeated, and it can, but I can't imagine why anyone would. You also give up some pocket space to do this. Here's my final assessments. It's a good trick, not a great trick. It's a little expensive for most magicians. I am further convinced that endorsements are a joke, especially when they claim to have been fooled badly. If this really fooled any experts, they are terribly ill read when it comes to magic literature. A couple final remarks. Now, knowing exactly what I get with this purchase, would I buy it again for $80.00? Yes. Do I recommend it? Only if you actually like the effect enough to do it. It is sleight-free so there is no reason why one cannot do it, but if you're buying it because you're curious, you may find yourself selling it here or on eBay for considerably less than you paid. |
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saysold1 Eternal Order Recovering Cafe addict with only 10794 Posts |
Thank you Runawayjag for the very comprehensive and honest feedback on the effect. I just purchases it last week from Hocus Pocus and my set has not yet arrived, but I (like you) have some ideas about the gimmick based on watching the video and reading the posts here.
After watching the video my big takeaway was that beyond the pure mechanics of this excellent trick (OK, a very good trick) - It really could use a better storyline and patter to make it even more mysterious. The one handed magician idea is cool, but today I was thinking that perhaps a story of an old wild west gunfighter & magician who loses his arm in a gunfight and must learn to perform a feat of mystery one handed...might be the basis for making Get Sharky even more intriguing. Even the story of Chung Ling Soo who was shot performing might make for a convincing story... just an idea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chung_Ling_Soo I'm looking forward getting the deck and trying to come up with some good patter that might make this effect even stronger than what I have seen on Card Shark's video.
Creator of The SvenPad Supreme(R) line of aerospace level quality, made in the USA utility props. https://svenpads.com/
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runawayjag Inner circle 1085 Posts |
If you like the effect, and it seems you do, you will very much like the deck. It is extremely well made and deceptive. As I said, when I first opened it, I thought I had gotten a regular deck by mistake. That's how perfect it is. The laymen responses I have gotten so far have been very good.
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PsychoJack New user 36 Posts |
I do agree this is really good too, but I think it is a bit pricey at the same time.
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Card-Shark Inner circle Germany 1758 Posts |
I encourage everybody to find his own storyline, that is very important to make this effect YOUR effect.
Actually the cards are NOT plastic but specially produced paper where the finish makes the cards to feel like plastic. They will stay in that condition. The quotes I got were directly given after performing this trick for them. It really fooled them, and they know a lot of card handling and sleights. The fun part at the conventions: they brought other magicians over to my booth just to see their faces when they got fooled over and over again. It was the most popular trick at the SAM and IBM conventions 2010. What are you looking for? A true and honest performance video where you can get an idea of how the effect will impact on a spectator (and where you perhaps even glimpse the idea of the trick principle)? Or do you love to see these short cut video clips where you see nothing but amazed people screaming? Where you just buy the effect to find out the real secret behind? Most demo videos nowadays cut out the real secrets behind a trick just to increase sales, decide for yourself. I think the video tells everything. It was filmed by Dirk Losander at the IBM Convention. For real magicians who have NOT seen the effect before, so it is honest and not scripted or using Stooges. There are some magicians out there who buy tricks just to find out the trick principle (and then sell the trick at Ebay or put it into the drawer together with the other magic junk). I would never blame these guys. For them the 80 Dollar would be too expensive. The real performer who understands what kind of weapon he gets knows the value of the trick. (Some even encouraged me to increase the price to keep it exclusive.) It takes us about an hour to prepare every single deck before it can be shipped. I approve every card for perfection and do not accept any poor quality. If you buy Card-Shark items you should be safe that you always get top notch quality effects. Just read the editorial of Richard Kaufmann in the September issue of Genii where you can find his statement to this effect...
Expert in playing card production for magicians.
The Person Who Says It cannot Be Done Should Not Interrupt The Person Doing It! Chinese Proverb |
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revmike Special user Annville, PA 646 Posts |
I just ordered mine.
The magic is not in our sleights and illusions, but instead in our ability to bring love and joy.
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Stucky Inner circle I'm Batman! 1355 Posts |
I saw this at IBM and saw some top guys have to take a second third and sometimes fourth look trying to find the "work".
If I was going to do this, it would be as a closer because I feel it is that strong. I also think there are different presentations you can do with it. Not just what is included. It's all in the mind.
Official Thread Killer
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saysold1 Eternal Order Recovering Cafe addict with only 10794 Posts |
I just received my Get Sharky card set, and all I can say is... "wow!"
Amazing craftsmanship, quite remarkable to see. German engineering obviously, accept no substitute! I can't wait to work the routine and test it out, but this definitely appears to be well worth the $80 cost of entry.
Creator of The SvenPad Supreme(R) line of aerospace level quality, made in the USA utility props. https://svenpads.com/
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Robert M Inner circle 2482 Posts |
I also thought I got the wrong cards when I first received it. And, I kind of knew what to look for since I owned a Card-Shark Double Decker deck.
This deck is very well made. No plastic cards. Can it be examined? No. But, it can surely be handled by the spectator without fear. It's expensive for a card trick, so a lot of magicians won't buy it. Personally, I think it's worth the money IF this is an effect you really want to perform. I'd say watch the demo and decide for yourself. Robert |
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Xiqual Inner circle Upper left quadrant 4935 Posts |
I LOVE my Double Decker and I know what Sharky is. Christian's cards and products are absolutely the best as far as quality and craftsmanship.
I have been doing Bill Palmer's "Boldwave" Double Decker trick. Fries people. Christian has become my "go to" guy for cards. Not cheap, but worth the money. James
Still with the Chinese circus
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saysold1 Eternal Order Recovering Cafe addict with only 10794 Posts |
Just curious - does anyone know where the name of the effect "Get Sharky" comes from? A card shark?
Posted: Aug 31, 2010 7:34pm I started performing "Get Sharky" today for office co-workers, and it really is elegant and very clean. The responses so far have been raves! I'm still trying to think up some patter along the lines of what Card Shark suggests with the one handed theme. Now that I am playing with the deck, I am thinking now of telling the story of an old favorite Twilight Zone episode called "Deal Me A Hand." This isn't a real episode, but to my mind (and as a big fan of the show) this could add some mystery to the effect. The episode involves a one handed poker dealer in the old West who had lost his arm in a gunfight, but is nonetheless known as the "fastest dealer in the West." One day he is shocked to discover that he is able to "see" all the face down cards being thrown to the players, without a word spoken. Just an idea - Twilight Zone always lends an aura of the mysterious and magical... I'm going to have fun with this wonderful effect. Thanks again to Card Shark for producing such a high quality and versatile effect!
Creator of The SvenPad Supreme(R) line of aerospace level quality, made in the USA utility props. https://svenpads.com/
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Card-Shark Inner circle Germany 1758 Posts |
About the name: it has nothing to do with my name, Christoph invented the effect in 1984 and at that time I was far away from being a magician named Card-Shark.
I will ask him and post it here.
Expert in playing card production for magicians.
The Person Who Says It cannot Be Done Should Not Interrupt The Person Doing It! Chinese Proverb |
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bugjack Inner circle New York, New York 1624 Posts |
I see only a couple of US dealers seem to have this -- assuming that is because of the difficulty in constructing it. Will this go wider in its distribution here?
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Card-Shark Inner circle Germany 1758 Posts |
I guess yes. All you have to do is ask your Magic Dealer to get in contact with me. Also we supply the wholesalers Magic City and Showbiz, so if a dealer is working together with them he can also get my effects from them.
So far the effect is still young and only starts to be marketed. Due to the price it will be a very exclusive effect so that you can be sure that this effect will not be shown by everyone. We do our best to keep up the production as the demand is pretty high. I will be at Innovention in Las Vegas in October, just to let you know.
Expert in playing card production for magicians.
The Person Who Says It cannot Be Done Should Not Interrupt The Person Doing It! Chinese Proverb |
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Mike M Loyal user 244 Posts |
I almost always agree with Runawayjag and always look forward to his reviews. This one I differ with him slightly. John says, "It's a good trick, not a great trick." I think after using it several times I can say this is a great trick, not just a good one!
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saysold1 Eternal Order Recovering Cafe addict with only 10794 Posts |
Agreed - everyone I have shown this to over the past few days has been left with a very confused look on their faces. I think it is a fantastic trick!
Look I'm only a lowly hobbyist but I have been performing magic since I was a kid, and the method and easy execution here are a delight. The possibility of repeating the trick more than once in the same room is also a big plus. I think that runawayjag's review had more to do with the value/price. But as Christian says, the price point keeps it in the more exclusive realm and I don't personally own anything else quite like Get Sharky. I also think that with some creativity, other effects could be developed with this deck or perhaps two of the decks and two spectators (cha-ching!). Thank you Christian again, and I definitely plan on buying a few regular Phoenix decks and perhaps a double decker too with a can of your new fluid. By the way, I was in Essen many years ago when I was in college and living in Holland. I went to the car show in Essen and it was a great one...
Creator of The SvenPad Supreme(R) line of aerospace level quality, made in the USA utility props. https://svenpads.com/
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Doomo Inner circle 2365 Posts |
Get Sharky = Get Shorty... A book by Elmore Leonard and a movie starring John Travolta... Book Was better...
If you ever get to a point where words have no meaning, you're probably talking to a dog.
Remember! More Bang For LESS Bucks! It is the right way! www.rfaproductions.com |
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EricDraven Inner circle 1257 Posts |
Just ordered....Video was very nice
Believe me...nothing is trivial...
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Card-Shark Inner circle Germany 1758 Posts |
Actually I asked Christoph, the name was first named "One-arm", later he saw the movie Get Shorty and loved it. A friend and photographer made a photosession with a comic style miniature shark and the seriously meant pictures turned out to be so funny and terrible that this shark and the movie let him name the effect "Get Sharky".
If you use the search option for "Get Sharky" you will see that Mark Elsdon is selling a lecture note of Christoph Borer that also includes the instructions to prepare your own Get Sharky. The whole content is pure gold, but you will also find out, that with the instructions and preparing the Get Sharky set by yourself the total price will be even higher. But I highly recommend this lecture note, first come, first serve. Christian
Expert in playing card production for magicians.
The Person Who Says It cannot Be Done Should Not Interrupt The Person Doing It! Chinese Proverb |
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saysold1 Eternal Order Recovering Cafe addict with only 10794 Posts |
Danke Christian - what a great story!
I loved that movie - I think with John Travolta & Joe Pesci, very funny black comedy. Makes me want to rent it soon and see it again. One more question: When handing the cards to the spectator after removing the rubberband, shouldn't the magician turn the deck around? If you like PM me, and I know you have advice for this in the standard instructions but to me it seems to make more sense to turn the deck casually around so that the opposite side is upwards when the spectator is searching for their selection. The notes on making this effect would be fascinating indeed, but I agree that trying to make one of these precision tools would not be easy nor inexpensive.
Creator of The SvenPad Supreme(R) line of aerospace level quality, made in the USA utility props. https://svenpads.com/
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