I'm kinda new to magic and I've been looking for a good rising card effect. I've found a few, like a simple rising card or box monster. could you guys give me some advice on which is good for the price? oh, and I've got about a $40 budget, just so ya know...

It depends on what your criteria are. I used a variety of methods over time, but settled on Ken Krenzel's method which is pure sleight of hand. The pamphlet is called "On the Up and Up" and it's written by Richard Kaufman. This is an impromptu method, but very strong.

There are other methods that allow you to use a normal deck, "Kundalina Rising" by Jeff McBride. And still other methods require a dedicated deck of cards. I'm not familiar with what's available presently. Perhaps other members can weigh in on this. However, when you become rich and famous you can get Signature Piece's Rising Cards for about $12,000.

Do you know where I could find this pamphlet called "on the up and up" it sounds very good, especially because it's impromptu.

Well the first thing that comes to mind is the rising deck, you could also go with a shimmed card and a pk ring, an IT reel will work as well but requires some pratice. I agree with Steven though that the best method is slight of hand, once it is mastered it can be done anywhere, anytime and all you need is a normal deck of cards. Also learn many different ways to force a card which will make your effect better if doing it mulitple times for the same group of people.

You can find Ken Krenzel's "On the up and up" effect taught on one of his videos. Find Vol. 3 of his "Card Classics" series put out by L&L Publishing.

Mark.

Thanks, Mark. I have been looking for Ken's routine and I know the pamphlet is out of print (I'm sure happy to have a copy). It had to be somewhere, but I couldn't find it. Thanks for stepping in and helping out.

Steven

Thanks guys I'll try and find that video. I apreciate your help very much. thank you

I'm curious to know what people think of the quite simple sleight of hand rising card method in Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. I've had good response to it, but I never would have thought so at a first read of it.

Gregory Wilson also covers the sleight Ken Krenzel's "On the Up and Up" on his Card Stunts DVD. (Warning though: Card Stunts is not for new cardworkers)

Expert Card Technique has a few Rising Card methods that could be looked into as well.

Signature Piece's Rising Cards for about $12,000
Steven, you are right on the price, but it's Collector's Workshop NOVA. This is an "any card called" card rise, with a killer extra A much cheaper version is Angelo Carbone's Notion of Motion.

Regards "On the Up and Up" it should be noted for the beginner that it is an exceedingly difficult routine to do really well. GREAT routine, but it also assumes that you have some card handling skill of at least a basic level.

Kundalini Rising is a terrific routine and is probably more approachable to the beginner, but it still assumes that you know how to handle cards comfortably.

In fact that is the problem with almost every card rise out there even the mechanical versions. I sell the basic A.M.Y., etc. style rise for about $20. In fact you 'could' do it with very little knowledge of card handling, but the problem is that you will mostly end up looking like you ARE using a trick deck!

This is by the way the basic dilemma of virtually all 'trick' decks. The more skill you have with just plain old normal decks of cards the more natural you will look when using things like the Svengali, Stripper, Rising, etc.

To anyone just starting out there is a ton of great material now available: Card College vol. 1, the various DVD's of Royal Road to Card Magic and on and on. Gaining a basic skill level will pay you huge dividends performance wise.

All best,

Thanks guys, eventually I'll get "on the up and up" but now I actually made my own rising card. (Cut a rectangle out of the front of the box, I'll let you have some fun with that...)

If it fits in with what you are doing, then I recommend Kundalini Rising. There is something magical about the card rise happening in a spectators hands, it removes the possibility of you doing sleight of hand. You have to sell the effect though, just having a card rise from the deck is an interesting trick, but it seems more like a puzzle. In the proper context, it can really be a miracle.

Ultimate card rise by Jerry Somerdin is not too bad, and inexpensive, very effective.

If possible use electric not hand operated. some times thread system fails.

I find it hard to believe no one mentioned the Devano Deck or the Arne (same principle) Deck. Which not only is inexpensive but also will rise in the spectator's hands..Very eerily I might add..
Rennie