On 2012-10-01 14:24, Frank Starsini wrote:

Quote:

On 2012-09-30 10:21, panlives wrote:
"If you’re in a room full of magicians and someone just mentions the word cards, within seconds, everyone is digging into their pockets and pulling out a deck of cards. It’s one of the most amazing feelings ever.”
-David Blaine

Somehow "amazing" isn't the word that comes to mind. Especially at a magic lecture when many magicians don't have the courtesy to put their d@mn cards away while the lecturer is lecturing.
Instead they fiddle and shuffle, and pass and caress their cards as if they can't help themselves. "Embarrassing" seems more appropriate.

On 2012-10-01 16:16, Alan Munro wrote:
It reminds me of another embarrassing activity that someone has to be really drunk to do in public, and could land them in jail. When I see that at a lecture, I think, "Give it a rest!"

On 2012-08-02 09:25, Stanyon wrote:
Call me funny, but my choices are:

:bikes:

You can keep everything else.

JMHO

On 2012-10-24 22:25, wafflesthemagician wrote:
I've come into the world of custom cards two years ago, and it's actually pretty interesting what different cards provide. From my experiences in performing for random strangers, it doesn't really matter what deck of cards I'm using. If I'm using a black deck, someone might mention: "Whoah, that's a cool deck of cards!", but it doesn't commonly arouse any more suspicion than usual. When I say "any more suspicion than usual", I mean that even when I'm preforming with a normal pack of Bikes, people commonly ask me: "Do you use a trick deck of cards?". I give an exasperated sigh, and have to spread the cards, to show that they are, indeed, truly normal. So, it doesn't quite matter to me if I use new-fangled fancy, triple-thick stocked cards, that are rainbow in color, just as long as I'm comfortable with using them. I personally like cards with softer stock, but I occasionally find myself using really stiff cards like Piatniks. I use my props for my own comfort, not my audience's.

Now, on to the matter of all the different decks that are around, I have to say:

DIFFERENT CARD COMPANIES MAKE CARDS DIFFERENTLY.

I thoroughly enjoy the fact that there are companies out there that are making cards other than the USPCC. Different cards provide different benefits & drawbacks. I've recently fell into Piatnik cards, myself, and although they don't fan like I want them to, I can shoot these cards beautifully, something I can't do with a normal pack of Bikes. Then there's these "Traditionally-cut" Bikes that faro upwards, so you can table-faro nicer. Bee's are borderless, so you can S-Deal a little bit cleaner. I repeat: Different cards provide different benefits.

I think that the appeal to all of these new decks is the prospect of all of the different possibilities. If you're one who used 808 Bikes for their entire life, love its feel, and are comfortable with them, then go ahead and use Bikes, you're probably awesome with them. If you like Traditionally-Cut, rainbow-bordered, triple thick stock, then all the power to you (good luck on finding those cards, though ).

So, to all those who are firm believers in staying with only one type of playing card, I implore you to at least TRY a different pack of playing card. If you don't like them, then it's fine, you don't have to use them. I just ask that people realize that there's an entire world of experiences that you're shut-off from, when you only use one certain deck of playing cards.

On 2012-10-26 07:54, panlives wrote:

It is perhaps instructive to note that although there are a plethora of new card designs flooding the market, there are relatively few card “companies.”

Bikes, Bees, CARC cards, Blue Crown, Dan and Dave, Ellusionist, Theory 11… all of these are manufactured at the USPCC facilities.