Maybe he lurks here...we never know. And really, I don't care!

Daffy, I think that he should be she, at least based on my highly evolved detective skills and the fact her name is "girlnamedlizzie"

I just recieved Strange Travelers in the mail 2 days ago and I have been practicing it non stop. I just performed it for my neighbor who is a pretty tough cookie to crack and this one got him badly. I absolutely LOVE this effect. Everything about it is so clean and straightforward. At no point in the routine are you hiding anything. Its basically a "test conditions" type effect.

That being said, I will offer a few more words. The instructions seemed like they were written for someone who has never performed card magic before. I am convinced of this because they explain what a pinkey break is and how to properly excecute one. So that means they could have shortened the instruction booklet by about 5 pages. None the less, every detail is explained.

Two versions are explained, plus a way of gimmicking your card case to help out in the routine.

Overall, this is DEFINATELY the best purchase I have made in a long time. The last card trick that I bought that was this good was probably Double Back. I would rate this a 9.75. Only one slight drawback is the examinablilty, due to the gimmick being present.

The demo video on ellusionist amounts to exposure. Don't these people understand the first thing about the art form they are dealing in?

Agreed, it's really, really obvious how the trick works after watching that.

But that video has been removed from the site a couple of weeks ago.

Hey guys,

I got a big question. What happens when the gaffs begin to wear? Is there a place where I can buy just the gaffs or would I probably have to buy another Strange Travelers? For those of you who are wondering, yes, I have performed this a LOT in the last month.

You can buy a supply enough to make a couple of sets for around $10.

This is getting some nice reviews. I am wondering after reading most of the posts here and reviews what the out is in case a spectator thinks of a different card?

Thanks

Candini

There is a video demo of Crossing Over on The Trickery.com.

I also would like to know. And, does anybody know how Nate Leipzig used to do it? Or the original Hardin method? Without the gimmicks that Paul Harris added, which I agree made the routine almost flawless.

Both Leipzig's and Hardin's handlings are detailed in "The Art of Magic", though it's worth noting that they didn't do it as a "Cards Across".

-Jim

Thanks Jim!

Is this the T. Nelson Down's book?

Yes.

-Jim

I liked this effect. I also like the Red Sea Passover but this is simpler to perform. In short, Red Sea Passover has more of a punch, but I will probably perform this effect more often due to the simplicity. For those that had a problem with the gimmick, I don't get it. Lay people will never see the gimmick.

I like the stand up with cards version best, something about taking cards out of a plastic wallet that I have never liked. Most effects that use this method (I assume that you knew the method the minute you read the description of the effect) suffer from the same shortcomings but if you count the nine cards into the spectator’s hands they will never suspect one of shortcomings. As opposed to methods in which you only spread the cards.

One tip that might work is to have one spectator (spectator one sp1) hold the packet that the selected card flies into and the other (spectator two-sp2) select the card. Spectator one also counts the cards as you spread them and sp2 “looks at the ten cards and quickly picks one.” Why would you do this? Well if the same spectator counts and selects the cards they might say, “Wow, not only did the card I select fly across, so did the one I almost selected.” If you don’t think this will happen you are fooling yourself. I have used this method and people really like it.

I would avoid the suggested method for “guessing” which card would be selected by the spectator. Even though Blaine gets it right 80% of the time. (If you practice, so will you) Why? Well, if you are wrong not only are you wrong - but how do you explain how the card you “guessed” at flew across as well? Face it, you don’t have a street magic TV special and you can’t edit out the bad takes!

Some good ideas for ending clean are included. The starting clean ideas are good, but I would rather do a simple deck switch

I give it a 7 out of 10 and would buy it again. The directions are well written and the product is well worth $20. Buy it write a good patter and make it your own. For a small investment you will have a big miracle…

It's been a year now, for those using this, what are your thoughts?

A year and a half now. I'll say that I really enjoying performing Daryl's Double Crossed, which I gather is a similar effect albeit with two cards traveling. Crossed Thought was mentioned at the beginning of this thread and is the Daryl effect with one card.

Still curious about how Daryl's effects differ and whether it would be worth purchasing Strange Travelers. There was much discussion about other related effects, but not much about Daryl's.

Anyone have this and Astral Projection to compare the two? Is the method similiar?

As far as performance, it seems Astral Projection is better for having 3-4 spectators each think of a card.

I love this effect! You can read about my thoughts...

HERE- Magic Friday/Strange Travelers

~jdg