I don't remove the cards from a wallet in front of the spectators. That way I'm not drawing attention to the cards from the start.

I too use Queens Out Of Control and I think this is a perfect example of where cards NEED to be taken from a (quality) wallet. "For years I've been saving a particular card and these are my favourites......and they all revert back to the colours of the decks that they came from..."

Eight Card Brainwave is another that I keep in a compartment of my wallet, because, "many people say that I'm not playing with a full deck, and here's the proof..."

and, of course, you can make up your own deck to look like 52/53/54 normal cards but secretly hide packet tricks and just remove them when you need them! I used to carry one around that had Double Back, Ultimate Three Card Monte, Bizare Twist and a couple more - (posted on it some time ago) But one thing's for certain, I've never had any hang up over removing a few cards from a wallet and getting on with it. Esp QOOC which you can leave on the table for examination and walk away!

I'm trying TOM-Foo;ery transposition as a new pocket effect. I wonder in anyone uses it? and what do you think ?

Hmm I use no justifcation. never once been questioned. most simple method iv found. just be caual about it

I understand people saying "Don't worry about it." But it seems to me that we want people to believe we do our magic with ordinary articles, not something we bought in a magic shop. Pulling a few cards out of a little wallet smacks of advertising the specialness of the cards. I always take the cards for packet tricks from a deck.

Now, I know I'm not being fully consistent in my reasoning. We usually use our own decks, so in theory those could be faked just as much as any packet of cards could be. Still, there's something glaring about pulling out a set of special cards.

You can also use this approach:

"This time instead of using a whole deck, which I know can be confusing - heck, sometimes even _I_ have trouble following what's going on! - let's try a trick using only a few cards. Now pay close attention and watch as..."

This makes it seem like you're trying to help them figure out what's going on by using fewer cards. I'll sometimes use this approach if I've just done a trick that used a full deck and a couple of fancy-looking moves. This works best, of course, with a packet trick that uses a small number of cards along with slow and deliberate moves that are pointed out as the trick progresses.

As you can tell above, this give a very good transition on why you are placing the old deck away and pressing on. Then you can SWITCH decks once done with the packet trick.

If 52 cards are too hard to follow, let's just use these... (carry on)

Charles

Come up with an interesting story to enhance the effect and performance.

I just say that this one uses X cards, and if questioned, pull out something like

-I can't count higher than X
-that's what magician do, use x cards sometimes
-anybody can bamboozle you with 52 cards, but how about x?
-because these are my favourites. None of those shifty, no-good sixes
-because x is my lucky number
-I had time to mark only x cards
-due to the physics involved, the second law of thermodynamics and Bernoulli''s principle, this can only be done safely with x cards. Any more and there might be a fire
-the voices in my head said to use X cards, and they'll be mad if I disobey

Just pull them out of the wallet and do not make a big deal about it. If you do not act as if it is important, your spec will not either.

Also, I never start with a packet trick. Always perform some other card magic so the specs are comfortable with you. Most of the specs know that they are obviously trick cards in the wallet. They trick is to get them listening and liking you beforehand so they don't really care. All they want is to be entertained and really do not care if they are trick cards or not - then you can blow them away.

Another little trick I do is keep a little wallet with normal cards inside. Take it out and do a nice Jermay poker deal. By using the normal cards inside the wallet, the specs will be none the wiser when you pull out your Twisted Sisters later.

Chris

'hey,would you like to see a QUICK trick?'
sure.
'excellent,because all I have is x cards!'.
that would be my line if I really thought I needed one.as it is,i too just take the packet out of a small black wallet and proceed.often,i will actually keep them in a himber wallet with 'matching' regular cards in the other side.just incase somebody gets wise when I wallet the packet and wants to inspect.
just a little tip.
chr!s

I've never been questioned on using a packet trick either. But I almost never use a packet trick if I am going to do some card tricks using a full deck either. Maybe that is the reason.

No need to openly justify... Also, most of the time the patter or the effect itself will implicitly state the reason for separate cards. If the cards look like normal cards, just add them to your deck.

If it's something like Maven/Goldstein's B'Wav... once the effect is over and they see three blank cards, it's pretty clear why you used separate cards.

I think we just need to remember Baker and his lovely quote "Don't run if they're not chasing you."

Ok, for example.. IMHO, Hold it buster's patter leads perfectly for putting the cards away.
"and I should hve known better because my father neer did play with a full deck"
So let's try somethin with a real deck.

Daryl patter how it takes many years to master a deck of playing cards.
the key is to start out small. In fact, when I first use to perform, I use to perform with only X cards.
To me this leads in perfectly to pulling out ANY packet effect .

You always need a good reason, if you take out your packet out of a special folder/envelope etc - especially, when you have a full deck of cards in front of you . . .

I like JSBLOOM use packet tricks between full deck tricks as a means of switching decks.I start of with a full deck and open with Nick Trosts observation test on completion I offer the deck to be shuffled and examined.Once you've allowed the spectators to do this they'll not ask again.I then do some impromptu full deck stuff before bringing out some packet tricks or close up items.You can then switch decks for a stacked deck or gaffed deck ,whichever you prefer.I usually wrap the deck with a rubber band and the switched deck is wrapped the same.Simon Lovell has some nice ideas on deck switch subtleties in his book I'm still tapping.I too believe you should just get the packet tricks out and perform with them cos the audience will just want to be entertained.

I don't see why, the most I would say-if I felt the need- "Here is something were we use just a few cards."

Gil Scott

Problem is some people think the entire deck is probably a trick deck anyway, so pulling cards off of it would not allay their suspicion...

I pull the cards out of the box, fan them, and proclaim the deck to be light by a few cards. I say well I guess I could show you a trick that doesn't require a full deck.