You’re Right

Another entry from my upcoming book . . .

Here’s a fun little ploy I’ve used to add a little comedy and misdirection to my close up performances. When I need to stack a handful of cards for an effect, I’ll use this. If I’m just stacking 2 or 3 cards, then I may not use this. However when setting up 5 or more cards, this is a lot of fun.

The basic idea is this: let’s imagine that I need the entire hearts suit in order on top of the deck. I’ll go through the deck and cut the King of Hearts to the top. Then I’m going to very openly remove the Queen, Jack, ten, etc and place them on top of the deck.

However, I set up the audience first. I tell them that we’re going to do an experiment to see if they can read my mind. I then hold up the Queen (back to the spectator) and ask them to imagine what the card is, but don’t say it.

Then I’ll grab the Jack and do the same thing; then the Ten. Then on the Nine, I’ll ask them to name the card out loud. If they get it right, it’s a miracle. However 51 out of 52 times they’ll miss. When they do, I simply say, “yep . . . you’re right.” Then I place the card on the top of the deck. I’ll continue doing this for another card or two.

At this point they’re realizing that it’s all a joke. Then I’ll say, “You’re doing amazing. You’ve just guessed 5 cards in a row.” Let’s try a different question, “what’s my mom’s name?” No matter what they say, act surprised and say, “You’re right!” Meanwhile, you’ve moved a card or two to the top.

Then ask “what card is this?”

“Amazing! What’s my wife’s Name?”

“Unbelievable! What card is this?” [hold up the next card with its back to the audience]

[Continue until all of the cards are stacked]

Any time during the process, if you happen to get a hit, don’t just show it as a hit. Instead, build it up . . . go on about how impossible it is that they’ve been getting all of these cards right. Eventually, with enough “bragging” and build up, you can get them to the point that they’ll ask you to see it.

After several protests, and excuses about not wanting to ruin the surprise, turn the card around to show that they were right. I would only do this once, maybe twice (if you happen to get 2 hits) in the whole performance.

Once you’ve completed the stack and jokingly proved that the spectator has a good mind for mind reading, move on to an effect that does NOT use the stack you’ve just done. However, preface the effect by pointing out the fact that they are clearly open minded and would be “a good choice for this next experiment.” Do the effect and another or two. Then do the one using the stack.

One last thought: If you use the two questions “what’s my mom’s name” and “what’s my wife’s name” you could have a photograph of your mom and wife (or two women who look the right age) inside of an envelope in your pocket . . . an envelope with a big hole in the back of it. Then using pocket writing you can write the names that the spectator said on the back of the picture.

Then before moving on after the deck is stacked, pull out the envelope, big-hole-side down, and remove the image. Show the picture and claim that it’s a picture of you and your mom taken last year (or whatever) and point to your mom and say “Linda” (or whatever name the spectator named earlier). Then point to your wife and say “and Tiffany” (or whatever name was named earlier).

Then for the kicker, turn the picture over and show it. You then take what was essentially a joke and turn it into a real effect. Of course, this pocket-writing-picture idea could be used in its own routine unrelated to the faux-card-reading-while-I-stack-the-deck business.

Finally, you may be wondering when to do the pocket writing during the card-stacking gag. Once the cards are completely stacked, put the deck in your left pocket and your right hand in your right pocket at the same time as if the effect is over . . . it was just a joke, but you are still hamming it up . . . as you go on about how amazed you are at this person’s skill (tongue firmly in cheek while doing so). During this period, you are pocket writing.

I’m not offering a full routine, obviously, but rather an idea to add a little levity to your act along with a fun little bonus that can turn the levity into a beautiful moment of astonishment.