My new favorite card trick ever

[Ben Long]

The Ultimate Rip-off: This is in PH's AoA vol. 1. Such a great trick. Completely impromptu, can be done naked in the middle of the desert with one and only one card.

I did this to at least six people today. Two people asked me to restore the last piece and I did (using PH's dancing with the last piece method, also awesome). If I don't restore the last piece, it's a great souvenir to give out. Also all the magic happens in their hands.

I've got to say, I like all the piece-be-piece card restorations out there, but this one is the diamond in the rough.

Never has a trick come along that I love so completely. I looked this one over the first few times reading through AoA since I don't like to tear up cards. Let me tell you, I would destroy a pack of Jerry's just to perform this fifty-two times (well, I'd think about it first).

What it lacks in flash, it more than makes up for in pure unadulterated astonishment.

What tricks do that for you?

 

[Johnlawl]

Hotshot cut.

Molecule 2 in it. and bam.

 

[lachomagician]

The Ultimate Rip-off: This is in PH's AoA vol. 1. Such a great trick. Completely impromptu, can be done naked in the middle of the desert with one and only one card.


What tricks do that for you?

That trick is awesome!!! But I do wonder what kind of audience you get in the desert...

 

[Aos]

none
im still looking for one
i will look into this art of astonishment
you said read?
did you pick up a book?
because there is a dvd out
is that the same thing?
and is there no volume 2?

 

[Ben Long]

That trick is awesome!!! But I do wonder what kind of audience you get in the desert...

Bushmen, obviously...

Aos: The Art of Astonishment is a 3 volume set of books by the delightful Paul Harris. I'm not very familiar with the DVDs, but the books are perhaps the most valuable thing you may ever come to own in your career as a magician.

Some of the tricks are pretty weird, but every single one will be like shock therapy for your audience (or they'll at least need shock therapy when you're done performing).

I can't recommend them more. Actually, one trick in particular once brought my spectator to tears. I mean, he (yes, he) was emotionally bombarded. That trick is the Anything Deck. A bit less impromptu, but perhaps the greatest feat of mentalism ever to grace the fine art of illusion. No joke. It may just be the greatest trick ever. I'm really not just saying that. I truly mean it.

I hold Paul Harris in the highest regard as a magician and innovator. Trust me. You won't be sorry.

 

[morpheis91]

none
im still looking for one
i will look into this art of astonishment
you said read?
did you pick up a book?
because there is a dvd out
is that the same thing?
and is there no volume 2?

The DVD "Art of Astonishment" is a collection of only a fraction of the tricks from the 3 book series. They Are an amazing read but if you would wait later on this year Paul Harris is releasing true astonishments which is a 9 disc release (I believe) that covers about 80+ tricks from the 3 book series. If you don't wanna wait I'd get the book but I definitely would not get the Art of Astonishment DVD since True Astonishments is coming out soon Hope This Clears Up The Confusion.

As for the Torn and Restored I must look it up and give my 2 cents

 

[morpheis91]

It seems like a pretty nifty Idea. Honestly I have toyed around with the Idea of an only 3/4 restoration but I never thought that the reactions would be good enough but now that I think about it when I'm doing say Torn on the third peice is the most magical to me anyway hmmmm......

 

[Ineski]

Best trick in the AoA is "whack your pack". I've been using it as an encore in my shows for a couple of years now.

These books are full of gold. Don't wait for the DVDs, books are cheaper and you get more material with them.

 

[Ben Long]

Best trick in the AoA is "whack your pack". I've been using it as an encore in my shows for a couple of years now.

These books are full of gold. Don't wait for the DVDs, books are cheaper and you get more material with them.

And the books are pretty damn hilarious.

 

[morpheis91]

And the books are pretty damn hilarious.

Yes They are. I just want both to have visual aids but then still have the material in front of me too for whenever I want....

 

[Ben Long]

Best trick in the AoA is "whack your pack". I've been using it as an encore in my shows for a couple of years now.

These books are full of gold. Don't wait for the DVDs, books are cheaper and you get more material with them.

I personally have a bit of trouble getting people to follow directions on this one. They always just slap the pack and then remove their hand. I hate to explicitly tell them to keep their hands there...

 

[Brad Henderson]

If you enjoyed the Ultimate Rip Off, you should check out Tommy Wonder's handling in his Books of Wonder, available from Hermetic Press. Also, Karrell Fox had an interesting touch on this if I am not mistaken. I believe it was in one of the New Stars of Magic manuscripts.

Brad Henderson

 

[Ben Long]

If you enjoyed the Ultimate Rip Off, you should check out Tommy Wonder's handling in his Books of Wonder, available from Hermetic Press. Also, Karrell Fox had an interesting touch on this if I am not mistaken. I believe it was in one of the New Stars of Magic manuscripts.

Brad Henderson

Oh, awesome. I very well may check those out. Are they a similar handling?

 

[Shanku]

Kris Nevling's ReinCARDnation is a different handling of this effect. I don't use it as much as I'd like to because I'm short on decks. I'll be ordering a brick soon...

 

[Dizzi]

That trick is the Anything Deck. A bit less impromptu, but perhaps the greatest feat of mentalism ever to grace the fine art of illusion. No joke. It may just be the greatest trick ever. I'm really not just saying that. I truly mean it.

I hold Paul Harris in the highest regard as a magician and innovator. Trust me. You won't be sorry.

What book is the 'anything deck' in?

 

[Brad Henderson]

Karrell's offers a nice spread display which may or may not be in Wonder's routine as well. Wonder basically honed everything he touched. Same routine essentially, but with a lot of thought and touches that clean up the entire process and makes it a touch more deceptive, if I remember.

 

[Ben Long]

What book is the 'anything deck' in?

Numero tres (that's number three, for anyone who doesn't speak whatever language that is...).

 

[Ineski]

And the books are pretty damn hilarious.

Yeah, one of the most satisfying books to study magic from.

Rules of lapping, anyone?

 

[Ben Long]

I have not yet had any girls send me their socks...

 

[Brad Henderson]

I personally have a bit of trouble getting people to follow directions on this one. They always just slap the pack and then remove their hand. I hate to explicitly tell them to keep their hands there...

It's the rule of the game. Explain your "loophole" to winning while you are demonstrating with the first card.

If you get their card, you win. So, explain that when they see their card they are to slap it. Now, if they lift their hand all YOU have to do is sneak in and take it and you win. Sure, they slapped it first, but you ended up with the card and that's what matters. (I actually explain this with a line that is a bit edgier that I do not recommend younger people to use.) So, when they get it, they need to hold on to it because you won't stop at anything to win.

Make it fun, demonstrate it on the first card, and they will remember.

Brad Henderson