Jackpot wrote:I've had great reactions to the Svengali deck.
No doubt. I've never said it couldn't be used effectively, only that I didn't feel it was worth the weight.
Beside all cards are the same, in particular are the sequence where the cards are cut into multiple piles and the top card of the pile selected by the spectator match the selected card, and dealing out out six card - the spectator rolling a die - counting 1, 2, 3,4 5 or 6 and there's the card without any convoluted force. You really have them count the number they roll. No convoluted spelling needed.
If the choices are "clean and direct" or "convoluted and suspicious" I'll go with clean and direct every time.
I do like the multiple packet bit where the spectator can choose which pile the card will be on, just not enough to carry a special pack for it. And I find it odd that people then do the all-alike display which sort of ruins the magical effect by proving their choice was irrelevant.
For years I've been doing a Larry Jennings effect where a card thought of by a spectator is found at a number thought of by another spectator. No special pack is required, and in fact the pack can be incomplete and in poor condition. The number isn't limited to 1-6, and I don't have to carry a die, or a special deck, or force the card, so I can repeat the effect for the same folks without having to buy a second deck of cards. That's pretty clean and direct, yes? And there's really only one "move" in the effect unless you count a control shuffle, which come on, if you're a magician who owns a pack of cards you can do that in your sleep...