Humble Beginnings

When I started out as a working magician, I already knew a lot of impressive tricks. But for whatever reason, the majority of the children were not responding to them. About two months into my new line of work, I found myself without any gigs, seated in a pub (the owner of which insisted on calling a bar). So I was at my favourite watering hole, when Marvin, an old friend of mine, sat down beside me. Marvin is a real inspiration to me. For a good decade of his life he moonlighted as a clown. While I never saw him perform, nor did I ever once catch him in full make-up (though sometimes he would go about his day with white face paint left behind his ears. Oh, and one time he shook my hand with his red clown nose attached to his pinky. This made him laugh. I never understood why).

So I told him about the problems I'd been having with my act. While he was by no means affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Magicians, nor would I have endorsed his membership into it, Marvin gave me some very good advice. He said, "Children don't care about any of that fancy shit. That stuff is for adults. Adults are cynical, they need to be tricked. Kids do not. They enjoy simple things that allow them to use their imagination. If you tell them you are The Great Baldini (my former stage name), they will believe it. You don't have to prove it to them. Just keep it simple and keep it colorful."

Now, on the fifth anniversary of his passing, I can't help but think his advice was meant for more than just my act, that it applied to life as well. 'Keep it simple and keep it colorful.' You got it, Marvin.

A Trick For You

This is the first magic trick I ever learned. It is a very simple trick. You may even think it too simple. But in all the years I've performed it, not once has someone devised a solution. Sure, there are more skilled, spectacular ways of retrieving one's card. And it boggles my mind that I've yet to be exposed and lampooned for this particular routine (while I've never done it on 'stage', you'd be surprised how often it springs up socially). I suppose if a friend or foe ever caught on, I would simply ask to do the trick again, wherein I would switch to a more accomplished illusion, thus debunking their attempt to debunk me. As for you, those other methods will have to wait. Now on to the trick!

Since I can't play both the magician and the participant (without the use of trick photography, which I guess is a form of magic unto itself), I will designate myself the participant. And for the purposes of this demonstration, the part of the wise magician shall be played by Bernie.


Say hello to Bernie. This shall not be Bernie's first attempt at this trick.

Okay, for this trick, the only thing you need is a normal deck of cards. But that deck must feature a non-symmetrical, easily discernible pattern on the back. Such as-

You'd be surprised, decks such as this are hardly ever out of arms reach (especially my own). Next, go through the deck, and make sure the card backs are each turned the same way.
Then go find someone you love or want to impress (sometimes both), and kindly ask them to pick a card.

*Please excuse the gloves. I have a prominent birthmark on one of my hands. The Masked Sorcerer's identity must never be revealed.

While they look to see what card they've got-
Unsuspectingly take back the deck-
And flip it around, so the opposite side of the deck is now facing towards the participant.
Now ask them to return the card to the deck, allowing them to place it wherever they choose. 99 times out of a 100, they will return their card exactly as they took it, without a rotation (thus it will easily stand out to you which card was theirs). Just make sure you watch them the whole time. If they do turn the card, you of course will have to flip the deck around again. But trust me, this part is such a breeze.
Sometimes I get a little cocky a turn away while they do this.
Now it's just a matter of rifling through the deck, employing some careful shuffling. The more you do this and the faster you can do it, the more impressed the other person will be (of course, there comes a point where you will lose their attention. Shuffling and sorting for over two hours is not recommended). Anyway, either work their card to the very top or bottom. And now all that's left is to-

-reveal the card.

It has occurred to me that my blog doesn't offer much. There is little incentive for a person to visit. In short, my writing leaves a lot to be desired. Eight posts in two years leave a lot to be desired. I came on here today to make a New Year's magic resolution, and after seeing I have a comment, I now want to make a New Year's blog resolution. In the coming year, I have resolved to making this a better blog. A place where you can read about and even learn how to do magic.