Jamie D. Grant is now a regular contributor to iTricks Raves with an enhanced version of his reviews from MagicFriday.blogspot.com.
What The Audience Sees:
”Yo, you want to know what I saw, right? Yeah? You sure? Because I saw the devil, man! Or maybe not! Maybe he’s a miracle worker! Who the %#^# knows what the heck Jamie is! He probably doesn’t even know!!! Check it- he puts a deck of cards on the table, right. He NEVER touches them again; I swear to you it’s true. He doesn’t touch the things. Instead he has me and Big Ted come up with a card. We chose the 2 of Clubs. BOOM! It’s gone, he says. We count the cards. There’s only 51. Big Ted starts to giggle. I start to get nervous. He tells us to turn the cards face up and find the 2 of Clubs. Well, guess what? Yeah, I know you know! The 2 of Clubs isn’t in the deck and the %^$^^$%^^$ pulls it out of his shoe! I couldn’t believe it! Big Ted started doing jumping jacks! Me? I just got the heck out of there before the Seven Horsemen showed up. It was awesome!!!”
How It Went:
I’ve reviewed a Ben Harris effect in the past and gave it a great Rating (Enlightenment) and I’m about to do it again. You know, the thing I liked about Enlightenment was that it was something that I wouldn’t use all the time- it’s something unique that I can break out on special occasions. The Crossroads deck, however, doesn’t fall into that category because I will be using this all the time. I mean, it was almost made for Magic Friday- self working and instantly resettable = awesome.
Everyone loved it, as well. The thing that makes this so impossible is the fact that I never touched the cards. It’s just so surreal. And I didn’t play it like, “I knew you were going to pick the [card]”. Instead, I played it like, “Voila. I just made your card vanish from the deck.” And it killed. Over and over again.
Best Lines:
”AIGGAHHIIGAH! It’s gone, it’s gone!!”
-This was only after they had counted to 51, lol. They didn’t even know that the card had vanished for sure yet.
”%#^#. That’s a good trick.”
-Angry Bob.
Angry Bob Rating:
For those of you reading this article for the first time, Angry Bob is a co-worker who has an understanding of some magic because his uncle was a magician. Angry Bob knows that TT’s exist, for example, but he has no desire to become a magician himself. He also has an anger management problem that can be experienced first hand if he can’t figure out how a trick is done. A high rating means he has no idea.
See above. 5/5.
My Rating:
What can I say? I love it. The only downside I can think of is that a table is ideal- But, nah, I did it a few times on Friday with someone counting the cards onto the hands of another, so a table isn’t even really necessary. I don’t know if there are any drawbacks. I mean, any time I can do an effect where I don’t have to actually do anything is going to score pretty high, lol. How about 9.5/10. Ah, the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. It was actually the easiest Magic Friday I can remember in a long time.
The JDG Tip:
My only advice, and I have to be vague here, is to be supremely confidant at one point. Have no fear. You need to be convincing that what happens is exactly what is supposed to happen.
Also, instead of asking them to look for their card, follow the instructions and have them pull out all the [values] of their card. Like, all the 2′s. It’s faster, and for whatever reason, played better. It’s just a bit clearer, I found.
iTricks Ideas
Once the first phase is done, and I need to get the second part down, I use the key phrase of, “Oh Jeez, I almost forgot the ********* process.” I think that line needs to be convincingly relayed as a truly forgotten moment. That will sell this a hundred fold, I promise.
Closing Thoughts:
Keep in mind that this is a deck. Well, actually, it’s a manuscript. But it’s something extra that you’ll carry with you. And I want to convey that that shouldn’t be a negative. The fact that it can be repeated immediately is priceless and should help you with your purchase decision if you’re wary about adding another deck to your repertoire- I’ve already bumped another deck from my Working Case and replaced it with the Crossroads. Great work Ben!
Have a great week, everyone!
Jamie D. Grant
http://www.whatizit.net