THE BLURB:
A spectator is handed a cased deck with the promise that the
performer will not touch it!
The performer also places his wallet on the table, "This is
my money trick..." he explains*. Two spectators are asked to
assist. Together, they decide upon what appears to be a
"freely chosen card." In this instance, we'll assume they
decide upon the "Seven of Hearts." The performer now invokes
his magic, and the selected card is brought under his
spell - from a distance - by these magical passes and
incantations.
Reminding the audience that he has not once touched the
cards, the spectator holding the cased deck is instructed to
remove the cards from the case and to count them "OUT LOUD,
one at a time, FACE DOWN." He does so and counts only 51
cards to the table! In other words, one card is missing! You
can hear a penny drop-"my goodness, could it be...?" Before
that thought-and the resulting implications are allowed to
fully form-the spectator is asked to turn the cards FACE UP.
He is now instructed to specifically locate and remove the
SELECTED card. Even with those standing nearby assisting
him, he cannot locate the card-it has COMPLETELY VANISHED
from the deck!
This amazing disappearance is accomplished remotely�and
automatically-without you having to touch the cards. Only
ONE DECK is used and it is given to the spectator BEFORE the
card is selected. Again, reminding the audience that he'd
previously declared this his "money trick" the performer
gestures towards�but does not actually touch-his wallet.
It's been on the table since before the card was selected. A
spectator is invited to rummage around within. Inside she
finds ONE SINGLE CARD. This is the SELECTED CARD!
Note: The performer is free to re-produce the selected (and
just vanished) card from a variety of amazing places: inside
his wallet, inside his shoe, under his hat, or even a
spectator's own pocket! It's really up to you. Again, it's
FULLY AUTOMATIC. Can immediately be REPEATED with ANOTHER
named card and without any re-set!
SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER
* Completely SELF-WORKING (both the vanish and the
re-appearance)
* You never touch the cards - EVER
* Only the one deck used (no more multiple-deck outs)
* Spectator can remove card from its final destination
* Immediately repeatable (ideal for walk-around, or the
streets)
* Chosen card can appear in your wallet, shoe, pocket, or
anywhere - you decide*
* No switches of any kind. No stooges of any kind.
BONUS EFFECT INCLUDED: CRACAAN
Steve Shufton has cunningly applied the "Crossroads" concept
to the "Any Card At Any Number" plot and come up with one of
the most perfect handlings ever. A card is named, a number
is named. The chosen card appears at the nominated number
and the performer NEVER ONCE TOUCHES THE DECK. Only the one
eck used, and it's out on the table BEFORE you start.
You receive the gloriously produced 36 page book, bound in
full color covers, 8.5" X 11". Use your own cards, no
specially printed or produced cards are required.
HERE'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
"I've been exploring versions since the mid-1970s and
enjoyed your thinking on this."
- Max Maven
"This is going to FRY a lot of people..."
- Richard Kaufman
"This is so devious - created with an incredibly sharp magic
scalpel - that I predict this to become an instant classic."
- Chris Wasshuber (Lybrary.com)
"We've just had the pleasure of previewing a draft of what
will be called The Crossroads Deck, by Ben Harris. Thorough
crediting supports a pleasing mixture of psychologically
innovative applications of time tested themes as well as
familiar approaches that both captivate and entertain. Well
written and easy to understand, Mr. Harris' basic method and
impossible vanish and reappearance routine are magnified by
the fact that the deck is not touched by the performer!
"A second effect by Steve Shufton logically extends the
possibilities. Properly done, a thoughtful, capable
performer will be remembered as having demonstrated an Any
Card At Any Number, again, where the untouched deck is
handled only by the Participant in a very simple,
straightforward way without any prior preparation.
"This is potentially a very strong impression to leave with
any audience. The "Crossroads Technique" alone, which we
really like, will be seen as food for thought by many. As
mentalists, our variation would be to use no deck at all.
Just a single, thought-of card in the pocket. The solution
will dawn on you after reading the text."
- Richard Busch & Larry Becker
"There are two main features here; a named card vanishes
from a sealed deck that you never touch, and the card is
found at an impossible location of your choice. Causing any
card to vanish from a deck under such impossible conditions
is not an easy problem to solve. However, Ben has hit on an
elegant solution, and what's more; the whole thing is
technically self-working. If you're looking for a direct and
powerful card effect, you'll love this. And, if you enjoy
experimenting and exploring the ins and outs of a trick,
you'll love this even more because the possibilities seem
endless..."
- Peter Duffie (from the foreword)
MY COMMENTS:
Ben Harris has always put out material that's very strong
and well-thought out. Some of it is also quite eclectic and
not suited to all styles, such as his HOLE IN THE HEAD.
This one is also one that may not suit everyone, because of
the preparation and because it's a card effect. Be that as
it may, this effect works as described in the blurb and it
reminds me a lot of Eddie Joseph's Premonition. In fact, I
don't think it would be inaccurate to call it a modern
version of that classic with many clever improvements.
However, there is a line ("Chosen card can appear in your
wallet, shoe, pocket, or anywhere - you decide.*) that isn't
quite accurate and that's why it's starred. You can
certainly decide where the card will appear but during the
performance you can't just make such an arbitrary decision.
Also, like Premonition, it shares two of its considerations.
One of these considerations is the counting of the cards.
Doing this effect one-on-one is not an issue, but doing this
for a large group means the performer must keep the audience
engaged while 51 cards are being counted. Kenton Knepper's
Kolossal Killer (and all its variations and inspirations)
did away with the deck and just produced the card. Frankly,
as Richard Busch and Larry Becker hinted at in their
testimonial, you don't really a deck for this either.
(Although I think Greg Arce's Scorched may be a better
solution for that idea.)
The second consideration deals with pocket management. Now
this is clearly different than the pocket management set-up
for Premonition, but it is related and just needs to be
noted as some people may find this doesn't suit their style.
I can't go into detail on it as it's an integral part of the
method. But just know that there is some set-up necessary
to the workings of the effect. Once set, it can, as the
blurb says, be repeated, although I don't know if that's a
good idea.
Let me stress that these considerations are just that:
points to consider when making the purchasing decision and
only drawbacks if it doesn't suit your style.
As to the CRACAAN, it is a worthy solution that uses a
special deck of cards that you must construct. That's one
consideration (the use of a special deck). The other is
that it's not really a truly an "any card" thought of.
There is some verbal procedure and limitation to which cards
can be chosen. Most participants wouldn't notice the
difference, but I know that those looking for certain
qualities in their ACAAN routines would. So I note this
for those performers.
This is a handsomely published, 34-page color booklet. I
certainly enjoyed Ben Harris' thinking on this and think
it's certainly worth studying if you're a fan of card
effects such as these.
