THE BLURB:
Using his original effect Auspicious Coincidence as a
jumping off point (Mendacity, 2005), Redford has taken his
Any Card at Any Number to a whole new level.
Someone names (really) any card, another (really) any
number. The performer asks if it would be impressive if that
card were found at that number in the deck of cards he's
been holding with a death grip. The audience of course
agrees, but the performer admits it wouldn't be very
impressive as he's been holding onto the deck the entire
time and could have done something sneaky. What would be
more impressive is if that card was found at that named
position in a deck of cards that the performer's gone no
where near. Better yet, its been in full view since before
the effect began.
The closed box is tossed to an audience member who opens the
box, removes the cards, and counts them one at a time
face-up to find the named card at the exact named position.
�No Memorized Stack
�No Crib Sheets
�No Complicated Math
�No Force
�100% Accurate
�Deck Examinable
�Virtually Moveless
�Ends Clean
�Quick Reset
�Easy to Do
There are three variations included in this special release:
�Close-Up Hands Off - The main effect
�Hands Off Stage - A variation suitable for stage
performances
�Fantasie Impromptu - An impromptu card at named number with
an interesting plot hook.
Running Time Approximately: 1hr 5min
MY COMMENTS:
This is certainly a fresh and original take on the ACAAN
plot. I thoroughly enjoyed the cleverness of the method
and, even moreso, the two other variations included on the
disc. However, the main effect is something that you will
absolutely love or not. Some may find the methodology too
gimmicky, or mental magicky, for their tastes, but the
solution Patrick Redford has created is certainly valid and
strong.
The presentation, as described in the blurb, involves two
decks with different colored backs. Now, I have to be
careful in explaining this on a public site, because you
can't do this effect "right out of the box" and I don't want
to give away the method. Yet you do need to have sense of
what's involved, so if I sound a bit vague, I hope you'll
understand.
You see, there is a little, one-time bit of craftwork that
needs to be done. Redford explains how and everything
you'll need you can get at most office supply stores
(double-stick tape, razor blades, etc.). You'll also need
four decks of cards, two of each color. And that's about as
much as I can say about that.
Once the preparation is done, the gimmick that you've made
makes the effect very easy to work. The most difficult part
is timing. In getting the chosen card to the chosen
position, there is a move, but it's done right out in the
open and in front of the audience without them realizing
that you've done it. And it is a move, not a sleight, and
an easy-to-do move at that.
When the effect is finished, the second deck can be examined
and the box can be examined too. There is something "dirty"
about the box. Those who examine the box may find something
odd, but they'll have no idea how that oddness will figure
into the method. The first deck of cards is pocketed during
the routine.
The stage version calls for the second deck to be in a gift
bag being held by an audience member. The second deck is
taken out of the bag and handed to a participant who will
then count down to the chosen card. The basic methodology
of this version is certainly based on the close-up version,
but there is an unquestionably different handling about
this. In fact, some may prefer this version over the
close-up version.
The impromptu version that Redford includes, which is
entitled "Fantasie Impromptu," is a totally different effect
with entirely different methodology involved. It's not
really an ACAAN plot. This is, indeed, impromptu and can
use a borrowed deck of cards. It uses one sleight and it's
one that I hadn't seen before, is explained thoroughly by
Redford, and not that difficult to do and learn.
In this effect, a participant selects a card as the
performer dribbles the cards. The participant is then asked
to guess the position of the card from the top of the deck.
Fifteen, for example. The participant deals down fifteen
cards onto the performers hand. The top card is revealed.
It is the selected card.
Honestly, I really enjoy doing mentalism with playing cards,
especially when I'm using decks that can be borrowed or
thoroughly examined. I know that many mentalists don't
share my enthusiasm and that's fine. I certainly respect
their thinking on the matter. I only mention this because
that'll explain why I really like the impromptu version of
this and feel that I've gotten my money's worth just on
that. But that, of course, is my personal preference.
Obviously, if you don't do cards or are put off by the ACAAN
plot, you probably have stopped reading this already (which
is a shame because the impromptu version is so good).
Otherwise, Redford's unique thinking on this topic is worth
the price.
Using his original effect Auspicious Coincidence as a
jumping off point (Mendacity, 2005), Redford has taken his
Any Card at Any Number to a whole new level.
Someone names (really) any card, another (really) any
number. The performer asks if it would be impressive if that
card were found at that number in the deck of cards he's
been holding with a death grip. The audience of course
agrees, but the performer admits it wouldn't be very
impressive as he's been holding onto the deck the entire
time and could have done something sneaky. What would be
more impressive is if that card was found at that named
position in a deck of cards that the performer's gone no
where near. Better yet, its been in full view since before
the effect began.
The closed box is tossed to an audience member who opens the
box, removes the cards, and counts them one at a time
face-up to find the named card at the exact named position.
�No Memorized Stack
�No Crib Sheets
�No Complicated Math
�No Force
�100% Accurate
�Deck Examinable
�Virtually Moveless
�Ends Clean
�Quick Reset
�Easy to Do
There are three variations included in this special release:
�Close-Up Hands Off - The main effect
�Hands Off Stage - A variation suitable for stage
performances
�Fantasie Impromptu - An impromptu card at named number with
an interesting plot hook.
Running Time Approximately: 1hr 5min
MY COMMENTS:
This is certainly a fresh and original take on the ACAAN
plot. I thoroughly enjoyed the cleverness of the method
and, even moreso, the two other variations included on the
disc. However, the main effect is something that you will
absolutely love or not. Some may find the methodology too
gimmicky, or mental magicky, for their tastes, but the
solution Patrick Redford has created is certainly valid and
strong.
The presentation, as described in the blurb, involves two
decks with different colored backs. Now, I have to be
careful in explaining this on a public site, because you
can't do this effect "right out of the box" and I don't want
to give away the method. Yet you do need to have sense of
what's involved, so if I sound a bit vague, I hope you'll
understand.
You see, there is a little, one-time bit of craftwork that
needs to be done. Redford explains how and everything
you'll need you can get at most office supply stores
(double-stick tape, razor blades, etc.). You'll also need
four decks of cards, two of each color. And that's about as
much as I can say about that.
Once the preparation is done, the gimmick that you've made
makes the effect very easy to work. The most difficult part
is timing. In getting the chosen card to the chosen
position, there is a move, but it's done right out in the
open and in front of the audience without them realizing
that you've done it. And it is a move, not a sleight, and
an easy-to-do move at that.
When the effect is finished, the second deck can be examined
and the box can be examined too. There is something "dirty"
about the box. Those who examine the box may find something
odd, but they'll have no idea how that oddness will figure
into the method. The first deck of cards is pocketed during
the routine.
The stage version calls for the second deck to be in a gift
bag being held by an audience member. The second deck is
taken out of the bag and handed to a participant who will
then count down to the chosen card. The basic methodology
of this version is certainly based on the close-up version,
but there is an unquestionably different handling about
this. In fact, some may prefer this version over the
close-up version.
The impromptu version that Redford includes, which is
entitled "Fantasie Impromptu," is a totally different effect
with entirely different methodology involved. It's not
really an ACAAN plot. This is, indeed, impromptu and can
use a borrowed deck of cards. It uses one sleight and it's
one that I hadn't seen before, is explained thoroughly by
Redford, and not that difficult to do and learn.
In this effect, a participant selects a card as the
performer dribbles the cards. The participant is then asked
to guess the position of the card from the top of the deck.
Fifteen, for example. The participant deals down fifteen
cards onto the performers hand. The top card is revealed.
It is the selected card.
Honestly, I really enjoy doing mentalism with playing cards,
especially when I'm using decks that can be borrowed or
thoroughly examined. I know that many mentalists don't
share my enthusiasm and that's fine. I certainly respect
their thinking on the matter. I only mention this because
that'll explain why I really like the impromptu version of
this and feel that I've gotten my money's worth just on
that. But that, of course, is my personal preference.
Obviously, if you don't do cards or are put off by the ACAAN
plot, you probably have stopped reading this already (which
is a shame because the impromptu version is so good).
Otherwise, Redford's unique thinking on this topic is worth
the price.
Patrick Redford
HANDS OFF
$29.95
Sorry, No Discounts on This Item
