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The “S.C-A.R-E.D” Haunted Deck
By Jamie Daws
Official Manuscript
Copyright of Jamie Daws 2008
www.JamieDaws.co.uk
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Effect: You tell the story of when you and your friends were young, up on a hill was an old
haunted house. However, this never S.C-A.R-E.D you because you had a haunted deck.
The haunted deck would help you when you went Trick or Treating at Halloween. The
haunted deck would tell you which house had the most candy. You use the deck to reveal
a thought of card that you could have never known. The only way to have known it, was
the spirits in the deck. You remove the card from your deck and explain the sometimes
your deck would move on it's own. You place the card inside the deck and place the deck
on the table. you rest your hand to the side of the deck and the deck mysteriously begins
to cut itself! The card that the deck cut at is removed and it is in fact the selected card!
Incredible!
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"Very nice! A sound ‘on the fly’ method for a classic effect." - David Forrest
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"This is really, really terrific! I'll be honest, I've never done a Haunted Deck effect before.
Don't like IT and didn't want to work with a gimmicked deck. But this is so practical. You
really can have the special something in the deck, or in the card case, and not have to
worry about anything. You're ready to go whenever.
Two thumbs way, way up!"
- Cameron Francis
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"......I must say. I have it. I use it and I find it a fantastic method!
Have a peek you will not be disappointed!"
- Alan Rorrison
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"This is a clever and creative solution to this classic plot in magic. I love it!"
- Peter Eggink
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The PDF is one of the most professional looking ones I've seen in the magic community.
You can tell a lot of effort has gone into the lay out to make it easy to read. The pictures
are crystal clear....
....Having spent today performing this routine to strangers the reactions have been
amazing. I had one girl scream and drop the cards when I performed it in her hands.
....This is ideal for table hoping or walk around. A table, a pair of flat palms, even on the
ground, there are no restrictions.
....You won't be disappointed and you will quickly find this routine fitting into your
arsenal.
....I highly recommend this, as it's cheap and you can even do it with a borrowed deck
with a bit of caution. All you need is a deck of cards. I'm not just saying this because Jamie
is a friend, but this is 10/10."
- Kit Felgate
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Introduction
Hello and welcome to S.C-A.R-E.D!
So here comes the section where I tell you the story of how S.C-A.R-E.D appeared
in my hands. Since I started magic I’ve always experimented with many method of
the classic Haunted Deck effect. I began with the original set up although I know
there were many rip off’s of the original. As I continued to learn more about magic,
I delved into impromptu versions of the effect as seen on Derren Brown’s: Devil’s
Picture book. Also A few versions from the Ellusionist Loops DVD Series. Then
most recently I discovered “Spirit” by Mozique and Alakazam Magic which I used
regularly. However, While I was on holiday, I realized I had forgotten my “Spirit”
gimmick and did not have the resources to make something similar. Knowing I
had to show magic tricks later that week, I realized I had to come up with a
Haunted Deck that looked like the ones I had been using but with a nearly
impromptu method. After 3 days of pondering, I came up with the version of S.CA.R-E.D you will soon find in this manuscript. I tried it out later that week and
surly enough it raised the roof to say the least. After playing with the initial version
of S.C-A.R-E.D, I perfected another version which does take a little more set up
BUT unlike other versions before it, allows a few subtleties which can make or
break your Haunted deck Performance. So enough of my blabbering! I hope you
really enjoy this Haunted deck and I hope it saves your night as much as it has
mine on many occasions!
Go grab a deck and L-E-T-S G-E-T S.C-A.R-E.D!
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Creating S.C-A.R-E.D in 5 Seconds
Here is the original set up of S.C-A.R-E.D. Although the method is very simple, It is VERY
powerful and may save your neck at the end of the night! For the original and in fact for
all of these methods, you will be required to damage a playing card. I suggest using your
jokers as there most commonly thrown out from a deck anyways. The jokers are also the
best choice as later in the manuscript I will have a way to set up in front of the spectators
during performance. Using jokers will not arouse suspicion. All you need to do S.C-A.RE.D is a regular deck of cards. For demonstration purposes I will be using Bicycle Brand
Playing Cards.
To begin take a playing card from your deck and hold it in front of you face down like in
image 1. Depending on wither your right or left handed, there is a different set up. Ill be
discussing right handed magicians first followed by left handed magicians.
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1)
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Right handed Magicians:
If you’re a right handed magician (Like Me) then when you hold your deck in dealers grip,
you will in fact hold the deck in your left hand.
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Take the card in front of you; you are going to make two very small tears in the card. They
do not need to be perfect but as neat as possible. The 2 tears need to be in the lower right
section of the card as shown in image 2a. This is easy to remember as right handed people
need to tear at the bottom right corner.
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2a)
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Once you have torn your card in the two places as seen in image 2a then fold this down
creating a small flap. Fold this up AND down to loosen the flap. It should look like image
3a.
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3a)
Note: Although in the picture above the flap is up, in performance it will be folded in the
opposite way. The picture above is here purely to show you how it is torn. Refer to the
pictures in the handling to understand how it works fully.
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Left Handed Magicians:
f you’re a left handed magician then when you hold your deck in dealers grip, you will in
fact hold the deck in your right hand.
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Take the card in front of you; you are going to make two very small tears in the card. They
do not need to be perfect but as neat as possible. The 2 tears need to be in the lower left
section of the card as shown in image 2b. This is easy to remember as left handed people
need to tear at the bottom left corner.
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2b)
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Once you have torn your card in the two places as seen in image 2b then fold this down
creating a small flap. Fold this up AND down to loosen the flap. It should look like image
3b.
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3b)
Note: Although in the picture above the flap is up, in performance it will be folded in the
opposite way. The picture above is here purely to show you how it is torn. Refer to the
pictures in the handling to understand how it works fully.
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All magicians: Excellent, Believe it or not, this is your set up. Now with some slight
practice this can be made in less then 5 seconds! This small amount of set up will allow
you to create one of the most incredible illusions ever!
Using S.C-A.R-E.D
Scared is easy as pie to use. Here is what to do. Again you will have to alter your handling
depending on if your left or right handed but it’s easy to follow.
Take your Flapped card and place it on the bottom of the deck so the flap is in the upper
right position (Right hand) or the upper left position (Left hand). You should find that in
dealers grip, if you extend your first finger it will contact the flap. This makes it easier to
pull down the flap in performance as all you need to do is scrape your finger along the
edge of the card.
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Note: The flap is pulled in toward the card.
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Now have a card selected being carful not to show the bottom card. Once they have done
this, ask them to return it to the top of the deck.
Now cut the deck, before you do this, slightly out jog the top card.
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Then under the deck fold the flap over the selected card.
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Then display the card using your first and second fingers to cover the flap.
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Then place the top half onto the bottom half. You will find that at one end of the deck a
card is sticking out slightly. This is the bases of how the deck moves.
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To hide the missing square, make sure the card on top are slightly overhanging the top.
To the audience, it will look like you placed the cards down sloppily. It will look like the
image below.
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Now when the deck is placed on the table you will realize that when you place your
thumb on the gimmicked card and your first or second finger on the other side of the
deck and apply a slight amount of pressure, the deck will pivot. This slight amount of
squeezing of the side of the deck will cause the deck to cut to the selected card. Just hold
the deck like it is below and apply a slight pressure. This pressure is so slight that the
audience will never see your fingers moving.
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Now all that’s left to do is slide of there card and sandwich the flapped card. The deck
CAN be examined however, not too thoroughly. I’ve never been found out with my gaff
card in the deck and the other magicians that use this method have also never been found
out. If however, they do find the card (Very unlikely) then simply make a point that you
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abuse your cards, take the card out of the deck and put it in your pocket. The last thing
the spectators will think is that 2 tiny tears in a card some how made the deck cut itself!
S.C-A.R-E.D in 30 seconds
This is more of a side note. For those of you who would prefer a more exactly made card,
then carefully using an Exacto Knife and ruler, make two slits in the card where the tears
were and score along where it needs to be folded. Takes 25 more seconds and cant be
done in front of the spectator BUT guarantees you’ll never be caught!
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Getting S.C-A.R-E.D
One hard thing to do is to set this up in front of the spectator. This is easier then you
might think. Here is a simple routine that will lead you into the Haunted Deck routine
and guarantee you set up un-noticed. I will also include a script which you may wish to
use or not use but its just to give you an idea of how I perform it from an unset deck.
“Hey guys! Do you mind if I show you something weird? No?! GREAT! When you
were younger did you ever have a house near you that you thought was haunted?
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(Whatever the response, continue) When I was younger we never had a haunted
house, we had a haunted deck! You don’t believe me? Well here it is…”
You would take your deck of cards out of your pocket at this time.
“I know to you this looks like an ordinary deck of card but I promise you it is
haunted. We used to go around at Halloween, Me and my friend Jack. Both of us
would go dressed as Jokers…)
The Magicians removes the jokers from the deck
“Jack the Joker, That’s what his nick name was. We would go trick or treating and
we would take the haunted deck. The haunted deck would tell us which house had
the most candy. It doesn’t do it anymore, but now it helps me find peoples cards”
Take the deck and spread through them face up. Take note of the top card, lets say it’s the
Ace of Diamonds (AD). Now use your favorite method to force the top card of the
spectator.
“Please say stop. Thank you. Please take this card and look at it. Make sure that I
do not see it. Done that? Excellent! Now please take the deck from me while me and
the guys turn away. Make sure your card is thoroughly shuffled into the deck…”
Hand them the deck of cards and allow them to shuffle them up. Turn your back to the
spectators which now allows you to place your secret tears into one of the jokers. Once
this is done and they have shuffled the deck, you can turn back around.
“Thanks you. Now there is no way I could possibly know your card right? But there
is, the deck can tell me. See me and jack would go into the deck like this...”
Take both jokers and put them face down on the bottom of the deck with the unharmed
card on the very bottom. Take the bottom card (Unharmed Joker) and push it into the
deck.
“Now I can tell your card was red, and it was in fact a diamond. Was it the Ace of
diamonds? IT WAS! Great! Now let’s try this again. But let’s take it one step further.
You see, legend has it the deck was possessed…”
Now you can go into the basic handling of S.C-A.R-E.D!
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The Advanced Handling
Slightly S.C-A.R-E.D
Although this version does not have the “Nearly Impromptu” advantage of the original
method, this version will give you some more advantages then the other Haunted Deck
routines on the market. This version can be performed completely surrounded and even
on the spectators hands like the majority of the other haunted deck effects that are
similar tot his. However, unlike the Basic handling of S.C-A.R-E.D, this will not have a
square of the card cut out on the edge. However, this version can be done on the
spectators hand without any risk of exposing the flap.
One small thing with nearly all other haunted decks are once the deck had been cut, you
have no choice but to go straight into the cutting of the deck. However, with this
advanced handling and set up, it means when you have cut the card into the deck, you
can riffle the cards from hand to hand and the effect will still work. This version takes a
little more time ad the card is more exact but once in your deck, it’s unnoticed and only
comes into play when you want it to.
So let’s get…. “Slightly S.C-A.R-E.D”!
So, this method still involves a flap in the card, the flap is the same size but has been
moved inward to the card. Study the photographs to see the flap.
The flap folds on the white line of the border.
The size of the flap is: 1cm by 5mm. Although it doesn’t have to be exact.
Use a ruler and Exacto/craft knife to cut out the flap.
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This is the flapped card you’ll need to do possibly the best version of the haunted deck on
the market. So I’m going to take you thought the handling of Slightly S.C-A.R-E.D!
Handling of Slightly S.C-A.R-E.D
There are no funny moves or displays with this version. The deck is handled normally.
The advantages with this version of the gimmick out shine most other haunted decks and
the subtleties are tremendous! So let’s get straight to it.
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Have the scared card on the bottom of the deck with the flap on the inner end toward
your body. Have it open slightly so it’s easily accessed.
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Spread through the cards and have a card selected. After the card has been selected,
square up the deck. Have the card returned to the top of the deck face up. This can then
allow the card to be signed if desired.
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Cut the deck and use the half of the deck in your right hand to turn the selected card face
down, Just before it fully turns face down, hook the flap onto the edge of the selection like
the photo below.
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Now allow the cards to close. You must turn the deck so the flap is at the TOP of the
deck. Do this in the matter of squaring up the deck. The reason the flap needs to be at the
top of the deck is due to the strange fact that if the flap is at the bottom and you riffle the
cards from hand to hand like below, the cards will disconnect and you will have to re20
hook the card. However, if it is at the top, a gentle riffle will un-harm the set up and you
will be able to place is straight down and go into the cutting. Give it a go!
Now, you must place the cards on the table and begin your amazing haunted deck effect.
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This particular set up means that when the flap is pushed flush with the deck, it’s nearly
IMPOSSIBLE for any spectator to detect it while examining the deck, Even more so then
the previous version!
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A Slight Idea
This version can be performed completely surrounded with NO fear of being detected!
Why not ask the spectator to place out there hand as you tell them that the deck is
haunted and watch them freak as the deck cuts itself on THERE hand!
S.C-A.R-E.D Again!
Bonus Routine with either set up of S.C-A.R-E.D
S.C-A.R-E.D Again was very much an after thought. However, it is an effect that I believe
can appeal to so many audiences and bring a really Fun element to the effect as well as
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adding a second element of surprise. S.C-A.R-E.D Again is the result of a late night chat
with Alan Rorrison who had the idea of drawing something like a ghost on the back of a
card and having the ghost cut the deck. I thought about this concept for a while and grew
to love it! So a huge thanks to Alan for inspiring this version!
Effect: You begin by asking someone to pick a card. They do so and you ask them to sign
there name across the face of the card. After they do, you hold it at arms length and tell
your spectators that you are going to tell them there card without looking at it. You take a
few moments and focus on there card. You turn it to face you and then turn it away. You
then reveal there card! Not impressed?! Neither are they! However, you explain you didn’t
look at it, your ghostly friend told you it. He lives in your deck. You loose there card in
the deck. You turn the deck face up and show the bottom card is not there card, you turn
it face down and draw a cartoon ghost on the back. This card is then lost inside the deck.
The cards are then placed face down on the table and mysteriously the deck begins to cut
itself. But it doesn’t cut itself in any old place. Noooooo! It’s cuts itself at the ghost card!
But what about the signed card? Is it the card below the ghost card? Is it the card above
the ghost card? NO! the ghost card is turned over to show the signed card on the other
side! Now you’re S.C-A.R-E.D Again!
The handling of S.C-A.R-E.D Again!
Okay you must begin with the S.C-A.R-E.D Card on the bottom of the deck.
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Have a card selected and signed. Place it into the deck about half way like below.
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Now you must cull the signed card second from bottom.
Now turn the deck face up and cover the flap with your thumb like below.
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Now do a double lift and turn the 2 bottom cards over as one.
Draw a cartoon ghost on the back of this card.
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Note: I apologize for my poor interpretation of a ghost. I’m a Magician not an artist.
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You are now going to peel the bottom card of on it’s own and wrist kill the deck so they
do not see the other face down card.
Below the deck you must now turn the bottom card over using a variation of the half pass.
Using your pinky, pull down on the edge of the card like below.
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Now use the rest of your fingers to turn the card over under cover of the deck like below.
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Now you are in a position to continue with the advanced or original handling of S.C-A.RE.D!
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However, once the card has been cut to, the ghost will show. They will think this is an
indifferent card but when it’s turned over, they will see the ghost has traveled onto the
back of there card! While they are turning over the card, this gives you the perfect
misdirection to palm of the card if desired.
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More Features!
Handlings: A lot of people were concerned about having to make contact with the deck.
Below I have taken photos of a few other ways to place the deck so it will seem you
couldn’t possibly have control on the deck in any way! It’s all about playing with the deck
to find what’s most comfortable for you and most effect for your audience.
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Note: This again may not seem like much, but if you try this and practice the handling of
it, you can rest certain parts of your hand on the ends and apply pressure. However, it will
seem that you are not even touching the sides of the deck. This one is not to be
underestimated because the illusion of the deck moving without you touching it is very
powerful!
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Cameron Francis Gets Slightly S.C-A.R-E.D Again
About a week after Cameron commented on the effect, I received an email saying he had
been playing with “slightly S.C-A.R-E.D” and “S.C-A.R-E.D Again” and had a few fantastic
additions to the effect.
Cameron has fantastically explained everything here, far better then I attempted to
myself.
After reading these, I love how clean these versions are and altered some of my own
handlings to match Cameron’s. A massive thank you to him for these little gems!
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Cameron’s Slightly S.C-A.R-E.D Addition:
“Had a very simple idea for the Slightly SCARED version of the effect. I wanted to be able
to do it without looking at the card. So here's what I came up with:
Your gimmicked card is on the bottom of the pack, flap toward you. Have a card removed
from the deck. As it is being looked at, give the pack a cut but maintain a pinky break
between the halves. Take the card back and insert it face down into the break (kind of
like Tilt). But be sure to feed it so that the left long edge slides through the flap.
Immediately release the break and push the card all the way into the pack.
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This is a simple idea, but this way you don't have to know the identity of the card before
inserting it into the pack”
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Cameron’s S.C-A.R-E.D Again Addition:
“My handling basically eliminates the cull and the half pass.
Start with the SCARED card on top of the deck. Have a card selected. As it is being
signed, get a break under the SCARED card. Place the selection face down on top of the
deck and double under cut both cards to the bottom.
Turn the deck face up to show the face of the indifferent (SCARED) card. Double
turnover and draw a ghost on the back. Now, keeping the Ghost card face down, perform
the K/M Move. (K/M Move is Described Below) The SCARED card is now face down on
the bottom of the pack.
Viola!
No need for the half pass!”
K/M Move
“Okay, so the double is face up on bottom of the face up deck. The right fingers grip the
double along the right long edge. The left hand, holding the deck, slides to the left. Once
the right long edge of the deck meets the left long edge of the double, the left hand turns
palm down. The right fingers then pull the top card of the double to the right as the left
fingers tips grip the bottom card of the double and retain it under the pack.
The move is now done.”
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Cameron Francis
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Peter Eggink gets S.C-A.R-E.D
After looking over the S.C-A.R-E.D effect, the fantastic Peter Eggink had a great little idea
for S.C-A.R-E.D!
“I do have a presentational hook-up that will motivate the “touching” of the deck in the
original routine.
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In this presentation the spectator is “possessed” by a ghost. Hold up your hand or finger
and let the spectator touch it. With your other hand slightly contact the deck, and the
spirit “inside” the spectator cuts the deck.
This presentation does a 2 things: first the spectator is involved emotionally throughout
the routine, and secondly it motivates the touching of the deck.( You made contact with
the spirit through the spectator, and pass it on through the deck….”
This is a fantastic little idea and well worth trying it out. It’s great when your performing
magic to the spectator but isn’t it even stronger if the spectator believed they were doing
the magic themselves?
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Kit Felgate gets S.C-A.R-E.D too!
A great friend of mine, Kit Felgate had a chat to me about S.C-A.R-E.D a few days after he
received a copy. Kits creative thinking has always “Wowed” me and when he brought this
idea to me I couldn’t believe I had missed it.
Kit’s idea was to use your shadow to move the deck. So if it is a sunny day or there is
distinctive lighting in the room, Place the deck on the floor. Contact the pivot point with
your hand on one end and mimic pushing or moving the deck with the showed of your
other hand. Explain that you must hold one end of the deck so the cards to not glide
away.
This is another nice routine with fantastic story potential and another way to justify
touching the deck! Another fantastic idea from another fantastic magician!
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Borrowing a deck: I have been pondering different ways in which this could be achieved.
Inevitably you will have to damage one of there cards. If you wish to do this, then feel
free. You may wish to damage one of there cards then palm it to your pocket. The chances
of them realizing there missing a card until it’s to late is more then likely. However, I
wasn’t a fan of this. I would much prefer to make an Advanced S.C-A.R-E.D card, one red
and one blue to keep in my wallet. Most magicians and people use Bicycle Brand playing
cards so it could be palmed into there deck and palmed back out again. This one is out
there for you guys to invent a clever way to achieve it!
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Closing Notes and credits
Well there we have it! This will hopefully last you well and put an end to those worn
gimmicks once used to create this stunning effect. This has sometimes been a night saver
for me and hopefully will be for you to. I thank you for purchasing S.C-A.R-E.D and wish
you ever success with it. I would like to thank the following people for there help in
developing and creating S.C-A.R-E.D!
Alan Rorrison
Peter Nardi and Alakazam
Angelo Carbone (The S.C-A.R-E.D name)
Lee Hathaway and Magic Cave
Cameron Francis
David Forrest
Peter Eggink
Nico Zottos (logo design)
Kit Felgate
Recommended sites:
www.alakazam.co.uk
www.alanrorrison.com
www.peter-eggink.nl
www.magiccave.co.uk
www.JamieDaws.co.uk
www.full52.com
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Credits
The ‘pivot card’ principle was published in the New Stars of Magic in Doug Edwards effect
‘Really Haunted’. He doesn’t claim the invention of the gimmick but did streamline the
gimmick . Stephen Tucker subsequently released ‘Jumping Jack Flash’ which also uses the
pivot card principle but with a different type of gimmick that also allows you to ‘shoot’ a
card out of the centre of the deck. Mozique’s ‘Spirit’ from Alakazam.
The K/M Move by Kardyro and Marlo
As an aside, Stephen Tuckers version is being re-released as a ‘DVD with gimmick’ by
David Forrest’s Full 52 Productions in the coming months under the new name of
‘Whiplash’.
(Credits kindly supplied by David Forrest)
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