All Who WANDer
Like many magicians, I began experiencing Ambitious Card burnout a few years ago, but playing this with this routine has rekindled our relationship a little.
This one is for magicians who have been looking a way to use your sexy $5000 magic wand with your card magic...while table-hopping. For those of us on a teacher salary, a Sharpie will do.
Thanks to ERIC MEAD for his wonderful trick “Signed Stunner”, which first appeared in The Magical Arts Journal (November 1986 Vol. 1 No. 4). It was the inspiration for this routine.
Effect:
The kid’s signed card is shown to rise to the top a few times with a few taps of a magic wand (stay with me). The magician says that the kid at the table can do it too with his own wand! No wand!? No problem. The magician takes a random card (say the 5H), and folds it into a DIY magic wand for him. The kid taps the deck a few times, and to the magician’s horror, a card is not on top but reversed in the center of the deck! Is it the signed card??...NO! It’s the DIY magic wand card (5H), and the magic wand rolled up in the kid’s hand is his own signed card! Congrats, you’ve just been upstaged...by a child.
Script and Procedure:
FASDIU, the kid’s card is selected, signed, replaced and controlled second from the top.
“Do you want to know the real secret of magic? It’s the magic wand. Some magicians learn difficult sleight of hand or use marked cards. All I need is this magic wand (the Sharpie). When I tap the deck two times, your card comes to me!”
Execute a double turnover. Their selection is shown on top.
“See? It’s easy. But you didn’t know what was going to happen, so I’ll do it again.”
Turn the double over, and insert the top card into the center of the pack.
“I tap the deck two times, and there it is! Amazing!...so amazing that your parents forgot to clap. No, no, I’ll earn it.”
This gives you a humorous off-beat to execute a top change.
“Lift up about half of the cards, dad. Place the card into the deck, drop the cards back on top. I tap two times...please turn over the card, mom.”
Show the selection has risen to the top again.
“Look, I know that I’m taking all the credit for this, but to be honest, but anyone can do it. In fact, you will make your card come to you...and we will even use your magic wand!”
The card is apparently shuffled back into the deck but actually controlled back on top. I like shuffling off, injogging the first card, and ending with a cut at the injog.
“...What? Do didn’t bring a magic wand? It’s okay, I’ll make you one.”
Double turn over (say the 5H).
“If I roll the five of hearts into a wand, it should still work. I learned this on Pinterest”
Turn the double over, and roll the card as tightly as you can with the back facing out. Have them pinch down on the rolled up card so that it does not unroll.
“Ready to do some magic? Sit up tall! You’re going to find your signed card.”
As you are saying this, execute a Braue reversal. The signed card is now facedown in the middle of a faceup deck. Turn the pack face down again and place it on the table.
“Alright! Go to town! Tap the deck a few times, and your card will rise to the top! Your whole family will go nuts for you!”
Inevitably, he/she will start tapping the deck excitedly.
“DUDE! WAIT! I said Two times!! Remember? Two times and it comes to the top. Have you not been paying attention this whole time? Look, when you do that it doesn’t rise to the top...”
Show the top top card. The cards are spread face up, and one card is reversed in the center.
“I don’t even know where you card---Woah...You don’t think…”
The card is turned over and it’s NOT the signed card, but the 5 of hearts- the magic wand card!
“Wait...if this is the DIY magic wand card from Pinterest, what are you holding?”
They unroll the magic wand.
“WHAT! Okay, now you’re just showing off. Dad, does he do this all the time?”
Bare Bones:
Selected, Signed, Replaced, Controlled to the top
Phase 1: Double turnover showing the selection has risen to the top
Phase 2: Double turnover, top card is placed into the center, the card appears back on top
A. Phase 3: Top Change. Spectator lifts the top half, X card is placed into the center, The top half is replaced, and the signed card appears on top again.
B. The signed selection is placed in the center again and controlled to the top. “You can do it too!”
“No Wand? No Problem.” Double Turnover showing an X card. Turn over the double again and thumb off the top card to make the DIY wand.
Braue Reversal.
Card is shown FD in a FU pack. Show that it’s the the X/wand card.
The wand in unrolled, showing the signed selection.