Price$45.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedOct 11, 2017

The Gordon Diary Trick

Paul Gordon

Alakazam UK

(Based on 1 review)

The Gordon Diary Trick Complete Package (DVD and Gimmick)

The Gordon Diary Trick is, in our opinion, the best diary effect ever. The great news is you can perform it with absolutely no memory work at all!

The Gordon Diary Trick has long been a favorite with the pros. It has gained recognition from some of magic's great performers.

"I regularly use The Gordon Diary in my close-up work. It provides one of the strongest reactions to anything I perform. It hits people on an entirely different level from other tricks they see. Highly recommended."
- NICK EINHORN

"The Gordon Diary Trick is a superb addition to the diary genre!"
- JAMY IAN SWISS (Genii)

"The very best diary trick ever!"
- PHIL WILLMARTH (The Linking Ring)

"I use Paul Gordon's Diary Trick on a regular basis. It's wonderful."
- ALAN SHAXON

"Paul Gordon's Diary Trick is excellent. Wonderful magic and wonderful mentalism."
- ROGER CROSTHWAITE

"If ever there was a mentalism startler, Paul Gordon's Diary Trick is it. Bravo!"
- ALDO COLOMBINI

The Gordon Diary Trick is an effect you will perform regularly. It's easy to do, yet gets amazing reactions!

Your package comes complete with:

Gorgeous custom-printed diary, full instructional DVD and custom-printed crib card that eliminates all the memory work!

Reviews

Stephan Sloan

Official Reviewer

Sep 05, 2024

Overview

I once gave a presentation on Diary Effects at my club and a fellow asked me, which diary effect is the best? Since I haven’t studied them all and only having owned a couple of effects myself I thought about how I can answer him. After a moment, I responded with; the one you carry with you. The truth is when performing a diary effect, the participants don’t know there are different kinds and different methods but yet, there are some that are easier to do, some that one performer may be comfortable using and another not. There are those calendar effects that require that multiple calendars be carried or multiple decks. Others, require a stack so you are forced by design to make it your first effect or you will lose the stack (if you carry a single deck of cards). Still others, use doubled cards and limit the number of cards that can be chosen. Every magic trick has an Achilles heel, so you must choose the Diary effect you are most comfortable with. The Gordon Diary Trick is a well thought out calendar effect that seems to eliminate many of the objectionable characteristics other diary effects seem to be based on. With The Gordon Diary Trick the deck can be shuffled which means it can be the first, third or fifth trick in your set. The only necessary requirement is the performer will have to calculate (or look up) the target card and somehow force that card on the individual.

Effect

A person is asked to speak aloud a date that is special to them. It can be any day of the year. They are then given a calendar to hold and the performer takes out a deck of cards (it can be borrowed) and mentions that every day has a special card associated with it. They are asked to cut the cards and complete the cut. They are then asked to look up their date in the calendar and say what card is their special card, and they do. The card they cut to is then turned over and it matches the card printed in the calendar.

Method

The method is a stack but not in the traditional sense of the word. The thought of card is arrived at by using a mathematical procedure. Before everyone goes wild, a crib card is provided for you to find the proper card. Once found in the deck, that card needs to be forced or positioned to be chosen by the spectator. One can calculate the card mathematically in their minds but under the pressure of performing, one should be well practiced to attempt that.

Product Quality

Three items are provided, which are a DVD covering the history, setup, mathematics, use of the crib card and some basic forces. With over an hour of explanation, most of the scenarios one would encounter has been fully discussed. Also provided is the requisite calendar with all the cards printed in a script font. The printing is large and bold so nobody should have difficulty reading it. The crib card is printed on Bicycle stock and has the traditional red rider back so it will blend in with the most popular deck used for magic.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy is minimal and with the provided crib card I would say their statement “easy to do” is accurate. There does need to be some familiarity with audience management and traditional card forces. By the way, you have to provide your own deck.

Final Thoughts

The Gordon Diary is one of the only two diary effects I feel I would use. I also like Validate by Val Le Val if I would be opening with it because it is a fixed stack. The Gordon Diary does have the flexibility of being used over and over again because it doesn’t have to be preset or reset. If you don’t mind using a crib or some simple mathematics, this diary effect is a winner.
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