Price$25.00
Media TypeTrick
CategoryMentalism
Date AddedFeb 05, 2014
Auto Spell Deck
Knight, Devin
Illusion Concepts - Devin Knight
(Based on 3 reviews)
The performer tells the participant that he will not touch the deck again. He reminds the participant that he selected a card and returned it to the deck without the performer ever touching the deck. The performer says that he has cut the selected card to a special position that will allow the participant to spell right to his card.
"For example, if you selected the Ace of Spades, then you will spell A-C-E O-F S-P-A-D-E-S turning one card face up from the top of the deck and dealing it onto the table into a face up pile. When you have finished spelling, you will have spelt right to your card."
While the deck is still on the table, the participant spells out the full name of his card by removing the top card of the deck, turning it face up and placing it into a face up pile. While doing so, the participant sees that every card is different. After he has finished spelling the name of the card, he will be stunned to see his card is indeed on top of the deck. He has indeed spelled to his card!
This is about as close to a hands-off miracle as you could ask for. The participant selects and returns a card with the deck in his hands. The performer looks away when the card is returned so he does not know where it was placed in the deck.
The performer takes the deck, gives it one cut, and returns the deck to the table. He does not look at the faces of the cards, and he truly does not know the name of the selected card until the participant names it. The only time the performer touches the deck after a card is selected is to give it one cut. The participant deals the cards face up, not the performer. The full name of the card is spelled out each time. The word "of" is always spelled and the suit always has an "s" at the end.
There is nothing to memorize and the effect is self-working. The deck can be reset in just a few seconds and the effect can be repeated, if strolling, at another table with a different card being selected.
No Sleights, No Skill, No Marked Cards, No Long & Short or Rough & Smooth, NO FORCES OF ANY KIND. Best of all you can do this with nothing to memorize. The card is spelled the same way each time.This ingenious deck is entirely 100% self-working.
Comes complete with special bicycle deck and complete directions.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Just the Two of Us by Will Smith
Auto Spell Deck by Devin Knight Review:
Eight pages, 1 deck, 1 trick and $25. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned.
Effect
The spectator cuts the deck as many times as she wants, then looks at the top card and buries it in the deck all while your back is turned. You give the deck a quick cut(?) while claiming that you just magically brought her card in position to be spelled to from the top of the deck. Though you truly don't know what the card is or where she buried it in the deck, your claim proves true when she spells (turning each card face up from the top) to her card.
Method
The method is quite clever. The deck does all the work. The nature of the deck is such, that a brief glance at the cards as they are spread through in your hands, will convince the spectator (without you openly saying so) that the deck is normal and mixed. However, it is not normal and it is not mixed, but they'll swear that it is.
Further, the cards are handled by the spectator. They deal the cards face up as they spell the cards. The deck takes care of everything. The method is super simple and super clever. Just keep in mind that you're basically buying a one trick pony. This deck really can't be used for anything else, so you'll have to ring it in if you're going to use it.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is solid. Everything it claims is true. It's a very clean effect. If you watch the trailer, you'll see it exactly how it really plays out in real life.
Product Quality
All you get is the deck, which is well made - it's Bicycle 808 -, and the 8 page booklet crammed into a plastic baggie. The booklet is full color, but it's just regular glossy paper, not card stock; so being in the baggie caused the booklet to be wrinkled. The content of the booklet, however, is clear and easy to follow. It's written well enough and has no major issues.
Final Thoughts
I think this is a well made product and a clever method for a trick that a lot of magicians are interested in. The only real issue I've got with this is the price. I've seen DVDs that come with a special deck, sell for $25. In this case, no DVD; just a few sheets of paper folded over and stapled. I think the price could be lower. Other than that, the product does exactly what it claims, and it's an easy effect to perform.
Final Verdict:
4.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.
(Top ▲)
Spelling the name of a selected card and finding it has been around since 1908 when Charles Shepard published “The Magic Spell” in The Sphinx. Into this genre comes Devin Knight’s Auto-Spell Deck.
One may ask: after 100 years is there anything new that can be done with spelling effects? Yes as a performer can take this deck combine it with good audience management skills and create a wonderful effect. The participant selects a card, places it back in the deck themselves, gives the deck a few cuts, spells the name of the card and finds it - all by themselves. The performer doesn't touch the deck.
Every magic effect comes with a price. With Auto-Spell Deck, it's specially designed deck of Bicycle cards. With the aforementioned audience management skills, the deck will seem to be unprepared and, most importantly, the magic will happen in their hands.
Along with the deck, Knight provides a nicely produced instruction book. You will need to learn how to manage and reset the deck. Add a deck switch and you could have an effect that will have them talking.
One may ask: after 100 years is there anything new that can be done with spelling effects? Yes as a performer can take this deck combine it with good audience management skills and create a wonderful effect. The participant selects a card, places it back in the deck themselves, gives the deck a few cuts, spells the name of the card and finds it - all by themselves. The performer doesn't touch the deck.
Every magic effect comes with a price. With Auto-Spell Deck, it's specially designed deck of Bicycle cards. With the aforementioned audience management skills, the deck will seem to be unprepared and, most importantly, the magic will happen in their hands.
Along with the deck, Knight provides a nicely produced instruction book. You will need to learn how to manage and reset the deck. Add a deck switch and you could have an effect that will have them talking.
(Top ▲)
Devin Knight's effects are always strong. This is no exception. The promotion excplanation is exactly how this effect plays out - nothing is left out of the description. The spectator has a free choice of a card, he or she puts it into the center of the deck, and then with one cut of the deck, the magician causes the card to appear at the exact spelling of the card, with the spectator dealing the cards face up to arrive at his or her selection!
Auto Spell Deck is straightforward and easy to perform. It is hands-off mentalism. Then why have I given Auto Spell four rather than five stars? The spectator is asked to name the card. This takes some of the mystery away although if the performer has smooth and polished patter, this one moment can be minimized.
There are ways that the performer could detect the selected card. These methods are not presented but if they were, then Auto Spell would be simply inexplicable mental magic. However, as presented, it plays strong because the magic happens 'in the hands of the spectator.'
Auto Spell Deck can be performed by beginners and with the right patter and presenation can be a strong effect in the program of a professional. The bicycle deck design makes it easy to bring into a card routine. This is an excellent short effect - highly recommended.
Auto Spell Deck is straightforward and easy to perform. It is hands-off mentalism. Then why have I given Auto Spell four rather than five stars? The spectator is asked to name the card. This takes some of the mystery away although if the performer has smooth and polished patter, this one moment can be minimized.
There are ways that the performer could detect the selected card. These methods are not presented but if they were, then Auto Spell would be simply inexplicable mental magic. However, as presented, it plays strong because the magic happens 'in the hands of the spectator.'
Auto Spell Deck can be performed by beginners and with the right patter and presenation can be a strong effect in the program of a professional. The bicycle deck design makes it easy to bring into a card routine. This is an excellent short effect - highly recommended.