Derren Brown: Archive
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From: ganetauk
Date: Mon Feb 18, 2002 7:56pm
Subject: t cutting edge
The Cutting Edge
This short interlude is
a good lead-in to more involved miracles. The
performer sets aside one ESP card as a prediction. The
spectator is invited to cut the remaining cards. The cut-to
card is placed next to the prediction and when both
are turned over, it is seen that they match.
Method - The method is age-old but the ESP cards have a
built-in camouflage that will help disguise your gimmick.
To perform this quickie, you'll need to construct a
Will DeSieve gimmick. This is usually done by taking a
coin and pressing it into a playing card to form a
ridge. The result is an excellent locator card that can
be cut to very easily. With standard playing cards,
a King, Queen or Jack is usually chosen to help
hide the disfigurement. However, with an ESP deck,
you'll find that if you use a half-dollar and press it
into a card with the circle, the design perfectly
disguises the ridge as the coin is exactly the size of the
inside circumference of the symbol. For the purposes of
this effect, you will need to press the coin into the
back of the card. Take your time and make sure that
you are forming the ridge along the inside of the
circle on the card's face. To set up the deck, make sure
that your gimmick is at the approximate center of the
pack. Also, place a duplicate of the card that lies
just below the gimmick (with the cards face down) on
top of the pack. You're ready to go! To perform,
simply take the top card of the pack and set it down on
the table without showing its face, referring to it
as your prediction card. Now, offer the rest of the
cards for the spectator to cut. Hold the cards by the
long edges up at the fingertips of your palm-up hand.
Request that the spectator cut the cards in the middle.
Timing and a 'touch' is required now. As the spectator
begins the cut, you must drop your hand with the lower
half of the deck once you feel that the top half has
been secured by the spectator. If done correctly, the
deck should break right at your gimmicked card; you'll
feel the cards fall away at the key point. The
prepared card will be at the bottom of the spec tator's
parcel and your force card (the duplicate of the one on
the table) will lie at the top of yours. Take the
spectator's cards and put them under yours to complete his
cut. Tell him to turn his 'freely cut-to' card off the
top of the pack and place it next to your prediction.
Dramatically turn both over to show the match. The key to
making this work correctly is, of course, practice. Have
a friend cut the deck so you can practice cutting
at the gimmicked card and you'll acquire the "touch"
in no time.
