What trick do you absolutely hate? We all have at least one.
For me, it's the Omni deck.
Maybe it's the way that it's presented that makes me hate it.
"Would you be impressed if I could make that deck vanish from your hands?"
Everyone says yes, but instead of the cards being gone, it's swapped places with a cheap plastic brick.
It shouldn't work, but like cheese on literally anything - It does work.
People freak out... In that moment.
THE STRAIGHT LINE TO METHOD
Have you ever stuck around to talk with spectators after the tricks are done? I have.
While bathing in amazement they can't help speculating on methods together.
"I was holding it. He must have switched it for that plastic block or something."
The method speculation doesn't bother me... Unless they're right. In which case, it's a weak trick.
The problem I have with Omni Deck, aside from the deck not vanishing in the way they expect, is that it's a straight line for a spectator.
"He must have just put that block in my hands."
Busted!
WHY DO I HAVE THIS OPINION ON OMNI DECK?
I don't perform shows anymore. So I have no responsibility to a paying customer.
I also have no expectation to perform when I go out. I can if I want to, but it isn't a guarantee.
This means I can be freer with my pocket management and take only a few items with me.
I ask myself this question when putting a gimmick in my pocket...
"Is the juice worth the squeeze?"
- Will an index be worth carrying all day when I can do basically the same trick with a top palm?
- Will an omni deck be worth carrying when I can do a deck vanish from my hands, by throwing it in my pocket?
My goal is to go out and perform the hardest hitting stuff with the least amount of gimmicks.
Although your situation may be different.
IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER IN THE OMNI SPACE?
Of course your situation may be different. You may have gigs - and thus the only reason to wear trousers that day is to hide gimmicks in them.
So you couldn't care less about bulging pockets. It's an occupational hazard.
For you, Omni deck may be a must... So I'd rather just arm you with the best versions out there.
#1. PHANTOM DECK
The first is Phantom Deck by Joshua Jay (we just added it to our worker's essentials category here). What I love about this is that the cards turn transparent, but still keep the form of cards, instead of an unrelated plastic brick.
You make the other cards turn clear, leaving only their card... and this spreadable version (I believe) has far more impact than a traditional omni deck.
- It still happens in their hand.
- Their card is still left signed/normal.
- It's perhaps even easier to bring in/out as a gimmick.
So it's a fantastic improvement if you love the Omni plot.
#2. The Medusa Project
The second option, that we don't stock at Ellusionist, but still worth picking up, is Perseus Arkomanis' Medusa project.
For me, the hook or story is what sells the magic here. Everyone knows about the Greek Myth of Medusa. Turning people to stone with a look.
As the spectator looks at the deck in their hand, it's now turned to stone.
Again, this is far more interesting than a boring plastic brick. But remember, if they're really freaked out and they drop it, it could break.
I think the stone breaking sells the effect more - but if you're a worker, that can get very costly. So it's worth telling people to hold it tightly.
#3. Just Don't Say "Deck Vanish"
The third option is to change your presentation and not tell them the deck is going to vanish. Instead you can use the plastic block as misdirection for another effect.
You: "Were you watching closely?"
Them: "YES!"
You: "Did you see me take the deck out of your hand, go through, find your signed card and zip it up in my wallet and place it back in my pocket over here?... No?"
Them: "NO WAY!"
You: "If you missed that, you also must've missed it when I gave the deck back to you - instead of cards I just gave you a block of plastic to see if you were paying attention."
They open their hand. Scream. You reach into your pocket, pull out your card to wallet and reveal their signed card behind the zip.
In this way, the Omni deck isn't the effect. It's the proof that sells the effect.
That's just one quick idea to facilitate my point.
I like the presentation of 'were you watching closely' instead of, "I'm going to make the deck vanish". Because they'll swear they were watching you the entire time and you've given them a fake method for their brain to chew on later.
However you present it, I think it's more about meeting or exceeding expectations.
If you say the deck is going to vanish and it just turns into a clear block, you didn't meet their high expectations.
15 comments
Philip Bynorth
I never say the deck will vanish. After asking if the spectator has any idea how the trick was done, I say “if you’ve been paying attention, then all will become clear”
Jonathan L
I get the sentiment—it’s all about the presentation. But before I dove into magic, I was an audience member and a street-magic guy did the omni deck trick (I didn’t know it was called that) and it absolutely blew me away…
Sure. I knew it had to be a switch. But whether or not you are open about it in the patter, your audience (well most of your audience) really doesn’t think that you transformed the cards from one form of matter to another. It’s the way the switch is done and—at best—in the participant’s hands that really matters, I think.
I do like your take on this effect better. I mean, it’s a visual non-sequitur: Why would a deck of cards turn into a block of lucite. (Then again, why would your signed card show up in a block of ice? I guess you can patter your way around either outcome.)
You can elevate OmniDeck from a ‘trick’ to an ‘effect’ by filling in the blanks for the audience and actually making the change part of a story (e.g. the Medusa deck) or change the context of the trick. But however you throw it down, your audience will always know it is a switch. (They also know that Copperfield flew using wires, no matter how much you could perfect it no one really gets sawed in half, and that Scotty didn’t beam the Houdini out of the box so he could change places with his assistant in Metamorphosis… there had to be a trapdoor somewhere.
But I totally agree that the story you tell can make a real difference in how the audience perceives a trick and remembers it in the future.
Kyle Leon
This is the most ridiculous opinion I’ve ever read. It sounds like you’ve never performed with the Omni Deck before. It literally kills everyone when it is revealed. Who cares about any point you’ve made. Irrelevant. It’s pure surprise–yes, but so what. it’s a killer moment they aren’t expecting and EVERYONE wants to see that block. It’s surreal and unique and in that moment, that’s all that matters. Sell me your Omni Deck if you don’t like or use it. I’d happily buy it! Win, win.
Ritchy Flo
This is great! I always think about the fact that the cards don’t just vanish when I have performed this. I really like the scripting and thinking here. Def going to have to try a variation of this.
Christopher Kavanagh
Geraint, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Omni deck. It summed up the feelings for those of us that don’t perform it for a variety of reasons. I love how you posed it: “is the juice worth the squeeze?”
That question can be applied to anything we perform! Thanks, Mate!
Chris Kavanagh
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