Just A Quick Question

[ThatThing]

Hello! I wanted to ask a quick question to all of you!

I was never really interested in magic until a friend of mine showed me some tricks and sooner than I knew, I was doing card tricks (though not as advanced as his) that were amazing to him!

I am mostly going to keep magic as a hobby, do tricks for friends or any willing volunteers on the street, in the store, that kind of thing.

However, my only tricks currently are random ones from the internet and they require little to no sleight of hand. Even though I don't want to do this professionally (though you never know!), I want to do awesome cool card tricks. So I have taken the personal liberty of getting all 5 volumes of Card College, and the Royal Road to Card Magic. I am reading Card College mostly and I am enjoying my journey so far!

However, now comes my question, almost all texts, pages, books, and posts say it is good to use a new broken in deck like Bicycle. The problem is, my deck is not new...

To give you an idea, they are probably around 10+ years old.... all the cards are pretty dirty and they are old casino cards, meaning they are clipped at the right corner and also the design is borderless, AND to top it all off they were in a box for most of that time gathering dust and all. However, I use them for practicing and showing, and I LOVE my deck. Mostly because this deck absolutely refuses to bend, I can fail a sleight of hand as much as I want and not worry about burning through them! They also stick together pretty good when necessary and the edges are mostly smooth. The only difficulty so far is fanning, but my friend can PERFECTLY fan my old deck with no trouble at all! In other words, despite the age and how worn they are, they still work pretty good in my opinion.

but I see people recommending to buy 20+ Bicycles and just burning through the deck while you practice and use a shiny new deck for show. To be balantly honest, I am to stingy with money and I must ask:

Is it absolutely necessary for me to get a new deck to play with? Or is their no harm in using my old deck? I would prefer to keep my old deck but if it is better for me to use a new one, I will do it for the sake of easy learning and show I suppose.

Thanks!

 

[Timewise64]

Sorry I am not qualified to answer this, many other will answer for you....but

I wanted to warn you, Magic is dangerous, once infected you frequently cannot get cured! Beware....once infected you will forever pursue more magic, more magic, and more magic......Good Luck and Have Fun!

 

[Akhil Raj]

Of course magic is an expensive hobby. But it doesn't mean you can't save. When I started a couple years ago, I found myself buying around only 10 decks but I spent well over $30. And while practicing, I burned through them quickly, leaving just one to three decks for performances. BUT... there's a silver lining. I found a 12-pack of standard Bicycle Playing Cards(6 blue, 6 red) for just $15 at Costco. So for half the price I get more! If there isn't a Costco near you, I suggest buying it on Amazon even though it is $3-$5 extra: https://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Poke...sr=8-1&keywords=bicycle+playing+cards+12+pack

Although it is great that you prefer your old deck, I believe the bicycle playing cards are, in a way, a convincer for the audience. That is: They've seen bicycle playing cards at local grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. So they'll be more inclined to believe that it isn't a gimmicked deck(even if you and I know that your's isn't gimmicked either, the spectator might think it is). Think about it, if you say to the spectator "I have a normal deck of cards" vs. "I have a normal deck of Bicycle cards", they'll picture the Bicycle cards they play poker with their friends at New Year's and Christmas parties: Totally normal. That's just my take on it. And remember, There are other forms of magic not limited to cards. There's mentalism, coins, dollar bills, pens, etc.

 

[ThatThing]

Of course magic is an expensive hobby. But it doesn't mean you can't save. When I started a couple years ago, I found myself buying around only 10 decks but I spent well over $30. And while practicing, I burned through them quickly, leaving just one to three decks for performances. BUT... there's a silver lining. I found a 12-pack of standard Bicycle Playing Cards(6 blue, 6 red) for just $15 at Costco. So for half the price I get more! If there isn't a Costco near you, I suggest buying it on Amazon even though it is $3-$5 extra: https://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Poke...sr=8-1&keywords=bicycle+playing+cards+12+pack

Although it is great that you prefer your old deck, I believe the bicycle playing cards are, in a way, a convincer for the audience. That is: They've seen bicycle playing cards at local grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. So they'll be more inclined to believe that it isn't a gimmicked deck(even if you and I know that your's isn't gimmicked either, the spectator might think it is). Think about it, if you say to the spectator "I have a normal deck of cards" vs. "I have a normal deck of Bicycle cards", they'll picture the Bicycle cards they play poker with their friends at New Year's and Christmas parties: Totally normal. That's just my take on it. And remember, There are other forms of magic not limited to cards. There's mentalism, coins, dollar bills, pens, etc.

I see what you mean, I actually have an almost brand new Bicycle deck that I have never used. Since my cards are used casino cards, I've had instances where the spectators unwarily place the card so that the rounded edge sticks out from the corners and basically just ruins my tricks (It's especially irritating when they notice afterwards and they say I did it on purpose). I have also found out that it is harder for my cards for certain tricks because they are borderless cards.

Also, about the other forms, I know there are those but to be honest card magic amazes me the most and I like doing it more than any other, though I might get into later forms in the future. I might just use these for now as I am learning and all as even though some tricks are harder with my deck, they are not impossible. Thanks for the reply

Also, if you want to tell me about my cards strengths/weaknesses they are Aristocrat Club Special Casino Playing Cards, they are used of course so they have the corners cut off and all.

 

[Akhil Raj]

I think those patterns on the back of your cards are great for fanning and flourishing. Although you did say it's hard for you to fan with it. Your cards are fine to be honest, but they do get worn down: They all do. And it is harder to perform some sleights. Especially more advanced ones. To name one, the hotshot cut. When I was learning the hot shot cut, the card would never shoot out the way I wanted it to and I thought I was the one doing it wrong. After the months of trying to get it down, I finally tried it on a fresh deck and voila! I also find that moves such as the classic pass is easier to perform when the deck isn't sticky.

 

[Mr.Book]

skill means more than the age of your deck. I couldn't care less ,when doing a move ,what deck I am using. Use all your old decks until a card gets torn. The look of on old worn deck can also help in shaping character and feel of a trick.

Just my opinion


Book

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

If an audience member or volunteer questions whether you're using a trick deck or not, that's on you not them.

I have used nothing but custom decks for at least 5 years. I never, ever get called out. Go to Target, WalMart, Walgreens - There are custom decks all over the place. People don't think about the cards unless you make them think about the cards. If you present the deck as a normal deck, without every saying "This is a normal deck" they won't question it.

Never say, "A normal deck of cards". What other kind are there? Don't put the idea of a not-normal cards even existing. You're making your own job harder.

It doesn't matter what deck you use. Old, new, custom, standard, casino, whatever. Practice until you're good. Then keep practicing until you're great. Learn the deck, learn its quirks, learn its weaknesses. Work with that, and just build your skill.

David Blaine learned magic using a poker-sized deck of tarot cards for years.

Most old time magicians used cards that were just a step above thick paper. What's why the pass was used so much - much harder to do pivot steals when the cards won't slide against each other.