I went out last night to a local comedy club with a few friends and before the act started there was a guy walking around doing random card tricks and silly jokes. He came over to our table and asked if we wanted to see a couple card tricks. Of course we said yes (and I love card tricks anyways). He did a trick with me and I have no idea how he did it: So he said he was going to do a card swapping trick. He gave me the Queen of Diamonds and told me to hold it face down in front of me, facing the magician, between my thumb and fore-finger. He took the Queen of Hearts, and held it the same way. It started out dumb (as most do) and said, "OK, I'm going to swap my card with yours, and then swap it back really fast, ready?" So he slid his card on top of mine so it hit my thumb, pulled it back, then did it again, and told me to show my card. Obviously I still had my original card. Then he said he would do the swap 3 times. So he did his 'swapping' action 3 times, then put his card on top of mine and asked which was on top. Well, I was gripping my card very hard this whole time and knew it hadn't been swapped, so of course I said his original card, the Queen of Hearts was on top. So he said turn them over. I did...and they were both Jokers! I could understand him switching out his card during the act, but I know damn well the card in my hand never moved or changed. Any one know how this was done? I love card/magic tricks and can usually figure them out, but this one has me stumped.

Quote: Original post by geo2004
Any one know how this was done?

MAGIC!! [wow]






On a side note, I don't see why a lot of people like to delve into the mechanics of various tricks. I guess I'm in the minority, but I think I prefer to keep the mystery. Meh...

I dont know about this particular trick but from what Ive learned, the actual 'magic' usually happens way before you think it does. THEN the magician does a whole big song and dance, at which point your paying close attention (or gripping your card tightly) and trying to figure out whats going on. But you dont realize that the magic has already happened.

It was probably similar to this.

Quote: Original post by Prinz Eugn
It was probably similar to this.

Hahaha, classic. I'm at work and started watching that, a friend walked in RIGHT at the part where he sees the devil...bad timing.

I'll add that sometimes, the 'audience' can be tricked into remembering the trick differently than it really happened (by using clever banter or sleight-of-hand). I know with certain of the few card tricks I know, after showing a friend they will often describe it to another person differently than it really happened (and which would have made the illusion impossible).

I'm in no way saying that you (geo2004) don't remember the trick correctly, but just that this is another method of misdirection used by magicians.

Quote: Original post by laztrezort
I'll add that sometimes, the 'audience' can be tricked into remembering the trick differently than it really happened (by using clever banter or sleight-of-hand). I know with certain of the few card tricks I know, after showing a friend they will often describe it to another person differently than it really happened (and which would have made the illusion impossible).

I'm in no way saying that you (geo2004) don't remember the trick correctly, but just that this is another method of misdirection used by magicians.

Ya, I was trying to think of a time where he may have done the whole 'look over here while I do something else over here' deal. Nothing came to mind (doesn't mean it didn't happen).
At first I thought I thought it was going to be some play off of the card suit/value (both were red queens), but it wasn't that.
I still don't get how the card I held onto got switched to a joker. Because even after he handed it to me and did his first 'swap' I flipped it over and it was still my original card, and it never left my hand after that.

*shrug*

Must have switched them after you had shown it after the first "swap" then, when you turned it over again. Maybe at that time you didn't know he would swap again right then so you didn't think of holding on to it very tight. He must have told you to turn it over again, perhaps then he touched it to make you turn it or something. =)

How exactly did the swapping hapen? When I first read your post, I had the impression you held the card between your thumb and index fingers in the air, so that the card's face was pointed to the magician. On a second thought swapping the card when held this way would be rather difficult, if not impossible, if you held onto it real tight.

So I guess the card was laid down on the table, right? With your fingers pushing it tight? How did the magician do the swap, then? Did he slip his card onto yours, below your fingers and took the bottom one?

The thing with these magic tricks is that it's usually the simplest thing that makes it work. I bet the guy froze time and pried the card from your timeless hands and slipped back the joker. The real trick is how he was able to interact with objects frozen in time- perhaps it's actually easy with his chosen method of time freeze.