Mark Leveredge's Brainstormer
$25.00
https://bigblindmedia.com/products/brainstormer-by-mark-leveridge?variant=43349660729573

The Hype:

IMAGINATION BECOMES REALITY WHEN A SPECTATOR’S NAMED CARD PRINTS IN A BLANK DECK!

Comes with special Bicycle Deck - everything you need to perform included!

No extra cards!  No sticky stuff or roughing stuff!  No fiddly gaffs!  No kidding!

Brainstormer: The performer removes a deck from its case and spreads it to show that the cards are all blank on both the faces and the back! This is what a pack of cards looks like before it gets printed.

The performer explains that in fact he has arranged the deck so that all the red cards are together and all the black ones are together. Splitting the deck he ribbon spreads one half on the table in front of the spectator, explaining that these are all the red cards, and spreads the other half across the table near to himself claiming that these are all the black cards.

Picking up the spectator’s cards he explains that although they all look completely blank, the spectator should nevertheless be able to pick out any red card that he wants even though he doesn’t believe he can see any card faces.

To prove this, the spectator is invited to name any red card. Let’s imagine that he says the 4D. Spreading the spectator’s cards out before him the performer invites him to touch any card. The selection is removed and turned over and the performer claims that the card the spectator has touched really is the 4D even though it still looks blank!

The magician now says he will try to emulate the feat with his cards. He names a black card, say the 8S, and slips out one of his blanks. Flipping it over he claims that this one is also the one he named, the 8S!

The spectators are less than convinced by this so the performer says he will prove that the two cards were indeed removed. Picking up the spectator’s 4D, he places it ‘face up’ onto the top of the performer’s pile and cuts it to the centre. He does the same with his 8S, cutting it ‘face up’ into the middle of the spectator’s pile.

The performer then states: “Because we have exchanged cards, my 8S is the only black card in amongst all of your red cards. And in my pile of black cards, your 4D is the only red one. Because of this our two cards are the odd ones out, and as a result they will stand out so much that we will actually be able to see them.”

With a snap of his fingers over the two piles the performer ribbon spreads the spectator’s half to reveal an 8S printed card face in the centre, and spreading his half one printed face is seen there too, and it’s the spectator’s freely named 4D!

My take:

I can describe this effect in three words. I love it. I believe that Mark Leveridge is better known in the UK that in the states and that is a shame. Everything I have seen by him is quality and deceptive.

This routine is simple to do and will absolutely kill your audience. The girl who acts as the volunteer in the video is an employee of Big Blind Media but I truly believe that the shocked look on her face was genuine.

Starting out showing the entire deck is blank will get them thinking. The majority of your audience has never seen a completely blank deck before, Since they can see both sides are blank and can even handle some of the cards that makes this routine a real fooler. This is one routine that I have enjoyed rehearsing. I know how it works but it is just so much fun spreading the cards and having the selections appear. This is a routine which, handled correctly, should net you a few gasps.

I always try to watch a demo video on a review item to see if I can figure out the working. This one I had zero idea about. And even when you know everything, it is still a surprise when the named card is the only one displaying a face among the blanks cards.

Watch the video and see if you can figure it out. If you can't, you know your audience will be unable to also.  And, even if you can figure it out, it will still fool the heck out of your audience. The routine is easy to perform, only one move necessary and it is an easy one. I have used it many time having learned it from Harry Lorayne's "Close Up Card Magic". A woman friend of mine used to be married to a magician and has pretty much seen everything there is to be seen (or so she tells me). I did this for her and she says she has never seen anything like it.

It is easy to get the deck into proper order and once you do it once or twice, it will be automatic. The reset is quick but cannot be done in front of your audience. You are given an extra card so the trick can be repeated and if you already own the right deck, you can do it numerous times.   The deck cannot be passed out or examined but the effect is strong enough that it shouldn't be necessary.

Mark Leveredge first put this out back in the 90's and Big Blind asked his permission to reissue it. You will be glad they did.  There is some great stuff that's been released and forgotten over the years. Go through your magic drawer. You just might find some gold.

The routine is taught thoroughly by Liam Montier in a video of almost 14 minutes. As I said, I love this one so, of course, it gets a highly recommended.

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