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Mem-Deck
Mem-Deck

Mem Deck - Thom Parkin

Aronson Trainer Deck
$48.00
https://www.memdeck-trainer.com/store/products/b4926b38-15af-463b-937c-a20f2bc94695

Mnemonica Training Deck
$58.00
https://www.memdeck-trainer.com/store/products/426134d5-72e4-432e-b976-bb00adf0295b

Like a lot of you, I had heard all the wonders of a memorized deck. I once saw Darwin Ortiz lecture and do some amazing things after which he told us that it was done with a memorized deck. And also, like a lot of you, the thought of memorizing 52 cards not only in order but by position was crushingly intimidating. My memory could be better. (I have to sing Happy Birthday to myself to remember my name!)

Thom Parkin has built the better mousetrap and if you really want to learn a stack, you had best beat a path to his door,

Thom has had a deck designed by Heba, a professional storybook illustrator from the Boston area. She has taken each card in the stack and created an illustration showing not only the value but the position in the stack. Whereas before, you just had to memorize the numbers, here you have a picture to tie it to and lock it into your brain. I had never tried to learn a stack previously but this actually makes it fun and much easier. I have an 80 year old friend who delights in showing off his Aronson skills. In the course of a conversation, if a card happens to be mentioned, he will immediately point out its position in the deck. Granted, he has been at it a long time but considering his age, he hasn't dropped a stitch and if he can do it, so can I.

One of the first things you are told is that this deck is not for performing or using for routines. It is meant as a tool. The cards, while not USPCC, are of a nice quality and should last you a long time. I will have to admit that going through the deck, there were one or two illustrations where I did not immediately see the connection with the card. However, in the online resources there is a page explaining each card making it easier to memorize. There is also a second deck for the Mnemonica stack with the same provisions.The second deck had to be redesigned from scratch to have the illustrations tie in with the different positions. So this has been an expensive project for Thom to do and it obvious that he spent a ton of time putting this together.

With each deck you receive a card with a QR code that takes you to the online resource area. There is a separate area for each stack. The Mnemonica section gives you a video showing how to set the stack from new deck order. The Aronson resource has some pretty extensive documents teaching not only a trick but techniques and some material from Simon Aronson himself, including a full deck story routine.

Another option that is offered for a cheaper price is to have four cards emailed to you weekly so you are not overwhelmed by too much material at once. I would suggest if this appeals to you, go ahead and buy the deck. Take out four cards to study and memorize yourself. Afterwards, you will have the deck to work with any time you please which you would not have with the email version. Just seems to be a better deal for me.

Looking at magic sites online, it has become very obvious how pervasive stack work has become. I have always been satisfied with good old Si Stebbins (even use it for a nice ACAAN by the late Tom Baxter) but the more I read, the more I realize how much I am limiting myself.

Will this deck make it a snap to memorize a stack? No, but it will make it much easier. I am only up to 15 cards but this is further than I have ever ventured before. When I forget the next card, I try to imagine the illustration. They make a huge difference. Although I am at the start of my journey, I do plan on learning the entire stack. (Can't let an 80 year old guy beat me out!)

This is the second product by Thom Parkin theat I have had the privilege to review (the other being the Instant Card Magician, an online app that lets your spectator do a trick for you while being severely fooled). I am knocked out by both products and while Thom is a new name to me and a lot of you, he won't be for long if he keeps issuing releases of this quality.

So, yes, this is recommended. If you want to learn one of the stacks, these decks will make your task a lot easier and save you hours of frustration.  Now, it's off to work on my deck (if I can remember where I put it).  

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