V. LOS FERMENTOS DEL CRIMEN
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Homer s Odd, You See
Effect
Effect
But the real reason to use the Homer Simpson sticker is that people respond to beloved cartoon But the real reason to use the Homer Simpson sticker is that people respond to beloved cartoon characters in a different and more emotional way than the average card trick. I want to take characters in a different and more emotional way than the average card trick. I want to take advantage of this.
advantage of this.
Y
You need a blue ou need a blue backed deck of fifty-two Jokers, one backed deck of fifty-two Jokers, one red backed card which red backed card which will be forced, say itwill be forced, say it is the Five of Hearts. Also needed is a Homer Simpson sticker which is stuck to the back of a red is the Five of Hearts. Also needed is a Homer Simpson sticker which is stuck to the back of a red backed
backed card. Ycard. You ou can, if can, if you want, you want, simply write simply write the name the name 'Homer' on 'Homer' on the back the back of of the force the force cardcard but the trick does lose something.
but the trick does lose something.(Photo 68.)(Photo 68.)
Photo 68 Photo 68 The Five of Hearts goes on the face of the joke
The Five of Hearts goes on the face of the joke r deck. This deck is put into a blue card box r deck. This deck is put into a blue card box and offand off you go. Because there are no sleights in this routine, this deck will last you a very long time. You you go. Because there are no sleights in this routine, this deck will last you a very long time. You will replace the card box before you replace the deck.
will replace the card box before you replace the deck.
Remove the deck from the box and give it a false shuffle as you talk retaining the Five on the face Remove the deck from the box and give it a false shuffle as you talk retaining the Five on the face of the deck. The safest way to
of the deck. The safest way to shuffle (to avoid flashing Jokers to the audience) is a shuffle (to avoid flashing Jokers to the audience) is a Center HinduCenter Hindu shuffle.
shuffle.
“In a moment I am going to have you look at and remember one of these cards. Then maybe I can
“In a moment I am going to have you look at and remember one of these cards. Then maybe I can do something interesting...”
do something interesting...”
Spread the deck widely face down but keep the red backed card on the bottom concealed. This Spread the deck widely face down but keep the red backed card on the bottom concealed. This shows a lot of blue backs.
shows a lot of blue backs.(Photo 69.)(Photo 69.)
Preparation Preparation
Performance
Performance
Photo 69 Photo 69
I do not say “I will name your card” at this point because if you do that before the selection has I do not say “I will name your card” at this point because if you do that before the selection has been made, you are setting up a challenge and
been made, you are setting up a challenge and certain people will then go out of their way to pickcertain people will then go out of their way to pick a card they think will be
a card they think will be difficult during the force.difficult during the force.
G
Gary Ouellet’s Touch Forceary Ouellet’s Touch Force
Cut about a third of the deck from top to bottom and hold a break between the sections as they Cut about a third of the deck from top to bottom and hold a break between the sections as they come together.
come together.(Photo 70.)(Photo 70.)
Spread the cards above your fourth-finger break and ask the spectator to touch the back of one of Spread the cards above your fourth-finger break and ask the spectator to touch the back of one of them.
them.(Photo 71.)(Photo 71.)
Photo 70
Photo 70 Photo 71Photo 71
You want to spread enough so the spectator points to a card that is not wildly apart from your You want to spread enough so the spectator points to a card that is not wildly apart from your break.
break. Ideally, Ideally, you wyou want ant her to her to touch touch a a card card that that is is just a just a few few cards cards above above your break. your break. You You cancan experiment with where the break is when you do the force. Maybe you like it further down in the experiment with where the break is when you do the force. Maybe you like it further down in the deck or maybe you are more comfortable with the break being more near center.
deck or maybe you are more comfortable with the break being more near center.
Once a card has been touched, outjog it and close up the spread, still maintaining your break.
Once a card has been touched, outjog it and close up the spread, still maintaining your break.
(Photo 72 and Photo 73.) (Photo 72 and Photo 73.)
Photo 72
Photo 72 Photo 73Photo 73
With your right hand, approach the de
With your right hand, approach the deck, fingers at the outer end touching ck, fingers at the outer end touching the outjogged card andthe outjogged card and thumb at the inner end.
thumb at the inner end.(Photo 74.)(Photo 74.)
Photo 74 Photo 74
The next actions happen smoothly and at the same time. With your right fingertips, push the The next actions happen smoothly and at the same time. With your right fingertips, push the outjogged card flush with the deck, at the same time as your right thumb makes contact with the outjogged card flush with the deck, at the same time as your right thumb makes contact with the break. As
break. As soon as soon as the outjogged the outjogged card is card is pushed square, pushed square, the right the right hand hand lifts all of lifts all of the cards the cards aboveabove the break away in End Grip.
the break away in End Grip.(Photo 75.)(Photo 75.)
Photo 75 Photo 75
This packet is raised so the spectator can
This packet is raised so the spectator can note the card at the note the card at the face.face. (Photo 76.) (Photo 76.)
Photo 76 Photo 76
The Gags The Gags
If you can, table the deck. Get it out of your hands if possible.
If you can, table the deck. Get it out of your hands if possible.
“Now, without looking at the deck or asking any questions, I will n
“Now, without looking at the deck or asking any questions, I will n ame your card.”ame your card.”
Pause.
Pause.
“Homer. I name your card Homer.”
“Homer. I name your card Homer.”
After the spectators have reacted to the gag. You continue.
After the spectators have reacted to the gag. You continue. “What was your card after all? The“What was your card after all? The Five of Diamonds? Ah, well there's a r
Five of Diamonds? Ah, well there's a reason I named it Homereason I named it Homer.”.”
Spread the deck slowly on the table or between your hands. You want to reveal a little of the red Spread the deck slowly on the table or between your hands. You want to reveal a little of the red back but not the Homer sticker (or Homer writing) yet.
back but not the Homer sticker (or Homer writing) yet.(Photo 77.)(Photo 77.)
“There's one card that stands out to me ...”
“There's one card that stands out to me ...”
Widen the spread to reveal the Homer sticker.
Widen the spread to reveal the Homer sticker. “… and it is the only card that I could really call “… and it is the only card that I could really call Photo 77
Photo 77 Photo 78 Photo 78
Homer
Homer.”.”(Photo 78.)(Photo 78.) Slide the card out and turn
Slide the card out and turn it over to reveal the spectator's selected Five of Hearts. I let the it over to reveal the spectator's selected Five of Hearts. I let the spectatorspectator look at or hold their selected “Homer” card for a moment.
look at or hold their selected “Homer” card for a moment.
“And I bet you thoug
“And I bet you thought this was just a joke ... funny thing ht this was just a joke ... funny thing is ... if you had picked any is ... if you had picked any other card, itother card, it would have been.”
would have been.”
Turn the deck over and spread it widel
Turn the deck over and spread it widely to show a full deck of Jokers to y to show a full deck of Jokers to end.end.(Photo 79.)(Photo 79.)
Photo 79 Photo 79
Comments Comments
Sometimes you can't spread a deck widely on
Sometimes you can't spread a deck widely on a table. If you have a small amount a table. If you have a small amount of table space, Iof table space, I suggest turning the deck face up and pushing off a group of jokers, six or eight-it doesn't matter, suggest turning the deck face up and pushing off a group of jokers, six or eight-it doesn't matter, and spreading them so they can be clearly seen. Then drop this group on the table. Continue this and spreading them so they can be clearly seen. Then drop this group on the table. Continue this way
way, dropping small groups of jokers into , dropping small groups of jokers into a pile on the table, ua pile on the table, until you run through the ntil you run through the entire deckentire deck to finish.
to finish. (Photo 80.)(Photo 80.)
No
No table table available? available? Hold Hold the the deck deck with with the the faces faces toward toward the the audience audience and and your hyour hands ands raised raised toto chest level. Spread through the deck as widely as you can.
chest level. Spread through the deck as widely as you can.(Photo 81.)(Photo 81.) Photo 80
Photo 80 Photo 81 Photo 81
The two black Jacks
The two black Jacks are removed from the deck. The Magician are removed from the deck. The Magician says they will represent two mastersays they will represent two master thieves.
thieves.
The Ace through Ten of Diamonds is also displayed, representing a vast fortune to be stolen. The The Ace through Ten of Diamonds is also displayed, representing a vast fortune to be stolen. The thieves are cut into the middle of the deck to isolate them. The spectator names any one of the thieves are cut into the middle of the deck to isolate them. The spectator names any one of the Diamonds and it too is isolated on the
Diamonds and it too is isolated on the table.table.
In an instant, the deck is spread and the selected diamond is now caught between the Jacks. The In an instant, the deck is spread and the selected diamond is now caught between the Jacks. The card on the table thought to be the diamond is looked at and it now bears a message from the card on the table thought to be the diamond is looked at and it now bears a message from the thieves – a polite I.O.U.!
thieves – a polite I.O.U.!
This is, of course, a version of Alex Elmsley’s classic effect “Diamond Cut Diamond.”
This is, of course, a version of Alex Elmsley’s classic effect “Diamond Cut Diamond.”
Make the message card by writing “I.O.U.” on the face of a blank-face card whose back matches Make the message card by writing “I.O.U.” on the face of a blank-face card whose back matches the color and design of the deck you will be using.
the color and design of the deck you will be using.(Photo 82.)(Photo 82.)
Photo 82 Photo 82
Remove the Ace through Ten of Diamonds and arrange them in order with the Ace being the top Remove the Ace through Ten of Diamonds and arrange them in order with the Ace being the top card. These go on top of the deck. Put the I.O.U. card on top of the stack, over the Ace, and you card. These go on top of the deck. Put the I.O.U. card on top of the stack, over the Ace, and you are set.
are set.