The Karnival Deck

[LuseifHo]

I know its quite an old product in terms of reviews, but I couldnt find one when deciding whether or not to buy it.

This is the "new" deck from Big Blind Media.
1. The thing that stands out the most is the design. One of my favorite designs for a deck. It doesnt look like your classic bikes or tallies with random shapes and 100% symetrical from all angles. This deck has a grunge/ vector styled design with skeletons, stars, splatters, and everything else graphics designers (such as myself) love. It is fully black and white. As well as the basic design, the border is also like none other. Instead of your normal rounded corners or sharp points, you get a great design along it as well. The edges/ corners have that.... (forgot the name) awesome romey grecian grotesquey sort of look to it. You just have to see it to understand. Its freaking unbelievable. The 2-Kings are normal as always. The joker and the ace of spades is just mind blasting. Go to their website and check it out.

2. This deck gives "feels like butter" a new meaning. Imagine taking melted butter and mixing oil in it and using that as a finish. I dont know if you would like this, but its not bad. I wouldnt say it is ideal for flourishing as it easily slides around and is not at all clumpy. The same goes for tricks. It feels great but you may fumble once in a while due to the fluid like feature. But if you are a gambling demonstration sort of guy, then this deck is perfect. All shuffles can be done with ease. The faro, riffle, overhand, bridge, everything feels like an orgasm. When you bridge a normal deck. You feel a crisp flicking within your hands. When you bridge this deck, imagine riffle rose petals. Thats the only comparison I can come up with.

3. Extras you get:
-Double backer
-One way design: a dot on the edge allowing you to note cards in a tight spread.
-Reveal with Joker. One is holding a sculpture of the 3 of hearts.
-Reveal with barcode. Like any LEET text, you get a 7Ev3N oF sPaD3S.

Overall, I love the way this deck looks and feels (only for gaming though). For magic and flourishing its rather... meh... Its not ideal for much moving around as it easily slips between each other. But seriously, if you are looking for a deck with a new feel and want to have an orgasm while shuffling then buy this.

 

[Lyle Borders]

I would disagree 100% with statement #2. 100%

They are normal boke stock with normal air cushion finish. Nothing different than bikes. They are slick like normal bikes. They do everything like normal bikes. There is nothing in this world for playing cards that qualify as an "orgasm in your hands." Serious. "Riffling rose petals"? Serious?

The only thing above a deck of bikes the Karnival deck has got going for it is the design. Not to trash on your post dude, but serious. There is nothing in a Karnival deck relating to rose petals or an orgasm.

 

[Mr.MadMan]

I would disagree 100% with statement #2. 100%

They are normal boke stock with normal air cushion finish. Nothing different than bikes. They are slick like normal bikes. They do everything like normal bikes. There is nothing in this world for playing cards that qualify as an "orgasm in your hands." Serious. "Riffling rose petals"? Serious?

The only thing above a deck of bikes the Karnival deck has got going for it is the design. Not to trash on your post dude, but serious. There is nothing in a Karnival deck relating to rose petals or an orgasm.

I dont know if you break in your decks at all but these are the softest cards ive used. And ive used alot of cards in my time.

Ive tried out Normal cards from Bees to Wynns(wich are the same in stock), or from bikes to Arrcos. And every pack has a different feel to it, just because the color and finish sizes are so different. Yes all decks ar the same when you first tke them out of the box. So if you use them 2 times they do feel like bikes or whatever. But if you break them in maan they are so smooth and soft.

I will bring into mentioning the Difference between a Deck of Bicycles and lets say a deck of Propagandas. They feel different just because propagandas have alot less color in them so they have more finish.

I advise you to look into this thing, there are mayor differences that come into play if you change the formula of the finish by only 2 grams.

Mikk

 

[aJohnson]

IMO these cards feel like sandpaper.

 

[FOO:L]

IMO these cards feel like sandpaper.

Not exactly like sand paper. Theyve got a very crisp feel.

 

[Lyle Borders]

I dont know if you break in your decks at all but these are the softest cards ive used. And ive used alot of cards in my time.

Ive tried out Normal cards from Bees to Wynns(wich are the same in stock), or from bikes to Arrcos. And every pack has a different feel to it, just because the color and finish sizes are so different. Yes all decks ar the same when you first tke them out of the box. So if you use them 2 times they do feel like bikes or whatever. But if you break them in maan they are so smooth and soft.

I will bring into mentioning the Difference between a Deck of Bicycles and lets say a deck of Propagandas. They feel different just because propagandas have alot less color in them so they have more finish.

I advise you to look into this thing, there are mayor differences that come into play if you change the formula of the finish by only 2 grams.

Mikk

Yes, I break in every deck. I have 4 Karnival decks now, only one open. I have worked and worked with them, and they feel like bikes. They die quick like bikes. Yes, there are always small differences that occur from different finishes, but when they use the same basic "formula" as regular bikes and the same stock as regular bikes they are going to feel like (and they do) regular bikes, with a crappy price tag.

Propoganda's were made completely different if you read up on them. I can't comment on their feel, but according to T11 they were made in a different way than their other cards. Karnivals were made the same as bikes.

 

[NexusMagicShop]

Omg

Butter - Oil - Orgasm in your hands - Rose petals - Sandpaper? Fella's listen to yourselves? Are you talking about cards or a traumatizing experience in Man Francisco? Why not own both a Bicycle Rider deck and a Bicycle Karnival deck. Why does one thing always have to be better then the other? Cards are cheap purchase two decks. - Solved

I understand the feel is important, but they are so close that it really comes down to practicality. For flourishes and dazzling card play use Karnivals. But, when it comes to performing a magic trick nothing beats a rider deck. This fad of fashionable decks of cards only leads the spectator of the card trick to think of it as a gimmick deck.

And lets leave orgasms out of the descriptive terminology please... Can I get an amen!

- My Thoughts

 

[Lyle Borders]

Butter - Oil - Orgasm in your hands - Rose petals - Sandpaper? Fella's listen to yourselves? Are you talking about cards or a traumatizing experience in Man Francisco? Why not own both a Bicycle Rider deck and a Bicycle Karnival deck. Why does one thing always have to be better then the other? Cards are cheap purchase two decks. - Solved

I understand the feel is important, but they are so close that it really comes down to practicality. For flourishes and dazzling card play use Karnivals. But, when it comes to performing a magic trick nothing beats a rider deck. This fad of fashionable decks of cards only leads the spectator of the card trick to think of it as a gimmick deck.

And lets leave orgasms out of the descriptive terminology please... Can I get an amen!

- My Thoughts

THANK YOU! Exactly my point. I can't believe that decks of playing cards can gain fan-boys. Seriously. Sounds like the little girls daydreaming about being romanced by a Twilight vampire.

 

[aJohnson]

Butter - Oil - Orgasm in your hands - Rose petals - Sandpaper? Fella's listen to yourselves? Are you talking about cards or a traumatizing experience in Man Francisco? Why not own both a Bicycle Rider deck and a Bicycle Karnival deck. Why does one thing always have to be better then the other? Cards are cheap purchase two decks. - Solved

I understand the feel is important, but they are so close that it really comes down to practicality. For flourishes and dazzling card play use Karnivals. But, when it comes to performing a magic trick nothing beats a rider deck. This fad of fashionable decks of cards only leads the spectator of the card trick to think of it as a gimmick deck.

And lets leave orgasms out of the descriptive terminology please... Can I get an amen!

- My Thoughts

I agree with some of it, but for magic bikes aren't the only way to go. I'm sick of hearing people going "Oh well that deck makes them become suspicious", if you know how to handle a crowd and not draw to much attention to the cards then no one will ever be suspicious. I use a vast majority of cards to do magic and never once been asked if it's a trick deck, but I digress...

 

[NexusMagicShop]

I agree with some of it, but for magic bikes aren't the only way to go. I'm sick of hearing people going "Oh well that deck makes them become suspicious", if you know how to handle a crowd and not draw to much attention to the cards then no one will ever be suspicious. I use a vast majority of cards to do magic and never once been asked if it's a trick deck, but I digress...

I mean no disrespect AJ. But, I do know how to handle cards, coins, crowds, even an audience.

I would venture to guess that you may satisfy the idea of it being a trick deck, because you turn them over fan them out and say something like: "You can clearly see they are all different". If you don't... You should.

Whether you like to hear it or not. Or even whether you know how to handle cards or not. The spectator in the back of their mind thinks that un-familiar decks are suspect. Always! Sometimes even using Riders they want to inspect the front and backs, and this before you even begin to perform. Now some may be to intimidated to say so, but it's still in their head.

All I was saying is Riders are less suspect, because virtually everyone grew up with them. I do carry all types of cards. After all variety is the spice of life, and people will buy what they wish. I personally don't need a fancy deck to enhance my effect. In fact, I feel making ordinary cards that most are familiar with do magical things is much, much stronger for the spectator. Does not anyone else see the point I am making?

When you start straying too far away from the norm you can start losing the power behind the effects potential. Guess what the number one selling decks are? Hum... Look no disrespect, but it is easy to bruise the ego of a magician. But, we have to remind ourselves that this is for them, not for us. And in doing so we have to remember how to think and feel like a spectator. The ones that understand this philosophy are the most respected magicians in magic. Notice I didn't say successful. That would imply wealth, and one doesn't need wealth to be respected.

- My Thoughts

 

[LuseifHo]

Well this is a review so Nexusmagicshop's post doesnt really matter. I know its not much to care about but a review is a review.
and maybe i just got a epic deck or something. It seriously feels like the slickest deck ever. I took it out of the box, gave it a few shuffles, held the deck on the top and bottom. I leaned a bit over to type and the cards all fell out except the two i was attached to...

 

[Lyle Borders]

Well this is a review so Nexusmagicshop's post doesnt really matter. I know its not much to care about but a review is a review.
and maybe i just got a epic deck or something. It seriously feels like the slickest deck ever. I took it out of the box, gave it a few shuffles, held the deck on the top and bottom. I leaned a bit over to type and the cards all fell out except the two i was attached to...

Which will happen with most every decent deck of cards on the planet. It happens with bikes. It happens with expensive decks. It happens with cheap decks you pick up at a gas station in the middle of nowhere. New decks are slippery, that's just the way most of them are. No reason to say the feel like "oil mixed with butter" or "and orgasm in your hands" or to say that they "dribble like rose petals." Seriously, how about you find a good set of judging criteria, label each 1-10, and actually rate the cards the way you feel, instead of fantasizing over them in the forums.

 

[NexusMagicShop]

which will happen with most every decent deck of cards on the planet. It happens with bikes. It happens with expensive decks. It happens with cheap decks you pick up at a gas station in the middle of nowhere. New decks are slippery, that's just the way most of them are. No reason to say the feel like "oil mixed with butter" or "and orgasm in your hands" or to say that they "dribble like rose petals." seriously, how about you find a good set of judging criteria, label each 1-10, and actually rate the cards the way you feel, instead of fantasizing over them in the forums.

---- Amen! ----

 

[OneCardWonder]

Look fact is, if you guys haven't had an orgasm over a deck of cards there's something very wrong with all of you. ;-)

 

[NexusMagicShop]

Look fact is, if you guys haven't had an orgasm over a deck of cards there's something very wrong with all of you. ;-)

Apparently

 

[Mr.MadMan]

THANK YOU! Exactly my point. I can't believe that decks of playing cards can gain fan-boys. Seriously. Sounds like the little girls daydreaming about being romanced by a Twilight vampire.

Haha, this is deffenently the best post ever! EVER!

They do die like Bikes, they do somewhat feel like bikes but they are softer than bikes.(I would like to come out and say that i dont get an orgasm while playing with these!)

On everything else i now agree with you(need some cache deleting in my brain every once in a while to get it working properly).

Anyway the design standpoint is awesome on these but ill shut up on the handling because its making too much Fuss.

Mikk

 

[praetoritevong]

Whether you like to hear it or not. Or even whether you know how to handle cards or not. The spectator in the back of their mind thinks that un-familiar decks are suspect. Always! Sometimes even using Riders they want to inspect the front and backs, and this before you even begin to perform. Now some may be to intimidated to say so, but it's still in their head.

For the record, I completely disagree with this statement out of personal experience.

If this were the case, my Riders would be suspicious decks, because Bicycles are unfamiliar in Australia. But I don't get called out on them, or any other custom decks.

If you think getting called out on custom decks is bad, try performing in Australia. No safe decks to fall back on, you'd get floored.

 

[NexusMagicShop]

For the record, I completely disagree with this statement out of personal experience.

If this were the case, my Riders would be suspicious decks, because Bicycles are unfamiliar in Australia. But I don't get called out on them, or any other custom decks.

If you think getting called out on custom decks is bad, try performing in Australia. No safe decks to fall back on, you'd get floored.

They do in Perth, and I do believe while being in Perth, that I was in Austraila. Bought a Red Rider deck myself... While visiting my friend from the States who is studying at prestigious Murdoch School of Vet Science. (Miss you Stiny)

 

[praetoritevong]

They have Bikes, which is very different from being familiar with Bikes. Two different things my friend, and I have yet to be shown personal proof to the contrary.

 

[LuseifHo]

Once again.
Maybe I just got an extremely good deck. Happened to my guardian as well. It was for some reason better than the others I have used.
And as to Segachek, It has never happened to me with any other deck before.