Presentation Idea For Biddle Trick

[Toby]

I know that there has been a lot of threads on this, and that everybody has like a thousand type of patter and presentation for the "biddle trick". But here, I will share mine...

It would be best if the biddle trick was the second trick in your routine, but this patter can go really well if it's a first or third or even the last trick...

After you're done with your opener (let's say "Chicago Opener"), you say:
"Ok, I will explain how it works. There are two main ways to control a card, visible and invisible way, right?" Audience nods their heads. "I will now demonstrate you both ways. Please, take one card, remember it, show it to everybody.... great. See, if I cut the deck a couple of times like this, you can actually see what I'm doing, you can see the cards moving, right? That is the VISIBLE way of controlling the card, because you see what is happening. While I was cutting the deck, I controlled your card near the top of the deck, roughly somewhere in the top 5 maybe. Can you please hold this half of the deck, thanx. I will now show you first 5 cards of the deck, if you see your card in there, please don't tell me which one it was, just tell me if it was there, ok? If not, we will go to the next 5, and so on." (this is a little convincer that support the "fact" that you really don't know where the card is). After showing the top 5 cards: "Was your card in among these? It was? Great. Please, hold on to the rest of the deck, thanx. So, your card is one of these 5" (the count convincer) "so I will now show you how to control a card INVISIBLY. I will take your card" (pretend to take a card) "turn it face up (or down, depending on the deck orientation in their hands) and put it in the middle of the deck, see..." They may, or may not react to this. "Now all we have to do is do that visibly" you can get a small chuckle out of this line, it's gentle comedy. You start turning the cards in your hand ONE BY ONE, for building the suspense, and as you show each card, ask "is this your card? no?.... is this your card? no?..." Until you get to the last card. Drop that card also from your hands, and STOP, wait for a second, and look them in the eye. They might ask where their card is, or they will figure it out, and start looking through the deck. Either way, when they see their card reversed, you say "and that is how the INVISIBLE control works." and put on a grim smile

So, you offer to explain them something, but at the end they get even more astound and mind blown... And for about half a trick, it really looks like you are explaining them how the things work.

I find that this presentation works the best for me, and I hope that it might help someone, or get some creative juices flowing.

One interesting situation with this presentation happened in my gym, where I was doing this presentation to one of my friends, and when he saw that his card vanished from my hands, he put the deck down, and start walking away. When I asked him where he's going, he said "I don't even want to look, I know what is in the middle of that deck" (he said that in amazed sort of way). But he did return immediately, found his card reversed, and just walked away nodding his had in astonishing kind of way.

Oh, and one more thing. In "Born to perform" by Oz Pearlman, you had to remember their card in order for that presentation to work. So you can use mine right away, or as an out, if you want to do the Oz's presentation, but you actually forgot the card. So no, you don't HAVE to remember their card

 

[RDChopper]

Can you please hold this half of the deck, thanx. I will now show you first 5 cards of the deck, if you see your card in there, please don't tell me which one it was, just tell me if it was there, ok? If not, we will go to the next 5, and so on." (this is a little convincer that support the "fact" that you really don't know where the card is).

I have to say, I really like your patter for the trick, it has motivation and could work very well, but what I have found to be truly gold in your routine is that bit above ^^^ I mean, I will definetly use that In my next performances.

I know that this patter is the climax of a lot of work putted behind the trick and I personaly thank you for sharing it with us.

Keep up the amasing work .

 

[cedwards90]

Great ideas.

One idea I have played around with is after their card is lost in the deck, fan out the deck and have them point to 5 cards and out jog them, at one point classic force their choice. You get an extra little kick when you show the cards and their card is among the one they chose, then continue with the effect.

 

[Toby]

I have to say, I really like your patter for the trick, it has motivation and could work very well, but what I have found to be truly gold in your routine is that bit above ^^^ I mean, I will definetly use that In my next performances.

I know that this patter is the climax of a lot of work putted behind the trick and I personaly thank you for sharing it with us.

Keep up the amasing work .

Thanx RD, I'm glad you liked it. I always had this feeling about the biddle trick, that it is not natural enough, or is not motivated enough, or something... I always had that feeling of something missing. As I couldn't figure out what that was, I started from scratch, and came up with this presentation. I will put my Ideas on presenting other famous tricks in the near future. Hope that you will like those too.

 

[alfvallarta]

I've to second what RDChopper said. Fantastic part that one. I am looking into the patter I'll use meself on the Biddle Trick and that wee bit I believe I'll steal from ye (hope ye don't mind). All in all, I liked the whole patter idea. I believe I can come up with one to suit me best, but it's neat nonetheless. Thanks!

 

[RDChopper]

Thanx RD, I'm glad you liked it. I always had this feeling about the biddle trick, that it is not natural enough, or is not motivated enough, or something... I always had that feeling of something missing. As I couldn't figure out what that was, I started from scratch, and came up with this presentation. I will put my Ideas on presenting other famous tricks in the near future. Hope that you will like those too.

The problem with the usual patter of "Duh! I lost it, hopefully it will be one of the top 5 cards blah blah blah...."IS that most of us are terrible actors, and we dont believe the things that we are saying, most of the time spectators response in their minds to what we said would be like "Yeah right, you know exactly were it is, dont try to fool me" so your patter about "controlling a card visibly" is a great way to fiz that problem.

In order to make them believe in the words that we are saying, we need to help the words with actions. For example in the biddle trick I either force the card or peek it, so when the card is replaced in the deck I usually ask someone to shuffle the deck. Since the cards are out of my control, and shuffled by someone else, it enhances the fact that I "really lost the card and that I hope that it is somewhere in the top".

Your subtlety of "Ill pass these five cards and if your card isnt there we will do the same with the next 5" is a great convincer to the fact that you really lost the card.

Thanks again .

 

[Haavard]

Very good. I really like it.
The best presentation of the biddle trick I have seen so far.

I think I'm going to use a pattern very similar to this one myself.

 

[Toby]

I've to second what RDChopper said. Fantastic part that one. I am looking into the patter I'll use meself on the Biddle Trick and that wee bit I believe I'll steal from ye (hope ye don't mind). All in all, I liked the whole patter idea. I believe I can come up with one to suit me best, but it's neat nonetheless. Thanks!

I really like the way you talk (write) man
Sure, be free to use any part of my patter. But it is also intended to be a starting machine for your own presentation.

The problem with the usual patter of "Duh! I lost it, hopefully it will be one of the top 5 cards blah blah blah...."IS that most of us are terrible actors, and we dont believe the things that we are saying, most of the time spectators response in their minds to what we said would be like "Yeah right, you know exactly were it is, dont try to fool me" so your patter about "controlling a card visibly" is a great way to fiz that problem.

In order to make them believe in the words that we are saying, we need to help the words with actions. For example in the biddle trick I either force the card or peek it, so when the card is replaced in the deck I usually ask someone to shuffle the deck. Since the cards are out of my control, and shuffled by someone else, it enhances the fact that I "really lost the card and that I hope that it is somewhere in the top".

Your subtlety of "Ill pass these five cards and if your card isnt there we will do the same with the next 5" is a great convincer to the fact that you really lost the card.

Thanks again .

Main problem is that we try to act TO MUCH, like in soap operas. When we need to act surprised, we tend to widen our eyes, make our voice louder, open our mouth, and what not. But the simple "Was your card in there? It was? Great." will do just perfectly.
Your idea with the force and they shuffling the deck is really great, and just add one more layer of deception and "fair" game. I think that we are on the way of making the biddle trick a really nice miracle (instead of a trick to just fill our routine)

You're welcome again

Very good. I really like it.
The best presentation of the biddle trick I have seen so far.

I think I'm going to use a pattern very similar to this one myself.

Sure, feel free to use everything you like.

 

[RDChopper]

Main problem is that we try to act TO MUCH, like in soap operas. When we need to act surprised, we tend to widen our eyes, make our voice louder, open our mouth, and what not. But the simple "Was your card in there? It was? Great." will do just perfectly.
.

Hahaha, well by terrible actors I meant both over reacted expressions or just lame boring reactions.

Its funny, we sometimes react even bigger that the audience.


Cool signature BTW.

 

[Toby]

Hahaha, well by terrible actors I meant both over reacted expressions or just lame boring reactions.

Its funny, we sometimes react even bigger that the audience.


Cool signature BTW.

Haha, yeah. The main thing about acting, is not to act at all (I know that sounds weird). Because if you try to act, you will do one of those things (over react, or under react). Just put yourself in a state that you see the trick that you are performing, for the first time, and it will be much easier to behave correctly and react realistically.

Cool signature? Yeah, I wonder who came up with that idea... hmmm...

 

[D ICE R]

When I use to perform the Biddle trick, I would always bluff pass the card to control it. Then make sure the deck was perfectly square and tell the spectator I could estimate where their card was. I would proceed to do a classic pass cut handing them what they thought was the top half but was really the old bottom. The rest of the trick followed as normal.

I believe that by doing this it gives a rational reasoning to cut the cards in the first place and it is a mild surprise when the selection is in the top five cards. However it allows the trick to grow as at first you are showing some dexterity and estimation skills and finally you hit them in the face with an unbelievable climax with the cards across.

 

[alfvallarta]

I really like the way you talk (write) man
Sure, be free to use any part of my patter. But it is also intended to be a starting machine for your own presentation...

Thanks, mate! And I know; the best patter for one is that which oneself put up together.

 

[SamRochon]

When I use to perform the Biddle trick, I would always bluff pass the card to control it. Then make sure the deck was perfectly square and tell the spectator I could estimate where their card was. I would proceed to do a classic pass cut handing them what they thought was the top half but was really the old bottom. The rest of the trick followed as normal.
.

Why not cut the deck ask them to replace the card and replace the packet on top, riffling a couple cards and getting a break after you do.
It's what I do, very simple and easy. Then I to say I saw approximately where it was and will attempt to cut to it perfectly. I do a few cuts into there hands until the break and continue the trick.

 

[FOO:L]

its an idea.

i had a set of ideas for the biddle which formed into something quite different from the normal patter.

"lets try something with a card"
<spectator takes a card>
"in a game of poker, you would want to be able to get a card you needed, when you needed it."
<card is replaced and "lost" in the deck>
"the player would have no choice as to secure what cards he gets, save for the single cut of the deck which he is allowed."
<deck is cut in half but the spectator, but the cut isnt completed>
"go ahead and choose a half."
<the selected half is forced on the spectator and placed under their hand>
"thats going to be your "hand" for the rest of this "game"
<takes up his own packet>
"now, lets say im a cheat playing against you. A con artist. A sleight of hand master. I could theoretically control the card that you wanted, so that it lands up with my half. and not only my half,"
<magician goes through the top five cards and executes the move too.>
"but in these top five cards. was your card there?"
<spectator nods yes. magician places his half ontop of the spectators half>
"however, lets say, i was on your side. I would have to do some funny move to give you the card you needed"
<mimics palming and other shifty moves>
"but, since im a magician, all i have to do is snap/shake"
<shakes cards and opens them>
"and i can make your card travel from my hand, to your hand. go ahead, spread the cards."
<cards are spread. revalation whoopee!>

 

[aJohnson]

Good idea, I personally wouldn't do it though, I have my own routine which I prefer.

 

[WilliamMckeehan]

I like some of the ideas on this thread very cool. I do my biddle trick a bit differently also.

 

[D ICE R]

Why not cut the deck ask them to replace the card and replace the packet on top, riffling a couple cards and getting a break after you do.
It's what I do, very simple and easy. Then I to say I saw approximately where it was and will attempt to cut to it perfectly. I do a few cuts into there hands until the break and continue the trick.

Most laymen are actually quiet smart and its a huge mistake to treat them otherwise. I don't give them the option of thinking I could be holding a break by holding the deck at the fingertips and making very deliberate actions to ensure the deck is square. Also riffling the deck gives them something to hang onto as you could be doing 'something' in their eyes. Also I never like the idea of cutting small packets to arrive at the card as most people cut once and that's it. By doing a classic pass card yes you are adding an other move, but you are doing it as something is happening and the audience will have a hard time realising you actually did something underhanded.

 

[RDChopper]

This thread is full of awesome, it deserves a bump .

 

[Toby]

This thread is full of awesome, it deserves a bump .

Yeah, the ideas for presentations are great. But the methods are..... not. I mean, bluff pass + classic pass, riffling and classic forcing...
I mean, you can also tell them to place a card in the middle, do a classic pass to the top, palm a card out, tell them to shuffle, than replace a card on top, do another classic pass to bring it to the middle, then do a top card cover pass to bring it second to the top, do a biddle move but side steal card, and place it secretly to the bottom, than when showing them cards, just do a bottom deal to show them their card.... And concentrate on presentation and audience management at the same time...

It is a biddle trick, you don't need all these complicated sleights to complete the effect. After all, you are showing this effect to the layman not magicians.

 

[romeo sierra]

I know that there has been a lot of threads on this, and that everybody has like a thousand type of patter and presentation for the "biddle trick". But here, I will share mine...

It would be best if the biddle trick was the second trick in your routine, but this patter can go really well if it's a first or third or even the last trick...

After you're done with your opener (let's say "Chicago Opener"), you say:
"Ok, I will explain how it works. There are two main ways to control a card, visible and invisible way, right?" Audience nods their heads. "I will now demonstrate you both ways. Please, take one card, remember it, show it to everybody.... great. See, if I cut the deck a couple of times like this, you can actually see what I'm doing, you can see the cards moving, right? That is the VISIBLE way of controlling the card, because you see what is happening. While I was cutting the deck, I controlled your card near the top of the deck, roughly somewhere in the top 5 maybe. Can you please hold this half of the deck, thanx. I will now show you first 5 cards of the deck, if you see your card in there, please don't tell me which one it was, just tell me if it was there, ok? If not, we will go to the next 5, and so on." (this is a little convincer that support the "fact" that you really don't know where the card is). After showing the top 5 cards: "Was your card in among these? It was? Great. Please, hold on to the rest of the deck, thanx. So, your card is one of these 5" (the count convincer) "so I will now show you how to control a card INVISIBLY. I will take your card" (pretend to take a card) "turn it face up (or down, depending on the deck orientation in their hands) and put it in the middle of the deck, see..." They may, or may not react to this. "Now all we have to do is do that visibly" you can get a small chuckle out of this line, it's gentle comedy. You start turning the cards in your hand ONE BY ONE, for building the suspense, and as you show each card, ask "is this your card? no?.... is this your card? no?..." Until you get to the last card. Drop that card also from your hands, and STOP, wait for a second, and look them in the eye. They might ask where their card is, or they will figure it out, and start looking through the deck. Either way, when they see their card reversed, you say "and that is how the INVISIBLE control works." and put on a grim smile

So, you offer to explain them something, but at the end they get even more astound and mind blown... And for about half a trick, it really looks like you are explaining them how the things work.

I find that this presentation works the best for me, and I hope that it might help someone, or get some creative juices flowing.

One interesting situation with this presentation happened in my gym, where I was doing this presentation to one of my friends, and when he saw that his card vanished from my hands, he put the deck down, and start walking away. When I asked him where he's going, he said "I don't even want to look, I know what is in the middle of that deck" (he said that in amazed sort of way). But he did return immediately, found his card reversed, and just walked away nodding his had in astonishing kind of way.

Oh, and one more thing. In "Born to perform" by Oz Pearlman, you had to remember their card in order for that presentation to work. So you can use mine right away, or as an out, if you want to do the Oz's presentation, but you actually forgot the card. So no, you don't HAVE to remember their card

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't really see much of a difference between this patter and many others at all. I thought this was typically how the effect was always performed based off the cookie-cutter instruction of E and T11. What sets this presentation apart from the typical performance of the trick?

In my opinion, the most interactive, engaging presentation of this effect goes to Roberto Giobbi from one of the Card College volumes. He makes the effect into an amusing lie-detector type challenge, where he makes room for a lot of audience participating, humor and byplay. It gets people genuinely emotionally involved in the effect and it's not nearly as contrived as the cliche "There are two ways to control a card-- visibly and invisibly" line.

As a side rant, the fact of the matter is that no one outside of magic knows about nor cares for card control, really. I remember reading about Dai Vernon detesting such presentations because they really only appealed to the magician's perspective instead of the spectator's. In order to make an effect a successful, engaging one, you have to find a relevant emotional hook or direct audience involvement.

Back to Giobbi's presentation. I also like his take on the effect, because he doesn't excessively count the cards like all the other presentations do. There's no need to Biddle count two or three times. In all honesty, the number of cards is actually irrelevant in the effect. The way I see it, people only care that the card vanished-- one moment the selection is in the spread, the next it's not. With that said, I find Giobbi's presentation to be more natural and welcoming and therefore, it makes the end result that much more hard-hitting as well.

I believe the Biddle Trick is featured in Volume 3 of Card College if anyone's interested in Giobbi's presentation. I think a lot of you would appreicate the structure and humor that frames it. His presentation makes it look and feel like a totally different (improved) version of the effect.

RS.