Here is a card trick which should prove to be a good
Solid After Dinner or Hospitality Suite
Closeup Routine for You.
 
I guarantee all eyes will be on you for this little number.
 
You will require a regular deck of playing cards.
A Blindfold of some sort. This can be as elaborate
or an simplistic as you like. The important thing is
that the audience must believe that you can not
see anything, and indeed this should be easy,
because you don't need to see anything. Take it from
there. You will also require ONE CARD which has
been specially prepared as detailed below.
 
To PREPARE THE SPECIAL CARD:
 
Take the 10 of Spades and a straight pin.
Make a tiny pin prick or hole in the card's surface
on the FACE of the CARD in the UPPER LEFT
HAND CORNER. Turn the card over and repeat this
same procedure on the back. The two holes or
pin pricks line up back to back with each other.
 
You now have a MARKED CARD. You should be able to
feel this card in the dark and know it is the 10 of spades.
 
___________________________________
 
SET-UP:
Have the Specially prepared card in your outside
jacket pocket or anywhere else where you can get to
it easily and imperceptably. You have done several card
tricks and the time comes to do the "Blind & Dangerous"
Experiment.
 
______________________________________
 
You begin this routine by speaking about the
latest developments in technology and the fact
that soon individuals with any form of Blindness
will be able to see with clarity. But you point out
that those who have unfortunately been deprived
of sight have developed extraordinary senses of
touch, hearing, and smell. Continue your story
with some concocted story line to the effect of:
you were trapped for three days in an underground
cave exploration while in college and spent 72
hours in total darkness. You had with you a
deck of playing cards because you always carry
a deck to play with... etc. While trapped in the
total darkness of the cave, you developed a
tiny skill and can actually tell one playing card
from another in total darkness.
 
That's the Build-Up.
_______________________________________
 
With the previous build-up in place and
firmly implanted in your audience's mind,
proceed with your proposal to attempt an
experiment. Turn you back and have a spectator.
Preferably a friendly one. Blindfold you so that
you can not see. While your back is turned,
quickly count down 10 cards and place your
special 10 of spades marked card there.
 
You are now blindfolded, you have a deck in your
hands with 10 regular cards on top, then your
special gaffed card, then the rest of the deck.
The Deck You have is the same deck that they
have already looked at and examined
because you have just done several standard
card effects. They have in the course of these other
tricks handled the deck and now accept it as a
real ungimmicked deck. DING! DING! DING!
 
SLIP IN THE GIMMICK!!!!
 
Now... Turn back around and have a card...
ANY CARD selected from the center of the deck.
DON'T LET THEM TAKE YOUR GAFFED CARD!
 
Have the card noted and returned to the deck.
 
When they return the card to you, have them place
it ON TOP of the deck and have someone
else cut it into the deck ONCE!
 
You must carry off the next part with Great
Acting ability. Holding the deck FACE UP,
You start to turn up cards One at A Time.
 
When you FEEL YOUR KEY CARD,
You will know that you can COUNT OFF
the NEXT TEN CARDS and the VERY NEXT
CARD will be their chosen card.
 
Use your dramatic abilities to make your hand
shake a bit during the discovery process. Act as
if your a bit unsure... Have Fun with It.
 
Your Audience will be very empathetic with You.
 
Do a real Great Comedy Card Trick After
This one or switch to something else
entirely. I generally perform the Coin in the
Bottle Illusion Here, but you decide.
 
Your Audience will be very appreciative of the Skill
You developed while trapped in your fake cave. Don't
blow it at this point.
 ___________________

The secret lies in the amount of preparation and
your skill of showmanship.

____________________________

Note: This Trick is great for CloseUp Table Workers.
Practice, Practice, Practice!

Good Luck with this one...

Magically,
T.A. Hamilton