Sensations Archives - Bicycle Cards

The Boris Wild Marked Deck Project – review

Phil Sweeting — Wed, 22 May 2019 20:19:45 +0000

The Boris Wild Marked Deck Project is a 2-DVD set (or download) from the excellent chaps at Big Blind Media which explores in great detail the magic you can create with this excellent tool. Boris Wild’s name is more or less synonymous with the Marked Deck – so you already know that it’s going to be a worthwhile resource. The 2 DVDs run to over 4 hours playing time – so we’re not going to be able to cover ever last detail. With that in mind, let’s get straight into our review.

Disk 1

The first DVD starts by explaining a little about the history of the marked deck and how and why Boris Wild created this deck. He explains exactly how it works and how you can make (or customise) your own – although these days you would probably find it just as easy to buy one ready printed (also available in Red Backed Bicycle or in Phoenix Deck Standard or Large Index).

Basic Uses

After the history come lots of helpful handling tips. These are great especially if you’ve never used a marked deck before. But even if you have, they also cover some specific aspects of this system.

The next section is really a bit of a plug for further resources. All the effects taught on this DVD can be done with a shuffled deck. But when you add other ideas such as a stacked deck then the possibilities really do multiply. And so Boris points you towards his book, Transparency, which explores some of these things in more detail.

Incidentally, if you like the idea of combining marked and stacked decks, you might like to look at Luke Jermay’s Marksman Deck – which is a bit like the Boris Wild Marked Deck on steroids!

More General Ideas

Boris also explains how his deck can function as a Safety Net. Yes, that’s right, a marked deck in everyday use can be useful when falling off a tight rope. OK, so not strictly speaking for falling off a tight rope – but it can be helpful as an ‘out’ in other magical disasters.

Boris also covers some work on the cull – which I as far as I can recall is identical to the material on his Sensations DVD.

Lots of routines

There are several really strong routines taught over the 2 DVDs. In truth a marked deck is one of those things that laymen think they know about. So a good presentation which completely obscures what you might be doing is a massive bonus. And you have that in spades on this set.

In one routine you appear to memorise a deck. In another incredible trick the spectator literally does all the work and yet still locates their card. And then another version where they repeat it!

These are all very simple in method and yet the presentation sells them and makes them remarkable.

There’s a very clever sandwich location effect – which also teaches you another sly way of allowing the spectator just to peak a card and yet for you to know its identity.

Inexplicable is an exceptionally strong prediction effect. You’ll need to be comfortable with a bit of jazzing– but the result is an absolute corker.

Invisible but marked is a very clean invisible deck type presentation using the Boris Wild Marked Deck.

Puracaan – which also on Sensastions set – as we’ve said before is a neat solution to the classic ACAAN effect.

I don’t know how many of these effects have been taught before on Boris’ earlier releases (apart from the ones I have mentioned) – but they are all worth spending some time on.

Final Thoughts

The performance setting can often make a big difference to a release like this, and I love that most of the performances are live (with the remainder in the studio).

Boris’ style is very different from most of the magicians releasing effects these days. His routines tend to be longer because he talks a lot! Perhaps it is the ‘French’ way? But I really enjoy the change of pace. And you will learn a lot about presentation and audience management by watching this experienced magician perform. And given that most of the effects are all about the sell it is great to see him work his magic!

If you don’t yet do any marked deck magic, this would be a great place to start. It will get you working like a pro! ~~My only frustration is that there doesn’t seem to be a bundle including the deck – so you will have to make a separate purchase.~~ EDIT – D’oh – yes there is – the link below is to the bundle including the deck!

If you already do some marked deck magic then it is still well worth a look – because there are some very different kinds of routines on here and it is a great chance to learn from someone who lives and breathes marked deck magic.

All in all another great release from Big Blind Media. You can pick up the Boris Wild Marked Deck project direct from Big Blind Media (who kindly supplied the review copy) for £34.99 at the time of writing.

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Boris Wild – Sensations – Review

Phil Sweeting — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 00:01:07 +0000

Sensations is a double disk DVD in which the incomparable Boris Wild explores effects related to our sensations. It’s been sitting in the review pile for a while but I’m so glad I opened it today… Let’s get in to the tricks.

10 Max – this is a great ice-breaking opener where the spectator gets the chance to win money. The spectator chooses 5 cards for themselves and 5 for the performer but somehow all the ‘money cards’ end up with the performer. A really nice twist on a trick you may already know – but taking it to a completely different place. Easy to do so you can concentrate on the performance. And there’s scope for a lot of fun with the presentation. He also suggests a few variations using other themes – but if you want to explore this in more detail he has published a book of the same name.

Blind – a borrowed deck, shuffled blindfolded card location! Impressive.

Show Off – this is a sort cousin of the venerable Ambitious Card, but instead of a selected card repeatedly jumping to the top, it repeatedly reverses itself in the middle of the deck with no apparent moves. This is repeated several times and in the final phase the whole deck dramatically turns itself over in an instant. A well constructed routine which does indeed make a pleasant change from the (dare I say it?) over-performed ACR. Also provides a great use for a gaff you may well have sitting around. A great routine.

IPOP (Impromptu Perfect Open Prediction) – this does what it says on the tin. The performer makes a prediction and openly displays it at the start of the effect. The cards are shuffled and then the spectator deals through the cards one by one face up stopping whenever they like. The card they stop at is kept face down and the rest of the deck dealt face up. The predicted card is not seen amongst the face up cards. With no funny moves at all the stopped at card is shown to match the prediction. Very clean!

This is an impromptu version of POP which Boris released a few years ago. There is a tiny set up – but easily done on the fly. The method is clever and doesn’t require lots of sleight of hand but you will need to practise the moves which are used. A great take on the Open Prediction.

Symbiosis – is a very clever coincidence effect – where two cards at freely chosen numbers from freely shuffled packs match – and then you have predicted the card in advance. It is very rare for a trick to fool me these days, but this one got me in the sense that I didn’t see the move at all. When I reflected upon what I had watched I could only conceive of one possible method which did pretty much turn out to be the solution. But it is a very clean looking and strong effect. He provides some helpful thoughts on different scenarios and performing the effect in different circumstances. And as he points out, it would make a lovely wedding effect!

PURACAAN – is really a one deck version of Symbiosis which looks more like a traditional ACAAN. This is a nice solution to the classic plot with very few restrictions. Call me set in my ways, but I still think Barrie Richardson’s method is the best impromptu ACAAN I’ve ever seen But this is a very workable alternative.

In addition to the tricks there is a useful 5 minutes tip section on the cull. This is a technique which is used more than once on the DVD and he has some helpful things to say. As a double DVD in some ways I was quite surprised by how few effects are taught. But they are all strong effects and worth the time devoted to them.

Are they all Sensations?

I really enjoyed Sensations. Boris has a quite different performing style from many magicians working today – he often takes his time and slows things down (some of the routines are nearly 10 minutes long in performance) and I appreciate that more gentle pace. The DVD includes plenty of live performances with only one (or two?) studio ones. I always think this gives you a better sense of the ‘feel’ of a trick.

Explanations are clear with plenty of detail and the whole DVD is produced to BBM’s usual high standards.

I’m still not sure that I understand the link to ‘sensations’ – it feels like a concept album where the concept isn’t really there. But the strength of the effects shines through regardless. You may not use all of these, but I can almost guarantee that one or two will find their way into your repertoire. If you appreciate strong, direct card magic then you can’t afford to miss this one. I’m also looking forward to getting stuck into his other recent release on the Boris Wild Marked deck later in the year.

You can pick up your copy of Sensations direct from BBM (who kindly supplied the review copy) for only £26.99

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