Just thought I'd share a bit of my routine with Deep Astonishment. I used a tip from the DA web site and taped a small version of the card system onto the bottom of the card box. I then only need to use one joker and my patter includes a bit about all the cards being so close to each other in the box that gossip travels quickly. I hold the joker up to my left ear and pretend to hear a bit of whispered gossip. While doing this I turn my head to the right, catching a glimpse of the bottom of the box. I do this with each subsequent card and even go so far as to carry on a conversation with the cards, something like, "ya don't say" or "ooh, that's some juicy gossip" complete with facial expressions. It seems that every card in the box knows something about everyone else's soul mate.

I give the spectator a choice of cards by saying, "The joker (or whatever card I'm working with at the time) says that the ace or two of hearts may know something. Which one should we hear from?" This way they are involved and think the cards are their choice. This routine has worked very well for me and this trick never fails to deliver. Someday I will go to the mnemonic system.

Good idea, the only problem is that you have to keep the card box pointed towards you.

How different is Deep Astonishment from the variation that's in the third art of astonishment?

I don't have D.A., only AoA, so correct me if I'm wrong but my understanding is the major diffs are...

1) D.A. the backs of the word cards are red, while the deck is blue

2) D.A. reveals them in a wallet, AoA reveals them in the deck box (which i like better I think)

-Jarrod

That's a neat take on that trick.

I like the patter idea. I just made the mnemonic version (changed just a bit so I wouldn't have to order anything else) and it adds a lot of freedom to the effect. No more boxes, etc. are needed. But I would love to hear some more ideas on patter for this trick. Keep the ideas coming!

By the way, I basically use the joker as the gossip also.

Though I have had sucess with DA, I find the "soulmate" part of the trick very weak. It seems just a way to get to the REAL magic and ending. Is it just me? I'd love to hear some routines that have dealt with this and ways of making this seem more worth the time it takes to get there.

Thanks

Todd

Gipstein:

I don't have DA yet, but maybe if you precede DA with a multiphase routine where you predict the soul mate a few times using some of the well known methods (which obviously won't be disclosed here!)

I don't know what method is used in DA (I'll know soon enough, from all the good reviews this trick has received I almost feel left out for not owning it!) but since it is a PH trick I'll assume that it is still quite convincing. If you did some strong mentalism before doing this trick, it may give you a nice routine that starts strong, dips slightly, then blows them away, making the ending even stronger.

a.

Deep Astonishment is one of, if not the best routines, for making a strong emotional connection with someone. It seems so unbelievable when people see it. The first I saw it done this young woman said the word "kitchen" because she had a play kitchen as a child. When see saw the word on the back of the cards she almost started crying. It's rare for a trick to have that effect. Buy this trick. Learn it. Use it. It will never let you down.

I have been toying with it... This is what I came up with.

I give the spectator the deck and alow them to cut to a card face up. Once they get this card I have them 'name' the deck by writing any name or word on the card. After, they have done this, I do a face up ambitious card routine. My reason for having the card coming to the face is simply, whenever you call it name the card will come to the face. Then I proceed to show the cards in the wallet. It could be better...

Lee

To make the entire presentation of Deep Astonishment stronger, I recommend:

1. that the magician NOT be told the special word. Have it written down and burned or sealed in an envelope.

2. that the magician use his memory rather than cheat sheets.

3. that the "Soul Mate" effect be strengthened somehow, for example, by following the location of the soul mate card with a revealed prediction of the soul mate--found in the wallet instead of the (somewhat lame?) question mark card. First, the prediction is revealed which matches the Soul Mate card. Then, the grand finale' prediction of the special word is revealed.

I also recommend making the presentation clearly "Mental Magic" from start to finish.

alan

If you're not told the word, then how do you know what cards to pull? I'm getting confused!

Thanks!

I'm sure before burning or sealing the word, you somehow obtain its identity. Therefore, making it appear you had no freakin' clue ...peace

What about using the thought transmitter?

Nice post Alan,
Cheers

I plan to feature this in my debut show!

If you are interested in Deep Astonishment, or the trick on which DA is based, "The Anything Deck", you can read more in Vol.3 of "Art of Astonishment", or you can go to this website:

http://littleegyptmagic.com/pass0397.htm

You have to answer an easy question, and then you can read the description of "The Anything Deck" and "Thoughts on 'The Anything Deck'".

Have fun!

Magixx

PEEK!