My Favorite Card Tricks: John Carey

We asked some of magic's greatest minds to share with us their favorite card tricks. This week is the turn of John Carey. You may know him as a publisher of 6 critically acclaimed books (including his brand new work, Reflections), or from his hit DVD Handle with Carey. Over to John:

1. Dai Vernon’s Trick That Cannot Be Explained. I absolutely love this effect because to a layman, the effect is inexplicable. The effect is never the same, which means you have to be creative under fire, using all one’s knowledge to bring the effect home.

2. Think A Card. Another miracle for the public. It’s one thing for them to take a card, but when the thought of a card is purely in their mind, the effect and impact is stellar! I have many versions, but I would advise the student to check out Dai Vernon’s Out of Sight Out of Mind as a starting point if they wish to add this kind of effect to their repertoire. Also, study the work of Dani DaOrtiz.

3. Triumph. Vernon’s effect is nothing short of a miracle. The effect is timeless and I urge the student to study this effect, first published in the Stars of Magic. A great in the hands version is John Bannon’s Last Man Standing