Notes on the Return of a Card

Notes on the Return of a Card…

The ubiquitous effect of having one card chosen by an eyewitness, so it can be identified as different and singular from many others, then returning it to its previous status of being just like any other card, not different, not belonging to someone, mixed and shuffled, misplaced and lost in the multitude, to later be found by the conjurer in some enigmatic fashion, appears to me to be either matters of luck and/or coincidence and/or statistics and probability, or, much more preferably, appears to be an act that establishes a union between the conjurer and the eyewitness that reinforces the participant’s individuality.

The desired overall effect of this trick of revealing the participant’s chosen card is actually one of revealing an obvious, yet surprising link between the conjurer and the participant. The conjurer gives the participant an individual identity (card is chosen), and then that identity is stolen away by chance and designs (returned and shuffled), then restored in a surprising manner (impossible/incredible revelation). This remarkable restoration of the participant’s individuality against mind-numbing odds is the real magic that happens between conjurer and participant. This is the real effect.

The vocabulary I see is, “Spectator picks a card. Card is returned to deck. Card is brought to the top of the deck. Use favorite method.” The writing continues by then describing in great detail and at great length some fantastical variation of one of the most popular methods of revealing said chosen card. All attention is placed on the spectacular mode of revelation, while none is placed on the initial interactivity between conjurer and participant, an activity that should establish the relationship and the bond between both parties.

This lack of initial consideration does more harm than good. It is upside-down in that it places more emphasis on the conjurer’s actions than the participant’s. Spectators are merely observers. Participants partake in the action. More attention can and should be placed on the initial selection and return processes, thereby placing more emphasis on the participant’s identity and their contribution. If the participant’s identity and contribution to the affair is firmly established at the onset, the revelation will be more meaningful and satisfying to him… or her… or them… you know what I mean…

Oh, no… not another card trick…
Somebody else pick one… I don’t want to…
Oh, silly me, I forgot my card…
What if I don’t want to tell you my card?
That’s not my card…

The initial selection should be an enticement to participate in a highly random course of action. This process is a lure, of sorts, a drawing in, an attraction with elements of risk and reward. The conjurer is giving an opportunity at the gift of self, of identity, to the participant. This risk and reward is the allure. This is the temptation. This is the excitement. This is the seduction, because, once selected, the card becomes unique, just like the participant. It’s not the conjurer’s card anymore. It’s not just any card anymore. It now belongs to the participant. It’s dissimilar. It’s different. It’s his card… or her card… or their card… you know what I mean.

When people pick cards at random, a bond forms between them and their card before they even look at it, because they will try to guess which card they picked before they look at it. Some people actually wish for a certain card, their card, whichever it may be. It’s the card they most identify with, and they are elated when they select it via a hit or miss process. This is well worth considering because now that they’ve selected their card and established their identity and individuality, the conjurer asks them to abandon it back to the deck. This act is not easy for someone with a newly-found identity to do. They don’t want to do it.

Notes on the Return of a Card

• The return of a card to the deck is the most scrutinized action of this genre. It matters a great deal to the participant what happens to their own card.
• The participant must trust the conjurer enough to allow their identity to be lost, knowing without being told that their card will be safely and wonderfully returned to them.
• The participant must volunteer the action of returning their own card to the deck.
• The participant must not suspect that their identity is being manipulated after they’ve surrendered it.

The participant is placing their identity in the conjurer’s hands, so this is no time for the conjurer to be screwing around. Whatever the method de jure of controlling the card may be, the actions of disassembling the card’s uniqueness must be indisputable. The identity must be genuinely lost, and the conjurer and the participant have to believe it has returned to an ordinary and common state. If the participant believes that they’re being manipulated, then the spell is broken, and all hope for a magical and wonderful revelation is lost. The clean return establishes a well-built conflict.

Now we can reveal their identity using our favorite method.