Razzle-Dazzle Routine

This short routine contains many surprises and can be performed under almost any conditions; for this reason it is excellent for impromptu use. As with all routines, you should practise it until you can go through it without watching your hands or having to stop to remember what to do next. The action should be automatic, smooth, and graceful.

The Sevens

Since this is the opening trick of the routine, arrange the four sevens as required for the trick before your performance. When you have finished the feat, hand the pack to someone for shuffling.

Righting a Wrong

After performing this trick, again have someone shuffle the cards. Take the pack, glance at it, and say, "Did you know that shuffling the cards generates electricity? Look what you've done." Place the deck face downwards in your left hand and do the pop-up card trick. Quickly place the card on the top of the pack and hold it down with your forefinger. "You shocked that card. It's still trying to get away from me." Remove your right hand and hold it in position for the self- cutting pack. "Why, the whole pack's in a ferment," you exclaim, shooting the lower half into your right hand. "I don't think I'll be able to control the cards. However, I'll try. I'll use the two red aces."

The Acrobatic Aces

Spread the cards face upwards and remove the red aces, and with them perform this trick, concluding by saying, "As you can see, the cards have a whim of iron."

Top-Change Byplay

Shuffle the cards, using the waterfall shuffle , and when the cards are squared, cut the pack using the method described as a pretty cut . Place the deck face upwards in your left hand, and change the face card by means of the color change , muttering, "The cards are absolutely uncontrollable tonight. No one knows what will happen next."

Fan the deck, have a card removed and noted by all, and proceed into the top-change byplay.

When you have extracted all the fun to be had from the trick, glance at someone and say, "I'll read your mind. Think of a card." Spread the cards with their faces toward yourself, find the eight of clubs, and cut it to the top of the pack. Hesitate, shake your head, and say, "Concentrate, please." Fan the pack, find the nine of clubs, remove it, and hold it with its back to the audience, saying, "Remember, all you did was think of this card. Kindly name it." He names it and once in fifty-two times it should be the card you hold. On the other fifty-one occasions, glance at the card, say "Oh" in an expressionless tone, and place it at the top of the pack.

Immediately and blandly say, "Well, I'll do another trick for you. This time I'll think of a card and you name it. Ready? Good. Name the first card that comes to mind, and that will be my card…. All right, what's the card I'm thinking of?." No matter what card he names, say, "That's correct!" All this the audience believes to be amusing nonsense, but actually you have set up the eight and nine of clubs at the top of the pack in preparation for:

The Ambitious Card

Perform the trick as given, finally finding the card under your coat. "You see how the cards are tonight? Can't do a thing with them!" you say, pocketing the deck.