If you’re like me, you’ve probably never heard of the British term, “Gobsmacked.” According to worldwidewords.com, the term means “utterly astonished,” which can be used to describe this effect.
This effect’s strength lies in the free manner that a spectator selects a card, by dealing them, until they wish to stop. The effect is indeed astonishing, but it’s rather expensive.
Freedom of Choice
The magician takes the remaining cards and shows that the deck consists of blue-backed cards. But when the spectator turns over his card, he finds it to be a red-backed card with a message (your choice) written on the back. You can watch a performance of the trick by clicking here.
Wide Latitude
On the downside, at the end, the cards, with the exception of the one that you give away (if you choose to do so), can’t be examined. And you won’t be able to go into a different card routine-the deck has to be dedicated to this effect. The effect uses real cards that you add your messages to. So you can freely give away cards as souvenirs.
Great DVD
There are numerous card effects that result in a spectator selecting a different card with a message, most notably, Doc Eason’s “Birthday Card Trick” and Corey Burke’s similar “For Promotional Use Only” (on his PAYphone DVD). Personally, I prefer the Eason/Burke approach over “Gobsmacked” because I think the spectator’s signing of the card is stronger. But “Gobsmacked” has an advantage with its perceived free choice.
Pricey?
-Wayne N. Kawamoto
MSRP: (US) $37.50
Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.
