THIS MONTH WE GO DEEP ON ONE OF CARD MAGIC’S MOST ICONIC PLOTS: THE OPEN PREDICTION. A CARD IS NAMED BEFORE THE DECK IS TOUCHED. THE SPECTATOR DEALS FREELY. ONE CARD LANDS FACE DOWN. IT’S THE ONE YOU CALLED. I BREAK DOWN THREE METHODS FOR ACHIEVING THIS – EACH ONE PRACTICAL, EACH ONE WORTH ADDING TO YOUR ARSENAL.

I ALSO LOOK AT NATURALNESS AND SOFTNESS IN CARD HANDLING. NOT AS A TECHNICAL SKILL, BUT AS A PERFORMANCE INSTINCT. HOW YOU HOLD THE CARDS TELLS THE AUDIENCE WHO YOU ARE. WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW TO GET THERE.

WE LOOK AT THE IN-HOUSE EXPERIENCE. WHAT DOES YOUR SHOW FEEL LIKE BEFORE THE FIRST EFFECT LANDS? WE COVER BROCHURES, MERCHANDISE, AND ALL THE LITTLE EXTRAS THAT TURN A PERFORMANCE INTO SOMETHING PEOPLE REMEMBER AND TALK ABOUT.

MICHAEL SAMUEL IS BACK. ANOTHER GREAT ARTICLE. THAT’S ALL WE’LL SAY.

AND WE REVIEW PRODUCTS FROM THE INCREDIBLE GIANCARLO SCALIA. IF YOU HAVEN’T COME ACROSS HIS WORK YET, THIS IS YOUR INTRODUCTION. YOU’RE WELCOME.

PLUS, the daily magician are back again with a deep dive and a gem from the public domain!