Module 1 – Part 4: The Method
Benji
Part 4: The Method
The Method:
The Skyscraper Method is based on a concept known as the ‘memorized deck.’
The underlying working of this concept can be summarised in two simple sentences—but don’t let that fool you. The possibilities these sentences unlock are seemingly endless.
Here they are:
- For any CARD in the deck, you instantly know the POSITION of it.
- For any POSITION in the deck, you instantly know the CARD there.
For example, if someone were to ask me where the Jack of Hearts is in the deck, I’d be able to instantly answer them by saying ‘20’.
Likewise, if someone were to ask me what card was at position 44, I’d be able to tell them ‘The 9 of Clubs.’
While in itself that might sound like an effect, we’re barely scratching the surface here!
Once you learn this system via my Skyscraper Method, you’ll be able to:
* Perform the ‘holy grail’ of card magic by making ANY named card appear at ANY number (more on this in Module 5)
* Name ANY chosen card without using forces, peeks or marked cards (more on this in Module 2)
* Produce any poker hand called for (more on this in Module 5)
* Let the spectator cut to their own card (more on this in Juan Tamariz’ book – look for the routine ‘Mnemonicosis’)
And so much more. This stuff is so powerful, almost any effect you name can be adapted and improved using it.
Now, usually, when the term ‘memorized deck’ and ‘stack’ come up, magicians start asking all kinds of questions. Questions like:
Which stack should I learn?
Which stack is the best?
Which stack does (so and so) use?
Look. I get why people ask that.
But they’re the WRONG questions!
With the Skyscraper Method, you’ll be doing more than just learning ONE stack in order to perform ONE effect.
You’ll be learning how to quickly learn ANY number of stacks so that you can perform ANY effect you want to.
Do you see the difference?
Before we move on, I want to give you my 5 key factors that make the stacked deck, in my opinion, the most powerful tool in magic.
(From here on out, I’ll use ‘stacked’ and ‘memorized’ interchangeably, and while they are slightly different things, we’ll treat them as referring to the same thing.)
1. Enables you to work ‘smart’ not ‘hard’
If you can think creatively, you can design miracles using the memorized deck. This really levels the playing field and allows magicians who feel like they’re ‘late to the game’ to still get in on it and perform incredible magic rivaling that of any other magician.
It sounds cliche, but you’re only limited by your own imagination.
2. You can ‘plug in’ the memorized deck to any other effect in magic to make it instantly more powerful!
For all of the basic effects and plots in magic (divinations, transpositions, locations), the memorized deck can make them instantly stronger, more direct, and EASIER to do!
3. Confidence boost!
With the memorized deck, you have so many ‘built-in’ effects and routines that it’s almost impossible to screw up. If something doesn’t go to plan, there’s a very good chance you can just do something else equally astonishing—made possible by the stack.
4. Practice anywhere
Since so much of what makes the memorized deck effective is what happens in your mind, you can practice this skill anywhere you are!
5. So much innovation to take place!
Since the memorized deck has been less intensely explored as the rest of card magic, there are still so many concepts, ideas and techniques out there to be discovered by adventurous magicians. You can be one of them!
So those are the 5 factors I believe make the memorized deck truly amazing.
(I also talk about these factors in a lot more depth in the first Live session.)
But despite all of the above and much more, the memorized deck is STILL an underrated and underused tool among magicians.
Some might argue with that and say that the number of magicians using a memorized deck has increased greatly in the last 50 years.
Which is true…but also a flawed view.
For me, it shouldn’t be a matter of ‘we’ve gone from 1 in 10 magicians using a memorized deck to 5 in 10’ but a question of ‘why on earth isn’t it 10/10 yet???’
As you’ve seen, you LOSE NOTHING by using a memorized deck as your ‘standard carry.’
You can only GAIN.
To me, the memorized deck should be as essential a tool as the double lift (if not more so).
And by the end of this course (and maybe already!) I’m hoping you’ll agree.
Now, before we talk about HOW to learn the stack, let’s pause to give some respect to the trailblazers who gave us this stuff…