Wizard’s Spelldeck

Welcome to wizard training! I'm here to help you maximize the use of your Spelldeck and become wizard to the fullest.

First Things First

If you are performing for strangers, as I do, it's important to be respectful and understand that not everyone is interested in earth-shattering, mind-blowing magic. It's their loss, really, but we must live and let live.

Also, stranger danger is real. Do so safely. Don't risk it.

That said, I don't normally introduce myself as Wizard before the tricks. I find it more mystical to just start with "I will guess..." It captures their attention immediately and paves the way for laughs.

Commit

The most important thing is to believe in your wizard self and commit to the bit.

Say everything with confidence, and the humor will come naturally.

The moment you question yourself, it stops being funny and becomes confusing.

If you don't seem like you know what you are doing, neither does your audience.

By the way, this applies to almost everything in life, not just being wizard.

Change of Cards

I understand that not everyone can just use magic to change their cards as I do. Therefore, I designed your cards to flip so you can change your answer when questioned.

Watch this video on how to do the card flip:

Although recommended, you do not need to master the card flip. In the end, you are not magician - you are wizard.

The Hair and The Beard

I understand that not everyone can grow magnificent facial hair like I do. 

Truthfully, the beard and the long hair do not matter at all. 

However, if you would like to get the whole look, you can buy a wig and beard that look like my real hair here.

Order

You may have noticed that I often begin videos with "I will guess when your birthday is."

That is intentional.

Some of these cards are what I call "Base Cards." They are typically used at the beginning to show your audience exactly what being wizard is about and set an expectation.

That said, there is no set rule for the order of the cards.

Base Cards

1. THIS YEAR / NEXT YEAR

Say: "I will guess when your birthday is." 

Again, wait for an answer if you have not introduced yourself.

Then say: "Your birthday is..." *flash THIS YEAR card*

If they say, "Actually, my birthday has already passed," do the card flip to show NEXT YEAR.

And say: "I knew that"

2. HAPPY BIRTHDAY / ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU

You can also use this card as your first trick.

Say: "I will guess a song you've listened to in the last 12 months."

Again, wait for an answer if you have not introduced yourself.

Then say: "And that song is..." *flash HAPPY BIRTHDAY card*

If they deny listening to the Happy Birthday song, do the card flip to All I Want for Christmas Is You. Let's face it, it's hard to get away from this song during Christmas. 

Of course, they can deny this song, too, which brings us to the next section: How to handle skeptics (people who refuse to see magic even when it's right in front of their eyes)

How to Handle Skeptics

As I said earlier, not everyone enjoys life-changing, reality-bending magic.

If someone doesn't respond well to your obviously fantastic magic, do not take it personally.

Only magical beings respond to other magical beings. It's about finding your own order of wizards and witches. 

Or, they may just not be having a good day, and it has nothing to do with you.

Wish them the best and move on.

However, if they are smiling or palming their face with a grin, they may just need more convincing.

Proceed to your choice of tricks.

3. HOSPITAL / NOT HOSPITAL

If THIS YEAR / NEXT YEAR was your first trick, you now have the option to say something like: "How about something a little harder?" or "I can go a step further..."

This will connect the tricks and give them a better flow.

Say: "I will guess where you were born."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "You were born in the..." *flash HOSPITAL card*

If they say they were not born in a hospital, do the card flip to show NOT HOSPITAL.

Then say: "I knew that too," if this is the second time you do the card flip.

4. 1 / 2

This card is more flexible and can be used for many questions where the answers are likely to be 1 or 2. 

For example, I've used this card for the phone number trick.

Say: "I will guess your phone number."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "You have ... *flash 1 card* ...1 phone!" 

You will come across people with 2 phones. In that case, do the card flip to show 2.

If they have more than 2 phones, question them, because I personally don't trust them (JK). 

5. STAR

This is also a great follow-up card after the birthday trick. Sometimes, people will ask you to specify which month.

Say: "I'll do you one better. I will guess your star sign."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And this... *flash STAR card* ... is how you sign a star!"

6. YOUR FUTURE

For this trick, say: "We've done the past. I will now read Your Future."

Raise the card with YOUR FUTURE facing away from your audience.

Read out loud: "Your Future."

Then turn the card around to show them that you just read the card.

7. DOT

This is another flexible card that can be used to guess anything small and round.

For example, I've used this card for the planet trick.

Say: "Think of a planet in the sky."

Give them a moment to think of one.

Check in and say: "Got it?"

Wait for them to confirm.

Then say: "Was... *flash DOT card* this your planet?"

If they say they were thinking about Saturn, or the planet with the ring, do the card flip to show the dot with a ring around it.

8. RABBIT / DUCK

Optional: You can ask them to close their eyes for extra mystery.

Say: "Choose, in your mind, between a rabbit and a duck. Don't tell me and really visualize it."

Give them a moment to choose.

Then say: "Was this... *flash DUCK / RABBIT card* ... the animal?"

9. THOMAS / NOT THOMAS

This card is for the boys.

Say: "I will guess your name."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "Your name is... *flash THOMAS card*."

If their name is Thomas, great, you are wizard.

If their name is not Thomas, do the card flip to show NOT THOMAS, and say: "Actually, I knew that."

10. AMELIA / NOT AMELIA

This card is for the girls.

Say: "I will guess your name."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "Your name is... *flash AMELIA card*."

If her name is Amelia, great, you are wizard.

If her name is not Amelia, do the card flip to show NOT AMELIA, and say: "Actually, I knew that."

11. SIGNATURE

This card is great for following the last 2 tricks.

After you show NOT THOMAS or NOT AMELIA, say: "Because your actual name is... *flash SIGNATURE card*."

12. MCDONALD'S / KFC

Optional: I like to use a crystal ball for this trick to add a bit of mystery, but you can use pretty much anything as a substitute (for example, an upside-down glass). If you want to, you can get the one I use HERE.

Say: "I will guess a place you traveled to last year."

For MCDONALD'S, look into your crystal ball and say: "I can see a man with pale skin and ginger/red hair. He's standing underneath 2 big archways. Hmm, I know where it is... *flash MCDONALD'S card*."

For KFC, look into your crystal ball and say: "I can see a man. He's ex-military, used to be in the army. He's wearing all white and glasses. Hmm, I know where it is... *flash KFC card*."

You can add as many details as you like to describe Ronald McDonald or Colonel Sanders.

13. RED / NOT RED

Say: "I will guess your favorite color."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And it's... *flash RED card*."

If their favorite color is actually red, great job, you are wizard.

If it is not, do the card flip to show NOT RED.

14. 20/20 / GLASSES

I do not recommend doing this trick to people who wear glasses unless you are good friends. Just so it doesn't come across like you're making fun of them for wearing glasses.

For this trick, you can also say: "We've done the past. Let's look at the future."

Say: "I will guess your vision for the next 5 years."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And it's... *flash 20/20 card* ... perfect vision."

If they say they do not have perfect vision, do the card flip and say: "I knew that."

15. WALLS (trick #1)

You can use this card for 2 tricks.

The first one only works indoors.

Say: "I will guess your background."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And it's... *flash WALLS card*."

If they look confused, gesture to the walls behind them to clarify.

16. WALLS (trick #2)

Say: "I will guess what kind of structure you have in your daily life."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And it's... *flash WALLS card*."

If they look confused, gesture to the walls near them to clarify.

17. HARRY

Say: "You seem like a very stylish person. I will guess your favorite styles."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And it's... *flash HARRY card*."

If they seem puzzled, follow up with: "Harry Styles."

If they say they don't like Harry Styles, ask them if they know anybody else named Styles. Likely, they do not, so tell them that their favorite Styles is indeed Harry Styles.

18. RIGHT EAR

Say: "I will guess the best year/ear of your life."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And it's your... *flash RIGHT EAR card*."

If they say it's actually their left ear, then playfully remind them how clearly wrong they are, and it is indeed their right ear.

19. ESCALATOR

Say: "I will guess what lifts you up when you're down."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And it's an... *flash ESCALATOR card*."

20. INTERSECTION

Say: "I will guess a big turning point in your life."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And it's at the... *flash INTERSECTION card."

21. LETTERS

Say: "Think of a letter from the alphabet."

Give them a moment to think of one.

Then say: "Is... *flash LETTERS card*... this your letter?"

22. ABOVE SEA LEVEL / BELOW SEA LEVEL

Say: "I will guess your height."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And it's... *flash ABOVE SEA LEVEL card*."

If they live in a country that is below sea level, flash BELOW SEA LEVEL card instead.

23. WHEELS

(Optional) Say: "You seem like a motivated person."

Then say: "I will guess what drives you in life."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And it's... *flash WHEELS card*."

24. IN THE MIRROR

(Optional) Say: "We've done the past. Let's look at the future."

Then say: "I will guess where you see yourself in the next 5 years."

Skip a beat.

Then say: "And it's... *flash IN THE MIRROR card*."

That's it!

Congratulations. You've completed Wizard Training Level 1! 

If you have any questions, feel free to message me at wizard@oneactualwizard.com. I will do my best to answer you.

Now go out there and have some fun with your newly mastered Spelldeck!