One by Leigh Elkins
2015
[email protected]
One
One is my attempt to create a “single card moving pip” effect that comes full circle and ends with an
ordinary playing card, no different than any other in the deck.
A single playing card is shown, front and back, hands are shown to be empty. Through the power of
magic you move a pip from the middle of the card to the side of the card. The card can again be
displayed. Finally, once again through the power of magic you move the pip, returning it to its
original position.
What you will need
3 playing cards of the same suit and value (Ace (not Spades), 3 or 5)
Sharp knife/Scissors
Temporary adhesive
Method
1. Split two of the playing cards, removing the face as a single layer. I will not explain how to
split cards as this subject has been covered many times by many artists, including artists
associated with theory11.
Pic 1
2. Cut the two single face layers into 1/3s as shown in Pic2. Keep the two middle pieces.
Pic 2
3. Cut PieceA as shown in Pic3. The tab in Pic3 is exaggerated for demonstration purposes and
can be much smaller in reality.
Pic 3
One by Leigh Elkins
2015
[email protected]
4. Spray the back of both PieceA and PieceB with a temporary adhesive following the
instructions provided with your temporary adhesive of choice.
5. Position PieceA on the card as shown in Pic4. Ensure the orientation of the pip matches that
of the middle pip on the playing card.
Pic 4
6. Position PieceB on the card as shown in Pic5. Overhang PieceB slightly on the edge opposite
the tab of PieceA. In Pic5 the overhang is exaggerated and can be much smaller in reality
Pic 5
Congratulations, you have now made the One gimmick.
Notes
You will have noticed from the images above that the card is imperfect and if studied by a
spectator will immediately be burnt. You can see edges of the overlaid pieces, as well as
being able to faintly make out the pip from the layer below. The extent to which these are
visible varies depending on lighting. Detection is easily avoided by keeping the card in
motion, not allowing a spectator to focus on the card too much. Also, whilst this can be done
using an Ace I prefer to use a 3 or a 5 as the extra pips help to distract from the
imperfections of the card.
One by Leigh Elkins
2015
[email protected]
Performance
There are likely many ways to perform One using the gimmick that you made, and I urge you
to find your own unique performance and patter. I have given the basic structure of a
performance below. No patter, sleights, angles or pretty much anything of note included,
just a starting point, take the gimmick wherever you want to go with it.
One is simplest when performed with the back of the card facing the spectator. However,
under the right cover and with the right presentation it can be performed with the face of
the card facing the spectator.
1. Isolate the gimmick from the deck, either by using your favourite force or any other way
you want.
2. At this point you can make it clear that you have a single card and your hands are empty.
Do this as subtly or bluntly as you wish, in keeping with your character.
3. At this point, with the card facing you, turn the card on its side, so that the overhang is
the uppermost edge and the tab is the lowest edge. Pinch the upper-left corner of the
card between your left hand middle finger and thumb, with your index finger resting
along the uppermost edge of the card. With your right hand pinch the card in the middle
with your middle finger and thumb, again with your index finger resting along the
uppermost edge of the card.
4. With your right index finger push down lightly on the overhang which will move away
from the card and begin to roll back on itself. Grip the overhang with your left thumb
and pull down slightly. Now grip the overhang with your right thumb and pull down and
to the right until you have removed the top layer of the gimmick, palming it however
you wish.
5. You can now display the card, showing that the pip has moved.
6. The first time I performed this I was about to continue and I was asked to leave the card
as it was. Obviously I couldn’t do that so I said “If I do that the card will be marked, I’ll
have a marked deck and you’ll think I’m cheating at everything else.” Not the greatest
line but it did the job. However you perform, you now need to get the card into position
to restore it.
7. Hold the card in the same orientation as in Step 3, so that the tab is on the bottom edge.
Pinch the card with in the bottom left corner between your left index finger and thumb.
Pinch the card over the displaced pip with your right index finger and thumb.
8. With your left thumb gently push the tab to the right until you are able to grip it with
your right thumb. Pull the tab up and to the right, removing it into your right hand.
9. At this point you now have a completely ordinary card, and are palming two dirty pieces.
The card can be displayed however you wish. If you then wish to show your hands
empty you will be able to stick the pieces to the card, just remember to steal them back
if you are going to show the card again.
That, in its most basic form is a performance of One. As I said before, please do with it what
you wish, perform it in any way that works for you.
I hope you enjoy One. Thanks for reading.