I had considered buying this effect the moment it was released, but held back due to it's price. When I saw that Penguin were finally selling it, I thought that I just had to have it. Even after reading the reviews, which stated that it was only available in a Phoenix deck (not Bicycle or Bee), and the cards were almost 'plastic-like', I still went ahead and bought it.

I have not once regretted buying anything from Penguin, but sadly, this is one I do...

I have performed this a number of times, and due to the 'feel' of the cards, and how thin they feel when handled, spec's know that there is something suspicious with the deck. Once it has been handed out, they give it a thorough inspection, and on some occasions, they have identified the secret.

Now, this may work for some, and on the most 'vulnerable' of laymen, but it really doesn't work for me, and will not work on fellow magicians. Even my wife's first reaction, who does not know a lot about magic, said there was something not quite right with the feel of the deck, and assumed it was a trick deck.

If it were available in Bicycle, and had a more natural 'feel' to the cards, this effect would work so much better.

Just my Opinion...

Some of the reviews seem to be a bit hard on this effect due to it's seemingly impossible claim that the gimmick is almost undetectable. However, I believe this claim to be mostly true.

The fact is, this is the holy grail of card to impossible location effects. I've used this concept with a self-made gimmicked deck since I read my first beginner's magic book, but I've always had the issue of cleaning up and handing out the deck for inspection. They've completely resolved that issue. It takes only a slow and natural movement toward the spectator with the deck in your hand to ensure that the gimmick stays hidden. Most people will be able to look through the deck as many times as they want without noticing it, and on the rare occasion that someone gets close to noticing, you've got so much time to distract that I just don't see how you're going to get caught with this thing.

This is not a "practice required" effect. If you can count to 10, you can perform this effect the moment that you receive it. I literally performed it, complete with deck handout, 4 times the same day I received the package. Since then, which was about 5 days ago, I've probably performed this effect 40 times, and haven't had even a minor "scare" concerning the method being revealed.

I was a bit disappointed when I received it, but it was disappointment at the fact that I hadn't thought of this earlier. I was SO CLOSE in my current performance deck, but in one fell swoop they've resolved every single issue I've had.

This gimmick is so well done that you can go on and perform other "in your hand", or "on the table" effects with it as a convincer, or to delay a deck change. It's simply amazing, and exactly what we all hope to get out of a magic trick when we're considering it. Absolutely powerful, virtually no skill required, easily reset and repeated, and the reactions are just amazing. Buy this now.

I own two of these. Simply a masterpiece of card craftsmanship, and there is NOTHING else like this on the market. You will FRY your friends and fellow magicians alike.

Get Sharky is dead easy to perform, and there are multiple performance options available. Each of these decks is HAND MADE and takes over an hour+ of pure German craftsmanship to make. You will treasure this, and be up and running with this the same day you get it.

Is the deck expensive? Sure. But when you see how this is made and how POWERFUL this effect is you will be all smiles from ear to ear. The deck is 100% examinable (not for 20 minutes, but I always hand the deck to the spectator and let them take one or two attempts to locate their card). I have never in 100+ performances (ever) had the spectator discover the secret - they won't!

Highly recommended. I own two of these and plan to keep them 'till I'm old. This was voted the #1 effect on the Magic Cafe in 2010 by members last year. When you get this you will discover why it is not just good - Get Sharky is GREAT.

Its an amazing trick, you dont even have to ask the name of the card before reveling it. And best of all this miracle is self working!! Reset in 2 sec and can be a different card.

I have used this several times with great success, but 3 times the spectator has called me out on the gimmick (and it wasn't because my presentation was lacking)
For for just one gimmick that will wear out it is a steep price for something that is not 100% surefire. I am not saying the effect and method is bad--it is a brilliant trick but it is not fun when you are called out on an "inspectable" gimmick. It may be good to have in your drawer if the perfect situation comes up to use it but not unless you have the money to spare.

I shied away from this because of the price, initially. It did not help that the first demo I had seen was not performed the best it could have been (the card was named before the hand came out of pocket...deal breaker). It seemed obvious and an enormous waste of a lot of money.

Then I saw another magician perform this. While it seemed familiar, the performance was so wildly different and utterly killer that I had to ask out of public eyes, "Was that the Sharkey trick?" I made a new friend in the process. :)

This is positively phenomenal. The gimmick is too ingenious for words, and ultimately, this deck nearly rides a scary line into the realm of being what Sankey would deem "TOO perfect". I have had an incredible time with this for only the last 24 hours...here's to many, many more hours with this masterpiece in the arsenal.

Two things....DO HAND OUT THE DECK! If you do this right, there is just no chance for them to spot the gaffe. Take the chance on it, it is most definitely worth it as it is the most powerful way to knock this beauty out of the park.

Second...everyone stop buying it!!! I want it all for myself!!!! :-)

After watching this trick performed on the website, I bought it right away. It looked to good to be true, and I have to say that as soon as I opened the deck, it was apparent that it was heavily gimmicked. I completely disagree with the reviews that say that it doesn't look gimmicked at all, but I've been doing magic for years, so I also know what to look for.

For starters, it's not a Bicycle deck. It's a Phoenix deck.

Secondly, if the cards are viewed from a certain angle, it's very apparent that there is something fishy.

As a magician WATCHING the trick, it's amazing. But if you hand a magician this deck, I don't think they'll be impressed. I have yet to perform it, but I won't give the deck to anyone but laymen.

Other than that, the effect is amazing, and considering most people ARENT professional magicians, I give this 4/5 stars.

I think the effect is great and has a great many variations that can be used. That being said, I don't like the fact that the deck isn't a Bicycle or Bee. I have performed the effect several times (some for magicians and laypeople alike). While the effect fooled them all, they all know me and know I always work with Bike cards (sometimes Tally-Ho) so their first reaction is that it must be a trick deck. I have tried using the "I'm trying out a new line of cards for my tricks" line. But they don't buy it. This is just my opinion and I would rate it 5 stars if the deck would have been mainstream

So, I must begin by saying that I HATE purchasing new card tricks (ESPECIALLY gimmicked decks) because I feel that I have more than enough in my repertoire and I decided a long time ago that I would not purchase any new tricks/DVDs/gimmicked decks unless they were absolutely KILLER.

Well, when someone showed me Get Sharky, I just freaked out. I couldn't believe how magical the effect actually was. I examined the $#!^ out of that deck and couldn't find anything.

Because we are in the same magic circle and perform many events in our city, he let me in on the secret. Usually, learning the secret of an effect destroys it for me until I put it into practice, but this was such an ingenious secret that I had to have it. Even after he told me the price of it, it was just too good to pass up.

I've now had my deck for around 6 months (bought from the original maker because it wasn't available at penguin) and must say that it just destroys people.

The reason why I give it 4 stars is because for the first month or so I had been caught a few times (not completely though). There are ways you can perform it with less of a chance of being caught, but I like to risk giving the cards to them at the beginning to choose a card, and not taking the cards back until after I reveal their chosen card is in my pocket and the entire effect is over. Also, even with the safe performance of it, there are certain things that the spectator may notice, but it is rare. The cards also will wear out eventually, but around the same speed that a normal deck would (that's taking into account that they are more fragile, but used less often)

This routine also reminds me a lot of Derren Brown's "Smoke" which just drove me wild when I saw his performance of it on Stephen Fry on YouTube; however, after knowing the secret to both, I must say that Get Sharky is MUCH better (and you can still do the card cigarette ending if you wanted to as well).

Add to cart.

It is true that the best tricks are often simple by nature. I got this trick tonight and after 10 minutes performed it on 2 different people. Both were blown away. Self working magic at its best.