This is very similar to the Invisible Deck, both in terms of the method and the routines you'll end
up doing with them. The major difference is, with the Brainwave Deck, aside from showing the
spectator that you knew what card they would select by having it reversed in the deck, you also show
that it has a different back from every other card.
The problem is, why is it necessary to
double-prove it? You've already shown that you "knew" the card because it's the only card in the
deck that's face up. That's all the proof you need. By taking it a step further, you're drawing
unwanted attention to what was already a good effect. To paraphrase Shakespeare, "The Magician doth
prove too much"
This is why I prefer the Invisible Deck. I don't think the "extra"
provided by the Brainwave Deck is helpful. If anything, it's detrimental. I also find the
Invisible Deck easier to work with, because you're keying off the faces of the cards, rather than
looking at the backs trying to find pencil dots that you hope aren't too noticeable.
I'd
never say that the Brainwave Deck is bad, but if you can get an Invisible Deck instead, I'd have no
reason to want one of these.
There's another reason the ID is better:
It has the element of suspense.
All cards are spread out face up.
One card is face down.
Now the spectator is thinking, "No way...no way is that face down card my card."
Then for a few seconds before they pull it out and look at it,
the suspense builds.
The Brainwave has the surprise BAM in your face, your card staring you in the face. Then the (usually) anticlimactic--by the way, it has a different color back.
My solution to this prob with the BW Deck is to clarify beforehand that I put a card from a different deck into this deck...so I don't need to explain it all at the end, after the main climax.
BUT... one advantage of the Brainwave is that 1 spectator
out of maybe 30 who says, "Oh, you just turned it over."
Some spectators believe you can spread the deck, and in that process find their named card and reverse it.
I have been performing the brainwave for over 30 years. I don't agree with the previous reviewers. Make a brainwave part of a greater card routine and you will blow your audience away everytime!!
The brainwave deck is a good out when you blow a trick. Get the wrong card? Ask what it was and pull out a deck of a different color with "their card" coming from presumably the original deck. "That's because it's been in this deck the entire time!" You can't really do that with the ID. Not saying that's the only use for a BW deck, just one advantage.
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Prefer invisible deck
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