This really isn't all that bad. It actually does produce an effective illusion that the toothpick
really has pierced the business card. The problem is, why exactly would you want an effect like
this? This is the sort of thing you'd pull out and use on friends over beers and buffalo wings, but
it doesn't have any place in a real routine.
The construction of the gaff isn't really all
that easy. Be prepared to break a lot of toothpicks trying to get it right. Just try not to lose
any fingers in the process.
The real problem is that you can't let the toothpick be
examined. With other similar illusions, such as the pen through dollar and the pencil through
dollar, you're able to end clean by palming off the gaff before letting the item be handled. The
nature of the toothpick gaff is that it's part of the toothpick; so all you can do is stick it in
your mouth and trust that no one will want to handle it after that.
