Different Decks for magic

[The London magician]

Hello everyone!
Sorry, I just had to see what that did!   

Anyway, when performing, I usually use regular bikes because everyone knows what they are and has seen them before.

However, I was thinking, would people start to get suspicious if I used a custom deck that they may not know about? It would be more interesting for me as I could buy custom decks and not have to get regular ones as well.

Someone might have asked this question before but I don't know the answer and I would love to find out what it is.

Thanks in advance

[Don Boyer]

It's not unusual for magicians to use decks other than a standard pack, like Bicycles.  In fact, in Europe, it's Bicycles that are different and stand out - and they're a little expensive.

As a magician myself, I'll often use a standard deck, or at least a standard-looking deck.  The reasons have nothing to do with it "looking suspicious" like a magic deck.

1) Standard faces are something the audience will identify with - "Oh, I have one at home that looks like that..."  It puts them at ease.
2) Standard faces will not distract the audience, making them pay more attention to the cards and less attention to the trick.
3) Standard decks tend to cost a lot less.  Performing is one of the fastest ways to trash a perfectly good deck of cards, because you never know where your audience's hands have been, so given the choice between them trashing a $15 limited edition from Kickstarter and a $4 from the corner drugstore, I'm going to the drugstore...
4) More gaffs and trick decks are available in standard designs than in custom designs - and the leader would be the Bicycle Rider Back in red, followed closely by the Rider Back in blue.  In fact, as a magician, the moment I see a Rider Back in another magician's hands, I immediately get suspicious!

So it seems cool and fun to use custom decks, but the costs add up fast and standard decks often end up being the better alternative - and if not standard decks, at least inexpensive decks with standard faces.  Some of my go-to decks are:

Bicycle "Standard"
Tally Ho
Bicycle Guardians
Bicycle Masters
Monarchs
NOCs
Bicycle Split Spades "Discover Magic" deck - a stripper deck in the same design as the blue Split Spades Lions by David Blaine.
Bicycle Mandolin Backs
Bicycle Maiden Backs
Bicycle Ghost
Bicycle White Ghost
Arcane (usually just the white deck, sometimes the black one)
Classic Twins

I used to occasionally bust out packs for specific purposes - like using Bicycle Karnival Dose Redux for performing in a nightclub because of the funky, gothy look and all that, but again, decks were getting trashed and they're expensive.  I'd consider something fancy for a paid gig, perhaps, but for the most part, for everyday magic, standard or cheap custom decks are fine by me, and if I do go custom, it'll be for something that's not an expensive, rare limited edition and preferably is still in print.

[The London magician]

The problem with playing cards in Europe (the UK especially) is that the cheap decks are really bad quality; so, I try to buy decks that will give me my money's worth (I.E. They last a long time). When I know that people will trash my cards I get the rubbish playing cards, but otherwise I buy bicycles or Tally hos on Amazon for £3 to £5 a pop.

On top of that, I might buy a fathom deck or whispering imps to add to my collection. Because of this, I end up spending too much money. I've been on the hind for a good, cheap, interesting deck that I can buy a brick of, but it's difficult.

Thanks again

[Don Boyer]

The problem with playing cards in Europe (the UK especially) is that the cheap decks are really bad quality; so, I try to buy decks that will give me my money's worth (I.E. They last a long time). When I know that people will trash my cards I get the rubbish playing cards, but otherwise I buy bicycles or Tally hos on Amazon for £3 to £5 a pop.

On top of that, I might buy a fathom deck or whispering imps to add to my collection. Because of this, I end up spending too much money. I've been on the hind for a good, cheap, interesting deck that I can buy a brick of, but it's difficult.

Thanks again

Theory11 sells a lot of great-looking custom decks - but a lot of people forget that when you buy in bulk, they also have some of the best prices on Tally Ho decks, and their pricing for Bees and Bicycles isn't too bad, either.  You just have to check on what overseas shipping and Customs will cost you.

If you find they're too much, try Kardwell (kardwell.com) - they're a wholesaler based on Long Island, not too far from New York City.  They'll give you a good deal, charging you not much more than retailers would pay, and most of what they sell is USPC standard decks, though they carry some foreign-made and plastic poker sets.  To really make it worth your while, create a buyers' club - get together with a few of your magician mates (or perhaps the local magic shop) and place a large order, enough to knock the price very low.  While the shipping could get costly, remember that the less you pay per deck, the less you have to pay to Customs per deck - do the math and it might be worth your while.

You can also find decent products within the EU as well - Fournier is a subsidiary of USPC and is based in Vitoria, Spain.  Their 505 series are pretty decent decks, not too expensive.  Lee Asher (one of the admins here, as well as a Toronto-based magician) uses them to manufacture his 605 "Signature Series" decks as well - they're the same as the 505 pattern, but in dark green and brown and manufactured to a very high standard, plus they're VERY durable.

For the most "bullet-proof" cards, get cards that were made from the same stock as those used for making casino decks.  They tend to be the most durable.  Also, stocks from Expert PCC and Legends PCC tend to be very durable, more so than most manufacturers, with the most durable stock being the stock EPCC sells as "Master Finish" and LPCC sells as "Diamond Finish" - it's the longest-lasting stuff presently available from them (same stock, different branding with each company).  Surprisingly enough, it's also their thinnest as well as being their least-embossed - it's almost but not quite smooth, just the faintest amount of embossing on them to achieve that "air pocket" effect that's popular with playing cards and golf balls.

[Mr.parangot]

I can't speak for different countries overseas, but here in Europe, there aren't really common brands like bicycle in the US. So I never had any problems performing here with different decks. I use bicycle decks regulary although the only persons who use them here in Germany are magicians But I never had any problems with someone suspecting a deck. As long as you are consistent with the decks you use and don't use different backs for a packet trick for example,  you should be fine. Unfortunately I have no insight how it is in the US. As  a bicycle deck seems to be in every house.  @DonBoyer: I never payed attention to that fact, but it really seems to convince the audience if the deck has standard faces. although standard poker faces weren't standard here in Europe. Just during the last 10 to 15 years with the poker hype, the american cards become famous. we usually use the french faces for playing cards and we also have country specific cards in some regions (south of Germany or spain for example).

[The London magician]

I can't speak for different countries overseas, but here in Europe, there aren't really common brands like bicycle in the US. So I never had any problems performing here with different decks. I use bicycle decks regulary although the only persons who use them here in Germany are magicians But I never had any problems with someone suspecting a deck. As long as you are consistent with the decks you use and don't use different backs for a packet trick for example,  you should be fine. Unfortunately I have no insight how it is in the US. As  a bicycle deck seems to be in every house.  @DonBoyer: I never payed attention to that fact, but it really seems to convince the audience if the deck has standard faces. although standard poker faces weren't standard here in Europe. Just during the last 10 to 15 years with the poker hype, the american cards become famous. we usually use the french faces for playing cards and we also have country specific cards in some regions (south of Germany or spain for example).

Adding to that, English standard faces have four pips

[Don Boyer]

I can't speak for different countries overseas, but here in Europe, there aren't really common brands like bicycle in the US. So I never had any problems performing here with different decks. I use bicycle decks regulary although the only persons who use them here in Germany are magicians But I never had any problems with someone suspecting a deck. As long as you are consistent with the decks you use and don't use different backs for a packet trick for example,  you should be fine. Unfortunately I have no insight how it is in the US. As  a bicycle deck seems to be in every house.  @DonBoyer: I never payed attention to that fact, but it really seems to convince the audience if the deck has standard faces. although standard poker faces weren't standard here in Europe. Just during the last 10 to 15 years with the poker hype, the american cards become famous. we usually use the french faces for playing cards and we also have country specific cards in some regions (south of Germany or spain for example).

The face that you call "American" actually was created in Rouen, France.  It developed at around the same time as the "Parisian Standard" that's still somewhat popular in Europe, though as you said, there seems to be a surge in popularity of the International Standard (the correct name for the "American" standard) because of the wave of increased popularity of tournament-level poker, especially on television.

In France about two or so centuries ago, give or take, the Parisian design was saved for locally-used decks while the Rouen design was made mostly as a less-expensive model for export to Great Britain.  The Brits imported and eventually copied the design from Rouen, while Americans eventually imported and copied the design from the Brits.  Over time, the design evolved, developing corner indices, rounded corners and an extra card, the joker, meant originally as a trump card for the game of euchre.  Despite what you've seen on television and in the movies, poker didn't become very popular under AFTER the "Wild West" was more or less settled - the big games of the day were euchre for playing with friends and faro for gambling at the local casino.  Ironically, just like how Beta was superior to VHS but lost out in the videotape format war because it was more costly, the "inferior" and less artistic Rouen design is the one that evolved into the International Standard while the Parisian design's popularity didn't extend too much further than Europe and probably some French colony nations.

Adding to that, English standard faces have four pips

I think you mean "indices" (or "indexes" - both are plural of "index," with "indices" being the traditional version derived from Latin and "indexes" being the more modern version).  Pip is the generic name for the individual suit symbols that appear on playing cards - in example, a Seven of Diamonds has seven pips (or nine if you are including the index pips of an International Standard version of the card), each pip being a diamond.  English and Parisian decks are popularly made with four indices on them, while International Standard only has two, for right-handed players.  Poker players do NOT prefer four-indexed cards in general - it makes it easier to accidentally flash your cards to an opposing player at the poker table.  They prefer the opposite corner to be blank, devoid of any suit or value markings.  The fact that only about ten percent of the world's population is left-handed in any way is what makes the right-handed placement of indices more popular.

[The London magician]

Whoops! There I go making more vocabulary mistakes!

I was referring to the four INDICES as a bad thing; having four makes it difficult to do a blank deck trick without an actual blank deck. However, I do think that there are some features that the international standard could use: I find the court cards quite ugly (the USPCC ones), especially the ones with blue borders.

Thanks again!

[Don Boyer]

Whoops! There I go making more vocabulary mistakes!

I was referring to the four INDECES as a bad thing; having four makes it difficult to do a blank deck trick without an actual blank deck. However, I do think that there are some features that the international standard could use: I find the court cards quite ugly (the USPCC ones), especially the ones with blue borders.

Thanks again!

...you misspelled "indices"...

[The London magician]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!