by Alex Hui

There are two interesting elements in this effect: 1. the instant appearance of the card rolled inside the ring; 2. the impossible flight of the signed card to the ring.

In order to make the effect as strong as possible, I think off-hand appraoch should be applied to both sub-effects. In other words, the effects should happen under the situation that not a single manipulation could be possible. Simplistically, magician should never be able to touch the ring and the signed card, at least from spectator's point of view.

Taking the above into consideration, I have come up with the solution that the spectator can really feel that a card instantly appears inside the ring, and the exact card inside the ring is the signed card. Spectator is allowed to handle everything without the magician touching the ring (and the cards?) at all...And best of all, the cards and the ring is gimmick free (except little something which we need in the effect)! Just imagine how impressive if the audience can pull out the signed card from their own ring when you can play the poker at another room.

Talking this much, I think I should start the explanation to this impossible effect, 'Legend'...

[I would call the effect 'Name in my Ring' if I am allowed]

Preparation:

Indeed, there is nothing much to prepare...what you need are 2 pouches (they should have the strings at the neck to close the opening), a wedding ring which size should be of common type.

Put a rolled card inside the ring, and then put it inside a pouch. The pouch should be in your left trouser pocket.

The remaining pouch should be put in your right trouser pocket.

Method:

'Ring is said to possess special power. That's why we wear rings for some special reasons. It is not just a symbol, but a special meaning & power which can only felt inside our hearts'.

Find a couple among the audience, and face to the lady, 'I think your ring must have some special meanings to you (Try to point to the ring that looks like wedding ring or pair ring). It's such beautiful. May I do something for both of you with it? But I will never touch the ring.' Take out the pouch from the right pocket, and pass it to the lady. Ask her to check it.

'I will not touch the ring. So I would like you to put the ring inside the pouch. And please close the opening by pulling the strings.' After it is done, 'The ring is always inside your hand, like its meaning is always in your heart. Could you please put the hands behind your back?'

Start to walk towards behind her back, at the same time, say 'please press on the bag to see if the ring is there.' You say this sentence while you are walking to her because the action by spectator covers your action. This make your action of walking less obvious and the spectators will have no time to question why you walk behind her back.

This is important that your hands should be in your pockets when you arrive the back of the lady.

Use your right thumb and forefinger to grip the strings of the pouch (this further convinces that you have no intention to touch the ring) and left it up above the lady's shoulder, say: 'even I can come close to the pouch, there is no way I can touch the ring at all...' Start to lower the pouch behind the lady's back, and pretend to put it back on her palm up hands. Indeed, you take the prepared pouch out from the left pocket and drop it on the hands. Put the pouch with spectator's ring inside your right pocket. The whole action is covered by lady's back and your casual comment. Say finally, 'please keep your hands steady because something special will happen very soon.' This prevents the audience to touch the ring and accidentally feels the card inside the pouch.

Face to the man. Take out a deck and pass it for shuffles. While the deck is being shuffled, you put your hands in the pocket and open the pouch, and then take out the ring from the pouch (ring still inside the right pocket)...After the deck is shuffled, retrieve it, and say 'I have a special mission for you. I want you to take out any card you want...' spread the deck face-up, 'select it carefully and make a signature on the face of the card. Give your emotion and sign it'. You can play it around here.

After a card is signed, have the card returned to the deck and immediately steal it with your right hand. Pass the remaining deck to the man for shuffle again. 'Please shuffle the deck throughfully again...' During this off-beat, you put the card inside the pocket and insert it inside the ring. This action can be faciliated by rolling the short end of the card inside the ring first. Then you slide the ring up the cards with the action of rolling the card. Finish by putting the ring (with the signed card inside) into the pouch. Use your fingers to grip the strings and close the opening. [Note: you may not have enough time to do all these stuffs...you can stop at any instance since you have another chance to do it later]

'Now press the deck tightly and think of your card. Can you feel something happened? I won't come close to you...please spread the deck face-up to see what happened...' This is the second chance that you can continue your secret action because all the attention will be on the cards now.

The male spectator cannot find his signed card!

'You know, the reason that I choose both of you is that this special event can only be successful with you.' Face to the lady, say: 'You are still holding the ring, don't you? Please press on the ring and see if you can feel something special...?' Most of the time, the lady will be so surprised that she can feel a card inside the ring.

'I have never come close to the ring. As I said, even I come close, I could never touch the ring at all...' You again walk behind the lady and do the switch of the pouches as described above. Only this time, this is done with different approach: the left hand take off the pouch and the right hand takes the pouch from right pocket and hold it up. Keep the pouch in full view and pass it to the lady. The left hand put the gimmicked pouch under the cover behind lady's back [Note: the presentation here justifies you action of walking near the pouch]

Walk away from the lady, ask her to take the items out of pouch. Most audience will be astonished as they see a card is rolled inside the ring, and obviously they know it should be the signed card though they are not willing to accept.

'Now look at the card, and show it to everyone...' the lady shows the signed card, and you close the effect by saying 'Your name (face to the man) is always inside your heart (face to the lady).'

Additional Notes:

I think the success of this effect is built on 2 factors: staging and presentation.

The staging and the construction of the effect allows you to execute the secret manuvor during off-beats or under cover. For example, the illogical action of walking behind spectator's back is justified by a single line 'I cannot touch the ring even I come close'. I think this is important otherwise spectator must think that you have done something no matter how smooth your sleight-of-hand is.

And most importantly, the presentation gives a special meaning to the use of card and ring. And it also gives the meaning of signing on the card. If a strong connection is not provided, it will take the magic into a puzzle of merely impossible card flight. In the presentation, there is a strong emotional hook, and thus this makes the effect memorable.