Mick Ayres Wares

In the 1940's Paul Curry challenged conjurors everywhere with his 'Unsolved Card Problem' by describing an amazing effect: A household deck of cards is shuffled by a guest.  Next, you openly write the name of a card and show it to the audience.  Your guest now deals cards face up, stops at a place of her own choosing, and now deals a single card face down to the table.  She now deals the rest of the deck face up until all the cards are on the table.  Your predicted card has not been seen.  The guest turns over the single face down card...it matches your prediction!

Unfortunately, Paul Curry passed away before coming up with an adequate solution to this daunting presentation...known today as "Curry's Open Prediction Challenge".  Will Curry's elusive proposal ever be solved?  Yes!

In Plain Sight, a creative collaboration between myself and the controversial paranormalist Jim Callahan, allows you to share this captivating tale with your audience and make history at the same time by solving Curry's Challenge.  This dramatic presentation has earned standing ovations repeatedly.  Why?  Because, to your audience, In Plain Sight is not just an effect...it is an unforgettable event.

There is absolutely no challenging sleight-of-hand involved.  The presentation allows for repetition without diminishing the mystery.

"JUST THINK OF A CARD . . . I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT IS."

There is no deck involved.  A guest merely thinks about a playing card.  You write down the name of a card on a piece of paper, fold it and give it to the guest.  She names her card and unfolds the paper.  A perfect match!

Originally published in Steve Beam's Semi-Automatic Card Tricks IV, this new and revised version of Out On A Limb is fully scripted and explained in detail.  Suitable for strolling, parlour or stage venues...or perform it over the telephone for your clients.

Obviously, there is no sleight-of-hand involved.  Out On A Limb can easily be performed propless.

NOTE:  Out On A Limb may also be found in my book 'Cards & Curiosities'.  Please do not order this effect if you have already purchased that book.

A winner of a 2002 Linking Ring Award for Mentalism from the International Brotherhood of Magicians!  You openly display a list of common words.  A guest is asked to mentally choose any word and then to create a word in her mind that rhymes with her selection.  Without hesitation you name the word she just created in her mind!  You may repeat RhymeTime immediately with another guest and reveal a completely different word.

Whether presented as a mind-reading feat or as a prediction of future events, RhymeTime is suitable for intimate close-up performances or within parlor venues.  Fully scripted.  Self-working.

NOTE:  Although released here independently, RhymeTime can also be found in my book 'Carpe Chartas'.  Please do not order this effect if you have already purchased that book. 

Three playing cards are freely chosen under increasingly challenging conditions.  You spread the pack and the first card is noted and returned in the traditional manner.  This guest shuffles the pack.  The deck is handed to a second guest who selects a card and loses it in the pack, too...you do not handle the deck at all.  Finally, the deck is placed on the table and no one touches it while a third guest merely thinks of a card.  Yet, despite these daunting circumstances you are able to connect with each guest's mind and quickly remove their specific cards from the deck.

Triplet is a powerful and baffling mental demonstration.  There is no sleight of hand involved and the deck is ordinary.  Triplet is well-choreographed and fully scripted.  Includes bonus performance tips from the mentalist Paolo Cavalli.

NOTE:  Triplet may also be found in my book 'Decipiatur'.  Please do not order this effect if you have already purchased that book.

A show-stopping Ambitious Card routine for cardworkers on the rise!

A selected card seems to have a mind of its own and just won't stay where it belongs!  The elusive card jumps to the top of the deck, from one pile of cards to the other, into your pockets, and even into your wallet...until the audience doubts you are working with a full deck.  No one is surprised then when half the deck jumps into your pocket!

Worthy Ambitions lets your audience enjoy a classic Ambitious Card routine with an amusing and logical plot that leaves your guest with a souvenir she will never forget.  Packed with original sleights and classic sequencing, every detail of this showpiece routine is fully scripted and choreographed for the performer with intermediate card skills in mind.