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Fast by Daniel Dorian Johnson

Created by: Daniel Dorian Johnson

FAST is a self-working card trick where spectators freely choose any card (suit and value) and any position in the deck (1-52). The magician never touches the deck until the spectator counts down to their chosen number, revealing their freely selected card at that exact position. This is a close-up or parlor magic trick that uses a standard, examinable deck with no gimmicks, rough/smooth, or markings. The effect is clean, direct, and appears genuinely magical, with no math or sleight of hand required.

Key features

  • Uses a standard deck of cards (no gimmicks or markings)

  • Spectator freely selects suit, value, and position

  • No math or sleight of hand required

  • Deck is examinable before and after the trick

  • Instant reset for repeated performances

  • Works for close-up, parlor, or stage settings

Pros

  • Highly deceptive and fooling

  • Clean and direct method

  • No angles or restrictions

  • Spectator handles the deck, adding to the fairness

  • Versatile for various performance settings

  • Comes with detailed 2-hour+ tutorial

Cons

  • Requires memorization of a simple setup

  • May not suit performers who dislike structured routines

Effect

FAST is a self-working card trick where the spectator makes all the decisions freely. The magician never touches the deck, and the spectator freely selects a suit, a value, and a position in the deck. The chosen card is revealed at the exact position named by the spectator, with no sleight of hand or mathematical calculations required. The effect is clean, direct, and appears genuinely magical.

Full details

FAST is a project by Daniel Dorian Johnson, released through MindFX. It includes a standard deck of cards and a 2-hour, 16-minute tutorial. The deck is fully examinable, with no gimmicks, rough and smooth, or markings. The spectator freely chooses a suit, value, and position in the deck. The magician only asks for the number down, and the card is revealed at that location without the magician touching the deck. The first time the deck is handled is to count to the chosen number. The project also includes five different routines, all based on the same core principle, allowing for varied performances.

Who should consider the trick

FAST is ideal for magicians who want a clean, hands-off any card at any number routine. It is suitable for close-up, parlor, and stage performances. The trick is perfect for those who appreciate self-working effects with no angle issues or complex sleight of hand. It is also great for mentalists looking for a strong card routine that fits seamlessly into their act.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

FAST is easy to perform, requiring no sleight of hand or mathematical calculations. The tutorial is detailed and broken into segments, making it accessible for magicians of all skill levels. The trick resets instantly, making it practical for repeated performances. The only requirement is remembering the outs for different spectator responses, which are straightforward and well-explained in the tutorial.

What magicians say

  • AlakazamMagicUK: "FAST is a self-working card trick that allows spectators to make all decisions freely, creating a seamless and impressive performance."
  • MagicOrthodoxy: "FAST is the best any card at any number routine available. It is clean, direct, and fully examinable, with no gimmicks or sleight of hand required."
  • Magic-TV: "FAST is a commercial hit, fooling magicians and lay audiences alike. It is one of the best projects for this principle, right up there with anything else out there."
  • Daniel Dorian Johnson: "FAST allows you to perform the pure definition of hands-off magic. The spectator does everything, and the magician never appears to touch the deck."

What people are saying about Fast

AlakazamMagicUK says...

FAST is a self-working card trick that allows spectators to make all decisions freely, creating a seamless and impressive performance.

Daniel Dorian Johnson says...

FAST is the closest practical thing to the Berglas effect with a regular deck. It’s designed to work in the real world for real audiences.

magicorthodoxy says...

FAST is the best any card at any number you can buy. No math, no gimmicks—just pure magic.

magicorthodoxy (David) says...

FAST is the best any card at any number I’ve ever seen. The deck is fully inspectable, and the trick is that good.

magic-tv says...

FAST is one of the best any card at any number routines out there. It’s commercial, clever, and fooling.

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