Rising Card by Luke Jermay, Angelo Carbone, Rob Bromley, Jack Tighe, Victor Zatko, Henry Evans, Ben Seidman, Joshua Jay, The CardMechanic, and steventaputoro

Effect

The Rising Card trick creates a moment of pure astonishment. A spectator freely selects a card from a deck. The magician places the deck into a card box or holds it in their hands. Without any visible manipulation, the chosen card slowly and mysteriously rises from the center of the deck. It appears to move on its own, defying gravity. Some versions allow the spectator to name any card they wish, and that specific card will rise. The effect is direct, visual, and often described as a miracle by audiences.

Full details

The Rising Card is a classic magic plot with many modern methods. Some versions are completely impromptu and can be performed with any borrowed deck. These rely on skilled sleight of hand, including techniques like holding a break, controlling a card to the top, and jogging a card. Other methods use a precision-made gimmick. This gimmick is often a modified card or a small device hidden within the deck or card box. It allows the card to rise on command. Some gimmicks are built by the magician using common items like elastic thread. The deck and box used with a gimmick are usually not examinable by the audience. The trick can be performed as a standalone effect or integrated into a longer routine, such as an Ambitious Card sequence.

Who should consider the trick

Beginners should consider self-working versions of the Rising Card. These require no complex moves and are easy to learn. Magicians who perform for kids or on social media will find these versions ideal for their visual impact. Intermediate to professional magicians may prefer impromptu versions that use sleight of hand. These methods allow performance with any deck at any time. Magicians who perform in close-up or parlor settings and value a clean, examinable deck will appreciate these methods. Performers looking for a powerful, dedicated effect for their show might consider gimmicked versions. These often provide a very direct and impossible-looking result but require specific props and careful handling.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The difficulty of the Rising Card varies greatly by method. Self-working versions are suitable for beginners. They have minimal sleight of hand and focus on a clever setup. As Craig Petty notes, these are "simple to perform" and "visually impressive." Impromptu versions that use sleight of hand are intermediate level. David from Magic Orthodoxy states that Jack Tighe's version is "an intermediate-level trick requiring significant skill in sleight of hand." It requires practice to master moves like peeks and controls. Gimmicked versions often have a low technical difficulty but require careful setup and precise handling. They can be angle-sensitive, meaning the audience must be directly in front of the performer. Practice is essential for a polished performance with any method.

What magicians say

Magicians praise the Rising Card for its strong visual impact and audience reaction. Richard Kaufman calls Luke Jermay's Hummingbirds routine "the best Rising Card routine that anyone could perform today." Eric Mead describes it as "supremely magical." Derren Brown said of Notion of Motion, "Perfect and impossible," while Teller called it "A bloody miracle." David from Magic Orthodoxy describes some gimmicked versions as "Miracle level material." Regarding impromptu versions, Jack Tighe's method is highlighted for its "world-class use of peeks and controls." Craig Petty recommends Henry Evans' version for its practicality, noting it "uses a regular deck with one gimmicked card, making it easy to perform anytime, anywhere." For beginners, Rob Bromley's variation is noted for being "smooth and self-working."