Sharpie Through Card by Peter Nardi and Bob Romley

Created by: Peter Nardi, Bob Romley

The 'Sharpie Through Card' is a visually striking close-up magic trick where a Sharpie marker appears to penetrate through a playing card, leaving the card completely undamaged. This illusion is perfect for short-form content, social media, and live performances, offering a quick and engaging effect that baffles spectators. The trick often involves a signed card for added authenticity and impact, making it a memorable moment for the audience. It's suitable for magicians of all levels, from beginners to professionals, and can be seamlessly integrated into various card routines.

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Monster Magic

Quantum (Sharpie Through Card) by Calen Morelli

£46.99

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Key features

Uses a Sharpie and a signed card for a clean visual effect
Quick and impactful, ideal for short-form content
Includes a high-quality custom gimmick crafted by Bob Romley
Comes with a downloadable tutorial covering handling and presentation
Features an instant reset, making it suitable as a standalone effect
Angle sensitivity requires careful crowd management
Misdirection is key for cleanly ditching the gimmick after the effect
The gimmick is discreet, fitting in a deck’s cellophane, ideal for street or professional magic

Pros

Visual masterpiece with a strong wow factor
Easy to learn and perform
Versatile and can be added to any card routine
Spectators are typically too baffled to scrutinize the method
No holes left in the card, making it a great souvenir for spectators
Pen and deck remain undamaged, ready for other tricks

Cons

Angle sensitivity requires careful performance
Method might be predictable for experienced magicians
Heavily depends on camera angles to sell the effect in video performances

Effect

The Sharpie Through Card trick creates a striking visual illusion where a Sharpie marker appears to penetrate a playing card. The magician shows a signed card and a Sharpie, then pushes the Sharpie through the card. Despite the apparent penetration, the card remains completely undamaged, leaving spectators baffled. The effect is quick, visually impactful, and works well in both live and recorded performances.

Full details

The trick uses a custom gimmick designed by Bob Romley, known for precision engineering. It includes a downloadable tutorial by Peter Nardi, covering handling, presentation, and performance tips. The gimmick is discreet, fitting inside a deck’s cellophane, making it portable for street or professional magic. The effect has an instant reset, allowing for repeated performances.

Key features:

Uses a signed card for added authenticity.
No damage to the card or Sharpie, making it a great souvenir.
Angle-sensitive, requiring careful crowd management.
Relies on misdirection to ditch the gimmick cleanly after the effect.

Who should consider the trick

This trick is ideal for:

Magicians who perform close-up or street magic.
Social media creators looking for quick, visually engaging content.
Performers who want a standalone effect with minimal setup.
Those who enjoy gimmick-based illusions with strong audience reactions.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The Sharpie Through Card is easy to learn but requires practice to master the angles and misdirection. The included tutorial simplifies the learning process, making it accessible for beginners. Experienced magicians will appreciate the subtleties in handling and presentation. The trick is angle-sensitive, so performers must be mindful of their audience’s viewpoint.

What magicians say

Magic-TV: "Quick and engaging trick perfect for short-form content. Ryland’s playful energy adds to the fun and weirdness of the performance."
AlakazamMagicUK: "The illusion is quick and impactful, perfect for short-form content. Camera angles play a big role in the trick’s effectiveness."
ChampionMagic: "A visual masterpiece with a high-quality gimmick. Spectators are too baffled by the penetration to scrutinize the method."
Lloyd Barnes: Calls it his most viral YouTube video, praising its visual impact and practicality.
Peter Nardi: Describes it as "insane" and recommends it as an attention-grabbing opener for card routines.

The Sharpie Through Card is widely praised for its simplicity, visual appeal, and strong audience reactions, making it a valuable addition to any magician’s repertoire.

What people are saying about Sharpie Through Card

AlakazamMagicUK says...

The Sharpie pen appears to penetrate the card in a striking visual moment, yet the card remains completely undamaged. The trick is fast, visually impressive, and ideal for social media due to its instant wow factor.

ChampionMagic says...

The reviewer, clearly impressed, calls it a 'visual masterpiece' and demonstrates its power with a live performance clip where a signed card seemingly absorbs a Sharpie—leaving spectators stunned.

lloydb says...

Lloyd highlights two of his most successful creations—Acme Hole (a widely performed trick) and Sharpie Through Card (his most viral YouTube video).

magic-tv says...

The trick is quick, engaging, and perfect for a short-form video format. The performance is light-hearted and fun, with Ryland's playful energy adding to the appeal.