Don’t Fear The Faro with James Went and Big Blind Media

Don’t fear the faro! Easy for you to say!! Do you shy away from full deck faro tricks? Do you know even know what it is? Can you do it almost perfectly, but always have a two-card grouping?? Well, James Went and Big Blind Media have put out a great one-hour faro downloadable project to address any questions you may have about the faro.

Shot in the BBM red room, this project meticulously reviews the details of the shuffle with close-up shots and over the shoulder angles so you can learn this from the starting line. James Went presents his masterclass on the faro shuffle and breaks down the grip, the split, the pressure, the weave, the angles and the handling into intricate detail. He explains the difference between the different type of faro shuffles – out, in and straddle – and also teaches a few routines using the faro shuffle. The tricks have varying degrees of difficulty.

The ad copy for the download claims:

“Nothing is guaranteed to strike fear into the trainee magician’s heart more than the words ‘and then complete a perfect faro shuffle’.

The Faro Shuffle is an elegant technique that mixes two packets, with cards alternating from each hand. A perfect faro means a precise rearrangement of a deck into two equal piles of 26 cards, which are then interwoven perfectly. For many apprentice card manipulators it is a sleight too far. A move too onerous to master, but too desirable to forget.

Well, James Went (star of the bafta award winning BBC magic show ‘Help, My Supply Teacher Is Magic’) is here to put this incredible move into your arsenal. IT. IS. NOT. AS. HARD. AS. YOU. THINK!

Using a simple, step-by-step guide James will show you his bulletproof technique and get you up and running in a flash.

The thorough one hour video download will walk you through every element that you need to master this powerful sleight. It breaks down the hand positions, subtle movements and the necessary choreography into simple steps, that – if you follow – will ensure your practise time is actually improving your skills!

And James even includes THREE killer routines that will take your newly mastered skill and blast spectator’s minds. Stacked Aces requires only a partial faro, so is perfect for performances when you are just starting to make headway with this essential sleight. Then Ace Goes To The Place (by Harry Riser) will show you just how incredible a routine you can unleash just by using a single faro shuffle. And finally, Mental Topper (by Ed Marlo) is a truly crushing routine that will fry absolutely ANYONE who sees it. James uses this to destroy magicians! Once you see it, you’ll see why!!!”

Went’s instruction is really excellent. He keeps his project to one hour and covers everything you need to know to get started. The production value of the class is also up to par with what we have come to expect from BBM.

There are so many different ways to attempt the faro and for years I have done it differently, with different angles and approach. Went advises the viewer that to get this down you will need weeks or months practice, but that you will get it. IN fact, eventhough I faro differently, I was able to get one perfect faro within about 15 minutes. Most of my other attempts had a card off, but I am positive with some practice I will get this down within a short period of time.

At the end, Went provides some great reference points, including a publication by my favorite magician, Harry Lorayne, Ed Marlo and others.

Big Blind Media has a great catalog of tricks and projects and this faro lesson is fairly priced and a great addition to your video and download library as you approach card magic and up-ing your game.