You've stumbled upon a magic tome thirty-five years in the making, and it's a beast!
Months ago, I decided it was high time to wrap up what might just be my magnum opus. I mean, sure, other books have tackled similar ground, but none have dared to dive as deep as this bad boy. As the brain behind the iconic Sight Unseen Case—a gizmo that lets you pull off mind-bending feats with just a humble business card case—I guess I've got a bit of a soft spot for those little rectangles of potential.
The SUC was unleashed onto the world in '95, and I knew we'd hit on something special. It wasn't just a tool for miracles; it was a suave, slick way to carry around those business cards. But I didn't want to box myself into just one corner of card wizardry. I wanted the whole enchilada.
Enter the shiny new masterpiece: The Business Card Compendium by Mark Strivings.
This ain't about the SUC, folks. Nope, this is about what you put inside that magic-revealing case—business cards. And let me tell you, this is the mother of all business card magic guides. Seriously, nothing this exhaustive has hit the shelves before.
What are the pros saying?
"This book is a must-have! I thought I knew a lot about BC magic, but even I learned some new stuff in just the first few pages. It's filled with valuable information. Get it now!" - Dan Harlan "As someone who has built his livelihood through the art of business card mentalism, I want to emphasize the absolute necessity of acquiring this remarkable book. Your journey will be enriched by the wisdom it holds." - Paul Brook "The book really is awesome. Doing something mind blowing that leaves your audience with your business card in a classy way, is an invaluable tool for the working performer. Mark has put together an amazing collection of Magic and Mentalism with business cards. The contributions are top notch and they come from top names like Phil Goldstein, Al Mann, Alex Elmsley, Barrie Richardson and the list goes on. I found two things that I will be immediately adding to my repertoire. You can't miss with this. Highly recommended." - Nathan Kranzo "Wow! Thank you very much, Mark. You must have put in an unbelievable amount of time and effort to research and write such a huge book. [I invited Richard to enjoy the book.] I am. I'll be doing no more writing today!" - Richard Webster "Well, I'm gobsmacked! I've just spent half an hour barely touching the surface of the BCC, and I cannot tell you how pleased I am that I no longer have to dig through Ernie Heldman's "Cards That Mean Business" when I'm looking for a "new" business card idea. Not that there's anything wrong with Ernie's book... But why dig through a "pamphlet" when you can dig through an encyclopedia to find something that will work for your specific need? Mark, you've done an incredible job compiling this and I'm thrilled to have it in my working library. Every working magician should be so lucky! Thank you! Thanks again... you've created something truly remarkable!" - Tom Ladshaw
What will you find inside this ginormous guide? Only a little bit of everything:
Business Card Markings
Double Blank Business Cards
Just Cards (and Nothing Else)
Just Cards plus a Pencil
Obtaining Written Information
Mixing Double Blanks with Regular Cards
Business Card Magic (THIRTY ONE items in this section alone!)
Out To Lunch
Stacks of Cards
Secret Writing
Borrowed Business Cards
Business Card Backs
Novelties
Business Card Gaffs
Paddle Moves
Magical Printing
Business Cards combined with other Common Objects
Special Business Cards
Unique Business Cards
Forcing with Business Cards
Tearing Cards
Spooky Stuff
Ashes to Ashes (Astral Ashes)
Animations
Topological
And that's just scratching the surface. You also get a massive bibliography with 1200 references!
But hey, there's more!
This treasure trove is graced by the wisdom of magical luminaries like:
Phil Goldstein
Dan Harlan
Tom Ladshaw
Anthony Lindan
Harry Lorayne
Jim Magus
Tom Ogden
Lee Freed
Ian Adair
... and even yours truly, with some of my own pet routines sprinkled in.
Whether it’s getting your cards produced or figuring out how to road-test them like a pro, this book has tips galore—resources to get you from zero to hero in business card magic.
We’ve printed this beauty with 450 pages, 250 individual tricks, 25 chapters, and 1200 bibliographic nuggets—all beautifully bound for easy reading. If you can’t find at least one thing here to add to your act, well... you might not be looking hard enough. Sure, it ain't pocket change, but when you consider what's on offer, it's a downright steal.
