The Five Card Opener by Bill Abbott

“Kicking off a show can be a right pickle for most performers. How do you grab their attention, keep it, and leave them utterly flabbergasted while you’re at it? The 5 Card Opener is my cheeky little answer to all those conundrums and then some.”

- Bill Abbott

What’s the Five Card Opener then?

The Five Card Opener takes the classic five/six card repeat and gives it a cheeky makeover with a fresh twist, featuring three sequences that build up to a climactic surprise that’ll leave your audience gasping. It has been Bill’s trusted opener for yonks and makes an appearance in all his shows—corporate gigs, family dos, college bashes, you name it. The Five Card Opener is your ticket to infusing your show with a whole lot of fun! AND it works its magic whether your crowd is 10 or 10,000 strong.
The "Real" Secret

The BEST part about the 5 Card Opener is that you’ll have your audience screaming, cheering, and perched on the edge of their seats within the first two minutes of your performance. No kidding! And the 5 Card Opener isn’t just an opener—it’s an audience warmer. It conditions your crowd to react, making applause feel as natural as breathing (and isn’t that just lovely?).

Plus, it’s got a built-in callback—a clever little verbal trigger that guarantees a response every time you whip it out, shaping the energy of your entire show. And it’s fully customisable—get them to shout a corporate slogan, a school chant, a company name, or even a birthday shoutout. It’s all in the mix!

Simple to do & Gets Reactions

Start your show with this gem, and you can wave goodbye to mediocre reactions—because you’re giving your audience a chance to respond in a BIG way. And trust me, they will. Even the most jaded lot will perk up.

Bill’s had corporate audiences (almost dozing off after a cocktail hour, a lengthy dinner, and a barrage of speeches) up and cheering within minutes using The Five Card Opener.

For the working performer, you can literally drop this into your show tomorrow. It’s big, it’s visual, but it fits snugly in your prop case. And the cherry on top? It’s an absolute doddle to perform.

No angle restrictions, no fancy staging required, packs flat, resets in 30 seconds, and delivers a hefty impact. You can work away from tables and out of your pockets, making an instant connection with your audience. Just pure, practical magic.

ALL-NEW Michael Ross' 5 Card Closer

Revealed for the first time, Michael Ross' 5 Card Closer is a brilliant twist that transforms this powerful opener into an even more impressive show-stopping finale. With Michael's secret spin, your audience could be on their feet, giving you a standing ovation! This isn’t merely an opener—it could just as easily be your ultimate closer.
Not Just a Trick

The 5 Card Opener is not just a trick—it’s a proper revelation. It snags attention, ramps up the energy, and conditions your audience to react from the get-go. Don’t leave your show’s success to chance—grab the 5 Card Opener and launch every performance with uncontainable momentum!
Pro Package Includes:

Handmade gimmicked Bicycle Jumbo Playing Cards: Perfectly sized for theatre yet sneaky enough for an intimate gathering.

Portable Pop-Up Hamper: For seamless card drops and a tidy stage (nobody likes a messy magician!).

Water-Proof Zip Up Bag: To keep all your props safe and dry between gigs and whilst travelling.

Full Performance Script in PDF form, exactly as Bill performs it at every show. (Remember, it’s a template—feel free to add your own flair!)

In-Depth Video Tutorial Featuring: 2 LIVE performances of the Five Card Opener. One at the Magic Hideaway and another in a banquet hall for 300 audience members. Detailed handling using jumbo-sized cards and a second showcasing script and handling working in harmony. A few nifty container ideas for the routine. The "REAL" secret of the Five Card Opener with decades of insider wisdom and all the psychological subtleties that’ll make this routine hit home as strongly for you as it has for Bill for years.
Here’s what performers are saying about the 5 Card Opener...

"If you use Bill's script it is a VERY solid opening effect. It delivers what he promises. The reactions are EXACTLY as Bill tells you they will be. My audience was screaming and cheering- for my OPENER. Beautiful! Performers looking for a good opening routine will NOT be disappointed with this."
-Jason Wethington

"Bill, you are a genius. I followed your routine and everyone at the end was yelling, "that's amazing!" I knew this was great but never thought it would be THAT GREAT. Thanks!!!!! Worth every penny and I must say this will be in every show I do. Thanks Bill!"
-Mike Storz

"All I can say is brilliant! A professional routine that's going in both my adult stand up & family show. Great routine with loads of potential for specific tailoring, including corporate presentations. I believe this is vastly underpriced. Thanks, Bill, for sharing this real worker!"
-Andy Kean

"This is a true professional piece that you will want to have as your opener as soon as you get it and watch Bills well done and detailed instructional video. And the best part is this effect is SO SIMPLE! Truly if you can count up to 9 you will have no problems performing this."
-Floyd Collins

"The routine is as close to self-working as one can be (can you count cards from one hand to another? That's it!). The focus is on the presentation and personality. It truly is an opener. Finally, a five-card-repeat trick that works! You get your money's worth here."
-Harry Murphy

"I wish you could have seen the crowd at the end of my show this evening. It takes a trick that I always thought was ho-hum and turns it into something that really gets the crowd unified! Thanks for making this available. It is "AMAZING."
-Tim Hannig

"Simply brilliant and not priced high enough!!! I perform weekly in a 1,700-seat theater on a cruise ship. I have the audience chanting my name over and over by the end of The Opener. What a great feeling to have a group of that size screaming your name in unison..."
- Malcom "Puck" Puckering

"The Five Card Opener sets the tone of the entire show and "trains" the audience, and virtually assures you of positive responses throughout your entire act. Therein lies the inestimable value of the Five Card Opener."
-Scott F. Guinn

"I watched your outstanding instructional video late last night. Worked on my own script out loud for about an hour this morning. And I kicked off the general session in front of about 1000 people with the routine. IT KILLED! The 5-card opener got the audience laughing, applauding, reacting. Thanks a million, Bill!"
-Adam Christing

"Bill's Five Card Opener routine and thoughtful explanations on the instructional video are PRICELESS! I've got (probably) $75,000+ in props in my garage, and I'll tell you this the one routine I won't ever leave home without. This is staple in every show I do for young, old and everyone in between!"
-Al Jensen