Y.M.C.

A Routine for the Tossed Out Deck

Copyright Matthew Johnson 2008
Effect
The Magician invites 5 spectators onto the stage and explains that he is going
to read their minds. Thats right he is going to prove he is MENTAL!
The Magician removes a deck of cards and has them examined by a spectator
to prove to the rest of the audience that it is indeed a regular deck of cards. The
spectator can even shuffle the cards if he wishes.
A rubber band is removed from the magicians pocket and wrapped around the
deck. The magician explains that in a second he is going to throw the cards to
the first spectator and if the rubber band were not there the cards would fly all
over the floor, A different effect commonly referred to as the 52 Card Pick Up!
st
Just before the cards are thrown to the 1 spectator the magician notices that
something is missing and proceeds to remove 5 hats from his case that are in
turn given to each of the 5 spectators to wear. When all of the spectators have
their hats on the audience notices the 5 volunteers look just like the famous
70s band the Village People.

Now the craziness begins as the music plays and the audience is led through
a hilarious dance rendition of Y.M.C.A. When the dust settles the Magician
st
hands the deck of cards to the 1 spectator and then turning his back instructs
each of the spectators to peek at one card in the deck and remember the card
It is very important that you remember the card or the trick sucks!
Finally the magician turns around and explains that he will attempt to name
each and every one of the cards that each of the spectators looked at. He
explains that if a spectator hears their card named they are to take off their hat,
give it to you and then go back to their seat. If after all five cards are named you
are holding five hats and all the spectators are sat back in their seats the
audience will go crazy with applause.
The Magician proceeds to name all 5 cards, the hats are given back to you and
the spectators all go back to their seats. The audience goes wild in
appreciation of a very entertaining and mystifying routine.
What you will need
You will need a Tossed Out Deck, a regular matching deck (we will get to the
construction of the Tossed Out Deck in a moment) & 4 rubber bands. You will
also need 5 hats. The hats are simply fun party hats that are available at party

supply stores worldwide. I use a sailor hat, biker hat; fire mans hat, builders
hardhat and an Indian headdress. You can see the hats I use in photo1.
Finally you will require the YMCA track by the
Village People. Y.M.C.A by the Village people
can be purchased at any major music store
in the world. I did contact the Village
Peoples management and they do not have
a problem with this music being used for
this performance.

Constructing a Tossed Out Deck

The two decks of cards you require are a special deck called the Tossed Out
Deck (we will refer to this as TOD in the instructions) and a matching regular
deck. To construct the TOD, go to a dollar store and purchase 11 decks of
poker size playing cards. Ten of these decks will be used to make the TOD and
th
the 11 deck will be your matching regular deck. This is a stage or parlor effect
so it is not necessary that the cards be Bicycle it is only necessary that the two
decks match each other. I suggest buying the cards from a dollar store as
obviously 11 decks is only going to cost you $11.00. By all means make your
TOD out of Bicycle cards; however you are going to (in my opinion) spend too
much money for no reason.
Essentially a TOD is made up (in this case) of the same 5 cards that are
repeated throughout the deck with an indifferent card on the face. This version
of the TOD is similar in operation to the original David Hoy deck described in
the book The Bold & Subtle Miracles of Dr.Faust. I understand that at the time
of print Ted Lesley also has a routine using a similar approach with 6 cards
repeated although I have never personally seen or read Teds routine.
To construct the TOD simply remove the same 5 cards from each of the 10
decks, lets presume you remove the Jack of Clubs, the Jack of Hearts, the Nine
of Diamonds, the Six of Clubs and the Three of Spades. Remove these five
cards from each of the ten decks and put them all together in one deck. You will
now have a deck with 50 cards in it, 5 cards repeated 10 times. Now take an
indifferent card such as the Ace of Diamonds and place it on the face of the
th
deck. Your TOD is set and ready to go. Take the final (11 ) deck and place the
Ace of Diamonds at the face of the deck.
How does the Tossed out Deck work?
In performance you know that each of the 5 spectators will peek at one of the 5
force cards. It is therefore a simple task to simply name the 5 cards in turn and

the spectators will go back to their seats. This method is known as a NO

PUMPING or NO FISHING method as it is not necessary to name each persons
card individually.
How do we know what cards each spectator looked at?
It may be that 3 of the spectators looked at the same card but that does not
matter. You explain to the spectators that when they hear their card called they
should sit down. If you name your 5 force cards in fairly rapid succession each
of the spectators will assume that you named their card and the other four
cards named were the ones looked at by the other four spectators. They will
just know that they heard their card named so they will sit down. That is the
subtle but brilliant principal behind the David Hoy Tossed Out Deck.
What is the regular deck for?
The nice thing about this routine is that it is structured so the spectators get to
examine the deck. In reality you give them the regular deck to examine and then
later in the routine as you reach for the hats you switch the deck for the TOD.
The switch of the deck is bold in execution but is covered by the action of
bringing out the hats.
Why do I need 4 rubber bands?
In performance two rubber bands are placed around
each deck as in photo 2. This serves to hold the cards
st
together as they are thrown to the 1 spectator, however
it also serves a much more subtle and cunning
purpose. Because the cards are held in place by the
rubber bands it is almost impossible for the spectators
to fan the cards and discover the secret to the deck. The
spectators must hold the cards and peek at a card as in
photo 3. During the routine you show the spectators how
to peek at a card, explaining This is to ensure that you
are the only one that sees the card.
When the decks are switched they will look the same,
rubber bands and all.
Two rubber bands on each deck serve another purpose
too. If one of the rubber bands on a deck should break during performance you
will have a second band as back up around the deck. We advise that you
double loop the bands around the deck for a tighter & more secure fit. The idea
of using more than one band on each deck comes from a routine by Max Maven
called Tossed Out Tech. This routine can be found on Max Mavens Video
Mind series, Volume 3.
3

Other notable versions of the Tossed out Deck

My first introduction to the Tossed out Deck came from Max Maven and his effect
Tossed out Tech which can be found on his Video Mind series, volume 3.
I have chosen to adopt the simple (no pumping) approach that the original
David Hoy version utilized, however the Max Maven version is great and worthy
of your attention. I find the Max Maven version great in a close up setting.
Other notable versions of the Tossed out Deck include:
Wayne Dobsons - in his book Dobsons Choice
Harry Andersons All for one In his book Wise Guy
David Ben In his book Tricks
Cody Fishers Tossed Out Deck Available at www.professionalmiracles.com
The YMCA Tossed out Deck routine
You will require the TOD, the regular matching deck & four rubber bands. 5
party hats (as shown in photo 1), YMCA music and a case on stage to your
right.
To set up remove the TOD from its case and wrap two rubber bands around the
deck as in photo 2. This deck then goes in your magic case along with the five
hats. The regular deck (still in box) is placed in your case also with the two
rubber bands wrapped around the box.
Start by explaining, I would like to prove to you that I am MENTAL! What I mean
is Psychotic? No Psychiatric? No thats still not itAhhhh, Psychic!
Invite 5 spectators on stage (or your general performing area) and have them
stand in a line facing the audience to your left, your magic case should be on
your right. At this point I like to remember the spectators names and then recite
them forwards, backwards and sideways. Remembering the spectators
names helps later in the routine.
Bring out the regular deck of cards and remove them from the box, you can
place the rubber bands around your wrist for now. Hand the cards to the
spectator nearest to you and say, Please examine the cards. Because they are
small you have to act as the eyes for everybody in the audience. Are they all
different? Are they all there? Am I all there? OK do not answer that question.
After the spectator has examined the cards remove the rubber bands from your
wrist and place them around the deck as in photo 2, I am placing the rubber
bands around the deck for your protection! Now before you make up your own
show, what I mean is I am going to be throwing, no tossing the cards to you sir
point to the first person in the line and I want you to catch them. If the rubber

bands were not securing deck the cards would go all over the place. That would
be an entirely different effect called the 52 Card Pick Up
Back up so you are 4 or 5 feet from the first spectator and mime tossing the
cards toward the spectator, he will flinch and go to grab them. This is quite a
funny moment; I usually put my thumb to my nose and do a nah nah (you get
the idea).
Now before throwing the cards you explain that when the spectator catches the
cards you will turn your back so you cannot see whats going on. At this point
you demonstrate what you would like each spectator to do. They are to hold the
cards as in photo 3 and then break the deck anywhere and peek at a card
Make sure you remember the card or the trick sucks! Explain that once they
have looked at a card they are to stay where they are and pass the cards to the
next Victim. I mean Volunteer. You explain the next spectator is to do the
same thing, peek at a card, remember it and pass the cards along. This carries
on until the cards reach the end of the line and everyone in the line has looked
at a card. After the last person has looked at a card he or she is to say, OK, I
am done at which point you will turn around. It is very important that you instruct
the spectators clearly on how to hold the cards and peek at a card. Make
reference to the fact that you would like them to look at a card and remember it
as quickly as they can. This means they will have less time to mess around
with the deck or do anything they are not supposed to do. Good audience
management is critical here folks!
Go to throw the cards again and stop yourself a second time. At this point you
say, You know I have a feeling we are missing something? I know what it is
now
You should be standing facing the audience your case is on your right and the
spectators are lined up to your left. The cards are held in your right hand.
Now we are going to switch the decks under cover of bringing out the hats, here
is how it works.
The left hand crosses the body and goes into the case bringing out the first hat;
the right hand is relaxed at your side holding the cards. The first hat is handed
st
to the 1 spectator on your left and he or she is told to pass it down the line to
the last person who is to put it on their head. You do the same with the second
hat, that is your left hand reaches across your body into the case comes out
and passes the hat to the spectator on your left. The same action is repeated
rd
th
with the 3 and the 4 hats (the right hand has not entered the case yet). At this
point the audience and your volunteers will see most of the hats and will have a
good idea of what is about to happen, you may even hear a few spectators
saying Its the Village People or the YMCA. We are going to use the moment

where everyone is laughing and having a good time to switch the decks as all
heat is off.
As you pass the 4th hat with your left hand the right hand goes into the case
(with its cards) in order to grab the final hat. Its at this point that your right hand
switches the regular deck for the TOD and then grabs the final hat and brings it
out. As soon as your right hand comes out with the last hat you should transfer
it to the left hand and hand it to the spectator.
As soon as the last spectator puts the hat on your YMCA music should start. I
have a CD player in my case that is linked to my PA so I start the music myself
but you may choose to have a sound guy start your music, whatever works best
for you.
I now go through the first few verses and chorus of YMCA with some crazy
dancing, I encourage the spectators to do the same as me. This is a great
moment as the whole audience gets into it. They start dancing; taking pictures
and doing the actions to YMCA (everyone knows it). The more you let loose
here the more the audience will get into it. They want to you just have to lead the
way.
After the first Chorus is over I stop the music or have the music stopped and at
the same time I look at the audience and say, This is ridiculous! I am so sorry I
often get carried away!
Now go into your TOD performance. Before throwing the cards to the first
spectator you want to turn the cards face up and point to the face card
explaining Peek at one of the cards in the deck but dont choose the face card
because I know what that card is! You would not want to make my job too easy
now would you?
Throw the cards to the first spectator and then turn your back. Have each
person peek at a card and when the last person has peeked at a card have
them let you know and then turn around. I find it helps to remember the
spectators names earlier in the routine as you can then instruct them what to
do by name with your back turned (looks really impressive that you
remembered their names)
Note - I sometimes like to have the YMCA music play softly in the background
as the spectators are looking at cards.
Turn around and ask the spectator holding the cards to throw them to
youon the count of 3. Naturally when you say Throw the cards to me
they will throw them. Just as the spectator throws the cards say .on the count
of 3. Its an old joke but it gets a great laugh especially if you hold your hand
perfectly still and just allow the cards to miss your hand and land on the floor.

Now throw the cards in your case as you say, Through years of MENTAL
training I am now able to read minds. I am going to name each and every card
that each and every one of you looked at. I will name 5 cards and if you hear
your card take off your hat give it to me and then go and sit down. After I have
named 5 cards I should have all your hats and you should all be sitting back in
your seats. At that point the audience will go wild with applause.
Now face the audience, put your fingers to your temple in true Mind Reader
fashion and begin to name your 5 force cards in fairly rapid succession. The
five spectators will take off their hats, give them to you and then go and sit
down. The audience will go wild with applause!
Bonus Ideas
You dont have to use Village People hats you could
use anything that gives you a reason to go to your
case and switch decks. Years ago I used 5 thin
metal coat hangers that I had pulled open as in
photo 4. I would now bring out the coat hangers one
th
at a time (doing the deck switch on the 5 coat
hanger) and have the spectators put them on their
heads as in photo 5, calling them Brainwave
transmitters

You could do away with the deck switch and just do a standard
version of the Hoy TOD. To do this uses 5 spectators in much the
same way without the props. Simply bring out the TOD and fan the
cards casually displaying the faces. As long as you do not draw
attention to the cards nobody should notice that the deck contains 5
cards repeated, especially from stage. You can then have the
spectators stay in the audience and simply throw the cards to them
from the stage; this would be a more classic approach to the TOD.

Final Thoughts
While this routine may not offer anything new in deck design or handling it does
offer a useable, commercial, funny and highly interactive approach to this
classic of magic.
Enjoy,

Matthew Johnson 2007