@Darrell – Thanks for the comment. Glad to hear I’m not totally off my rocker. Either way, the original effect is very good (and pretty easy) Mentalism, so hopefully people will have found a gem in that.

You’re not an idiot. I don’t think using cards as billets would make sense in a regular Mentalism act or routine. But in the context of your “cards only” act, I find your idea clever and intriguing. Your method eliminates the original routine’s need to have the billet “secretly dotted on the outside, or given an extra bend or kink.” It also seems to make identifying the “dead” billet more foolproof. I’ll be interested to hear how it actually works out in performance.

Darrell Walmer (aka MagicalCounselor)