Most Magicians Don't Know This
A deep dive into the secret "multiple outs" method and some expert advice on how to use it most effectively.
Sometimes, magic has no method—or, to put it more accurately, no single method. Some of the most deceptive magic relies on multiple methods, adaptable to different scenarios.
This is the essence of multiple outs, a brilliant principle you’ve likely encountered before—perhaps in a trick that left you thoroughly fooled.
At their core, multiple outs involve various ways to conclude a trick, depending on what unfolds beforehand. The fooling element relies on your spectator being left unaware of the other possible conclusions they didn't get to see.
Imagine a performer with fifty-two pockets, each containing a different playing card. As long as they know which card is in which pocket, they can seemingly produce any thought-of card on demand.
A more practical and popular example is the Invisible Deck, which might be the most widely used (and overused) gimmicked deck in magic.
With it, the performer can reveal any named card as the only reversed card in the deck. No matter which card is named, a minor change in the method ensures the desired outcome.
Multiple outs can be either structured, like the Invisible Deck, or wildly varied. The Invisible Deck example contains every "out" within the deck itself, requiring only a minor adjustment during the reveal.
However, in other cases, each out can be located in entirely distinct places or be very different from each one. This might even mean adjusting the trick’s flow wholly based on audience choices.
Using multiple outs introduces an element of risk. The performer must be fully present, reacting in real time and steering the trick based on the audience’s decisions.
Sometimes, this changes the trick in small ways, like modifying a reveal, while other times, it can transform the entire performance—such as allowing the audience to choose which object the trick involves.
Executing multiple outs successfully demands a delicate balance. You must emphasize the audience's freedom of choice while subtly guiding them toward an outcome that matches your prepared outs.
This approach can enhance your presence and boost your confidence as a performer. Yet, much like timing forces, the unpredictability of multiple outs can intimidate many magicians.
A helpful strategy for effectively framing multiple outs is to make each out distinctly different in both placement and presentation.
Instead of hiding four different outcomes of a card trick in four pockets, for example, place one in a pocket, one in the card box, one in your wallet, and another as the lock screen on your phone.
This ensures that even if they were to check the other pockets, let's say, they wouldn't suspect the use of additional outs.
You can further improve this by combining methods.
For example, you could include a narrowing force. This would further dispel the potential use of multiple outs as, to the spectator's mind, you would need far more than four planned outcomes.
