The Buena Vista Shuffle Club by Matt Baker

The Buena Vista Shuffle Club marks the debut of Matt Baker, a mathematics professor who transforms into a creative magician after hours. Leveraging his analytical expertise, Baker presents a captivating collection of tricks that are accessible yet impressive. The book features over 100 pages focused on memorized deck techniques, which stands out as a highlight.

One unique aspect of this work is Baker’s inventive format. Throughout the book, a fictional group of magicians engages in discussions about the tricks, providing a fun and thought-provoking experience that encourages creative thinking.

Key features include:

• An interactive murder mystery inspired by the game “Clue.”
• A mind-bending Three Card Monte routine performed with coins.
• A groundbreaking approach to the classic 21 Card Trick that stuns audiences.
• Innovative applications of the Gilbreath Principle.
• Techniques to restore your memorized stack from a shuffled deck discreetly.
• An impromptu mentalism effect using borrowed change, where spectators make all the choices, including the prediction.
• A fresh presentation and method for Simon Aronson’s renowned “Shuffle-Bored.”
• A reimagining of Paul Harris’s “The Anything Deck,” praised by Dan Harlan as the best version ever.

Testimonials from notable magicians highlight the book’s impact:

“Matt Baker creates the kind of ‘thinking man’s’ magic that I admire. He’s constantly pushing the envelope, so even when you think you might know what’s happening, there’s an extra ‘twist’ that renders it impossible. Matt’s creativity, combined with his humor and imagination, make it a pleasure to spend time with the Buena Vista Shuffle Club.”

“The Buena Vista Shuffle Club is an excellent, funny, and personal collection of magic that is a joy to read. Matt’s memorized deck work was smart and novel.”

“I’ve just finished the first of what I expect to be many enjoyable readings of The Buena Vista Shuffle Club. Matt Baker’s charming magic creations hit the sweet spot of being both clever and practical, but the concept and style of the writing make reading his book an entertainment experience in its own right. This is a valuable contribution to the art.”

“Matt’s tricks fool everyone except the smartest guy in the room… and that is because Matt IS the smartest guy in the room! The material in this book is material that you are going to do, and love.”