A couple of years ago I was concerned that the ACR  was boring, I was not giving the experience to the spectators that I wanted. I was concerned people saw it as just a trick, a puzzle, a sleight of hand display and I want people to leave seeing a performance of magic having had a magical experience. I also started to question what was the purpose of what I was doing, just making a card pop to the top of the deck. What did I need to do to make the spec. make the psychological shift in their mind that turned what they saw from being a trick/puzzle and become a magical experience.

All our minds often need to make this shift is a reason. A reason why the action they have seen can, should or needed to happen. This may seem a little crazy but it is a matter occupying the specs mind or leading it down the relevent path that you want them to go down.

After some thought I started performing it again with a slight tale using a signed card. It was the ambitious person always coming to the top. However at time they got lost and would be found not on the top but at the bottom. Then on the final part they would not be on the top or the bottom. Getting a little fed up with the unreliable card I would have the spectators look in the deck to find the card, they wouldn't find it.So I would start to get another deck out and state it is an unreliable deck we will open another and push the box over and ask them to return the cards to the box, where they find their signed card.

I am now working on an ACR using two cards and romeo and Juliet forbidden love story.Using Queen Hearts Young lover, Jack Spades Young lover, King Spades Father/parents. The parents forbid young lovers to see each other and send one card away and even though they put an obstacle in there way they always end up back together in their usual place at the top of the deck.

As a finale bring the two cards back together at the top of the deck. With the young male lover saying "It is okay dad I thought you would understand that in the end she would turn out to be just like my mother." The cards are turned over to show that the queen of hearts is no longer with the Jack of Spades it is the Queen of Spades,

Obviously the story needs to be suitable for the people watching, but I have found that various ages find different element amusing.

So I now use a tale with ACR. The reaction is better and their is the opportunity for magic to take place for the specs.