Magic Reviews

Torn Too - Daniel Garcia

2009-07-08T22:22:00.000-07:00

Torn Too. Daniel Garcia makes sure not to call this Torn 2, as in a sequel, but to have it called the equivalent to Torn Also. It makes sense, because it isn't really a sequel. It's not tearing sections of the card and restoring them; it's only one. The video is full of Daniel Garcia's weirdness and funny jokes. The video is easy and entertaining to watch - even the explanations. It really steps you through everything you need to do. It even provides a little practice session with some good music with a great beat to practice to. This video allows you to see all the angles and as many tips as Daniel can come up with. Honestly, this is an excellent product.

The effect here is that a card is freely chosen, placed in the deck, and it then rises to the top. No one can see how this happens. The reason is explained because the card was marked, or crimped. To illustrate how a crimp can't be viewed by the untrained eye, the card has a corner torn off. It is explained that this type of modification to the card is not noticable to the untrained eye. The torn section is placed either on the spectator's hand or on the table. The tear is shown to be very helpful in finding that card, since it's the only torn card. Then, the little piece of card is placed on top of the torn card, and with a swipe of the thumb the card restores. The deck can be spread to show that there aren't any corners of cards anywhere to be seen in the deck.

Ok, let's break it down a bit more. The effect claims that it is Instantly Repeatable. YES! You can! Strolling close-up magicians, this is one for you! Perform, and when you're ready to do it again - it's ready too!

The handling is simply genius. I've seen other torn cards with a similar technique with the tear, but none as good as the restore (No loose pieces to be careful of). The restoration DOES take some practice. Once you have it down, you will say it is really easy. Daniel Garcia says that if you can spread the cards, that you can do this trick. It's pretty much true. Once you get it down, it's going to be as easy as cutting or spreading cards.

What I really like about this effect is that you can do it with a signed card. All of us card magicians know what kind of treat it is to "prove" our magic. The routine outlined in the video is good. It doesn't quite fit my personality, but modifications are do-able with this. This is definitely an effect I can make my own, and I highly recommend any close-up, strolling magician to get this one. Even if you just perform magic as a hobby for friends and family - this is a must have.

The only downside is that the spectator's can't examine the deck. After such a presentation, they probably won't want to. This is probably a good reason to make sure to spread the cards after performing, so that they can see all the cards spread out. Spreading seems to be enough examination, but if they are grabby spectators, they will find out how this works.

One last thought - again - a portion of the restore DOES take some practice. Don't feel like this will be one of those effects you'll get and perform within 10 mins of getting. There is some initial setup that takes a bit of time, and maybe a shopping trip if you haven't got all the necessary materials. The video does a great job stepping you through everything you need to know for the preparation, performance, and even how to handle the reactions.

Royal Road to Card Magic with Rudy Hunter (4 DVD Set)

2009-06-18T09:17:00.001-07:00

Magic books can be hard to follow. You might really delve into a chapter to figure out what it's talking about only to find that the sleight you have learned sucks. Or maybe you aren't doing it right, but based upon the description and the picture it seems like you have it right. Books can sometimes be a bit of a let down.

FORTUNATELY!!! Someone went through all the hard work and put together a video!! YAY!! This is one book I own, and the video is MUCH better than the book. Not often is a movie better than a book, but in this case it is!! It really steps through the book, and for the most part nails everything in the book. The video gives the disclaimer that it left a few things out, but after 4 DVDs you won't notice... haha

Like a foreign language, if you put down the cards for a while, you get a bit rusty. This is a great set to brush up on skills and improve. There are some good tricks in this set. All of them are classic, and whether you're a beginner or not - this is a good addition to your library of magic videos. It suggests to practice along with reading from the book - however I didn't see that necessary.

I recommend picking up this set if you want to master card magic essentials. You really will see your familiarity with the cards, how to handle them, and ways to perform increase through practicing while watching this DVD. It's like having a college course of card magic on video. It's really good.

Flow by Dan Hauss

2009-06-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

Wow, this is truly amazing. I really love this trick! Ok, so basically the bottle is turned upside down, and by the magician's "power" the water is kept from coming out of the bottle.

Don't get me wrong at all.. the method is truly genius! This trick is just not practical unless you perform outside. It also requires some preparation. It doesn't take long to prepare, but it can't be done with other's looking. The video gives you some ideas of how to get into the trick. I really love this video. The only downside is that I can't perform it table hopping or strolling, unless I'm outdoors - and I really don't want to pack a ton of prepared water bottles. This is a good one to show friends and family at a picnic or family event outside.

One good thing about this is that the bottle is absolutely examinable after the effect. They can take it home with no risk of being caught. The replacement "gimmick" is easy to find and easy to replace, and very cheap. This really is a genius "piece of strange" as Paul Harris might put it.

Search and Destroy by Aaron Fisher

2009-06-18T08:10:00.001-07:00

I'm not usually disappointed by magic I find on Penguin Magic, nor Ellusionist.com. However, with this piece, wow - I was amazed it is actually for sale. I believe this was produced by Theory 11.

First off. Aaron Fisher loves to talk. He loves to hear himself talk. He also doesn't think you can come up with your own patter/jokes during a routine. Let's put it this way.... The video is about 1 1/2 hours long for about a 5 minute trick. Talk about JIBBER-JABBER!!

Let's just say the "Nowhere Pass" isn't a pass at all. It's not invisible - the spectator does it. He challenges you to find it, and bets you can't. I did - it was easy! Basically, a pass is placing the top half of the deck under the bottom half, or the bottom on the top. The "Nowhere pass" is asking the spectator to cut the cards and complete the cut. I wouldn't call that a pass. I call that a cut! Sorry to give away this important detail. I'm really hoping no one wastes their money on learning the "Nowhere pass" and being disappointed that it is just asking the spectator's to cut the cards.

I'm sure if the whole routine was shown on the demo, that any magician could figure it out. Basically, I figure that Aaron Fisher was sitting down one day, took about 5 mins and made up a cute little trick. Then, thought that he should sell it for $30 and blab about it forever on video. I seriously feel bad for the camera man who had to listen to his garbage for as long as he did.

Honestly, I've sat down and put together better tricks than this, and I'm not selling them for $30! This does not bring anything new into magic. It uses ideas already being practiced. This might be a better piece of magic if the magician actually did the pass invisibly in their own hand. This product may be worth the price if it has about 10 tricks of the same calibre on the same DVD (Hint: Ellusionist.com has the Ninja series DVDs loaded with sleights and effects for less than this).

Save your money, find something better than this. I do not suggest to get it - in fact I recommend steering clear of this! If you want to know how the trick works.. turn two cards upside-down.. one placed a few cards from the top, and the other a few cards from the bottom. Cut the deck, and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. It's not magic I would perform for people who aren't under the influence of alcohol. If they have a working mind, they will see very clearly how this trick is done... HORRIBLE EFFECT!!

Sick by Sean Fields (Coin swallowed, comes out arm)

2009-06-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

Sean Field's is an awesome magician, and illusion creator. I really enjoy his work. Sick is no exception. If you've seen Criss Angel perform this effect, you know how devestating the reactions can be. This really can't be performed for the faint of heart.

What I really like about this video are all the tips with blood. Not only does this video give excellent tips, but also gives a fairly good recipe for it.

I love the handling. This is a very deceptive trick. All the motions are covered by larger motions. There is no way anyone will know how this is being performed if you practice and really go through all the preparations of this trick.

The video was entertaining - Sean did jibber-jabber a bit, but it does not destract from the pure awesomeness of this effect. I fully recommend this item for anyone who likes "geek magic." Even if you won't perform it, as a magician it's still cool to know how it's done.

Prohibition - Magic - Cap through Bottle

2008-10-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

Prohibition - Watch the video of the effect here!

As I have said before about this trick, this is the best cap through bottle trick I've seen. The method is so clean and easy. Whenever I've performed this trick, people are amazed and have no idea how it is done.

The video is easy to follow and goes through all the ins-and-outs that you need to know for each bottle type. It gives tips on performances, and even shows performances. Each move is broken down to be very simple. After watching the video I was performing within 15 mins of practice.

Cool points about the trick:

The magic is very visual. The cap actually appears to be slammed through the bottom of the trick

The sounds of the effect go in line with what you see. As the cap slides out of the bottle and is smacked on the bottom - the sounds match how it would actually sound, and the visuals along with the sound make the effect very convincing.

People actually believe that a way has been found for an object to penetrate the glass, but then also know that glass will not allow a solid to pass through it. So it leaves people astonished. I highly recommend this trick!

Loops by Yigal Mesika - Levitate anything!

2008-10-22T07:10:00.000-07:00

Most of the magic I buy, I am usually pretty happy with. This particular product was a let down, every step of the way.

First, I opened up the package to see the loops. They were a bit thicker than I imagined. I have used invisible thread before, but these loops were quite easy to see, I thought.

Then, I tried practicing some tricks from the book I purchased along with it. The loops broke! I went through like 2-3 loops just on one trick, and I hadn't hardly done anything at all to break them!

Now, I only had a couple of loops left, so I decided to try a trick I had practiced out on someone. I showed a trick, but the spectator saw the thread just as easily as I had suspected. All the literature says that no one will look for it, since they don't know it is there... but come on - if someone is levitating an object, most people are going to try and notice anything holding it up.

The loops are not invisible, and were quite a disappointment. The dark color showed up easily against the cards I used. Loops are a waste of money. You might find more success with them than I did, but I've seen other's comments in forums about the loops, and a lot of people don't like them. I prefer invisible thread, but - all in all, I'd rather learn some sleight of hand instead.

Encyclopedia of Coin Sleights - Dr. Michael Rubinstein

2008-10-20T21:44:00.001-07:00

Coin magic is so awesome, and is a classic to magic. There are a lot of applications to coin magic. Street magic, table hopping, and even stage. Even if you just want to show some buddies at work a trick, coin magic is perfect for that kind of situation also.

To begin with coin magic, you might have learned a few tricks, or bought some basic coin tricks. The Encyclopedia of Coin Sleights volumes are simply incredible. They cover everything that you need to know. As you begin with coin magic, you learn various sleights of hand. The 1st volume is a good review for some things you might have learned elsewhere, but also goes into more things that you probably don't know. Within the first 25 minutes of the DVD, I had already learned some really awesome vanishes, and started to put some things together on my own to create my own trick. Essentially, one thing you can do - even just from the first 25 mins of the first volume, is to show a coin in your hand - Close it, wave your other hand over it, and show your hand empty. The applications of making a coin come out of your hand are ENDLESS!! For instance, I decided that this could be an excellent way of performing the "Coin to pocket" trick, or you could also have the coin appear in any other place you dream of!

The DVDs cover everything from clips to palms, from steals to retentions.. and before you know it - you'll see yourself in the mirror as a professional magician, and just think to yourself, "wow" - You might even gasp out loud! Honestly, there are a lot more sleights in these than you might even be able to imagine that you can perform with coins. I really was awakened by what can be done with coins.

The DVD set is from the 80s, so it is a bit old - but the material is still as strong as ever. The man's voice is pretty boring. There is some tasteful classical music playing in the background. These DVDs are a great resource for any magician who is serious about coin magic. Even though the explanations sound dull, learning the sleights and seeing the application is exciting. This is definitely better than Penguin Magic's "In the Beginning There Were Coins" DVD in some ways. Definitely more sleights covered in the Encyclopedia and there is a lot more time spent on the sleights, so you are sure to be an expert with each sleight after practice.

There aren't a lot of "tricks" or "routines" covered, but you'll see how the sleights work, and you'll have more freedom as you perform. You'll find yourself feeling more confident as people as you to show a magic trick - because you can even make one up on the spot. I would recommend these DVDs.

Sankey - Wrap it up! - Magic Trick

2008-10-13T06:15:00.001-07:00

For those who are not familiar with this trick, to describe it would not give it any justice. On Jay Sankey's website he has posted a video of many different applications of this wonderful effect. Check it out at http://www.sankeymagic.com/detail.aspx?ID=48074. And yes, all of those different ways of performing the trick are explained on the DVD!!!

Some of you may be asking, "How good is this really?" Well, Criss Angel thought it was good enough to perform during one of his episodes.

This trick is genius. The concept is simple, and performance is easy. As you can see from the video on Sankey's website, it is very visual. The funny thing is, if you offer the piece of gum to someone, they often don't trust it. They really believe it just came out of your mouth and just wrapped itself! Haha, now that's a laugh, and a good representation of how convincing this effect really is. I dig it, and I think you'll really enjoy this one too. The DVD comes with everything you need to get started, including the gum you'll need to perform the trick. Have fun with it!

David Stone The Real Secrets of Magic Vol 1

2008-10-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

First of all, David Stone is simply amazing. He has won the FISM award, and as you watch his performances you can see why. He has a smooth way of presenting magic and teaching it. If you're not familiar with FISM, it is basically the Olympics of Magic.

This DVD is really good because it shows the performances in front of people on location, instead of in a studio. He is at a restaurant, or at a party. The party may have been a studio, but it was done well to give the feel of real people viewing real performances.

I really like how the video gives tips on finding gigs, and how to make sure you will be sufficient for the gig. It gives guidelines of how many magicians should be at a gig depending on the number of guests.

David Stone is French, so there is a strong accent. Some people say it is hard to understand him, but I found no problems with it. The explanations have great music, and no words. You get to watch the sleights of hand, and he shows the exposed view - and makes sure to get the point across without using any words. This style of teaching is really good. Coupled with the music, it is like practicing with David Stone, and in a way meditating. I find practicing magic to be a form of meditation.

The video is well done, the magic effects taught on this DVD are very good. They range from the easy self working tricks, to difficult sleight of hand tricks. So even the beginner will benefit from this DVD and it can help one advance into more difficult material.

The effects on this definitely produce that "WOW" factor people are looking for. People are definitely astonished by the effects I've shown from this DVD. The DVD definitely gives real world advice from a professional and helps you feel that you can accomplish your goal of becoming a professional magician, if you so desire. I highly recommend anything from David Stone.

Masterminds Volume One by Criss Angel (Quarter Through Soda Can) (DVD)

2008-10-09T11:19:00.001-07:00

In season 1, Criss Angel performed a trick on the street where he borrowed a quarter, and borrowed a soda can. He then had the spectator sign the quarter and apparently slam the quarter through the sealed soda can. He shook the can, and you could hear the quarter apparently on the inside of the can. Then, he opened the can, and poured out the contents. The quarter was left behind inside the can. The quarter seen through the opening has the spectator's signature.

I orginally saw this trick performed by Wayne Houchin on his website at http://www.waynehouchin.com/. I was simply amazed by his display of sleight of hand, and wanted to learn the trick for myself.

When this was going to be released by Criss Angel I couldn't wait for the secret to be available. I was all hyped up! The video measured up to all of my expectations, and the trick is easier than I thought it would be.

The DVD is put together well. There are performances, step through explanations, and tips given by both the creator of the effect and Criss Angel. The only thing I couldn't stand about the DVD is how Criss Angel came off in the video. Of course on his show he is the expert magician, and it's cool to see his personality on his show, but on this DVD it came off like he was saying, "I'm better than you," to Wayne. The fact is, Wayne created the effect - and Criss needed to know how it was done from Wayne. I think Criss should have had a bit more humility and gratitude, but - oh well.

The DVD teaches the effect very well, and if you can see yourself putting a quarter into the soda can right in front of the specatators, then you'll have fun with this one. Keep in mind that if you get this, you'll need to be prepared to perform the effect by pouring out the soda. So prepare either to do it outside (where you can pour the contents on the ground) or have a glass to pour the liquid into.

This effect definitely has "wow" factor, and is a great find. The price is worth it for sure, especially when you experience the reactions from this gem. It's a ton of fun! I would recommend this DVD for sure.

Psi Series Banachek DVDs

2008-10-08T07:04:00.001-07:00

The Banachek Series is AWESOME!!! Seriously. I only have volumes 1 and 2 so far, but I am likely to get them all eventually.

Each volume starts out with the performance. As I watched the performance I was even starting to believe that Banachek could read minds, tell future events, and cause things to happen by the power of his mind.

The performance time is about an hour, then he goes through each effect, and each part of his routine in meticulous detail. He explains the ins and the outs, and how to pull things off in a way that are convincing. He explains how to avoid pitfalls and what NOT to do. Each effect is VERY powerful. There are a lot of DVD series that just have filler material and a few tricks that are good, but Banachek doesn't have a bunch of filler tricks.

You may not find yourself using all the material yourself, but if you're going to become a professional - or if you ARE a professional, he basically is giving you a full performance in each DVD. You could practice and have yourself a full show - hand picked and packaged up personally from Banachek himself.

These DVDs contain all the powerful material I've seen him perform, and also material I've seen other mentalists perform. This is an excellent series, and I highly recommend it. This series definitely has "wow" factor. People who you perform for will think that you may actually possess the ability to read minds, foretell future events, or that you might have special mental powers.

After performing some of the effects taught by Banachek, people ask, "What if I would have ..." I just respond, "the answer to that question is going to bug you all day, isn't it - but you really had a free choice, and could have answered any other way you'd like."

The methods are genius, and the impact is powerful.

Free Choice by Peter Duffie - Trick

2008-10-07T07:45:00.001-07:00

I hadn't heard of this trick until I bought it. I read the description and I decided to go for it. It was less than $10, and the trick seemed pretty cool.

So this is what the trick is all about. You have 4 kings. There are also 12 blank cards. The kings are placed face down in a row, and you ask someone to deal 3 cards on top of any of the kings. Then the rest of the cards are dealt on top of the rest of the cards. Each stack is shown to have 1 king and 3 blanks. Then, from each stack of cards the king disappears and is replaced by a blank card, which ends up being in the stack the spectator chose. In the end, all of the kings end up in the same stack miraculously.

This is a great trick. There isn't a video for this available, so the instructions are all text. At first I was a bit confused by the instructions, until I actually followed the instructions with the cards in hand. Then, I saw how easy it was. After practicing the trick a few times I was ready to test this out on some family. This trick takes some practice, and depending on your skills of magic you might find it a bit difficult - but don't be discouraged. This is definitely a great effect to know and show!!

Honestly, I have a lot of fun with this one. The vanishes of the kings look good, and the cards all really appear to be blank. The only downside with this trick is it is not examinable by the spectator. This effect really has wow factor, and people have no idea how it could be done. For this reason they will want to see the cards, but you won't be able to. So when I finish each vanish, I put that stack of cards away, one stack at a time, then allow them to see the last 4 kings no problem. Since the other cards are out of sight, they are also out of mind.

Sankey's Greatest Hits

2008-10-05T21:03:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for some really good magic? Look no further!! If you don't have Sankey's Greatest Hits, then you really should go out and buy it.

Jay Sankey is known around the globe for his incredible jaw dropping magic. His magic is simple and easy to perform. This 3 DVD collection is full of all of his greatest hits, hence the name. I have this set, and I watched the performances. I couldn't wait to learn the secrets!! Once I started learning the secrets, I practiced until I was ready. These tricks are some of the hardest hitting effects I have performed.

One of my favorite from this DVD set. Ask a spectator to choose a card. The card is shown, and placed under the spectator's hand face up. A different card is shown, then the backside of the card is burned. The card is then felt on the hand of the spectator to be warm from the heat of being burned. Then, with a magical word or gesture, the card no longer is burned... but the card that the spectator has had under their hand face up, now is burned on the backside.

I have performed the routines and effects from this DVD set, and I have to say- WOW!!! Absolutely great magic, and great reactions. I have not been unhappy with anything from Sankey, except for Airtight, but even then - I was happy with the effect and knowing the secret, I just didn't have any practical use for it.

The great thing about Sankey, is you will learn some concepts in magic from him, and see his tricks he has created with these concepts. Then, you'll find yourself using these concepts making up your own tricks. Get anything Sankey, in my opinion. I have always been happy with his videos. His greatest hits combines all the BEST stuff, but then again.. his stuff is so great you really need to get everything anyway.

Pros: Lot's of the tricks shown in here are great for table hopping, and require little or no setup

You'll see how the tricks are performed and then broken down into easy bite-sized pieces

Difficult sleights are gone over in extra detail, and even slowed down

Cons: some tricks require some practice, but what good magic doesn't require any practice

Art of Astonishment

2008-10-02T16:47:00.001-07:00

I have to admit, that when I first received my Art of Astonishment books, I wasn't very happy with them. The wording was strange, the pictures awkward, and it was hard to follow exactly what I needed to do. I put the books down for months.

I later picked them up and found that they weren't a total waste. Not many of the tricks in there, in my opinion, are all that great. I have no idea why the price of these books is so high. Maybe I need someone to show them to me individually.

With this possibly being the case, I bought the Art of Astonishment 1 DVD. Apparently, Paul Harris was intending on doing a video for all 3 of his books, but later changed his mind. Even the tricks on the DVD aren't all that spectacular.

The tricks are really for the extreme lay person, who completely doesn't understand magic nor misrepresentation. Any spectator who has a solid head on their shoulders and is good with problem solving will be able to figure out pretty much all of the tricks. Only a few gems are contained within these books.

I would not go as far as saying that the effects are worth the cost of the book alone. Not even close. But what I will say is, that the effects ARE worth the amount of money you'll lose if you get the book, read through it, pick out the good tricks, and sell the book again on eBay.

Some of the good ones are performed by Wayne Houchin, but there are others that you'll find to be pretty nice. I've performed some of the tricks I've learned out of the book and I have not gotten caught. One of my favorites is a blackjack hand. Where you apparently give an ace to the spectator, but in the end the ace is in your hand, and they are left with a bad hand of blackjack.

There are some other nice effects, but - to anyone contemplating purchase of this series.. honestly, put that money towards something better... like David Stone's DVDs .. ANY OF THEM! For the price of all 3 Art of Astonishment books, you should be able to buy all of David Stone's DVDs. He's got some great ones.

Coin Magic in General

2008-10-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

Alright folks, coin magic. Beginner magicians often dread it, and don't pick it up for a while. With good reason. When I first started learning magic, I was buying self working tricks. As a kid, I learned some cheap card tricks, but my best magic was made of plastic. At least I thought it was the best. It was the easiest to perform, and the device had some locking mechanism that would not allow the spectator to learn the secret of the effect.

Here is the thing with coin magic. Let's say you're at work and someone has seen you perform some really awesome stuff, but you don't have anything on you. You may have some things in your wallet, or other minor tricks... but they've seen those already. What do you do? Ask them if they have a coin. You'll be set, if you've learned some coin magic.

For a beginner learning any kind of magic at first, one might not feel that they will really get away with it. What I mean is, the secret is often so basic that some really don't think anyone will be fooled by their performance. This is one reason I didn't pick up coin magic at first. I was fooled by it, but I only really saw the magic on TV or online. I figured that if I showed the same tricks I was fooled by, then others who would see the tricks live would know what happened.

Here is my review of coin magic in general. IT IS SO WORTH LEARNING!!! I didn't realize it at first, but coin magic is not only fun but can really knock some people's socks off!

So you might see a performer take a coin, and place it in their hand. They snap their fingers and it disappears! They show both hands empty. The performer closes one hand and snaps his fingers with his other hand.. and TADA!! The coin is revealed to have reappeared.

Once you learn the trick, you might think - oh, I couldn't do that!! The sleight of hand is too hard! Some might also think that they will not get people to believe that a coin is really gone using the methods they learn.

Tips of advice - practice!! Remember what you've read, watched, heard about how psychology is related with magic. Act like what you are trying to appear happen is really happening. Those who practice in front of a mirror or with a video camera will be able to see what they look like as they perform the trick. Get the routine down, and you'll be amazed at the kind of reactions people give you for simple coin magic.

Another tip is to start learning coin magic with a video. Whether it be Jay Sankey's Revolutionary Coin Magic or Jay Noblezada's In the Beginning There Were Coins. When you watch the video of the secrets, you will see how the professional magician holds their body, moves their hands, and uses gestures to make things appear more convincing. There are other wonderful coin magic DVDs. I'll be reviewing a couple of them in other posts.

After watching the videos and learning the basic sleights of hand, pick up a coin magic book. This will review the sleights of hand, help you become familiar with the words they'll be using in describing other sleights of hand, and tricks to perform applying the sleights you have learned.

Coin magic really sets you aside as a better magician. It gives you more of a repertoire, and will give the spectator more than just card tricks. Card tricks are cool, but it is best to perform varied material. Plus, when a magician learns coin magic, they'll start to see other applications for the sleights of hand - and before you know it, you'll be creating magic with other ever-day objects. People may start to believe that you possess real magic!

Saw

2008-09-23T10:15:00.001-07:00

The effect is to make thread apparently penetrate your neck. Then, with a snap of the thread, it comes right back out - with no harm to your neck. Very visual.

Saw is absolutely brilliant. I love the simple nature to the effect. It is easy to perform, and the reactions are wonderful. I love how there are different applications to use the effect. This was such a great trick, Criss Angel himself performed it on one of his episodes, but instead of using a Life Saver, he used a ring. I love how you can swallow a lifesaver and apparently retreive it through your neck with a thread. Excellent work! The setup is easy, and performance is totally easy, and people freak out - so it definitely hits hard!

The only con to this trick would reveal the secret, so - I won't actually do that. BUT, regardless of this one downside, the excitement of the reactions is well worth the downside.. which is minor, and solution to it is provided with the DVD.

Stigmata - Wayne Houchin

2008-09-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this is a really fun effect. I love the video and the different versions you can use. The direct mind reading effect is hit or miss, so I don't recommend using it. One save I might recommend is to have them select a number 1-10, and whatever number they say - if you are wrong, then have them select a card from the deck... the amount of cards down as the number they select, but force the card that has the number you had predicted they would think of.

Anything from Wayne Houchin is awesome. He's an excellent performer and great with details as he explains his effects. I showed this to co-workers the next day after learning this, and people literally FREAKED OUT. People were talking about it the rest of the day. People said things like, "I know that this is just a trick, but this really blew my mind.. I have to remind myself that this is just a trick"

If you don't have stigmata yet, I would recommend getting it as soon as possible, since the reactions are amazing. If you like this type of magic, I also would recommend any of Banachek's videos.

Pros: practical magic that you will actually use

apparent mind reading with a few different methods

easy, step-by-step instruction

very nice video quality

definite "wow" factor

Cons: There really aren't any that I can see except for the direct reading method. If it works, then people really do freak out, but if it doesn't work - you are left trying to dig yourself out.

Melting Point

2008-09-22T18:50:00.000-07:00

Melting point has a really great demo online. I love the demo, and it really made my mind spin with application before I bought the trick. Especially when the demo showed a starburst passing through glass. When I received this item, I quickly opened it up and popped the DVD in the player, and found that the instructions were all in TEXT on my TV screen. I was thinking, "what's up with THAT!" I thought I was missing something, but the instructions were in text, and you gotta read fast. They show what they're talking about in video, but that is a bit fast. I was used to having explanation videos break down each step, and evaluate each part. Receiving hints and tips with each step in the process. This video pretty much sucks. The trick itself, though, is pretty cool. After you get past reading the explanations and seeing short clips, it all comes together. The only problem I have with this DVD is that the method really requires a glass table. I was so frustrated because I didn't know anyone with a glass table, and the nearest thing I had was some plexiglass. So if you get this, make sure you have a glass table to practice on. Other than that, the method is pretty sweet, and if you have a PK Ring, you'll find ways of applying the method to many other glass items to make things apparently pass through them. Even though I didn't have a glass table, I really enjoyed learning the secret to this. Is the secret worth the cost, I don't think so. But they sure did a great job including a free gift, so it isn't a total loss. I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more if I had a glass table like the one they have in their demo. This became a bookshelve piece; one hardly used... except the coins that came with it, I found very useful with my PK ring, so again - not a total loss!

Wiregrams

2008-09-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

Ellusionists.com is the only place I have seen Wiregrams. This product is basically a piece of wire that when you apply heat, it turns into a shape. The same it changes into is a type of card. For instance, a trick you could do is have a spectator choose a card, and have them return the card to the deck. Tell them that you will put the cards away and while you do, have them hold on the wire and concentrate on that card. Explain that the wire is a special mind reading wire, and that as they concentrate the wire will absorb the brain waves, and interpret them. You could even say that if they avoided the card in their mind, than inversely the card would still be found by this wire. When they are done, and you've pattered enough about the wire, take the wire back and pull out a lighter. Apply the flame from the lighter to the wire, and it will start to move on its own. The wire will then resemble the selected card!

Wiregrams are really fun. People literally freak out when they see the wire move all by itself. They can even be the one holding the wire, and you can hand THEM the lighter. You don't need it back, because there is no sleight of hand - you are not manipulating the wire at all. This is a great product, and the price is very low, and you can reuse the wire again and again. This is a great piece of magic to add to your repertoire, I highly recommend them.

Amazing Magic Tricks With Rope DVD with Tomas Medina

2008-09-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

If you're looking to learn rope magic, this DVD is a great one to get. All the great rope routines are included in this DVD, and Tomas does a great job explaining how to perform them very well. I would recommend getting some rope before watching this DVD, because watching the DVD with rope in hand can help the explanations make sense, and help you learn the magic a lot better. This DVD covers everything from cut and restored rope, to the professor's nightmare rope trick. Definitely a great addition to any magician's repetoire. The DVD is low in cost, and high in value. You might not find all of the tricks on the DVD helpful, or something you'd actually end up using, but just like other DVDs with a ton of tricks - the ones you pull away are good enough to be worth the purchase.

Criss Angel - Self Levitation DVD

2008-09-22T11:46:00.001-07:00

Criss Angel is a wonderful performer. I love his magic, and I love his levitations. The DVD was very disappointing to say the least. I was one of those who waited for this product to be released for months. I went to Criss Angel's website and found out that he was going to release how to do his levitation. There was a video clip that showed his levitations and I couldn't wait to learn how he did it. The price was high, but I felt it was going to be worth it. There was another product on the market called Icarus Effect by Aaron Paterson. This has a price tag of $395.00, so when Criss Angel was releasing his for a lot less, I thought it would be a great product. Well, the video shows how to create the effect, but the steps are so complex he even suggests finding a master seamstress to sew some special clothing you'll need to perform the effect. The levitation he teaches is not how it appeared it would be in the video. He did teach the method used for a couple of clips in the levitation sequence, but the others were so awesome - which were the ones I bought the DVD expecting to learn. With the construction of what you need to make being so difficult and time consuming, it hardly was worth the price of the DVD. It seemed that the cost of the materials would be cheap, but upon watching the DVD it looks a lot more expensive than once thought. This DVD was one I purchased, and since there was still a craze to learn the effect, I was able to sell it on eBay. I do not recommend purchasing this explanation DVD. Chances are you will not use the method, and if you do - you probably have the time and money for the construction of the gimmicks. I have yet to purchase the Icarus Effect by Aaron Paterson, but reviews say his method is somewhat similar, although different - but the product includes everything that you need. This might be the reason for the larger price tag. After learning a couple of cheap levitations, I soon lost interest in levitation. There are less expensive and more practical tricks available on the market.

Ninja DVDs from Ellusionist.com

2008-09-22T11:28:00.000-07:00

Brad Christian is a wonderful teacher of magic. He has over 25 years of experience with magic, and has great ways of explaining how to perform magic. He covers everything from executing sleights of hand to showmanship. He wants to make sure that anyone who views his instructional videos comes away knowing how to be a true magician. He delivers excellence in every video project he is involved in. Ninja 1 is a great example of this. Ninja and Ninja 2 are both great resources for magicians to learn sleights of hand, pick up new tricks, and also to learn of the showmanship behind the effects. This is one thing I really like about Brad, how he pounds on showmanship and explains ways of making the effect hit hard, even if it is a small trick. I fully recommend both of the Ninja DVDs. I have pulled great insites and information from both of the DVDs, and they have helped me apply better techniques with my magic.

Ninja 1 is a great reference guide to The Pass, and Ninja 2 also shows another way of making The Pass invisible. Again, but DVDs include excellent effects. Highly recommended.

On the Spot with Gregory Wilson

2008-09-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

Gregory Wilson is an excellent magician. He might trip over his tongue sometimes, but he does a fantastic job creating magic. This DVD is no exception to how wonderful he is. Not everything on the DVD is going to be used, but the material that you will use is very worth the DVD. If you're looking to learn watch stealing, there is a great routine on this DVD. Personally, I didn't really want to learn this, so I have never used it. Some of the coin magic will take some extra skill and practice. If you're a beginner looking to take the next step and learn some sleight of hand, this is a great video to step you to the next level of experience. The Sponge napkin routine is funny, and helps learn misdirection. Same thing with head trip, which you may have seen on Criss Angel as the napkin routine done with the cops. Definitely fine works of misdirection, but I didn't really use either of them except maybe on kids. There are definitely some great tricks on the video that I have used, including the questionable trick. This effect is like Dime and Penny, but done without any gimmicks. It's a lot of fun to perform. I really enjoy how all the tricks can really be done on the spot, and with borrowed items. Some of the magic requires some extra practice, so if you decide to get the video - don't be intimidated by the sleights of hand you will be learning.

Scotch & Soda/Dime & Penny

2008-09-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

Gimmicked coins can be a lot of fun. I certainly had a lot of fun with scotch and soda, as well as dime and penny. The coins look real! The only thing I didn't like is that the Centavo had the word "Copia" printed on it, which means copy. So if you show that to someone who speaks spanish, just keep in mind that the coin itself is pretty much telling them that it is not a real coin. You could go to the bank and get a real one, if you'd like. I never took it that far.

There are so many tricks you can do with either the Scotch and Soda or the Dime and Penny. If you have these, you understand why they are grouped together. You can make a coin vanish and appear anywhere you choose, have a coin apparently go through any object, or have the coin go to a selected card. With these I would suggest to get a book or DVD showing how to perform more tricks than the ones included with the coins. These are a lot of fun, and the great thing is - they are fully examinable after the trick is done, so you end completely "clean."

The Raven

2008-09-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

The Raven is really incredible to see. I've seen some videos online and on TV of magicians performing vanishes with the Raven. Although it looks really good, I wouldn't say the Raven is that great for street magic, table hopping, or just showing a friend a trick. It really is best if done for a camera. With how the Raven is setup you have to be wearing a certain kind of shirt, or learn the belt loop method, which either way - you're going to be in an awkward position, holding your body in a weird way. It will look obvious that the way you are holding your body is related with the trick. It looks really good on video, and from a distance, but there is a thread that hangs on one of the fingers, that presses down the skin. This is something that the spectator might not notice, but why take the chance. For coin vanishes and routines, I would suggest Jay Noblezada's "In the Beginning There Were Coins." This will teach you non-gimmicked vanishes, and excellent coin routines.

Emerge Triumphant

2008-09-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

Penguin magic certainly is a great resource for instant downloads. The prices are good, and learning can begin instantly. The trick I'd like to review is Emerge Triumphant by Oz Pearlman. This is an instant download. The Trick is pretty good, and instead of explaining the trick, I'm going to post the video.

Courtesy of Penguin Magic.

Ok, what a great trick. Oz did a great job of it in the video. I like how the end of the trick leaves all the cards in perfect order, especially after all the shuffling going on during the effect. This trick, I would say, is not for the beginner. If a beginner is wanting to learn how to do the trick, I would suggest Ellusionist's Ninja 2, which contains a version of Triumph that is a lot easier and just as effective. Penguin Magic did a great job with the routine. The routine takes a lot of practice, so if you get it - don't give up. It's a great add to anyone's repertoire, but if you're just looking to learn a quick trick to impress your friends, this isn't one you'll want to get. Now, if you want to put some time and effort into getting all the steps down and learn the sleights of hand, this is an excellent trick to get.

5 to 1 Transpo on Penguin Magic

2008-09-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

Penguin magic is one of the greatest online references for buying magic. They have great products and also excellent videos. One of my favorite effects that I've purchased from their site is the 5 to 1 Transpo. This trick changes the position of a $5 bill and a $1 bill. This magic is done in the spectator's hand.

Pros:
"Wow" factor for sure
Easy to perform
easy to setup
after setting up once you never have to setup again.

Cons:
Let's just say the trick costs more than the purchase. The setup involves money that you don't want to spend so that you can keep doing the trick.

This trick, no kidding, is one I always have on me in my wallet. I whole heartedly recommend this trick. It is so fun, so amazing for the spectators, that you will enjoy performing this for anyone who finds out that you know how to perform magic. This is one I used professionally, and everyone loves it. Check out the video and see for yourself how awesome it is. It really is as good as it shows in the video.

Courtesy of Penguin Magic.

Abyss - Ultimate Coin in Bottle from The Enchantment

2008-09-21T16:07:00.000-07:00

Most serious magicians learn a few coin in bottle routines. This is one of the best. Check out the video clip. Courtesy The Enchantment.

As you can see, this is a great effect. It really appears to be impromptu. If performed like it is, the spectators won't know.

Pros:

Not that hard to master.

Definitely has the "wow" factor

uses regular items

Although the instructions are not in video form, the instructions are very clear and easy to understand

Cons:

It does require preparation

This is one of my favorite coin into bottle effects. My favorite bottle trick though is called Prohibition. Prohibition takes the cake, but if you're looking for a coin to bottle trick that will allow you to give the bottle with the coin in it as a souvenir then this one will be what you'd want to get. The cost is low, and the value is high. Excellent effect for sure!

Synergy

2008-09-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

Yes, another instant download from Penguin magic. To begin the trick, the spectator can shuffle the deck as much as they want. After it is shuffled, the deck is cut into two parts. The spectator then selects one of the halves, and then from that half cards are taken from the top. One-by-one a card is seen, and all the viewer needs to remember is the card and position. They select whichever card they want. Then from the other half a different card is selected, but could be similar. This card is placed in the magicians pocket. The position of the card is given, and the magician deals down that many cards. The card is then given, and the card is no longer that card. But, now the card is found in the magician's pocket.

Great effect, let's step through it.

Pros:
Completely impromptu.
Easy
Great spectator interaction
has jaw dropping reactions

Cons:
minimal sleight of hand that requires one to be careful of angles

With this trick, the pros definitely out weigh the cons. Just practice the trick, learn the angles, and you'll have fun with this one for sure. The price is low, and definitely worth it. I would suggest practicing this one in front of a mirror. Before you know it, you'll see the angles that you need to be careful of, and have full confidence pulling this one off. For some, this is a home run effect and people freak out.

The Ultimate Ace Assembly

2008-09-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

Another favorite from Penguin Magic. This is an instant download that is sure to knock the socks off of your spectators. Four aces are shown and dealt face up. Then three cards are dealt face up on top of three of the aces, and three cards are placed under the leader ace. Each face one-by-one vanishes and joins the leader ace. Very visual. I recommend the demo video on Penguin Magic for this effect. I really enjoy this trick, and there are great things covered in the routine. Even if the trick is never performed, learning the sleights of hand involved with the trick is more than worth the price of the trick itself. I love how the spectator is involved, and the final ace joins the others when the spectator has their hand on top of the stack.

Pros:
definitely has "wow" factor
excellent teaching style from Oz Pearlman
sleights of hand are covered in detail, and shown in a simple manner

Cons:
there is some setup for the effect

Don't let the setup scare you away. Like many great tricks there is some setup. Some magicians really like to make sure to have impromptu routines, which is understandable for table hopping. If you're just wanting to show an excellent card trick - this is definitely one I would recommend. Jaws drop, people get freaked out, and some people get so wigged out they might ask you to stop showing them magic tricks. Like I've said before with this routine... Even if the trick is never performed, you can take the elements learned and apply them to other tricks or make up your own effects.

How to do Street Magic

2008-09-21T12:21:00.000-07:00

Ellusionist.com has come out with a "How to do Street Magic" video. I first ordered it a few years ago, and I have to say - EXCELLENT! There are several effects you can learn with just the first video. This is a great resource for beginners. There are also some tricks on there that you really could use to add to a more experienced repertoire, but probably by the time you have become fairly experienced the tricks shown here have already been learned. Let's go through the DVD and review the tricks one at a time.

Burned

Effect: Card is selected and returned to the deck. Selection is written on a piece of paper, crumpled up and burned. The magician uses the ashes to mystically reveal the chosen card on his arms. He rubs the ashes on his arm to show that the card is now readable on his arm. This apparently has been done through some kind of communication with spirits.

With this trick, it helps one learn a method of a card force. It's a basic method, so don't get your hopes up too high.

Pros:
Very cool effect when done right.
Definitely has "wow" factor.
Teaching technique and tips given on the video are really good

Cons:
There is fire involved, so you really can't perform it everywhere.
The method of the card force is a bit too basic.
Preparation involved.

Now, remember - this video was intended for beginners. It really is a great trick for beginners to learn, and helps represent some basic sleights of hand in a good way. I like the effect, but I have never performed it myself. I've enjoyed this type of effect and would recommend Wayne Houchin's Stigmata instead of this specific trick.

Glass Stinger

This trick is about placing an object on a table, and through magic, having the object pass through the table. In this case it is a shot glass, or glass cup.

Pros:
great trick for beginners
can be done in most places, like homes, lunch table, while out to eat, etc
no setup is required

Cons:
This trick is a common beginner trick. A lot of people may already know the secret before purchasing the video.
Can't really perform everywhere because a table is required, as well as a napkin or paper towel.

My sister had a boyfriend when I was young and he knew this trick before the video was released. He showed me the trick and taught me how it was done. To me I feel this trick is filler material but helps someone learning magic with some of the psychology behind magic. For instance, part of the video explains to have the spectator's concentrate on coin. The trick is supposed to be to make a coin go through the table. When this doesn't work, the glass shot goes through the table. It is a good beginning to misdirection.

Sick Aces

I really love Sick Aces. I start out with this because I have shown this trick several times and no one understands how it is possible. I have never been caught, and it's an excellent trick. I like the video and how it explains false shuffles, and how to incorporate them with this trick. Shuffling at the beginning, handing the cards to the spectator, and having them do all the work. After having them split the deck into 4 even piles, and shuffling cards around from there, having in the end all 4 aces at the top of each stack.

pros:
Definitely has "wow" factor
simple and easy to do
spectator does all the work - they are the ones handling the cards

cons:
some setup is required

Even though some setup is required, it is really easy to setup without being noticed. The false shuffle covered in the DVD is a good one. It might seem rather basic, but honestly you will not be caught with it unless it is done wrong. I've performed this trick several times and would really recommend it for others.

Trace Unseen

Ok, so this one is pretty good too. The magician riffles through the cards and has someone tell him when to stop. Then a card is seen by everyone, and not even taken out of the deck. The deck is turned over and each card is dealt one at a time. The chosen card is no where to be found. The card is found in one of the spectator's pockets.

Pros:
Easy trick to perform, and the method is excellent
Location of the card in the end can be anywhere you'd like
it can be done surrounded
it can be done anywhere

Cons:
some setup is involved
spectator can't inspect the deck of cards

This effect is really good. Honestly, I really would recommend it. I have performed this trick before, and it has dropped the jaws of people who saw it. This has been the favorite trick of some of my friends. The setup is really easy, and the work placed into the effect is definitely worth the reactions received when it is done.

Merger

This trick is done with a business card or any other kind of card. A rope is fed through a hole torn in the middle. The card is covered with a hankerchief and then the card is no longer on the rope and is not torn. It is still in good condition, except for the hole torn in the center. The rope apparently passed through the card's edge without causing any damage.

Pros:
Easy, good for beginners

Cons:
some setup involved

The video's commercial makes it sound like if you were somewhere and someone asked you to show some magic, that you would have a lot of magic to show on the spot. This trick is not an on the spot kind of trick. It's good magic, but at the same time the explanation is kind of obvious. It's a good trick to show after presenting some other mind blowing material. Having the history of other mind blowing tricks followed by this kind of effect is a good idea. People will still be in awe from the previous effects, their mind will be boggled enough not to come up with how this one is done. All-in-all, a good trick - but not a show starter.

Trick Switch

Whoa, talk about great magic. Definitely a good sleight of hand introduced by learning this effect. There are some great steps, and when carried through it looks like magic!

Card is selected - shuffled back into the deck. Spectator cuts the deck into 3rds and is told that they will cut to their card. After showing the bottom card of each stack, the bottom card is dealt to be shown face down side-by-side the other cards from the bottom. One of the cards is the selected card, but the magician says that he doesn't think that was the card. Then, asks the spectator to give a number 1-10. That number of cards is counted off the bottom of the stack, and at the number the spectator chooses is revealed to be the selected card. The spectator surprised looks at the 3 cards to find that their card is no longer there.

Pros:
excellent trick for beginners and experienced magicians alike
has "wow" factor
video does a great job explaining each step and how to pull of sleights of hand

Cons:
with this trick, I really didn't see any.

I really enjoy this trick. Once I learned it, this trick became one of my favorites right away. Place the practice into the trick, and people will go nuts. Each time I present this trick, the spectators want to inspect the cards. LET THEM! This one is pretty good. Really.

Voodoo Zone

Another great effect. I'm not even going to go into the pros and cons, because there are only pros. The effect has a card folded in half and pass through a voodoo zone caused by another card folded in half. It makes the card apparently change from being face up to face down, or vice versa. Then at the end, the card is brought halfway through and torn in half. Fully inspectable. I have had so much fun with this. The only warning I have is that you will go through a lot of decks of cards with this, so set aside a deck specifically for ripping up. It's a lot of fun, and people definitely are surprised. There is the "wow" factor with this trick for sure!

Go Inside Sugar

Ok, this trick is fun. It apparently makes a coin go into a sealed sugar packet and comes back out when it is torn open. This is a good trick and fun to perform. Watch your angles, and practice in front of a mirror. When done right it really makes people go nuts. The first couple of times I performed it I didn't have much practice, and people saw what I was doing. Put in the time and practice and this trick will make people say that you're like Criss Angel and David Blaine!

Print

Make an ordinary blank piece of paper turn into a printed business card. Nice trick, and introduces a good sleight of hand. Anyone having a hard time learning any paddle trick would benefit from this effect. The effect creates some good magic. I like it a lot.

Chance Zero, Georges Old Trick, and Melted are all tricks I didn't especially like in the video. I'm not one for tricks that sort out black and red cards. The coin trick with George's Old Trick was ok, but I didn't see any application in real life situations to show it off. Having a ring apparently melt through a string is one I practiced a bit, but never performed. The main reason there was because I needed to have string and a ring with me. I might revisit the melt trick one day, but right now it isn't much of an interest to me.

Overall, great product. Watching the performances on the DVD was very entertaining. Knowing how the trick was done was pretty cool too. The bonuses that come with the DVD are worth it, and right now they are including a free deck of cards. I would recommend this product and this website to anyone.

Bottled up!

2008-09-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, so if you haven't seen the trick, go to Penguin Magic and view the clip. The effect is to have a selected card end up in a sealed bottle. It's a really nice effect. The cool thing I like about this trick is that there is a torn corner that matches with the card inside the snapple bottle. What I really like about this trick, is that you can apply the method to creating other tricks. The card can end up anywhere, not just inside of a sealed bottle.

Pros:
very difficult for a magician or non-magician to figure out how it works. A more experienced magician may be able to follow what you've done only because they have probably learned the method.

The method is simple and easy to perform. Time can be placed in presentation rather than worry about any sleights of hand.

Great for beginners and experienced magicians alike.

The trick has "wow" factor.

Cons:
There is some setup involved, so this effect cannot be performed impromptu.

You have to have a bottle on you to prepare the effect. You need a separate bottle for each time you perform.

Would I recommend the trick? Absolutely. One tip about this trick is that it is the same method as John Kennedy's Card Thru Window, which is priced a lot higher. Just a helpful hint in helping save money on magic.