Saw

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.