Prohibition - Magic - Cap through Bottle

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!

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

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

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

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)

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

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.