Hand made in Holland by Jan Kosters, Opkoopjes mouth coils are made by a professional, for the professional. Those of you who use mouth coils on a regular basis are probably familiar with the problems of typical inexpensive coils. Many tear. Some are so tight they refuse to extend properly. Others are only a fraction of the length of Opkoopjes.
These are made for performers who want to give their audience the ultimate effect. Each coil cost the performer roughly $2.50 to $2.90 per use, depending on which length they use. Opkoopjes coils come in 46 foot and 62 foot length, so you have a choice based on venue and stage size, as well as the size and age of your audience.
Each package comes with 12 coils.. ready for your performance. Jan has provided a PDF download for anyone not familiar with the use of coils. He also includes ten videos to help familiarize you with the use, care, personalization, color usage and specific do’s and don’ts of his product.
I understand the price will be a turn-off for some performers.. just as the price of a Vernet thumb tip or quality playing cards. Lets face it, some performers are willing to make do with lower quality products. I’m not being critical. Everyone is responsible for their own expenses and keeping their performances profitable. But… and those of you who have read this far probably already understand, there are a group of performers who insist on using quality products, as they feel it will reflect on their performances. I don’t think I have to sell you guys. You are probably already thinking of the possibilities and understand the importance of a quality product.
All coils are available in white, plus Christmas coils, Halloween, Patriotic and Rainbow. Jan will make your coils in custom colors with a minimum order of approx. 5 dozen. Also, any order of $50.00 or more will get free shipping from Jan -if- you are unable to find the coils through your favorite Murphy’s Magic dealer.
These coils are perfect for children’s shows and school assemblies. They are also perfect for that moment when you want to make a lasting impression on your audience, regardless the venue.
Comparing Opkoopjes Mouth Coils to competitor’s coils is sort of a no-brainer. Honestly, you get what you pay for.. and Opkoopjes is a perfect example.. If you google ‘mouth coils’, you’ll find most are listed for sale in the ‘toys’ section of large online stores. Opkoopjes are NOT toys. They are serious coils for serious performers. Nuff said…
Welcome to the latest issue of The Magic Roadshow! As always, I’ve tried to put together something to help your magic journey.. without charging you a single penny. Actually, it cost me a pretty penny… but that’s another story for another day. There was a time when publishing and mailing on the internet was basically free. Those were the good ‘ol days for sure. Now, you have specific and complicated hoops to jump through.. or the internet troll will prevent your crossing the bridge, take your candy, throw you in the water, and make your day a miserable mess.
I will be SO glad when this summer is history. I think the first day of Fall is this coming weekend, and I am cheering it along with all my might. I love the Fall. Some folks think the changing of the landscape is a little depressing.. but I look at it as a respite among the crisp autumn days and crystal clear nights. No Humidity! Praise the Lord !!
Yes.. I’m late with this issue. But I’m offering no apologies. I was in the UK the past couple weeks and I hoped to publish this issue before leaving… but it wasn’t to be. I wish I could tell you about my magic odyssey.. my days spent in confluence with other great whimsical minds.. but that wasn’t to be either. It was more an entertaining history lesson of my ancestors and their origin. Evidently none were magicians…
I did see Greg Wilson lecture the night after I arrived home. That was an expensive treat.. well worth every dollar… lots of dollars… If you get a chance to see Greg.. do it.
And finally, congratulations to Shin Lim for winning America’s Got Talent !! His performances were consistently top shelf and he presented himself very well.. not to mention the attention he brought to the art of magic.. SLATE published a good articles on his victory. Access it through our article at: https://magicroadshow.com/shin-lim-wins-americas-got-talent/
(Be sure to check out Shin’s Q&A and his Top Change tutorial about half way through this issue..)
Read or download this issue as a PDF.. MAGIC ROADSHOW 196 (24 pages plus 36 pages of effects..)
_____________ IN THIS ISSUE:
Clarke “Senator” Crandall – A Study
ODD Packet Trick – Vinny Sagoo – A Review
Magically Speaking – A Great Source of Income
JANUS by Kevin Casaretto and Paul Lelekis – A Review
Gerti Reborn – A Review
Switch-a-lope – Arnaud Van Rietschoten – A Review
A Computerized ACAAN.. Free App
Magic Tricks For Kids – Free Resource
A Look Into My Life – Shin Lim
Shin Lim Teaches The Top Change – Video Tutorial
10 Top Easy Ways to Force A Card – Video Tutorial
How to Roll a Coin on Your Knuckles – Video
A Journey Through A History of Magic – Ebook
This Months FREE PDF – Bunches of Effects
On The Record with Gregory Wilson – A Podcast
‘Magic For Humans’ On Netflix
Enrico de la Vega on NETFLIX – New Series
Impossible Odds Compilation! – Time Consuming Video
It’s Football Time – Resource
VIP Stuff….
“The real secret of magic lies in the performance.” David Copperfield
“Indubitably, magic is one of the subtlest and most difficult of the sciences and arts. There is more opportunity for errors of comprehension, judgment and practice than in any other branch of physics.” Aleister Crowley
“Magic is not a practice. It is a living, breathing web of energy that, with our permission, can encase our every action.” Dorothy Morrison
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Clarke “Senator” Crandall – A Study
by Christopher Reynolds
June 19, 2018 marked the 43 year anniversary of the death of one of the funniest magicians you’ve never heard of. The hysterical underground cult phenomena who went by the title of “senator”. When asked why he billed himself as “senator”, he said cantankerously “Because I talk too much and I rarely pass anything, and when I do it‘s usually gas. Anyway, I didn’t call myself “senator“, you did!” In a sub-culture dedicated to people doing strange and amazing things, Clarke Crandall stood out from the pack.
In the world of magic, striving for mediocrity is a step up. Your average comedy magician is about as funny as communism. Some of them have acts that stink so bad that they attract more flies than audience members. The jokes told are more likely to induce cringing or pity than any kind of spontaneous laughter. There’s no such thing as setting the bar too low.
Crandall’s act was something all together different. He was a skilled magician and could make amazing things with cards, rope, and dice happen right under your nose. He also happened to be insanely hilarious. The thing that makes Crandall so interesting as a performer is that hardly anyone can remember in vivid detail what his act even consisted of. Why? They were too busy laughing to pay that much attention to his tricks. Audience members recall tears welled up in their eyes and stomachs that hurt like menstrual cramps from the insane and hysterical performance.…making his audience that much easier to fool.
Chicago
The infamous magician and magic castle alumni was born April, 23 1907 on a farm in rural Iowa. Standing at 6’ 2”, wearing thick black- rimmed glasses, puffing on a surreal looking spiral cigar, and sporting a blatantly phony handlebar mustache, he resembled a lankier, and more dapper version of flamboyant movie critic Gene Shallit. Facts of his life are murky at best. Around the early 1940s Crandall was living in Chicago and working at the stockyards as a cattle buyer. The first time that he was on record for having performed in front of an appreciative audience was in 1947, at a Society of American magicians function. His dead pan observations, droll wit, and genuinely funny comic persona, that of a bawdy conjuring curmudgeon ,were already in place.
When Magician Whit Haydn was fourteen he remembers seeing the “senator” perform at an Abbots’ magic convention (the early version of comic-con nerd culture: Every year they hand out the senator Crandall award for comedy excellence). In eagerness to see the sardonic sorcerer’s skill with a pack of cards Haydn crept up close behind him, gawking over his shoulder to get a good view of him performing one of his sleights. The senator glanced at the teen and gave him a mildly irritated look. He adroitly positioned the cane he had hanging across his left arm between Haydn’s legs and gave the young rubberneck
crotch a gentle tap. “Watch your pecker, son.” he admonished the young Hayden nonchalantly finishing his performance with out a ruffle.
Crandall quit working in the stockyards when he was offered the job of performing bartender at George Banning’s magic lounge in Cicero, Illinois. The town was famous for being Al Capone‘s retreat from Chicago when the heat was on. Banning’s was soon to be one of the premiere magic lounges’ popular in the Chicago area. Magic was a popular attraction in Chicago bars up until the late 1970‘s. Prevailing stage magicians of the day, Blackstone Jr., left a bad taste in the publics mouth, and good magicians lost like Doug Henning and Harry audiences from guilt by association.
Prostitutes, gamblers, and mafia goons made up most of the clientele at the notorious Ray D’Urbervilles cocktail lounge in Chicago. The place was marinated in smoke, sex, and other assorted sins. The lounge seemed an odd place to hire magicians, but after a long and exhausting day of murder, blackmail, and other assorted crimes, even gangsters need a place to unwind and let their hair down. And Crandall could slice someone to pieces with his rapier wit just as easily as the gangsters could do with a butcher knife. What better way to relax than with a few drinks and a few dames while watching the funny magician with the crazy mustache( the signature mustache was a fake. “ I keep the real one in my wallet”
he used to quip) perform tricks like his dice stacking routine, in which four separate dice were placed in a giant cup. After the dice were shaken, one giant die was in their place.
Entertaining at D’Urbevilles put Crandall in touch with some salty characters and he tailored his act to the more blue humored and risqué. One of his funnier non-sequiturs included him unzipping his fly and pulling out a pocket watch to check the time, and then putting the watch back into his crotch to continue the show. His cleaner, yet still guffaw worthy material he saved for on-screen appearances on popular television shows at the time like Jack Paar, Steve Allen, and Garry Moore.
When the senator wasn’t tending bar or performing, he stayed busy in front of his typewriter putting his wacky thoughts to paper and published numerous articles, columns, and pamphlets all dealing with magic and conjuring. He was known for his acerbic wit, much of it aimed at sleight of hand purists whose repertoire consisted of dull presentations of playing card mastery. While an adept practitioner of sleight of hand, the senator definitely had a less is more philosophy when it came to performing card magic. He found it more important to entertain an audience than beat them over the head with feats of magic technique. Other less talented and more sensitive magicians took his barbs as cruel dismissals of their talents, not knowing that the “senator” was always “on” and never slipped out of character. His tongue was always planted firmly in cheek.
One of the hilarious articles he wrote for his personal newsletter the “senators”’ pink sheet was a tale about himself shopping in the lingerie section of a local department store for a padded bra squishy enough to fit inside one of the cups for the surprise ending at the end of his chop cup routine( a one man version of the famous cup and balls trick) and how the sales women watched in disgust as the perverted old creep in thick black glasses fondled the under garments.
Los Angeles
In 1967 the senator was diagnosed with a brain tumor after seeking medical treatment for of dizzy spells. While recovering from his operation, Milt Larson Sr., founder of the magic castle, had heard about the senators illness and offered him a job as doorman at the then four year old establishment. The senator had been given a new lease on life and left the bitter cold of Chicago for the sunny climate of Los Angeles, California.
La cosa nostra. This short and simple phrase, made famous by the Italian mafia, translates into; this thing of ours. The Magic Castle opened to the world on January, 2 1963 and is a cross between a Freemason’s lodge and the Friars club. Becoming a member is for many magician as close to becoming a made man in the mafia. It’s the top fraternity house for magicians, mind readers, séance practitioners, and other assorted fans of eccentric and bizarre entertainment.
Crandall got to Los Angeles in the mid 1960s, when the dress code for southern California could politely be called casual. Then as now the Magic Castle had a strict dress code and Crandall was a stickler for the rules. He had no hesitation about giving the bums rush to any hippie, ne’er do well, or generally uninformed tourist who tried to make their way inside wearing inappropriate attire. Tattered jeans, tie-dyed t-shirts, bikinis, and vulgar amounts of visible flesh were a no-no.
When not bouncing slobs, acting as m.c., or tending bar, he would do a weekly Saturday show at 12 p.m., and his reputation spread. Years before the midnight movie craze swept over the independent cinemas of the late 1970’s, the “senator” was using the same carnie tactic to build a cult of loyal fan club members( which included Hollywood icon Cary Grant) who came week after week to see the senator dispense with his quick wit and insults. Not only was it encouraged but it was expected.
The show was touted as x-rated and held exclusively at midnight for a more adult crowd. By today’s standards the show was about as clean as Shirley Temple’s criminal record. The humor never got more raunchy than your average episode of Dean Martins celebrity roast or a bawdy burlesque. The senator insulted men, women, and children alike and played the part of the lecherous old king leer to a tee, as he ogled at the pretty gals who can always be found hanging about the castle, slack jawed and amazed at all the wondrous things going on around them.
Sadly on June 19, 1975 the quick wit and insults came to an end as the Senator passed away at home with his wife Ruth. The academy of magical arts held a tribute in his honor at the magic castle to one of their most beloved and best known magicians . the world of conjuring would be a duller place for it.
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ODD Packet Trick – Vinny Sagoo
$19.95 NEO Magic
Review by Rick Carruth
A Truly ODD Trick!
You introduce 7 cards and an envelope with ‘ODD’ instructions. The spectator follows the ODD instructions eliminating all but one card, which is a completely free choice. When that card is turned over, it is a royal card. When the envelope is turned over, it states:
“You Will Pick A Royal Card”
The envelope is then opened, and a card drops out, which MATCHES the odd card exactly.
For the finale, all of the other cards are turned over and are completely DIFFERENT.
– Fully Examinable
– Easy To Do
– Video Instructions And 12 Photos
– Self Working
– USPCC Cards
– Extra Stickers Included
My Take..
For those of you who enjoy packet tricks.. this is a truly simple effect that has step by step instructions on your prediction envelope.. instructions the spectators reads and follows.
Everything you need to perform ODD is included and you should be up and running in about the same amount of time it takes to watch the five minute training video. There are also written instructions with pictures that eliminate the need to even watch the video.. although I would recommend both watching and reading all the instructions.
ODD is a prediction effect. You begin by laying seven cards side by side in front of you and the spectator.. sitting across the table. You also lay a small coin type envelope, your prediction envelope, on top of one of the cards. The envelope has a set of instructions, ODD instructions, on the up side.. and the spectator simply follows the five steps to eliminate all the cards but one.
Each step gives the spectator control over a series of moves. They choose a number.. and follow the directions.
Reading the sales copy.. I do agree with all the statements. It is fully examinable and simple to do. It is also self working.. -if- you follow the directions printed on the prediction envelope.
This is a nice little effect for walk around, but moreso for close up when you can isolate a spectator in front of you. I cannot recall exactly where I’ve seen this method used.. but I have. I’m sure it’s something I read in an old source, but, it’s been updated and modernized to the point where no one other than a very informed magician would recognize your method. That said.. I do not recommend immediately repeating this effect. There IS a little something that might be caught if you performed it a second time. It’s not a big deal.. and you could probably perform it safely a second time after a little time has passed.
Again, everything you need to perform ODD is provided. There is even a second prediction envelope and instructions included.. plus regular Bicycle cards that can be easily replaced should something happen to one. Actually, should you buy ODD.. you might want to switch out all the unused cards for blank cards. Just a thought.
Writing a detailed review of a self working packet trick is not easy.. but I think, I hope, I’ve told enough to help you make an informed decision.
I appreciate that ODD is self working, despite appearing to be a totally free choice by the spectator. I recommend it to those of you who enjoy sticking a packet in your shirt pocket for that moment when you want to impress a spectator.. or two or three.
Available from dealers who carry the Murphy’s Magic line of products..
Magically Speaking – A Great Source of Income
Timothy Hyde
Catapult your entry into the world of professional speaking! “Magically Speaking” has been compiled by long time professional speaker and magician Timothy Hyde.
An overview of the entire speaking industry with special focus on how magicians can make the transition into this lucrative field. Guest articles from speaker bureau owners, speaker coaches, marketing gurus and other magicians already working in this field. Some of the questions answered in this MasterClass:
What should a speaker have in their promotional press kit? Do you know the questions a speaker bureau will ask you if you approach one? What are the 7 keys that will ignite hot interest in booking you? How do you choose a topic? How do you build your career? What is the most powerful question you can ask a potential client? Which speaker ezines are the best to subscribe to? (There are lots out there but we will point out the essential ones.) Should I join the National Speakers Association? What is an elevator speech? And much much more!
Hyperlinked resource section and a complete copy of Timothy’s Pre Program Questionnaire is also included, that serves not only as a technique to find out what the client really wants from the presentation, but also serves as a deadly marketing weapon. Timothy shows you how to use it. (Some people remark that this is worth the price of the book just by itself!)
This Masterclass will point you in the right direction and fast track your growth in this exciting industry.
65 pages. Word count: 21195 which is equivalent to 84 standard pages of text
JANUS by Kevin Casaretto and Paul Lelekis – A Review
Rick Carruth
Janus is the card magic of Kevin Casaretto of Salisbury, South Australia.. as told by Paul Lelekis. Kevin compiled this exceptional collection of original effects through years of hard work and recently contacted Paul with the enviable task of putting everything together into an ebook.
There are a total of ten effects and all effects use a combination of gaff cards.
I understand the reluctance of some magicians to use gaff cards… but that reluctance usually stems from either a lack of familiarity with gaffs on the part of the magician, or, a fear that once the audience knows you used gaffs, your perceived acceptance as a full-fledged magi will be diminished.
First.. if you do not use gaffs, you are limited in your repertoire. Yes, there are many effects that do not require gaffs, but, if you do not use gaffs, you will forever be denying yourself an array of effects that are virtually impossible using conventional cards.
Second.. Why the heck would the audience know you are using gaffs? Are you planning on dropping the deck? I wish I could tell you the number of current effects.. by internationally known magicians.. that employ gaffs. If a magician has a ‘signature’ effect he refuses to tip… chances are there’s a gaff involved. He is capable of pulling off a seemingly miraculous effect, a reputation builder, with a gaff… and he doesn’t want you to know. Can you blame him?
Now that we’ve cleared that up…
JANUS uses a simple combination of gaffs; double backers, double facers, and red/blue backed cards. Nothing is used that you could not create in a minute or two with regular cards and a roll of double backed tape or rub on and/or white children’s glue. Of course, you can buy gaffs at most magic shops and online.. and they are very affordable.
Here’s a brief description of what’s included.. ( By Paul and myself )
1) JANUS – A sandwiched transposition! Cards on the table and a card in the deck change places right under the spectators nose..
2) Signed, Sealed, and Delivered – A very simplistic, yet powerful transposition of signed selections! Two signed cards change places in two different envelopes.. and SO simple to perform .
3) 2-Card Monte – The “con game” made easy! Quickly establish your inner cheat with this demonstration of gambling skills. The super easy move is taught in video.
4) Five Colour Twist – The Aces turn face-up and facedown, then their backs change color three times!
5) Magazine Mental Test – A very cool, easy to do, feat of ESP! You’re going to LOVE this ingenious effect! Plus learn a very usable force.
6) Card to Wallet – Signed card flies to wallet and then changes its back color…TWICE!
7) Changing Back – An excellent variation of a Dai Vernon classic of magic!
8) It Can’t Be Done – A very clever “Do As I Do” effect with three phases.
9) One At A Time Aces – Kevin’s own take on a Marlo trick…the Aces travel and then change colour! One of my personal favorites.
10) Turn-Over Cards – A display of 8 cards, turning face up and face down under impossible conditions! Additional video instructions included..
I recommend JANUS. It is both well written and full of interesting effects perfect for any level performer. Aside from one or two moves that are taught on video by Paul Lelekis (included), and will require a small bit of practice.. nothing is beyond the beginner or those not accustomed to using gaffs. Lots of bang for your bucks…
Gerti Reborn – A Review
US Quarter Version (Gimmick and Online Instructions) by Romanos
Review by Rick Carruth
Ad Copy..
If you have ever wanted to perform a ‘coin in which hand’ type of effect, Gerti Reborn is for you. You have two coins; you ask a spectator to sign one of the coins. You invite the spectator to place one coin in your hand and to place the other coin in one of their own hands. Without looking, not only are you able to reveal which of you has the signed coin, with the updated Gerti Reborn you are now able to tell the spectator which coin they have, as well as in which hand they hold the coin.
-Custom-made gimmick supplied
-Full explanations with full routines
-US, Euro and UK versions available
“…this uses a different method than I have seen before. There are no magnets. There are no PK rings. There are no electronics. There are no shells. There is a gimmick, and it is in plain sight at all times. Yet, it is completely invisible to the spectator. You do not have to look at the coins for a marking system or other similar methods. At the end of the routine, you can even give away the signed coin as a souvenir.” -David Oliver, Genii Magazine
My Take..
First.. I’m not sure what ‘Gerti’ means. Maybe it’s just me. I do know that in R.A. Salvatore’s “The Two Swords”, giantess Gerti Orelsdottr, skilled with her sword and with her arcane magic, could bring the power of the elements down upon any who dared stand against her, could blast them with lightning, fire and storms of pelting ice. Maybe she is indicative of the power of the name.. maybe not.
I do know this… Gerti Reborn is a gimmick that has the power to tell you in which hand a coin resides.. and whether that coin is the marked coin (..of one marked and one unmarked )
The ad copy is correct. There is NO hyperbole and NO exaggeration.
Although I’ve not had the pleasure of using Hugo Shelly’s Sixth Sense.. which will instantly tell you which hand holds a coin, Sixth Sense is electronic and over $200. The great thing is you do not have to ask questions.. two questions.. to determine which hand has the coin. That’s worth the cost if you’re in a position where you can justify the cost.
Gerti Reborn, in performance, is very similar to Tequila Hustler ( Mark Elsdon, Peter Turner, Colin McLeod and Michael Murray). After the coin is concealed by the spectator, two questions are asked and the performer knows the position of the coin. Gerti uses two coins, one marked and one not marked, and after you and the spectator both conceal a coin each..(the spectator is in control).. you asked essentially the same questions as with Tequila Hustler, and you instantly know not only whether the spectators coin is marked or not.. but in which hand they are concealing the coin.
It’s sort of double the bang for your bucks.
Gerti Reborn, though, uses an entirely different method than the Tequila Hustler. I can’t say much more without giving away too much.. other than to say a gimmick is used. Half the time the spectator them self will hold the gimmick for you.. and not realize it. There is a very slight chance the gimmick could be discovered, but very unlikely. This is addressed in the video training and should not be considered a deal breaker.
The instructional video is taught by Costas from Magic Tao and covers all the bases. Also, there are US, Euro and UK versions of the gimmick available. If you live outside these countries I would check with the dealer before making a purchase.
I like it.. I will recommend it to anyone who appreciates the subtle deconstruction of determining ‘which hand’ conceals an object. In the right hands, and with the proper patter, you’ll have a solid effect that’s perfect for restaurants and walk around.
$25.00 from magic dealers who carry the Murphy’s Magic line of products.
Switch-a-lope – Arnaud Van Rietschoten – A Review
Rick Carruth
Ad Copy:
THE Ultimate 4-way-out envelope.. Imagine an ingenious envelope that will deliver the correct prediction, no matter which of 4 possible outcomes occurs! YOU ARE COVERED!
Every mentalist needs a 4-way-out envelope! There any many available, but none allow you to do the following:
Have the envelope signed
Keep the envelope in full sight during the show
Have the spectator take out the prediction
Show the envelope empty
Have a large folded sheet of paper in the envelope
No Slits, etc.
SWITCH-A-LOPE by Arnaud allows you to do all of the above!!
Arnaud has been using this utility device in his shows over the past year, and he now shares this unique principle with the rest of the magic world!
It comes in a handy sleeve you can use to protect the special envelope during transport.
There are many 4-way-out envelopes on the market. You only need one:
SWITCH-A-LOPE by Arnaud!
My Take:
I see many magic products. I get to handle, first-hand, many different creations. Switch-A-Lope by Arnaud is one of my favorite reviews as, although it is slightly higher priced than most products I review, it performs exactly as describes. Since it is designed for parlour and stage, not close up, the price is not only justified, but extremely affordable. In a time when quality props are often hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, Switch-A-Lope is a steal.
This is a TOOL. It is a very effective tool that enables you to create magic around its function without great skill or practice. That doesn’t excuse you from developing a killer routine and enticing patter… but it DOES free you up to concentrate totally on your performance while your purchase pays for itself many times over…
When I say.. ‘develop your routine’.. I mean it. You are taught all the essentials on a 14 minute, password protected, video. Essentials is a polite word for ‘handling’. The routining is all yours, and I’m fine with that. Besides.. my wife insist I use my head for something other than a hat rack..
Not everyone reading this review will be interested. Since it’s used primarily by mentalists, in mental magic, and by performers who work in considerable space; those who ARE interested should be VERY interested.
A small orange envelope is contained in a large white envelope, visible at all times through a window. At the appropriate moment, the magi, OR THE SPECTATOR, can remove the inner envelope and reveal any of four different outcomes. It’s really as simple as that.
The envelope can be fully visible from the beginning of the effect and the performer does not have to touch the envelope at any time during the effect. Yes, there are other envelopes out there, but I am not familiar with one that performs so admirably.
A friend brought one to our last magic meeting.. and left with almost everyone, whether they could actually use one or not, wanting one. That is perhaps my strongest recommendation – I’ve seen the glimmer in their eyes and the covetousness in their heart when presented the opportunity to handle Switch-A-Lope.
It has my total recommendation, and will have you awake at nights devising new uses for this very creative magical tool.
$59.95 – from dealers who carry the Murphy’s Magic line of products…
The effect… any card at any number – a trick that needs no introduction (or does it?).
“A deck of cards is presented. participant is asked to freely name ANY card and ANY number (between 1 and 52). after a single cut, the cards are handed to the participant, who then deals-down to their chosen number to find – despite the odds – their chosen card at their chosen position.
It’s as strong as it gets in terms of card trick plots, and is considered by many to be the holy-grail of card magic.
There are many methods of achieving this trick, but suffice to say, as methods for such tricks go, this is much better than the method used by Derren Brown during his spot on Stand Up To Cancer 2014 (find it on YouTube!) and that method is great enough.”
A Look Into My Life // Answering All Your Questions! plus AGT! – Shin Lim
Very interesting 17 minute video into the life of recent Americas Got Talent winner – Shin Lim. He answers performance questions and specific questions about AGT and the prospect of developing a two hour show for Vegas. ( He currently has 40 minutes..)
Again, Congrats on winning AGT and the One Million dollar grand prize!
The double lift, popular for many years, is slowly being outsourced, in some circles, by the top change. Shin Lim teaches his version of the top change in this
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10 Top Easy Ways to Force A Card – Video Tutorial
Rich Ferguson teaches ten practical forces. You can’t perform successful card magic without the ability to force a card… and every magician of note has their favorite method. Some of these forces are Rich’s own methods, and I think you’ll enjoy this video. 13 minutes long..
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How to Roll a Coin on Your Knuckles
Any coin trick master can be observed rolling a coin down their fingers from the index to the pinky and back again. It’s often referred to as knuckle rolling or the Steeplechase Flourish. You may have seen this trick performed by various “cool” movie characters on the big screen. Although this trick may seem hard to perform, it doesn’t require that much skill. With some dedicated practice and various sized coins, even you can learn this impressive trick.
All of you are familiar with the articles I’ve published on the history of various magicians. I’ve received many great comments from readers who both enjoyed and appreciated the articles and pictures. Now, David J O’Connor, the author of all the articles, has compiled them into one ebook featuring about 60 different present and past performers. I have the ebook.. and I highly encourage you to spend the ten dollars and buy the entire collection…
Now available at Lybrary.com for instant download……
This is the sixth PDF in a series of ten. First, you’ll find 36 pages full of effects from wonderful contributors. Secondly, you’ll find 50 different effects that cover a wide variety of styles. These are all effects featured in the Magic Roadshow through the years. I REALLY think you’ll enjoy this..!
One from T. Nelson Downs
One from Paul Lelekis
18 effects from Ed Glassman
28 effects from Werner Miller
And Two from myself
On The Record with Gregory Wilson – A Podcast
The Magic Word podcast with Scott Wells
Gregory Wilson is a thief.
Most magicians know Gregory from the many original effects he has created that are in the working repertoire of professional close-up magicians around the world. Many know him from his long running column in MAGIC Magazine on Coffee House Conjuring. And many have seen his lectures on Penguin or perhaps live in their own cities or at magic conventions.
But most are not aware that Gregory performs a professional full evening show as a pickpocket and mentalist. In the first half of the show, he steals watches, wallets, belts and eyeglasses and in the second half performs mind reading to the amusement and amazement of all, both his audience and his victims, er, uh, I mean, volunteers.
Gregory starts off this podcast with a great idea for magicians to try if they are stopped for speeding. He talks about a video he took with his iPhone and posted it on his Facebook page which is posted in this blog above. Gregory also talks about his professional pickpocket show.
The discussion was intended to eventually talk about Wizard Wars and some of the “behind the scenes” stories in the production of the TV series; however, for some reason we “went off the rails” and diverted our discussion to talk about something that he has not ever made public: the assertions that he has stolen ideas/tricks/moves from other people. In private, Gregory is outspoken and has strong views. In this podcast, he finally lets go something that’s been bottled up since 2001.
‘Magic For Humans’ On Netflix, A Fun Reality Series For All Humans (And Some Animals)
By Josh Sorokach for DECIDER
“Netflix dives head first into the “pick a card any card game” with their new reality show Magic For Humans. Now streaming on Netflix, the six-episode series follows affable comedian/magician Justin Willman as he performs an array of elaborate, good-natured magic tricks for a slew of baffled strangers.
The Gist: The tagline for Magic For Humans is “Real people, real magic, no camera tricks.” I can’t attest to the legitimacy of Willman’s illusions, but I can say that the show’s combination of elaborate experiments and man-on-the-street magic is a blast. The pilot episode explores the concept of self-control. Willman conducts his own version of the famous “Marshmallow Test,” a study on delayed gratification in which a child’s offered one marshmallow now or two later, with a group of children that’s equal parts hilarious and adorable.
The episode also uses magic to help debate fate vs. free, while also delivering some truly unbelievable man-on-the-street magic. The coup de grâce? The episode ends with levitating goat yoga, which, honestly, is my favorite kind of yoga.
Our Take: Magic For Humans is different than most magic shows. Host Justin Willman, who you may recognize from Cupcake Wars, King of Cones, or Win, Lose, or Draw, is more relatable than most magicians. Instead of relying on an enigmatic personality, Willman is cheerfully disarming as he shocks and awes unsuspecting bystanders with unimaginable feats of sorcery.
The kids from Willman’s marshmallow experiment provide some of the funniest reactions, but even adults can’t help but get swept away in the dazzling spectacle of intrigue.
Most Memorable Line: Willman’s unbelievable illusions are what you’ll remember most from Episode 1, but the slick host also injects the series with a menagerie of fun one-liners.“When I’m doing magic I have complete control over everything. But off-stage, I can’t even control myself. Everything’s like crack to me: Candy Crush, Instagram, crack…”
Breakout Star: Justin Willman. The Magic For Humans host is charisma personified. Even if you’re immune to the perplexing awe of magic and wonder, you’ll enjoy Willman’s awe-shucks charm and breezy, conversational humor.
Our Call: Stream it! Magic For Humans is a pure delight. While many magicians possess a smug, off-putting bravado, Willman’s distinct brand of cozy magic is all-inclusive. Magic For Humans is a fun, entertaining series that’ll make your bad day disappear.
Proud to announce the premiere of another one of our @Netflix original magic series starring @DMCmagic! #DeathByMagic streams worldwide Nov 30th!!
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OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: After 12 months of secrecy, it gives me the greatest pleasure to announce my brand new series with @Netflix – DEATH BY MAGIC. This last year I have been on a journey through eight cities across four continents to uncover the stories of magicians who died performing the most dangerous stunts ever attempted. Along the way I share beautiful magic with those that I meet – before recreating my own epic-scale interpretations of those deadly stunts, in front of terrified live audiences. The show is a beautifully cinematic blend of history, international travel, magic and death-defying stunts. It is the culmination of more than 20 years of dreaming, 10 years of planning and more than 12 months’ intensive work with the kindest, most brilliant minds in the business. DEATH BY MAGIC launches worldwide 30th November exclusively on #NETFLIX
Enrico de la Vega
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IMPOSSIBLE ODDS COMPILATION!!! – Video of People Doing the Impossible
As it says.. it’s a compilation of folks acheving the impossible. Impossible shots.. impossible feats.. just impossible.
https://youtu.be/6Z5O2KpXBMA
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It’s Football Time!
Yes, it’s football season again.. my favorite time of the year. I dislike some of the ‘shenanigans’ as much as the next guy.. but it doesn’t stop me from watching. I’m not going to allow the actions of a very few to distract from my enjoyment.
That said… I’m inviting you to join an online football pool. There’s no cost, and signing up is simple. We employ the straight pick ’em format (win/lose) instead of the point spread to keep things simple. Navigate to the following link to register with the pool named ‘Magic Roadshow’.
Remember.. signing up for the Magic Roadshow Journal of Magic is Totally FREE. There is NO obligation and your email is 100% safe. (I don’t even share it with my closes fellow magicians..) You will be notified periodically as new material publishes to the Magic Roadshow site and you can unsubscribe with one click.
That does it for this issue. I hope you found something to help your magic along. Remember, if you have something you would like to see published on the Magic Roadshow site.. send it to: [email protected]
The 26-year-old magician is known for his card magic. He’s appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, which led to international fame, and has toured internationally as a magician. Lim’s first appearance on Fool us has earned over 50 million views, and led to an offer for him to appear on the show again. He is the only magician in the history of the series to fool Penn and Teller twice.
Lim is the reigning world FISM champion for close-up magic. He studied music at Lee University prior to his appearance on AGT.
Lim was a double major in piano and telecommunications at school, according to The Cleveland Banner. During his time at University, he also continued practicing magic.
Then, in 2011, at 20-years-old, Lim was diagnosed with carpal tunnel and was forced to choose between music or magic. The Cleveland Banner reports, “He opted to stick to his passion for magic, taking a sabbatical from Lee, and eventually dropping out to return to his parents’ home.” Read more here… https://heavy.com/entertainment/2018/09/shin-lim-agt-2018/
JANUS by Kevin Casaretto and Paul Lelekis – A Review
Rick Carruth
Janus is the card magic of Kevin Casaretto of Salisbury, South Australia.. as told by Paul Lelekis. Kevin compiled this exceptional collection of original effects through years of hard work and recently contacted Paul with the enviable task of putting everything together into an ebook.
There are a total of ten effects and all effects use a combination of gaff cards.
I understand the reluctance of some magicians to use gaff cards… but that reluctance usually stems from either a lack of familiarity with gaffs on the part of the magician, or, a fear that once the audience knows you used gaffs, your perceived acceptance as a full-fledged magi will be diminished.
First.. if you do not use gaffs, you are limited in your repertoire. Yes, there are many effects that do not require gaffs, but, if you do not use gaffs, you will forever be denying yourself an array of effects that are virtually impossible using conventional cards.
Second.. Why the heck would the audience know you are using gaffs? Are you planning on dropping the deck? I wish I could tell you the number of current effects.. by internationally known magicians.. that employ gaffs. If a magician has a ‘signature’ effect he refuses to tip… chances are there’s a gaff involved. He is capable of pulling off a seemingly miraculous effect, a reputation builder, with a gaff… and he doesn’t want you to know. Can you blame him?
Now that we’ve cleared that up…
JANUS uses a simple combination of gaffs; double backers, double facers, and red/blue backed cards. Nothing is used that you could not create in a minute or two with regular cards and a roll of double backed tape or rub on and/or white children’s glue. Of course, you can buy gaffs at most magic shops and online.. and they are very affordable.
Here’s a brief description of what’s included.. ( By Paul and myself )
1) JANUS – A sandwiched transposition! Cards on the table and a card in the deck change places right under the spectators nose..
2) Signed, Sealed, and Delivered – A very simplistic, yet powerful transposition of signed selections! Two signed cards change places in two different envelopes.. and SO simple to perform .
3) 2-Card Monte – The “con game” made easy! Quickly establish your inner cheat with this demonstration of gambling skills. The super easy move is taught in video.
4) Five Colour Twist – The Aces turn face-up and facedown, then their backs change color three times!
5) Magazine Mental Test – A very cool, easy to do, feat of ESP! You’re going to LOVE this ingenious effect! Plus learn a very usable force.
6) Card to Wallet – Signed card flies to wallet and then changes its back color…TWICE!
7) Changing Back – An excellent variation of a Dai Vernon classic of magic!
8) It Can’t Be Done – A very clever “Do As I Do” effect with three phases.
9) One At A Time Aces – Kevin’s own take on a Marlo trick…the Aces travel and then change colour! One of my personal favorites.
10) Turn-Over Cards – A display of 8 cards, turning face up and face down under impossible conditions! Additional video instructions included..
I recommend JANUS. It is both well written and full of interesting effects perfect for any level performer. Aside from one or two moves that are taught on video by Paul Lelekis (included), and will require a small bit of practice.. nothing is beyond the beginner or those not accustomed to using gaffs. Lots of bang for your bucks…
regular basis are probably familiar with the problems of typical inexpensive coils. Many tear. Some are so tight they refuse to extend properly. Others are only a fraction of the length of Opkoopjes.
a single penny. Actually, it cost me a pretty penny… but that’s another story for another day. There was a time when publishing and mailing on the internet was basically free. Those were the good ‘ol days for sure. Now, you have specific and complicated hoops to jump through.. or the internet troll will prevent your crossing the bridge, take your candy, throw you in the water, and make your day a miserable mess.
internationally as a magician. Lim’s first appearance on Fool us has earned over 50 million views, and led to an offer for him to appear on the show again. He is the only magician in the history of the series to fool Penn and Teller twice.
effects through years of hard work and recently contacted Paul with the enviable task of putting everything together into an ebook.