Magic Roadshow

MAGIC ROADSHOW #8
Spring/Summer 2021

Hello Everyone..

I hope this issue of the Roadshow finds you well and safe. That’s asking a lot – considering everything we’ve been through, and some are still going through.. particularly my friends in India. I truly pray we are on the downside.

Virtual magic shows. That seems to be the genre many are flocking to.. It definitely has advantages and disadvantages.. but seems to be something that will continue to be with us for a long time to come. I’ve made an effort to highlight a couple of features that deal specifically with virtual magic, including a video of a full show, to give those of you who are reluctant to give way to the virtual world a reason to dip your toesies in the water.

My personal club has survived all these months by meeting online (Zoom) every couple of weeks to share our latest and sometimes just talk theory – or rumor… Surprisingly, when my young bride, Carolyn, talked to Santa this past year.. she made sure he brought me everything needed to make me look pretty during our meetings. What a gal !! (.. and THANKS to my friend, Michael Lyth, for the pic of Penn and me..)

I’ve also made a extra effort to highlight some of my favorite quotes. I know everyone doesn’t have an interest in quotes.. but I also know everyone doesn’t have an interest in magic. So there… Quotes are a super-quick method of conveying a thought.. without the interplay of heavy prose. They are the KISS principle personified….

Be sure to read the playing card quotes by my Australian buddy.. EndersGame.. who I consider one of the most informative guys on the planet when it comes to playing cards. He regularly writes reviews for PlayingCardDecks.com, and they are a super resource related to anything cards. Their archive of articles is awesome…

I’ve included a three-part feature with one of my personal favorites.. Vinh Giang. There’s some seriously good advice for those of you willing to take a few minutes to listen to his talks.

My Florida friend.. Paul Lelekis, is back with an unusual effect with numbers.. and I have included a number of reviews I wrote for Murphy’s Magic -plus- a bunch of videos I found while searching the internet for any possible relationship between me and Bill Gates… or Jeff Bezos, or Elon Musk, or……

There is a definite lean toward math magic in this issue.. which is one of my favorite styles. Don’t let this bother you.. as everything is extremely simple to perform and will make you look like a whiz. Seriously.. pre-conceived notions are NOT allowed.!

I’ve reviewed two very important books for this issue: MAGIC INSIDE OUT by Robert E. Neale & Lawrence Hass.. and THE BOY WHO CRIED MAGIC by Andi Gladwin. Both books are very different.. but quite important to the magic community. My recent cataract surgery enabled me to actually read a WHOLE book once again. I’m so glad.

I’m slowly learning the secret to this publishing thing is knowing when to shut up….

Thoughts or comments? Email me at: [email protected]

This issue, as a PDF, contains 57 pages and approx. 13117 words.   DOWNLOAD

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Genius Addition – Tutorial – Paul A. Lelekis
A Companion Mystery – Effect – Rick Carruth
Happy Birthday – A Special Magic Square – Effect
Quotes and One-Liners About Playing Cards – EndersGame
Johnny Wu Complete Virtual Magic Show – Video
Marvin Berglas The Founder Of Marvin’s Magic | Talk Magic #38
The Insider -Teller – Video Interview
The Mystery of Magic’s Greatest Card Trick – Article – David Segal
Las Vegas Weekly Says “Magic Is Back..!” – Article & Resource
Personalized Playing Cards – Create Your Own
Super Easy Trick with Any Glue Stick -Video – Jay Sankey
The Perfect Mentalism Trick Tutorial – Video Tutorial
Who has the Top Ten magic blogs on the internet?
Magic Trick Tutorial School – One Hundred Plus Video Tutorials
Crazy Visual Double Color Change – Card Trick Tutorial Video
Super Simple Card Trick // The Lie Detector – Video
Presentation and Showmanship Advice – Vinh Giang Ted Talk
Vinh Giang | Perspective – Video
Instantly Know the Identity of a Chosen Card – Video Tutorial
Summit – by Abstract Effects – A Review – R.Carruth
The Boy Who Cried Magic by Andi Gladwin – Review – R.Carruth
Gleam -by William Alexis Houcke – Review
Social Print by Juan Alvarez and Twister Magic – A Review
Colorfool by Victor Zatko – A Review
The Vault – Box Clever – by James Brown – A Review
Transit (Red) by Ron Salamangkero – A Review
Magic Inside Out by Robert E. Neale & Lawrence Hass – Review
Parting Shots from Darynda Jones… Quotes
Walking Blues – Featuring Keb Mo – Video
SIGN UP FOR THE MAGIC ROADSHOW…. And Other Stuff….

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“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge.. Argument is an exchange of ignorance.” – Unknown.

“It’s not what you do that counts. It’s what they think you do.” – David Lusti

“Each manne liketh the smelle of his owne farte” Old English proverb

“America is not great because it is more enlightened than any other nation, but rather because it has always been able to repair its faults.” Alexis de Tocqueville (1835)

“My worst trait: lack of scripting. My best trait: lack of scripting.” Justin Willman

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Genius Addition – Tutorial
Paul A. Lelekis

Anyone can be a lightning-fast calculator if one knows the secret of this addition trick. What makes this “trick” so cool is how EASY it is to perform.

1) Ask someone to write any five-figure number on a piece of paper.

2) You then write a five-figure number beneath it (as you would do, if you were adding the numbers up), apparently at random. It is NOT at random…actually you choose your digits so that each one, when added to the digit above it, will total NINE.

For example…let’s say that the spectator’s number is…

Her number: 73851

Your number below: 26148 – Look at each digit of the spectator’s number and the corresponding digit right below it…they always add up to NINE!

3) Next have the spectator write another five-figure number (her second number), beneath your number.

4) You then write a fourth number, below her number, using the same “equals-nine principle” as you did above.

5) Finally have her write a fifth number below the other four numbers above. You then draw a line under all five numbers…and without a moment’s hesitation, you write the correct total!

The Secret: Just subtract 2 from the fifth number and then put a “2” in front of what is left! That’s it!

For example: If the fifth number (the third number written by the spectator) is 48765…then the total will be 248763!

Have the spectator add everything up and they will be amazed! And NO…the total is not the same every time – it’s always different. This one is a real puzzler!

NOTE: If the fifth number ends in, let’s say, a “0” or a “1” (for example, the 5th number as above is written 48761, then subtract “2” from “61” and your final number will 248759.)

If the 5th number is 48760…then subtract 2 from “60” to arrive at 48758 and your final number will be 248758! This is an extremely baffling effect!

Paul Lelekis – You can view ALL of Paul’s ebooks, at Lybrary.com
They are, undoubtedly, one of the best values in all of magic.. Many are now considered underground classics and are available for IMMEDIATE download…
http://lybrary.com/paul-a-lelekis-m-163788.html

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A Companion Mystery – Effect
Rick Carruth

Here’s a really good ‘companion’ to Paul’s effect. If you are in the mood to WOW someone with your fascinating math skills, or prediction skills.. this is as good as any two effects.. considering the effort of the performer. You can learn both of these effects in a matter of minutes. Both effects use the same principle.. but are performed in a different manner.

Note: This is NOT my effect. I can’t credit it to any performer in particular, as it has been in print for some time.. certainly long enough to be in the public domain.. I have added a little twist to make it slightly more ‘mental’.

Ask a spectator to write down a five digit number. Tell the spectator you are also going to write down a number on a separate sheet.. but you are going to wait until the end to reveal your selection. In many cases, the spectator may be writing his number on a pedestal board for the audience to see.

Watch carefully as the spectator writes their number.. but not so carefully as to seem to be carefully watching !! Within a couple of seconds of the spectator completing their number, you should also finish and fold your paper.. placing it on a table or giving it to another spectator to safely hold. Make your writing of a number seem like an entirely separate act from that of the spectator.

If the spectator should write down something like -52694-, you will quickly write -252692-. This is a prediction. This is also nothing more than a 2 added to the front of the spectator’s number.. and a 2 subtracted from the last digit of the spectator’s number. Simple right?

Tell the spectator the two of you are going to create 5 five-digit numbers total.. and you would like for him to write a second five digit number under his first.

Now, you get to write a number on the sheet/board. Your number will be such that every digit you write, added to the digits of his second number (ignore the first 5-digit number) total 9. So.. if his second number is 65280… then YOUR number will be 34719..

65280
34719
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(99999)

Try to write your number as quickly as possible.. not so quick that you make an error.. but quick enough that the audience doesn’t suspect you are performing any sort of addition or subtraction. Make it quick AND casual…

Ask the spectator to write a 4th 5-digit number.. and you write a 5th five digit number using the same method as with numbers 2 and 3… writing a last number with all digits totaling nine when added to his 4th number.

Ask the spectator to add the 5 five-digit numbers. Don’t embarrass them. Make sure they have a calculator (must phones have one) to assist them with their addition.

Remind the audience that you made a prediction as the very first number was being written.. and that you had no way of knowing the other numbers that would be selected.

Have your prediction revealed.. and enjoy the reaction when your prediction and the sum of the five numbers match perfectly. With the proper storyline.. this is a very convincing bit of mathematical magic.

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Happy Birthday – A Special Magic Square – Effect
Rick Carruth & John Scarne & ???

( This effect has been temporarly removed. More next issue… )

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Great Quotes and One-Liners About Playing Cards –
by BoardGameGeek reviewer EndersGame

A deck of cards isn’t just a box filled with 52 pieces of cardboard. These playing cards can become your friends in a card game, your accomplices in a magic trick, and your companions in a deck collection. They can even represent something much bigger than the contents of a small box.

To some, a deck of cards can represent a prayer book and a Bible. There’s an old story – sometimes circulated by email – where a soldier explains how his playing cards help him talk to God. When hauled before a superior to explain why he uses the devil’s picture book in church, he starts going through his entire well-worn deck, explaining as follows: “Your Honor, to me this deck of cards is my prayer book and Bible. When I look into these cards and see an Ace, it reminds me that there is only one God. When I see the Deuce, it reminds me that the Bible is divided into two parts, the Old and the New Testaments. When I see the Trey, it represents the three persons of the Blessed Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.” He also explains how it represents the 52 weeks of a year, four seasons, and more. You can find many versions of this great story online – read one here.

But playing cards can also be a source of wisdom. These 52 paste-boards have inspired witty thinkers, philosophers, and comedians alike, to come up with clever one-liners and sayings about playing cards. The fact that playing cards have served as chosen symbols and metaphors to impart wisdom says something about how popular and influential playing cards have been in our culture. I’ve scoured far and wide, and what you see here represents the best quotes and one-liners about playing cards that I could find. I haven’t been able to verify each and every source, although I’ve done the best I can to attribute these correctly. But in the end, the most important thing is the genius of the quotes themselves. So enjoy these pithy sayings, and put them to work for you!

Life is like a game of cards

Life
“Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the game.” – Randy Pausch

“Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.” – Jack London

“Just because Fate doesn’t deal you the right cards, it doesn’t mean you should give up. It just means you have to play the cards you get to their maximum potential.” – Les Brown

“Has fortune dealt you some bad cards? Then let wisdom make you a good gamester.” – Francis Quarles

“Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her; but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.” – Voltaire

“Destiny plays its cards in a way that no one can comprehend.” – Anurag Shourie

“Just when you think you’re playing your cards right, God shuffles the deck.” – Mark Sheppard

Choices
“One should always play fairly when one has the winning cards.” – Oscar Wilde

“In order to win you must be prepared to lose sometime. And leave one or two cards showing.” – Van Morrison

“A good lawyer, just like a good poker player, must always keep his cards close to his chest.” – Mallika Nawal

“The cards always look different when it’s your turn to play them; loaded with subtly different possibilities.” – Alastair Reynolds

Wisdom
“If you are going to build something in the air it is always better to build castles than houses of cards.” – Georg C. Lichtenberg

“No one knows what is on the other side of a playing card.” – Jose Hernandez

“Everyone should be able to do one card trick, tell two jokes, and recite three poems, in case they are ever trapped in an elevator.” – Daniel Handler

Potential
“A pack of cards is a pile of 52 pieces of cardboard that can be bent, stacked, and stuck together in a seemingly endless array of variations.” – Jay Sankey

“When I look at playing cards, I see limitless potential. When these simple symbols are shuffled, fortunes are won, the future is foretold, or magic is unleashed.” – Joshua Jay

“Playing cards have the ability to cloud men’s minds, or to dominate them.” – Ricky Jay

“Cards are power; learn to harness that power, and you will be forever rewarded.” – James Swain

“Cards are like living, breathing beings and should be treated as such.” – Dai Vernon

Games
“Cards are one means of bridging differences in age and habits, drawing children and parents, old and new friends together in fair and friendly competition.” – Florence Osborn

“Rummy is deservedly popular because it is easy to learn, fast to play, suitable for all ages, playable by any number, and as suitable for gamblers as for missionaries – though perhaps not both at once.” – David Parlett

“Cards are war, in disguise of a sport.” – Charles Lamb

“There are no friends at cards or world politics.” – Finley Peter Dunne

“Trust everybody, but always cut the cards.” – Finley Peter Dunne

“Playing cards is addictive. So are the playing cards themselves. My habit has me up to two packs a day.” – Joshua Jay

Magic
“For a professional magician, a stack of playing cards is as good as a stack of money.” – Amit Kalantri

“A magician may step out without a purse, but he should never step out without a pack of playing cards.” – Amit Kalantri

“All the magicians have 52 mutual friends.” – Amit Kalantri

Humor
“I stayed up one night playing poker with tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died.” – Steven Wright

“Those bellhops in Miami are tip-happy. I ordered a deck of playing cards and the bellboy made fifty-two trips to my room.” – Henny Youngman

“Men are like a deck of cards. You’ll find the occasional king, but most are jacks.” – Laura Swenson

“Love is like a card trick. After you know how it works, it’s no fun any more.” – Fanny Brice

“Marriage is a lot like playing cards. In the beginning, all you need is two hearts and a diamond. By the end, you’ll wish you had a club and a spade.” – Unknown

So next time someone challenges you that playing cards are just for kids, speaks condescendingly about your deck collection, or frowns at your love for playing card games or performing card magic, whip out some of these verbal gems, and silence their criticism with some philosophy, wit, or humor!

This article was written by BGG reviewer EndersGame, and was first published on https://PlayingCardDecks.com with permission from the author. You can read more of his articles about playing cards here: https://playingcarddecks.com/pages/playing-card-articles

Original source: (Posted by Will Roya on March 26, 2019)
https://playingcarddecks.com/blogs/all-in/great-quotes-and-one-liners-about-playing-cards

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Johnny Wu Complete Virtual Magic Show – Video

Johnny Wu is a professional magician/performer who is specializing in virtual magic shows, but not entirely… The times have dictated his direction. Here is a 47 minute show from Johnny that gives you a good idea of how one magician is changing to meet the times…

“In the current age, staying connected has become an essential part of many people, regardless of their geographical location. This has made many people shift their attention to online video conferencing as the most convenient means of reacquainting with their loved ones, workmates, and colleagues.

Also, many meetings and formal events are held online, such as hybrid events, which can be spiced up by hosting online magic shows. These shows have proved to be the perfect way through which people reconnect and get entertained at the same time. People love virtual magicians because they can literarily turn online meetings and typical Zoom parties into breath-taking, exhilarating and extraordinary experiences.

For this reason, many people are readily willing to attend your hybrid event if they learn that a virtual magician has been booked, allowing them to reconnect with other people and participate in the fun and entertaining antics to be pulled by the professional magician.” -Johnny Wu-

https://youtu.be/yoV4XsVxNmw     https://www.johnnywu.co/

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Marvin Berglas- Founder Of Marvin’s Magic- Talk Magic #38

( From Craig Petty’s Magic TV )

“I am absolutely honoured that Marvin Berglas from Marvin’s Magic agreed to appear on Magic TV. I have a lot of respect for Marvin. He is a true entrepreneur whilst still holding onto his passion for magic. He hasbuilt a global empire which continues to be just as successful today.

In this interview Marvin doesn’t hold back. He talks about growing up the son of one of the most famous magicians of all time. He talks about how he started Marvin’s Magic and how he grew it from very humble beginnings to a global company.

Along the way he gives solid practical advice for magicians. How to create a brand, how to market yourself, how to stand out and how to deal and cope with adversity.

This is one of the most inspirational and motivational interviews I’ve uploaded yet and it should be required viewing for every magician.

Here’s the link. Let me know what you think in the comments.”

Thanks to Magic New Zealand for the original link…
http://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2021-Jan-to-Dec-2021/1614-Apr11-2021.html

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The Insider -Teller – Video Interview

The Insider, available on most podcast platforms, recently featured Teller on an almost one hour podcast. The podcast was videoed and posted to Youtube for your pleasure. Yes.. Teller CAN speak.. and does so very well on this interview, published by Vanishing Inc, and featuring a different magician every week.

All you need to watch/listen to their podcasts is a computer.. although they are also available via Apple and Google podcast, Spotify, Breaker, Castbox and others.

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The Mystery of Magic’s Greatest Card Trick – Article
By David Segal – May 23, 2021

At 94, the magician David Berglas says his renowned effect can’t be taught. Is he telling the truth?

LONDON — In the late 1940s, the British magician David Berglas started refining a trick that came to be known as “the holy grail of card magic.” To this day, nobody is certain how he did it.
Decades into his retirement, he has revealed just about every secret in his long and storied career. This includes the time, in 1954, that he made a grand piano vanish in a London hotel banquet room filled with guests. (Distracted, the audience turned their focus in time to see a pianist, who seemed to be playing the instrument a moment earlier, fall facedown to the floor). But even now, when the subject of Mr. Berglas’s famous effect is raised, he remains as cryptic as ever.

“It’s not a secret I can give to anyone because it’s not a secret as such,” said Mr. Berglas, a formal and intense 94-year-old, at his home in North London. “It’s like asking a musician who can improvise to teach you his improvisation, which of course he can’t.”

The trick is a version of a classic plot of magic, called Any Card at Any Number. These tricks are called ACAAN in the business.

ACAAN has been around since the 1700s, and every iteration unfolds in roughly the same way: A spectator is asked to name any card in a deck — let’s say the nine of clubs. Another is asked to name any number between one and 52 — let’s say 31.

The cards are dealt face up, one by one. The 31st card revealed is, of course, the nine of clubs. Cue the gasps.

There are hundreds of ACAAN variations, and you’d be hard pressed to find a professional card magician without at least one in his or her repertoire. (A Buddha-like maestro in Spain, Dani DaOrtiz, knows about 60.) There are ACAANs in which the card-choosing spectator writes down the named card in secrecy; ACAANs in which the spectator shuffles the deck; ACAANs in which every other card turns out to be blank.

For all their differences, every ACAAN has one feature in common: At some point, the magician touches the cards. The touch might be imperceptible, it might appear entirely innocent. But the cards are always touched.

With one exception: David Berglas’s ACAAN. He would place the cards on a table and he didn’t handle them again until after the revelation and during the applause. There was no sleight of hand, no hint of shenanigans. It was both effortless and boggling.
Read More..

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Las Vegas Weekly Says “Magic Is Back..!” – Article & Free Resource

On of my favorite resources is the LAS VEGAS WEEKLY magazine. It’s full of color, full of information, and FREE. When you visit the link below, look for the ‘Subscribe’ link in the navigation bar and sign up. It’s honestly a good resource to have, available as a flip book, and full of articles about not only Vegas life.. but articles like “How to outsmart your Smartphone”, and many other general topic items.

Be sure to check out the archives…

https://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/2021/apr/08/vegas-magic-is-backand-ready-to-try-new-things/

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Personalized Playing Cards – Create Your Own For As Little As $8.00 per Deck! (Ad)

This is where I get my personalized cards. The seller I buy from uses Bicycle brand cards and my custom cost is around $15.00 per deck. You can get customized cards for as low as $8.00 per deck.. and this is the single deck charge, not the bulk price. My decks look GOOD on Zoom!! The faces are tinted a light grey, cutting the glare considerably.

Zazzle is FULL of custom made items to make your magic look Great. Use the search box and enter ‘playing cards’, ‘magic wands’, ‘dice’, ‘crystal balls’, or anything you can imagine. I frequently go to Zazzle.. and get lost for an hour or two, trying to narrow down what I need from what I want…

https://refer.zazzlereferral.com/RickCarruth

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Do Super Easy Beginner Magic Trick with Any Glue Stick! – Jay Sankey

An empty glue stick tube can be a strong source of magic. Don’t believe me? Jay Sankey will tell you why I’m right… and you’re wrong!

“Do an amazing magic trick with any glue stick. Uhu, Pritt, any brand! This is so easy to do, it’s the perfect beginner magic trick to learn. Master magic teacher Jay Sankey makes it easy to learn card tricks, coin tricks and more!”

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The Perfect Mentalism Trick Tutorial – Video Tutorial

This is a technique, not an effect… although if you perform the technique, an effect will be super easy. I like this better than the traditional center tear.. but that’s just me.

“You will always be able to read anyone’s mind with this simple but very deceptive technique! This drawing duplication mentalism secret never fails to amaze! Learn how to guess names, numbers drawings and cards with this mentalist secret.”

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Who has the Top Ten Magic Blogs on the internet?

(Yours truly has one of them) Check them out here..!

https://blog.feedspot.com/card_magic_blogs/

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Magic Trick Tutorial School – 100 Plus Video Tutorials

Now.. I have NO idea the name of the young lady who publishes Magic Trick Tutorial School.. but she publishes a LOT of videos. These are not earth shattering revelations, but.. they are interesting.

You may see something you knew in years past and you may figure a way to renew it in the virtual market. The videos are well recorded.. BUT.. the music is extremely diabolical…

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx5lgtyrNouEAUMg5Vy39uw

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VISUAL Double COLOR CHANGE // Card Trick Tutorial

A two card color change inspired by CardMagic by Richard Kaufman.. performed by 52Kards. Good stuff..!

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Super Simple Card Trick // The Lie Detector – Video

This is what pure showmanship can do for a card trick..

“In this video, Vinh Giang performs an incredible routine known as “The Lie Detector”. The great thing about this trick is that it requires absolutely no technical skill at all. It’s pure showmanship and presentation, and when performed well it’s extremely powerful. It’s an excellent way to use a deck of cards to explore human psychology and personal connection.”

Some of you will recognize this for what it is… probably the most informative video in this newsletter.

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Presentation and Showmanship Advice – Vinh Giang Ted Talk

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. With magic as his metaphor Vinh Giang will share with you an extremely powerful way to improve your presentation ability dramatically. A technique used by many magicians all over the world, it’s deceivingly simple yet very effective.

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Vinh Giang | Perspective

Keynote Speaker Vinh Giang outlines his main topic, The Psychology of Illusion. Vinh is a top thought leader on topics like Leadership, Technology, Sales and Marketing, Business Growth, Engagement, Culture, Performance, Collaboration and Communication.

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Instantly Know the Identity of a Chosen Card – Video Tutorial

Allow someone to select any card in the deck, turn the deck face up and spread, and instantly know the identity of the chosen card. The spectator can look at the face up deck and will not have a clue how you did it…

https://www.magicmysteries.org/

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Summit – by Abstract Effects – A Review
(Gimmicks and Online Instructions)

This is the Ad Copy:

From the minds of Patrick Kun, The Other Brothers & Abstract Effects –comes a thought of card to Sharpie unlike anything you have EVER seen!

Even includes a routine and method for ONLINE performances.

At last, a thought of card to Sharpie that has NO card switches, NO sharpie switches, and a PRACTICAL yet mind-blowing method.

Your spectator THINKS of a card. You hand them a sharpie to write down what they are thinking of…but to their surprise, the sharpie doesn’t actually work.

You take the sharpie from the spectator, and WITHOUT ANY MOVES, and while keeping the Sharpie IN VIEW THE ENTIRE TIME…you open it up to REVEAL a card rolled up inside.

The spectator still HAS NOT SAID, OR EVEN written down their card.

Then the spectator is asked to name their card. With NO switches or moves of ANY kind, the card is turned over and is the EXACT card the spectator named – EVERY TIME!

NO card switches or sharpie switches!

The gimmick is designed for easy use with a super practical method and ability to keep the gimmick on you wherever you go so you’re ready to blow some minds at a moment’s notice.

Summit comes with everything you need to perform right out of the box, and can be reset easily so you’re always ready to perform! Great for beginners to workers & pros!

My Thoughts:

Don’t you love it when you get a REAL effect in your hands! There are so many downloads and videos it feels really good to get your hands on something tangible. In this case, something that is truly magical and unique, something that enables you to do a bit of magic unlike anything you’ve probably performed before.

I don’t want to get all mushy on you.. but I DO want to express my pleasure with SUMMIT and The Other Brothers.

I’m not going into detail about The Other Brothers and Patrick Kun.. if you are reading this review, you should be familiar with all three of these very talented magicians and some of the many effects they’ve created the past several years. Also, I don’t know who did what or who came up with this or that. I only know all three are credited and the Other Brothers present the video tutorial for Summit.. which runs almost fifty minutes.

The premise is explained very well in the ad copy.. and everything in the ad copy is correct. I have a tiny issue with one phrase and I’ll talk about it in a moment.

A spectator is asked to merely think of a card. There is a bit of directing on your part, but if done as taught the spectator will never realize they didn’t have a complete choice. When the magician and the spectator have narrowed the selection down to less than a dozen cards, the ‘magic’ happens..

The spectator, without naming their final selection, is given the Sharpie to write down their answer. Unfortunately, the Sharpie doesn’t work. The magician tells the spectator the Sharpie sometimes gets clogged.. and proceeds to take it apart, VERY openly, and reveals a card rolled up insiide the barrel of the pen. The spectator is THEN asked to name their selection.. and the rolled up card is revealed to be a match. The ad copy says “..with NO moves of any kind.” There is a slight move, but it is not visible to the spectator. It’s not a point of contention.. but I didn’t want you to think the card ‘magically’ transports to the Sharpie, or is in the Sharpie beforehand.

HOW it gets in the Sharpie is the masterful aspect of SUMMIT. Tools are used. But.. they are minimal and unobtrusive. I think THAT is what makes this a unique effect. The ‘tools’ themselves are also unique. I am not aware of anything similar.

Up front.. this is the perfect effect for a Virtual Performance. It is somewhat easier virtually than in person.. and the overall effect is just as strong.

A couple of other side notes… The gimmick is made with a real sharpie. Should your gimmick ever go south.. you can create another gimmick on your own.

The video is typical Murphy’s Magic quality. This is not a highly stylized video.. but it doesn’t need to be. It will convey everything to you a good tutorial should.

This is rated as an Intermediate level effect. It uses a few basic moves to keep the audience focused in the right direction. Although I’m confident an advanced beginner can perform Summit successfully.. you will not perform this straight out the box.

You need to run through the handling and patter a few times to avoid hiccups. There are also a couple of minor moves you need to perfect behind the scenes to make everything copacetic. Would you try to perform a mercury fold for the public with no practice? No. But.. once practiced.. it’s not difficult. Same here…..

Is it worth $55.00 bucks? If you use it.. it certainly is. This is something that will become a staple in the routines of a number of performers. It’s easy to set up.. and only requires you to slip a little something in your pocket beforehand. If you visit the link below and watch the demo.. you’ll get a very good idea of exactly what YOUR audience will see.

I am recommending all my friends and readers buy this. If I get one email condemming me for recommending this product.. it’s OK.. because I’ll get ten more thanking me for recommending it. So there….!

$55.00 .. From Murphy’s Magic and their Associates.
https://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=66618

Review by Rick Carruth

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Richard Garriott, a British/American astronaut and video game developer, accomplished a feat no other magician will ever be able to duplicate.. He performed the world’s first full magic show in space while aboard the International Space Station in 2008.

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The Boy Who Cried Magic by Andi Gladwin – A Review

This is the Ad Copy:

After spending a decade producing more than 100 magic books for some of the biggest magicians in the industry, Andi Gladwin is finally releasing his own book. And it is quite possibly the most highly-anticipated book of the year!

While Andi has released numerous effects and many popular lectures, this is the first time he has ever compiled his very best card magic routines into one comprehensive magic book. Each of the 16 full routines and 15 sleights featured in this book have been carefully crafted over a lifetime of performing for every type of audience in every type of venue.

There is something for every card magician in this incredible book from Andi’s amazing rapid-fire multiple selection routine known as “Fireworks” to his powerful thought-of cards across, super commercial “Whack your Phone Effect” and even a practical Triumph routine where the audience helps you mix the cards.

There’s also, of course, plenty of material for the most dedicated sleight of hand card magicians, including 15 techniques such as his full work on the Master Pushoff, new moves such as the UnDo Cut and UnDo Shuffle, and a unique take on the Braue Popup that you’re going to want to add directly into your Ambitious Card routine.

Beyond its remarkable contents, The Boy Who Cried Magic is quite possibly the most beautiful book Vanishing Inc. has ever produced. This breathtaking hardback book features 250 pages and 240 full color photos, all printed on premium glossy paper. The addition of a gorgeous slipcase will make this book stand out on your shelf.

“The Boy Who Cried Magic is a perfect magic book, written by the best writer in magic. The tricks are world-class performance pieces, and the book itself is stunning. Every magician should own it!”
– Dynamo

“The Boy Who Cried Magic is one of the most beautifully-designed magic books in recent memory. It looks and feels like something you’d find in an art bookstore. As for the magic, Andi Gladwin’s Undo Cut is a highly deceptive false cut that is going straight into my act.”
– Steve Cohen

My Thoughts:

The Boy Who Cried Magic is Andi Gladwin’s first book of magic. It must be quite a challenge to be in Andi’s shoes and know your first publication sets a bar at such an impossible height. I don’t know if he is considering a second book, but personally, I’d have to set a spell and soak in all the wonderful reviews of my first one.

This was a much-anticipated publication by a highly respected performer.. and it met all the expectations. Everything from the effects, to the cover, binding, pages, super sharp photos and slip cover coalesced to create a masterful product.

The book features 16 complete effects/routines and 15 sleights in a total of 250 glossy pages. ( I constantly felt as if I were turning two pages..) The 240 color pictures by James Went and George Luck jump off the pages.. creating a complete visual to match Andi’s narrative. I could go on and on about the book.. but I think you get the point.. There are absolutely no cut corners and no expenses spared publishing Andi’s first book. As the publisher of over one hundred books and ebooks for other magicians, Andi knew exactly what he wanted.. and how to achieve it.

The first chapter of TBWCM is a treatise titled Making Magic Bulletproof. It is an essay of thoughts and tips from the author.. detailing Be Clear, Remove Abruptness, Be Authentic, Be Adaptable, Create Conversation and Adapt To It, Overlap Methods and, lastly.. Study. These are strong thoughts from a full-time professional.

The effects are Andi’s. These are effects he uses throughout his performances and are corralled through hundreds of performances over twenty plus years. These are not add-ons or submissions from other performers. These are all directly from his repertoire. To quote: “My repertoire didn’t appear overnight. It’s impossible to see when you look at the finished product, but every effect in this book has gone through dozens of late-night sessions and incremental improvements. I lost hair over these tricks.”

Andi’s book is all about card tricks, moves, and effects. No close-up, no coins, no thump tips.. and one cell phone. These effects are not beginner effects, and anyone purchasing this book who doesn’t possess at least a good, basic knowledge of cardmanship will probably be lost after the first effect. Everything is not super-complicated.. but it’s not beginner magic either. Andi takes a great deal of time to explain several of the sleights he uses, giving everyone ample opportunity to follow.. exactly as Andi would have it. He never tries to get ahead of readers.

Undo Cut, Undo Shuffle and Cull Shuffle Control are all good examples of some of the sleights taught. Cut, Stop, Shuffle, Red/Black To The Future, and Castle Jacks are all some of the ‘At the Card Table’ effects. Whack Your Phone, Monte Python, and Pocket Mule are three of my favorite ‘Close-Up’ card effects. And Silent Movie, Supersonic, and Aura are three of the five ‘Stand-Up’ card effects taught.

Each effect is detailed. The performance and handling are highlighted, along with any and all credits. Much work was put into describing the history of each effect, its first cousins, and Andi’s contribution to its advancement.

I could get into describing the various effects individually.. but I don’t think it’s going to matter. These are first-class routines, made available to anyone willing to part with fifty bucks. The cost is totally justified in all aspects. One of the effects alone is probably worth the cost of the book. Thought Experiment.. based on Edward G. Brown’s ‘ Twelve Card Thought Transposition’, can’t be described as an ‘effect’, but more appropriately a ‘study’ of what Andi considers to be the ‘best structured card trick of all time..’. “One sleight makes a genuinely thought-of card appear to travel across the room and you don’t need to know the name of that card.”

.. And this is only one of the 16 effects.

If you truly desire to immerse yourself in a tangent and intimate world of card magic, THE BOY WHO CRIED MAGIC is your elixir.

$50.00 .. Available at Murphy’s Magic and their Associates..

https://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=66402

Review by Rick Carruth for Murphy’s Magic & The Magic Roadshow..

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Gleam -by William Alexis Houcke – A Review

This is the Ad Copy:

Predict ANY CARD with Gleam!

You have one blank card, nothing more. Ask the spectator to turn on the flashlight of his smartphone and to name any card.
Then, put the blank card above the flashlight… you can see the value of the card he named!
Easy to do
Free choice, no force at all!
You only have one blank card, no switch!
Quick reset
Gimmick made using Bicycle cards + Online instructions in English and in French.

My Thoughts:

I like unique gimmicks. They are rare, and crank up my thought process. This is a unique gimmick that utilizes the light on your phone to create magic. Not sure how William came up with this.. but it’s definitely not your typical ho-hum magic.

Gleam is a utility device/prop created from a Bicycle card that, when held up to a light source, shows nothing. After a spectator selects a card, physically or mentally, you can now show the back of the card, again back-lit with a light source, and the identity of the chosen card will be revealed. (No, this is NOT a mental effect. You must know the identity of the card for it to appear.)

This is not a sleight of hand effect as much as it is a “..how did that card do that.” type effect. The focus is on the card.. as a source of amazement more so than on the magician.

The gimmick card is a well-designed and well crafted prop. It’s obvious much time went into creating each and every card. The care and detail is reflected in the price, as it IS a tad expensive.. but well worth the cost if you carry it. This is something magicians will carry to show others at a moment’s notice. It’s ideal for generating interest in you and your magic.

The instructional video is just over 8 minutes long. It does not go into detail outlining specific effects.. but giving you a tool to use to highlight your own routines. There are many different ways GLEAM can be used, and you should be prepared to work out your own handling.

All the ad copy is correct. Although it IS easy to do, you will need to practice the handling to make everything work as smoothly as possible. For those of you who love to implement your new phone into your act.. this is the perfect way to do it. Of course, you do not have to use a phone to perform GLEAM.. you can use any source of light, including small flashlights and lamps.

I would encourage you to visit the link below and watch the video. It will give you a precise idea of what GLEAM looks like to the spectator.

$35.00 .. From Murphy’s Magic and their associates.
https://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=67974

Review by Rick Carruth

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Social Print by Juan Alvarez and Twister Magic – A Review

This is the Ad Copy:

Twister Magic and George Iglesias are proud to present the new Social Print routine by Juan Alvarez designed for virtual and live shows!

It’s more than a trick. This is a full routine created for the amateur or professional magician. During the past 10 years, Juan Alvarez from Colombia, has been presenting Social Print with great success in-person, on television and recently through Zoom virtual shows. This routine easily adapts to any situation and is themed around social media. Packed with entertaining moments, it’s a proven worker that’s very easy to do.

Inspired by the trick “Silk,” by Lewis Davenport, Juan has reshaped everything, created a full script and audience tested the routine hundreds of times. You will receive everything you need to perform: A card box, 26 specially printed cards, two custom-printed silks, a Facebook hand accessory, and even Juan’s script. Of course, you are more than welcome to create your own routines, gags and lines!

1 special card box printed with FaceBook logos
1 special printed handkerchief – White and Blue (Made from heavy silk, great printing definition, high durability and also washable)
1 special printed handkerchief – Leonardo Di Caprio or Angeline Jolie (depending on the trick you purchase) (made from heavy silk, great printing definition, high durability and also washable)
1 Facebook hand (made of thick cardboard and plastified for high durability)
1 instructional online video card
1 Link to download: sound effects and a PDF with a written routine.
1 special set of 26 printed jumbo cards:
Containing:
– 10 different cards: Jennifer Aniston, Will Smith, Lady Gaga, George Clooney, Whoopie Goldberg, Sofia Vergara, Angelina Jolie, Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian, Donald Trump.
– 1 blank card (To add your own picture or any other picture you wish)
– 15 repeated cards to force: Leonardo Di Caprio or Angelina Jolie (Depending on the trick you purchase)

My Thoughts:

SOCIAL PRINT is released by Twister Magic and George Iglesias. I reviewed two effects by George in late 2020, Airplane Mode and A Letter To Santa, and both were two of my favorite reviews/effects of the year. So.. I had high expectations for Social Print.. knowing my prior experience with Twister Magic was a good one.

Juan Alvarez’s effect, just like my two other reviews, are all very heavy on the performance aspect. The first thing you notice when you take the products out the packages are their extremely durable manufacturing. It’s like they go overboard to make sure the props are useable for years and years. No exaggeration.

The other thing is the nature of the effect. SOCIAL PRINT is NOT a flash-in-the-pan type effect. You don’t wow your audience with gun powder and take a bow. This is a detailed and lengthy effect that builds to a climax. It’s not a complicated effect… Everything can be easily memorized by the performer as the effect tends to flow along from step to step and provides the magi with ample opportunity to talk and interact with his spectators.

The premise is this.. A heavy handkerchief is handed out for examination. It’s white, with a border, and blank.. The cloth is folded with the help of the spectator, and a rubber band is placed around it. A stack of large cards are introduced, each card with a picture of a famous celebrity. (Some listed in the ad copy). After several are shown and named, a spectator picks one of the cards and the rest are put aside. The handkerchief, after reasonable by-play, is unraveled.. to show it is now printed with a large picture of the selected celebrity. The name, Social Print, comes from the magi referring to the celebs as his FB friends, the use of sound effects created to resemble online sounds, and the use of a large FB Thumbs-Up as a prop during the effect.

Physically.. a beginner can perform this effect. The sleights are very simple, really, but with all the spectator interaction, I would recommend this effect for someone who has some degree of experience.

Actually, if you go to the Murphy’s link below.. there is a video demo AND a script of the bulk of the conversation between the magi and the spectators. This will give you a good idea of how the effect plays out.

The instructions are via Vimeo. The instructions are available in both English and Spanish.. but NO subtitles (Thank You Juan!) The English tutorial is one hour and 17 minutes, and teaches everything you would want to know. There is, aside from the instructions, a full, live performance in English. The first couple of minutes of the video are a live performance in Spanish. It scared me at first.. but not to worry.

Juan actually spends extra time showing how to perform Social Print on virtual performances and ZOOM meetings. This method is super easy and much appreciated by this reviewer.

The video sound and quality are very good, and you shouldn’t have any problems learning Social Print. Juan is from Columbia, South America.. but his English is quite good. He has trouble pronouncing Whoopie Goldberg.. but all is OK..!

There is also a link to a PDF.. if you prefer to learn the routine that way. There is also a sound file available that lets you reproduce the social media sounds.

There are two different versions of Social Print. One reveal is Leonardo Di Caprio and the second is Angeline Jolie. They are separate versions and you can order your choice of celebrity..

SOCIAL PRINT is intended for performers. If you enjoy engrossing your audience in your performance.. this will be a very good purchase for you. Fifty bucks is probably more than you pay for a typical effect.. but once you handle the props and watch the instructions, you’ll agree you made a smart choice. You’ll get LOTS of miles out of Social Print.

$50.00 .. Available at Murphy’s Magic and their associates.
https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=69202

Review by Rick Carruth

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COLORFOOL by Victor Zatko – A Review

This is the Ad Copy:

“Very visual, very sharp, a gimmick that fits a lot of routines, adapt it according to your imagination.”
– Bernard Bilis

“Colorfool is very smart, clean and more importantly VISUAL. Don’t hesitate, this is very good.”
– Mickael Chatelain

“Wow only 3 letters to describe it WTF”
– Etienne Pradier

COLORFOOL is a precision hand-crafted gimmick for insanely visual magic. With this method you will be able to make a card change, appear, disappear, as many times as you want without any kind of reset. The gimmick has been designed to be used in real close up conditions but also works perfectly for social medias.

In a nutshell:
Visual
Ready to go out of the box
No flap
Instant reset
Full routine taught
Get ready to be COLORFOOLED.

My Thoughts:

This is an intelligent little gimmick. I like the basic idea, as it offers the performer the opportunity to perform any one of a number of different effects.

The basic handling is this… You remove the top card of the deck, turn it sideways and place it back on the deck, and wave it like a paintbrush.. which changes the card underneath from a blue back card to a red back card. This is how the gimmick is designed to work. Naturally, like any good color change, you should add a routine to the handling to create the magic.

I don’t think Victor Zatko, the creator, would object to me telling you the magic is achieved with magnets. It’s much more than a couple of magnets placed to pick up the second card. Actually.. you can see the top half of the second card is still blue as the bottom half begins to change to red. You are furnished with four Bicycle cards; three gaffed blue backers and one regular red back card. The additional cards allow the performer to ‘control’ the magnetism. The proprietary feature with COLORFOOL is the precise placements and the handling.

The gaffs are all quality made and will last as long as a Bicycle card normally last. If one of the gaffs should wear out.. the magnets, which are precisely placed, could be removed and attached to another card. I will say that one card contains an internal magnet that would be difficult to replace, but it is also a card not likely to be abused and is only subject to normal wear and tear.

The instructions, approx.17 minutes, are available in either English or French.. and also includes an interesting effect in which a card is chosen and put back in the deck.. and after the deck is ‘painted’ the deck is spread to show every card has changed to red backers -except- the selected card, which still has a blue back. Victor also teaches several tips to help you create your own handling.

The video and audio are quite adequate. This isn’t a slick production, but it doesn’t need to be. COLORFOOL is recommended for any skill level. It was my belief those who will benefit most are those with at least a basic understanding of card magic, particularly considering these custom gimmicks are designed for the performer to add to his current routines and/or create unique content.

The basic handling is a bit ‘nichey’.. until you get the feel for the color change. It shouldn’t be a problem for the vast majority of you guys. Victor suggest that each COLORFOOL is handcrafted, and as such, is unique. Some handlers need to add an additional ungimmicked card between the gaffs to minimize the ‘pull’. Just practice the move a bit.. and you’ll quickly determine what you need to do to make your gimmick most efficient.

Additional notes: In addition to walk-around situations, this is a very good effect for social media. Although I haven’t done so, I think the visuals would be very impressive on camera. Although not totally a head-on effect, you would want to utilize deck management during your performance, primarily by keeping the deck about waist level. When brushing the blue card over the deck immediately before the color change, you can hold the card approx. an inch off the top of the deck, giving the impression the top card is not touching the second card of the deck.

I suggest going to Murphy’s site and watching the demo video to get a true idea of what COLORFOOL looks like in performance. If you decide this is for you.. I honestly think you’ll have a tool in your toolkit unlike anything else you own.

$29.95 .. Available from Murphy’s Magic and their associates.
https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=68455

Review by Rick Carruth

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The Vault – BOX CLEVER – by James Brown – A Review
Video Download

This is the Ad Copy:

The best card under box routine you have ever seen!

A freely chosen card, which can be signed, vanishes from the deck multiple times, appearing under the card case, inside the card case and finally the entire deck jumps into the case! ALL DONE WHILST THE SPECTATOR IS HOLDING THE CARD CASE! This is the kind of routine that gets more impossible with each phase and the closer they watch!

A master class in misdirection that is surprisingly easy to do!

My Thoughts:

James is a very well-known magician from the South of England. He has been awarded, among other things, The Magic Circle close-up magician of the year… which is quite the big deal. His style of magic is best described as a cross between close-up magic, hypnosis and pickpocketing, all presented in a humorous and casual manner.

I have not reviewed other effects by James for Murphy’s.. so I didn’t know for sure what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised…

BOX CLEVER really is a type of master class on misdirection. After a card is selected by a spectator, it strangely appears under a card box in the spectator’s hand. Somehow, after being placed back in the deck, the card again appears under the card box. Then, it’s place BACK in the deck.. and this time it appears inside the card box. After one last go-around, the card is the (apparently) only card in the magicians hand.. and the rest of the deck is now revealed to be in the card box.

Everything is achieved through smart misdirection and a very clever one-ahead. There are NO gaffs or props. Everything is strictly above board and is a very, as the name implies, ‘clever’ use of misdirection. I had to watch the video a couple of times to see what I knew was happening.

There are a couple of sleights.. but nothing beyond the average magician. James does utilize a side steal to get a card to the top.. but you can achieve the same action by simply bringing a card to the top using your favorite method. Also, there’s a time or two when you present two cards as one. That’s basically it…. James details his side steal.. if you need it.. and explains everything in detail.

I encourage you to go to Murphy’s site and watch a four minute video of a live performance… a FULL performance with nothing left as an added surprise for the buyers. The video tutorial itself is well-filmed and runs about fourteen and a half minutes. Box Clever is available as an instant download, and you can start learning immediately.

This effect is well worth the cost.. particularly if you are a walk-around or table hopping guy (or lady). It’s VERY strong.. and something you WILL use, over and over, for years to come.

$10.00 .. Available from Murphy’s Magic and their Associates.

https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=69223

Review by Rick Carruth

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Transit (Red) by Ron Salamangkero – A Review

This is the Ad Copy:

The audience will freak out when you allow them to examine before and after you perform Transit. They can watch closely… there’s nothing to catch.

Ron Salamangkero is proud to present his latest creation. A variant of the traveling hole illusion.

The magician punches holes in three corners of a playing card using a puncher. A ribbon is tied through one hole and the ends knotted together. The card now hangs from the ribbon. With no dodgy hand or finger movement, the magician moves the ribbon from one corner hole to another by sliding it through the space between the holes. He does it twice.

It’s visual magic that looks unbelievable even when seen up close!
The magician the hands everything to the spectator for examination.
Transit comes with a gimmick card and a step by step in-depth video instruction

My Thoughts:

Seems like I’ve reviewed a number of items recently that employ gimmicked cards. This is another such effect. Ron Salamangkero (Creator of The Answer & Face Off) has created a nice gimmick for guys and girls to use in close-up situations.

The basic handling is this.. The performer has a spectator select a card. The card is shown about, and the performer uses a hole punch to punch three holes in three different corners of the selection. A ribbon is tied through one of the holes.. and the magi guides the ribbon from this hole to the second hole.. and then to the third hole, appearing to defy the laws of solid objects. This is similar in appearance to a moving hole effect.. except the ribbon moves instead of the hole.

I’m going to offer up a few initial thoughts..

Thankfully, all the DIY has been performed by Ron. All you need to do is provide a hole punch. If you don’t have one, you can pick one up at most dollar stores. The gaffed card and the ribbon come with the effect.

A twelve minute instructional video has been posted online. Although the video quality is good, I think perhaps the script should have been practiced a time or two before being recorded. This is NOT a deal breaker.. just an observation. Everything you need to know is taught.

The gimmicked card itself CANNOT be passed out for examination. A card is freely selected beforehand.. and this is the card the audience will handle afterwards. For this reason, I am not sure this is an ideal effect for a beginner. Depends on your definition of ‘beginner’.. I suppose. You do need to be able to handle the initial selection, and switching in the gimmick. This is taught in the video.. but just be advised.

This effect should be performed with pace. It will not only look better.. but you will be less apt to ‘flash’ any component of the gimmick.

If you like the moving hole effects.. you’ll really like TRANSIT. This is a sharp gimmick that actually does most of the work for you.. although you WILL have to practice the moves. You’ll not perform this ideally straight out the package. Like most of the hole effects, finger placement is important.

I do wish TRANSIT were a bit less expensive. If you use it, I can see it being a very good investment. Perhaps the price-point could be justified if two or three gimmicked cards were included. As is, there is only one, and I can see it wearing out over time. Perhaps Ron will give you a deal on replacements.??

TRANSIT is made with Bicycle cards.. and is available as either Red or Blue backed gaffs.. your choice. As always, I encourage you to visit the Murphy’s link below and watch the demo. It gives you a great idea of the visual.

$29.95 .. Available at Murphy’s Magic and through their associates.
https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=69386

Review by Rick Carruth

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Magic Inside Out by Robert E. Neale & Lawrence Hass – A Review
Theory and Art of Magic Press

This is the Ad Copy:

ROBERT E. NEALE is an international treasure for magicians who enjoy mind-bending magic and powerful presentations.

Magic Inside Out collects fourteen of Bob’s astonishing routines-twelve of which appear here for the first time. In keeping with his trademark style, they employ a range of simple props and provocative themes to delightfully twist the perceptions of audiences.

Magic Inside Out also includes a major interview in which, for the first time, Bob tuns himself inside out, sharing the powerful story of his creative life and inspirations.

EUGENE BURGER: Bob Neale has created so many presentations that point us to life-our real lives with all their joy and sorrow, their confusion and clarity, their doubt and faith. Bob’s work is very powerful.

MARTIN GARDNER: Bob Neale is a wonder. How Neale manages to think of such things is a mystery hard to fathom.

JEFF MCBRIDE: Bob Neale is my hero. He takes on challenging topics like death, racism, religion, and other taboos. It astonishes me how he can transform even some of the darkest situations into light, humor, and inspiration.

BARRIE RICHARDSON: Bob Neale is a softhearted human being and a hardheaded philosopher of life. His brain is wired unlike anyone else I know. Bob’s insights make you shake your head with awe, wonder, and respect.

Hardcover; 176 pages. Release Date: January 15, 2021
Theory and Art of Magic Press

My Thoughts:

There are magicians.. and there are master manipulators. Robert (Bob) Neale, PH.D, is one of the latter. I could go on and on detailing his life and career in both magic and education.. but I don’t know what I could say that would make someone unfamiliar with Robert want to run out and buy this book.. and I don’t have to say anything to make those familiar with Bob instantly buy this book.

This is a gentleman who has co-authored books and DVD’s with Eugene Burger, David Parr, Michael Weber, Jeff McBride and Lawrence Hass. (co-author of this book). He is also the author of a number of extended essays related to magic, creativity, and magic and performance theory. Robert was a monthly columnist for THE LINKING RING, as well as a recipient of a Special Fellowship from The Academy of Magical Arts. Bob is also an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and taught at Union Theological Seminary in New York as Professor of Psychiatry and Religion. Honestly, I could go on an on.. but I think I’ve made my point.

Lawrence (Larry) Hass, PH.D, aside from being a highly respected artistic magician and writer, is the Dean of the McBride Magic & Mystery School. Larry is a former Professor of Philosophy himself, and had his creative magic featured in or on publications like the New York Times, USAToday, and The Discovery Channel. Larry is one of a tiny few who has taught magic and the magical arts at the college level. In addition to serving as a co-author of MAGIC Inside Out, he is also the publisher of this book.

I think we can actually thank the pandemic for this masterful book. Larry and Bob corresponded throughout 2020, with Bob sending Larry effects.. one by one.. until the two decided it was time to publish. I’m so glad they did…

This is a collection of fourteen very different effects.. each one totally different and unique from the others. There are effects with paper, plastic, currency, cards, a cigarette lighter, a modified magic square, fortune cards, and of course.. a pair of underwear. Seriously…

Bob is not a ‘presenter’ of magic. He is a performer who not only presents magic, but brings it to life with well-crafted patter and intelligent handling. Reading this book, one of the first treats you notice is how he teaches readers to present his magic just as he himself would present it to an audience. He goes into great detail explaining to both the readers and his audience WHY a piece of magic is more than just a moment of amazement. He wants to create a memory his audience will take with them.. and he does exactly that.. with a wonderful combination of aplomb and modesty.

Bob is quite well-known for his Borromean Rings. One of my personal favorites in MAGIC Inside Out is an effect featuring the rings, his script, performance and complete routine. I am easily entranced by items like the Borromean Rings, and it didn’t take much to draw me in. As Bob and Larry write.. it is difficult to relay the mystery of the rings in print. This is one of those effects you need to see. So, they have published a video of the complete five phases of the Baffling Borromean Rings and include the url in the book. This effect is a more compact version of the original, but you get to see/read about both versions.

Another of my favorite is Dream Door.. which is a close up version of Trap Door. The handling of this small miracle is very well taught, along with all the psychological and emotional aspects. You will like this…

The Nun Who Saw Strangely is another personal favorite. This is a nine-square magic square.. that isn’t a magic square. It is a very poignant story of a group of nuns from many years ago.. and tells their tale of great loss and how a small square that isn’t what it seems to be.. is actually something much deeper and complex. The working isn’t complex.. but the story is quite a drama.

Other effects, including Vietnam Zippo and Private Underpants, are just as interesting. I think, I hope, I’ve created enough interest in MAGIC Inside Out you’ll hurry on over and reward yourself with a book you won’t be able to put down until you’ve read every word and every effect. This is magic you won’t find anywhere else…

The last 40 pages are reserved for an in-depth interview with Bob.. by Larry. It’s only fitting. You NEED to understand the mind behind the magic, the mind behind the creativity and presentational matters in Magic Inside Out. This is truly rarefied air.. and I don’t doubt for a moment you will enjoy this as much as I did.

$35.00 .. Available from Murphy’s Magic and their Associates..
https://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=68830

Review by Rick Carruth

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Parting Shots from Darynda Jones… Quotes

“When I want your opinion, I’ll remove the duct tape.”

“Never trust a man with a penis.”

“I meant to behave. There were just too many other options.”

“Insanity does NOT run in my family. It strolls through, takes its time, and gets to know everyone personally.”

“If it weren’t for physics and law enforcement, I’d be unstoppable.”

“You can’t fix stupid, but you can numb it with a 2 by 4”

“I have a perfect body, it’s in my trunk.”

“I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Light than Kay.”

“The first testicular guard, the “Cup,” was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.”

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Walking Blues – Featuring Keb Mo – Video

Great video featuring musicians from around the world.. Great way to chill after reading this issue of the Magic Roadshow !!

http://magicblog.org

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Magic Video Tutorials: Hundreds and hundreds of hand-picked magic tutorial videos at:

Card Tricks and Magical Mysteries video blog.. https://www.magicmysteries.org/

Magic Roadshow Video Blog… http://magicblog.org

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That does it for this issue. I hope you found something to help your magic along. Remember, if you have material you would like to see published on the Magic Roadshow site.. send it to: [email protected] (This is my personal email. Guard it with your life..)

“Vive Tus Sueños – Live Your Dreams “

Rick Carruth / Publisher/

Senior Professor – Camelard College of Conjuring of Chemmis, Egypt.. http://www.camelardcollege.org/

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~ Disclaimers ~

This page may contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission on the sale. The price that you pay should not be affected by buying through an affiliate link, and I never use affiliate links if I know they’ll result in a price increase.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in the Magic Roadshow is accurate. However, there is no guarantee that you will achieve any particular results using the information provided or any products referenced. Examples in this document are not to be interpreted as promises or guarantees of any particular results.

All information is for education and information purposes only. Seek the advice of a qualified professional before acting on such information. In using this document, you agree that the Magic Roadshow and its publisher, Rick Carruth, are not responsible for your success or failure as a result of purchases made through this site.

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