Vanish Magazine 7
Vanish Magazine 7
Vanish Magazine 7
STREET THEATRE
BY KYLE RAVIN
ALAN WATSON
INTERVIEW
HANGING OUT WITH
THE STAR OF NEW
ZEALAND MAGIC
this edition
STREET PERFORMING
KEITH FIELDS SHARES HIS
EXPERIENCES ON THE STREET
editio
n
Alan
Wats
on
MAGIC TRICKS
LEARN MAGIC - FROM MENTALISM TO
CLOSE-UP TO STAND-UP ROUTINES
07
3
The Shovel
Orange
Endless Carrots
Brown Egg
Coke 500ml.
Big
Thumb
Lemon
Coke Mix
500ml.
White Bulb
Billiard
Ball 1
Clay Vase
Beige
Fake Feet
Pear
Dove
with feet
Billiard
Ball 8
Fake
Hand
Sausages
Dove to Flowers
White
Egg
The
Magic Walnut
Magic Apple
Juice
Banana
Canary
with feet
Big Eyes
Hammer
Clay Vase
Terracotta
Tongue
info@magiclatex.com - SPAIN
WWW.MAGOFELIX.COM
INFO@MAGOFELIX.COM
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April/May 2013
VANI SH
CONTENTS
FROM THE EDITOR
MAKING NEWS
BAMBOOZLERS12
STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
14
EDITOR
Paul Romhany
15
CO-EDITOR
Chipper Lowel
WEIGHT-A-SECOND18
PRODUCT REVIEWERS
Paul Romhany & Friends
22
IMAGINARY CIRCUMSTANCES
26
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR,
Paul Romhany
28
30
46
DIVING CARDS
50
52
SOUND ADVICE
54
58
62
A TRIBUTE TO JAKS
64
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Paul Romhany / Harry Monk
ART DIRECTOR
Paul Romhany/Chipper Lowell
PROJECTS MANAGER
Josh Miles
PROOF READERS
Richard Webster, Mick Peck
E-READER VERSION
www.revizzit.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Chipper Lowell, Magic Babe
Ning, Diamond Jim Tyler, Tony
Chris, Paul Romhany, Nick Lewin,
Wayne Rogers, Cris Johnson, Keith
Fields, Lee Alex, Richard Webster,
Bizzaro, TC Tahoe, Danny Archer,
Kyle Peron, Charles Bach, Steve
Spill, Jeff McBride, Chase Hasty,
Bill Warren, Ben Robinson, Joe
Gold, Paul Alberstat, Gwyn Auger,
Anders Hansen, Felix, Leif David,
Banachek, Kyle Peron, Balu the
Magician, Joe Pipia, Peter Mennie
TO ADVERTISE IN MAGAZINE
Contact Paul Romhany for more
information at:
info@paulromhany.com
72
IN YOUR HANDS
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80
LESSONS LEARNED86
10
28
BAMBOOZLERS
94
98
STRIKING A CHORD
102
106
126
128
130
128
136
A SNEAK VIEWING
138
JOKERS WILD144
5
132 FORGOTTEN
FROM THE
EDITOR
Its important to acknowledge
our mentors ...
Its been an incredibly busy month
as we prepare to move from New
Zealand back to live in Vancouver,
Canada this month. While packing
boxes, selling our house and clearing out my magic storage unit, and
travelling for shows, I have somehow
managed to put out another issue of
VANISH MAGIC MAGAZINE on time!
This wouldnt happen without all
the support of the contributors and
advertisers, so thank you all.
This issue is a special one for me as
I finally get the chance to feature
a New Zealand magic icon, Alan
Watson. Its been a long time coming
but am happy that I was here to do
the interview and put this feature together on one of my closest friends.
I think younger magicians forget
to acknowledge those who have
helped them along the way, and for
me it has been an opportunity to say
thank you and to acknowledge one
of my mentors.
There is a theme in this issue on
health. In March we lost a dear friend
to many magicians, Hal Spear. Hal
and I worked on several books and
Paul Romhany
info@paulromhany.com
www.vanishmagazine.com
updates telling you when each issue
is ready to download.
I always enjoy hearing readers views
on articles, good or bad, so please
do drop me an e-mail with your
thoughts. Id like to start up a section
where we print a few e-mails that
come in, so get your fingers typing.
Another new section I have started
is introducing readers to our advertisers. This is a little feature on them
and how they got into the business.
Its always nice to know who you are
buying products from.
With all the attention Burtwonderstone movie has gained over the past
month, I felt it important to feature
other films that are being produced
by magicians. These arent done on
big budgets with major movie stars,
but are just as important, if not more
so, to our magic community. In this
issue youll find two stories on two
very different types of films that is
worth everybodys support.
Enjoy this issue and stay tuned for
some very exciting and amazing
news coming VERY SOON ...
Paul Romhany
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MAKING NEWS
If you have a story or a news related item please e-mail
the editor at info@paulromhany.com
We try to keep the news as current as possible and
generally this is the last piece we work on prior to the
magazine going live.
Hal Spear Remembered
By Nick Lewin
There was very sad news
on the Internet about the
passing of Hal Spear. Hal was
a long time magician and
comedian who was a creative
and delightful force in both
areas. Born in Livingston, New
Jersey he was now living in
Las Vegas, Nevadalike so
many other magicians and
comedians. An avid magician
from an early age, Hal was
creative and persistent
in his approach to magic.
Ultimately he moved more
into the comedy sphere than
the magic world. However
he never lost his interest
in magic and brought his
encyclopedic knowledge of
comedy to bear on his first
love.
As a comedy writer Spear
wrote for such shows as,
The Drew Carey Show, The
Tonight Show, The Arsenio
Hall Show, The Howie
Mandel Show and many
others. He also wrote
for comedians such as
Rodney Dangerfield, Jay
Leno, Howie Mandel,
Rosie ODonnell, Tim
Allen and Rich Jeni. He
was one funny guy. As a
performer Hal (Chickie
to his friends) was seen
on numerous TV shows
and appeared in every
kind of live venue. His
comedy was always
fresh and smart. He
was a true comedians
comedian. However, he
BAMBOOZLERS
DIAMOND JIM TYLER
www.djtyler.com
CARD CONUNDRUM
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
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13
Briancookmagic@msn.com
Standing on the
SHOULDERS of giants
By Kyle Peron
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WEIGHT-A-SECOND
An impossible estimation effect by Stefan Olschewski
No questions
No fishing
No calculating
Nothing to remember
The Secret
If you expect the super-duper-freaky-high-skill-sleightsolution for the effect described above, I am sorry to
disappoint you. I still think the most straightforward versions are the best. Why do a fancy knuckle buster when
the same effect can be achieved a lot easier with gaffed
cards? Its the impact on the audience that really counts.
That is why I simply use a cleverly marked deck. Please
dont yell at me! I really do!
The Preparation
There is just a little preparation to be done before you
can start and that is secretly mark a deck of 52 poker
cards. I prefer Bicycle brand. The cards are deliberately
shuffled and then marked on the back with the numbers
from 1 to 51. One card remains untouched.
The Effect
A spectator is asked to freely cut a shuffled deck of
playing cards and hide the cut-off portion in his pocket,
while the magician is standing far from the table with
his head turned away.
The spectator puts the remaining cards back into the
case and hands it to the magician. Without even looking
at it, the magician weighs the card case in his hands. He
is immediately able to tell the spectator the exact number of cards that are in the spectators pocket.
18
The Performance
Take the deck from the case and
casually spread it face up to show
that the cards are in no particular
order. Give the deck a few false
cuts or shuffles and place it facedown in front of a spectator.
Do you know how much one
of these playing cards actually
weighs?
Hand the top card to the spectator and let him guess.
What do you think? An ounce? I
19
audience thinks you are just joking around. But you will
now prove your statement. Have the spectator take the
cards from his pocket and deal them into your hand one
at a time. The audience will be amazed that your apparent guess is absolutely correct.
LAWRENS GODON
Final Thoughts
I like to present the trick as a demonstration of estimation, which fits perfectly in a mentalism set. You might
as well have the spectator hide the rest of the cards,
too, once you got your glimpse. In my opinion, this
would make the effect too perfect. I think it is better to
announce to try to feel the number of cards that are
taken away, thus giving the audience something to think
about. You present a task that is highly improbable but
not impossible. And it may even be done blindfolded, if
you know how to get the glimpse along your nose.
If you have the spectator deal the cards he cut off from
the back and turn each card face up during the counting,
you can just take the complete packet, turn it face down
onto the cards in the box and you are reset to perform
again.
The Credits
Baker, Al: Weight Trick in: The Secret Ways of Al Baker,
The Miracle Factory - Todd Karr, 2003
Elmsley, Alex: Weight in: Minch, Stephen: The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley - Volume 1, L&L Publishing,
1991
Erdnase, S.W.: Weighing Cards in: The Expert at the
Card Table, 1902 (2002 facsimile edition)
Vernon, Dai: The Weight Guesser in: Cervon, Bruce:
Bruce Cervons Castle Notebooks - Volume 1, L&L Publishing, 2007
20
Moneypulation
www.lawrensgodon.com
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y
l
k
n
a
r
F
o
i
s
u
li l
Frankly
disillusioned
Terrific readparticularly
if you have an interest (like me) in
the entertainment industry.
Oli. Amazon
Frankly Disillusioned is the mad and wondrous, rats an all tale of thirty years of mystery,
magic and mayhem. It is funny and honest, just like the magician himself it will make you
laugh, it will make you seethe and then laugh all over again. It will take you in leaps and
bounds through the years of Dean & Claudines life but this glamorous(!?) life took them, at
times, to the edge of their endurance and had them dropping through the skies, plunging over
ravines and facing the ultimate humiliation at the hands of Britains Got Talent.
Its already being described as an absolute must read and is available now on Amazon by
e-book or paperback.
www.franklydisillusioned.com
21
Paid Advertisement
BIZZARO
Television can be
a magicians best
friend and their
most damning
decision.
22
Ask yourself,
Why do
I want to
be David
Copperfield?
23
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IMAGINARY CIRCUMSTANCES
My experience
in theater has
taught me
valuable lessons
about what is
missing from
many magic
shows.
26
JOEY PIPIA
Motivate Yourself
(Its What You Think!)
People are
compelled
to watch
when they
feel something. Magic
is theater.
27
28
Paid Advertisement
ALAN WATSON
A Lifetime of MAGIC
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Society of
Magicians and
Ring 160 of the
International
Brotherhood
of Magicians.
He co-founded
the MagicNZ
bulletin board in
the early 1990s,
introducing
New Zealand
magicians to
the Internet.
Incidentally,
this was the
first magic
bulletin board
in the world to be connected to the
Internet. Alan is possibly best-known
to international magicians for his
weekly Magic New Zealand e-zine,
which is read each week by over
17.000+ magicians, in more than 78
countries.
Alan Watson is the International
Deputy for the Society of American
Magicians for New Zealand. He
also acts as the New Zealand
representative for The Magic
Circle. Over the years, he has
organised more than 70 lectures by
international magicians to educate
and benefit NZ magicians. In
addition to all this, Alan has served
on the committee for three national
New Zealand conventions, and at
two of these, was responsible for
publicity and marketing. Alan is one
of the very few Kiwi magicians listed
in the International Whos Who of
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passion in helping
promote New Zealand
magicians internationally.
Along with my close
friend Chris Parkinson we
established a computer
bulletin board called
MagicNZ. Over that time
it allowed New Zealand
magicians to communicate
with each other using their
personal computers. We
then took a major step
forward by connecting
MagicNZ permanently to
the Internet. Back then it
was looked upon as being
very innovative to the
magic world. It was the first
magic bulletin board in the
world to be connected to
the Internet.
I foresaw patterns of
change and realised that
40
A - It is very disappointing
to see that some young
magicians are trying to
run before they learn
to crawl! It gives magic
a bad name and harms
professionals. Personally I
think it is very important
At present there are
that we encourage
17 other electronic
young magicians into
publications that have
magic clubs. This will give
permission to reproduce
items from the Magic New them good ethics and
guidance in all matters of
Zealand ezine.
performing and promoting
their current level of
P - What are the positive
expertise. Just because
aspects of magic on the
internet and what do you see you can put up a website
as negative aspects since the with glowing material and
false claims this can hurt
use of magic online?
our industry and magicians
working in your local area
Positive aspects are
who have paid their dues.
that you are able to
communicate in real time.
P - You had a great job in
Promote your business
marketing in your early
through websites,
days, at what point did
YouTube, Facebook,
you decide youd become
Twitter and many other
a full time magician and
ways. All in turn generate
what advice would you give
bookings; researching
anybody who is thinking
for new material and
of making that big career
products; communicating
move to magic?
through Skype with other
professional magicians.
A - I suggest you read as
many books, CDs, DVDs on
Negatives are exposure
marketing and publicity.
and poorly presented
performances on YouTube. Surround yourself with
people who are experts in
People selling rip-offs.
their own field. Probably
Magicians who are
more importantly you
misleading the public on
have to have a great love
their capabilities on their
for magic and be willing to
Websites.
make sacrifices to succeed.
P - An observation I have
made recently is that the
Internet seems to have
produced a lot of younger
magicians who havent put
in the time to develop their
craft, yet expect to play on
the same playing field as
pros who have been in this
business for years. What
seems to have changed?
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Alan, Gene McCarthy, Paul Daniels, Michele, Steve Valentine, Debbie McGee
Granddaughter Aleshia
dearest and most supportive of friends. Alan is one of
those rare individuals who tirelessly encourages, coaxes
and coaches, simply because he loves the art and he
loves sharing. If it was not for Alan Watson the countrys
largest junior magic club would not exist today and
consequently neither would the careers of many
national and even some international performers. Alan
has dedicated his whole working life to magic and it is
thrilling to see how his marketing and networking skills
have become internationally valued. Because of him our
magic world is closer and more connected today than
ever before. We dont often get a chance to express our
thanks and this is mine thanks Alan, you are a rare and
wonderful man.
Michael Finney writes:
When I made my first trip to New Zealand for a magic
convention, I did not know anyone there. I was
delighted they had invited me, but when you go some
place for the first time youre a little unsure of yourself.
Well it all went away when Lori and I arrived. Who was
waiting for us in the lobby of the hotel? The one and
only Alan Watson, and at the time I did not know him
from apple. Just a big smile and a friendly face. Needless
to say we have been friends now for quite some time.
Alan has done it all at every level. Youd never know it
because of the humble manner in which he presents
himself. Not being the mental magic giant myself as
most of you know, I felt very comfortable with him and
his lovely wife Michele. Yes they are a couple. In magic,
I have found so many magicians with great partners.
43
44
PAUL ROMHANY
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Dont look at the one you have chosen just yet, but lets
see what options you missed out on.
The faces of the remaining cards are shown one at a time
and all are pictures of run down hotels, motels, haunted
houses etc. Wow, you missed out on all these establishments. Just as well, they dont look very welcoming. Now
lets see where you have chosen to stay tonight.
The spectator turns over his selection and finds he has
chosen the Hilton Hotel.
THE SECRET
The force card is a long card, about 2 mm longer than the
other cards. I have the pictures printed then laminated
with a heavy clear laminate. Photo 1. Trim the laminated
cards and round the corners. It is a simple matter to leave
the force card that little bit longer.
HANDLING
Commence with the cards face down, and the long (force
card) on top Photo 2. Spread the cards between your hands
and have the spectator choose any card by touching its
back. Transfer the chosen card to the top Photo 3, square
the cards and double lift the top two cards to openly look
at the selection.
Due to the long card the double lift is automatic. The stack
lies on your left hand palm. Photo 4. To execute the double
lift grip the long card with the thumb (nearest you) and
second and third fingers of the right hand. Do not lift the
top two cards clear of the stack. Just lift the leading edge
with your thumb, look at the force card Photo 5 then lower
the card(s) again. Keep a grip on the long card.
The next action is executed in one fluid motion. Photo 6
Your left thumb swings over and makes contact with the
unknown top card. The right hand holding the long card
remains perfectly still as you gesture to the spectator with
the left and ask him to, Hold out your hand. Photo 7
The left hand in making the gesture slides the top card off
the long card, and back onto the stack.
The left hands movement is on a slight diagonal, and I
swing my whole body a little to the right as I make the move.
Photo 8 The long card is ready to be dropped onto spectators palm. From the spectators point of view you have
merely taken his chosen card, moved it to the top of the
stack, looked at it, and dropped it onto his hand.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
If you need to change out the set of cards on a regular
basis, a good idea is to laminate a series of blank cards and
glue the pictures onto the laminated surface with rubber
cement. You can easily remove the pictures later and glue
on different set for the next client.
To try the routine without going to the trouble of making
a special set of cards, take some long and short cards from
a Svengali Deck and try it out. I have used this system for
a number of different clients and it never fails to make an
impression.
SLIP SLIDING AWAY copyright Wayne Rogers 2013
chicane@nzmagic.com
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RICHARD WEBSTER
DIVING CARDS
BOOK TEST
After mixing a pack of cards the magician asks a spectator to deal as many cards as she wishes into a pile. The
remaining cards are placed to one side.
We need to choose a page in this book. As we
want a page somewhere between say one and a hundred,
please deal the cards youve already dealt into two piles.
The magician then asks the spectator to turn over
the top cards in the two piles. Lets assume they are an
8 and a 5.
Thats good, the magician says. Youve chosen
page 85. We now need to select a specific word in the first
line on that page. He picks up the balance of the deck
that had been placed to one side, mixes them again,
and hands them to another spectator.
Would you please deal as many cards as you wish
into a single pile.
After the spectator stops dealing, the magician
asks her to turn over the top card. Lets assume it is a 7.
Excellent, the magician says. He places one hand on
the book that is sitting on the table. Im going to try to
divine the seventh word on the top line of page 85.
After a few seconds of intense concentration, the magician declares that he has it. He quickly scribbles a word
down on a pad of paper which he places face down on
the table. He asks one spectator to look for the seventh
word in the first line of page 85, and to say it out loud.
Lets assume the word is running. The magician then
asks the other spectator to turn over the pad to reveal
what you wrote. Naturally, it is the word running.
METHOD
Choose a suitable book and decide which page
you are going to force. If possible, choose a page that
has about ten words in the first line. Memorize this line.
Place two cards that indicate your chosen page number
at the top of a face down deck of cards. In the example
above, my force page was 85, which meant I needed
to place an 8 and a 5 at the top of the deck. The first
number of your chosen page needs to be second from
the top of the facedown deck, and the second number
should be on top.
Shuffle the cards, keeping the two cards on top
of the deck. Ask the spectator to deal as many cards as
she wishes, and then to deal those cards again into two
piles. Your two force cards are now the top cards on
each pile. These cards are turned over and indicate the
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If youre
struggling to
remember
your lines,
your focus is
going to be
so strong that
you will miss
out on terrific
opportunities
for
personalizing
your show.
53
SOUND ADVICE
Now that you have your own mic and stand (I hope), Id like to
discuss your choice of speakers, mixers and amplifiers. If you
thought picking out a mic was a bit overwhelming, the various
combinations in this chapter are almost endless, but like learning
a new move, if you break it down to the various parts, its much,
much easier.
SPEAKERS
Years ago, when I was touring with a night-club show, there was
a notion that bigger was better and at the time that was probably true. The look of the speaker was as much part of the overall
professional look of the show. So as a result, we toured with two
of the biggest speakers we could find and they were a pain in
the rear to haul around - they weighed 120lbs - each! Thankfully
today, such is not the case. Audiences (I truly believe) dont care
how big the sound equipment is, only how good it sounds.
Speaker choices, comes down to two main categories - Powered
and Un-powered.
POWERED
A powered speaker has a built-in amplifier (and usually a small
mixer as well) and requires direct A.C. power in order to function.
This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage because you
54
will need to have a supply of power for each speaker you plan
to use. If you are using two speakers, you must have two plugs
available nearby (or a lot of extension cord). Personally, I dont like
to run extension cords more than I need to but about two years
ago I sold my older (unpowered) speaker/mixer/amp system and
went exclusively with powered speakers.
I like them because they are really easy to
set up and the built-in amp ensures that
I cant overdrive them with an external
amplifier (hence, you cant really blow
them up!). These speakers do tend to be a
bit heavier and more expensive because
of the built-in amp but an added bonus is
that if you are using only a mic then you
wont need any other equipment since
the mic will plug directly into the back of
the speaker.
UN-POWERED or PASSIVE
With un-powered (or passive) speakers you will need an amplifier
and a mixer in order to broadcast your sound. This is a greater
expense overall. However the speakers themselves are less costly
and you have much more flexibility as to where they can be
placed. In addition, unpowered speakers (of comparable size)
WHAT TO USE
Here, again the choice is really up to you.
However, when choosing your speakers,
make sure that you listen to their sound
quality using a piece of music from your
show (or your own voice). In other words,
just like with buying a car, you should
test-drive a full range of speakers. Every
speaker sounds different!
As a general guide, if you are regularly performing for groups no larger than 400-500
people then get speakers in the 250-300
watt (program) range. These are speakers
that will handle, continuously, 250 watts.
Most of the major companies have them
and they are reasonably priced and relatively easy to carry. Start by checking out
Mackie, Wharfedale, JBL, Roland & Yamaha.
STANDS
For sake of completeness, I thought Id
include a paragraph or two about speaker
stands. Luckily the speaker market has
done a wonderful service for us in making
the mounting bracket on the bottom of
their speakers a universal size (at least in
North America), and most, if not all powered speakers have the mounting flange
built in! Bonus!
necessary.
As for which mixer to go with there are,
again, a number of reasonably priced,
quality brand you can try. Mackie & Behringer both make excellent, small mixers.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED IN THE MIXER
Make sure, though that the mixer has the
following features before you buy it:
These should be your minimum requirements. Some units will have more toys,
but they are not necessary.
Most small mixers are set-up the same way
as here.
UNPOWERED MIXER
If you have chosen to go with powered
speakers then you will only need a mixer.
PLACEMENT
NEVER PLACE ANY SPEAKER ON THE
FLOOR
Regardless of which style of speaker you
choose, make sure when placing them
on stage that they are ABOVE the heads
of your audience. Human bodies absorb
a great deal of sound and if you put your
speakers below the head-level of the first
row, the back rows wont hear anything. Always get the appropriate stands when you
buy the speakers. Even placing the speakers on a chair and tilting them slightly back
is better than directly on the floor.
55
The above example is for a small, Unpowered Mixer. These mixers are meant to plug
directly into powered speakers.
POWERED MIXERS
WARNING!!!
NEVER USE A POWERED MIXER WITH A POWERED
SPEAKER. IT WILL OVERDRIVE THE SPEAKER AND BREAK IT
Powered Mixer/Amp combinations are set-up the exact same
way as Unpowered Mixers. The only difference is that they are
generally larger and heavier (in order to house the amplifier),
and therefore will have more channels and more bells and
whistles. There are a number of fine Powered Mixers on the
market through Mackie, Behringer, Yamaha and others but
their downside is their bulk and weight. Most of the 6-8 channel units are box-like and thus not very practical for our style
of performance. Plus, I could only find powered units with 6
or more channels so half of the available channels will go unused.
56
For larger groups and for outdoor use I use two of the Titan 12 Active
2-way Bi-amplified speaker system
Built in 2 channel mixer with microphone and line level
inputs Balanced XLR line output for connections to subwoofers
or daisy-chaining units together
XLR and Line inputs via convenient 'combo' jacks
Two band master EQ controls
FELIX
BEHIND THE ADVERTISEMENT
PAUL ROMHANY
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Photo: Felix
live on stage
in Spain. His
high energy
performances
have taken
him around
the world
and is now
lecturing with
his Magnets
in Stage magic
and Close-up
Lecture.
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61
LEIF DAVID
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63
A TRIBUTE TO JAKS
A TRIBUTE TO JAKS
BANACHEK
From the vaults
of Stevens Magic
Gemini comes a
series of articles
by prominent
magicians.
The first is a great
routine by Banachek.
64
a leather case and stares at the swinging case. He then secretly draws a symbol on a pad. Turns to another spectator
and asks name a symbol out of * * * * * . ( naming the five
symbols). DO you know why you said that? I will tell you
why! You chose that symbol because that is exactly what I
drew. Even more amazing, I am sure that is the symbol in
the case.
The case is opened and sure enough inside is the drawn
symbol.
Method:
Before I tell you the method I must describe the working on
the case. It is a brass business card case. Have your initials
engraved since Dunninger was a mind reader and it was a
gift to you or you could have his initials, J.D. These cases are
available at any engravers shop for around $15 or you can
find them at the dollar store for a buck. Now you will need
a gold chain with a large ring (not huge, just large enough
to stop it going through the hole you are going to drill in
one of the ends of the case.) Now drill a hole in the end
of the case just large enough for the chain to go through.
When you start the effect the chain should be inside the
case, you pull on the small wire ring or bead on the outside
to pull the chain into swinging position.
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ITS CHILDS
PLAY
Performing
for Kids with
Special Needs
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PAUL ALBERSTAT
CARD ROUTINE
OMGNAACAAN
(Oh My God, not another Any Card at Any Number)
Since everyone is different I will just explain that for
me, I discuss the spiderweb theory of the universe
that if you give a twang to a single thread that it eventually resonates throughout the entire web. Even now
as we search for the Higgs Bosson particle to show how
every atom in the entire universe are in constant contact instantly no matter how far apart they are and as
such we are going to try to do something similar today.
I place two decks of cards on the table and ask someone to push a deck forward so that I have one to use and
one to stay in full view at all times. I ask another person
to cut a small portion of cards from the top of that deck
and to turn them face up and replace them on the deck
followed by asking a second person to cut deeper than
the first cut was and to also turn it over before they replace it on top of the deck. (This is the Cut Deeper Force).
I remove the other deck from the case and ask another
person to give me any number between 1 and 52 BUT
I do ask that they try to keep from calling out 2 or 48,
something that is in between to at least give a small
challenge to what is about to occur. Now as an example suppose this person called out 22. I then deal cards
from the face down deck, counting as I do until I get to
21. I place the deck to the side for a moment and spread
the first deck along the table and ask someone if they
can estimate how many cards are face up on the deck.
I pick up the tabled deck and deal the next card (22nd
card) face down and in front of the first deck, then replace the deck to the table. I remove all the cards face up
from the first deck and move them to the side. The card
that was cut to in the first deck is then flipped face up
followed by the 22nd card you dealt and the two cards
match. There are NO sleights and everything is done at
the finger tips so there are clearly no secret moves done.
All you require is a double backed card that matches the
second deck you are going to use. Place that double backer card on the bottom of that deck..Decide on what card
you want to force and place it face up on the bottom of the
deck and place in the card box. On the other deck, place
the force card on top of that deck and replace in the card
box. So you have a regular deck with the force card as the
top card of it's deck AND a second deck which has from
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Spiderweb Theory
An
alternative
yet
practical
ACAAN routine
the bottom up the force card and under that (51st from
the top) the double backer. You are now set to perform.
Ask someone to choose a deck (forcing the 1st
deck) and you perform the Cut Deeper Force.
Ask someone to cut a small portion from the deck and
to turn them face up and replace them. Then a second person is asked to cut deeper and to turn that entire packet over and replace on top of the deck. (When
that deck is spread, you will have face up cards on the
top and the first face down card will be your force card.
Remove the other deck and hold in your hand to begin
dealing cards. The two bottom cards remain hidden on
the bottom of the deck. You deal cards from the deck
until you get to the card before the number called for
and very casually your hand turns palm down as you
table the deck so that the card showing on the top of
that deck is the force card. So when you go back to take
the deck to deal that next card, you can even do so at
the finger tips so that it is very clearly the next card being taken with no funny business. Now when you place
the deck back to the table your palm revolves once
more when replacing the deck to the table. The double
backed card that is on the bottom of the deck allows
you to spread the cards face down and it is invisible as it
too appears face down. Reveal the two matching cards.
LEEpresents
ALEX
THE ULTIMATE QUICK CHANGE DVD
TIME FOR A
CHANGE
REFRESHING
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72
Has a book, a play, a movie, an opera, all magic and illusion could be consida ballet, a painting, ever moved you ered intellectual. This mind area is the
emotionally? Has a magic show?
dreams, fantasies, and ideas center. It
is also is the morality area where the
It may be a pretty big project to really audience thinks about the right or
create an emotionally moving magic wrong of cutting a girl into pieces.
show, but there are plenty of uses for
emotion in our own shows. Uses that Finally, the audience has an emotional
will not only enhance the routine, but area. This is where feelings reside.
make the overall illusion stronger.
How we ourselves feel, how we feel
about others, and how we feel about
HOW AUDIENCES EXPERIENCE ART how they feel about us. Creating
magic that plays these harp strings can
There are 3 ways to experience art of really be powerful.
any kind. Instinctually, Emotionally,
or Intellectually. Each one of these Tap into all 3 and you have really got
is a way to reach our audiences. A something, Mister Magic.
concept brought to us a while back by
the clever mentalist, Sigmund Freud. EMOTIONAL MIRRORING
How about
approaching the
creation of a routine
with the emotion of
the audience as the
end goal?
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they are seeing it for the first time. Even for a quick cut &
restored bit in a routine, as part of the choreography, they
are told when to act excited, happy, confused, surprised,
and satisfied.
EMOTIONAL HOOKS
When putting together your show, you choose a variety of
effects from appearances, to vanishes, to transpositions,
etc. When creating individual routines, you choose a variety of musical styles, themes, and storylines. How about
approaching the creation of a routine with the emotion of
the audience as the end goal?
An audience can experience many different emotions: Joy,
Amazement, Suspense, Fear, Nostalgia, Love, Loss, Pride,
Hope, Sentimentality, Arousal, Sadness, Anger, Humor
(expressed as laughter), Belonging, and more. They can
also experience one emotion that we should try to avoid
Boredom.
Copperfield, more than any other illusionist in history has
made creating memorable illusions into a lifetime career.
The magic, methods, staging, story and emotion are equally
strong. He and a brilliant team focus on all these elements
to build each routine. For example, some routines that
show the emotional hooks in Copperfields story-telling
that I know youll probably recognize: Grandfathers Aces
Nostalgia, Love, Sentimentality, Honor. Straightjacket
EscapeSuspense, Fear, Hope. And, an older one: The
Dancing HandkerchiefLove, Loss, Loneliness, Sadness,
Joy, Romance.
Another example of strong emotional effect is Penn & Teller
who use the American Flag (a flag is a powerful emotional
symbol) in a beautiful routine that always brings a very
personal response from the audience. Feelings of Nostalgia,
Pride, and a range of emotions are brought out based on
the viewers own experiences.
And best of all, the magic is the vehicle that gets us there.
Take a look at your own illusions and what emotional hooks
can be added to involve the audience more.
MIXED EMOTIONS
You and the other performers on-stage with you can use
your own emotional responses to create tension and interest in your illusions. Maybe your audience likes you, but
dislikes your assistant who constantly tries to upstage you,
screw with your props, etc. Or maybe you are the evil one
and the assistant is overly sweet and innocent. Through
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the course of the routine, you bring her to the dark side or
she turns your evilness into goodness.
The audience will build an emotional attachment to either
character and will respond with enthusiasm to the exciting
struggle between the two. If you remember my previous
articles on routining with character and story, you will
understand how effective conflict and resolution can be
in making a stimulating performance.
EMOTIONAL MISDIRECTION
Since we are the storyteller and the audience has trusted us
with their emotional journey, we magicians have a responsibility to use it against them to create ever better effects.
We are in fact deceivers, are we not? So lets take them on
an emotional roller coaster, using what I call Emotional
Misdirection.
Humor is one of the best ways to get the dirty-work done
in a routine. When the audience is laughing, they are letting
their eagle-eyed guard down for a moment and we have
time to do that top-change or load the elephant. Taking
advantage of these moments and looking for opportunities
to create them in a routine will give you the cleanest way
to make a steal, load the box, or whatever you happen to
need done without detection.
Heres a very simple example with the classic thin model
sawing. Girl gets in and the prop is spun so the feet are
downstage. When you put the stocks on the feet, you tickle
them with a feather. Then, spin the prop so the feet are
upstage and the head is downstage ready for the stocks.
Now, you tickle her nose with the feather and give a wink
to the audience. They laugh and whatever heat there was
on the feet is gone for long enough to get the job done.
Planned accidents can be the perfect misdirection to get
something done and can play the audience emotion like
a fiddle to create an even bigger reaction. Greg Frewins
bird act includes a dove production followed by him laying
an egg (the bird, not Greg). The audience laughs. The egg
falls to the floor and Greg looks around as if something
has gone wrong. This is the perfect time for doing what is
needed as the eyes fall to the egg and the audience reacts
with uncertainty and even some suspense wondering how
our magician will get out of this predicament. Greg uses
his foot to crack the egg and out flies a dove. The audience responds with joy and amazement. Hes taken them
through a multitude of emotions in a very short time and
they love it.
A good story or romantic scene that unfolds continually can
draw the audience into the relationship of the performers.
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Jeff McBrides
in YOUR hands
George Parker
IN YOUR HANDS
78
In His Hands...
Masterpiece
Chemistry
79
JARRETT
&
RAJA
Illusion designer Mark Parker
discusses his recent help in
working with AGT duo
Jarrett & Raja
Gwyn Auger
Melanie Giles is a striking beauty haling from the beautiful
By Gwyn Auger
Island of Puerto Rico. The music, dance, and cultural arts of her
enchanting country inspired Melanie from an early age. Her
young life was filled with classes in modern dance, acting and
ethnic dances.
In college, she majored in
theatre, studying with the top
names of the local industry.
Her creative drive flourished
and soon she discovered the
interesting art of belly dancing.
Melanie had found her niche
and became lead dancer soloist
and inevitably, the best in this
competitive genre. Her career
soared, placing her in the top
ranking venues and events in the
industry including appearances
on television, casinos and major
productions. Melanie Giles was
also featured in major corporate
events for such notables as Sir
Richard Branson, founder and
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audience I ever
performed to.
What would you say has been the best experience youve
had as a Magicians Assistant?
The best thing for me is that I get to travel and see the
world with my husband while we work. We get to meet
new people and experience different cultures.
What has been the funniest or most embarrassing thing to
happen to you on stage?
Well recently, while on tour, we were at this huge venue
and they had a live video feed on two huge screens.
Later, after the show, I found out that after I appear on
the Instant Babe and give my back to the audience to get
off the prop, the camera man decided to zoom in on my
butt. So a full house of 5,000 people got a close look of my
puertorricaness. LOL.
What advice would you have to any females getting into
magic?
Like anything, just love what you do. When you are
passionate it will transpire on stage and people will feel
it. And also, us Magicians Assistants should take our role
seriously as the Magician takes his.
What did you think of the portrayal of assistants in Burt
Wonderstone, and how easily replaced they are?
I think we are all replaceable! Even magicians. (laughs).
Thats what keeps us humble and grounded, and
therefore working. No one wants to work with Divas, LOL.
What do you do when youre not busy with magic?
I was not made to be the housewife type, so I always stay
busy and work. I work in a lounge as a cocktail waitress.
I still feel like you are entertaining people in this type of
environment and I really do enjoy it. On my free time I
like to workout and be at home, put some music on and
cook, while sipping some wine.
What was it like moving to Vegas?
Crazy, but in a good way! I was born and raised in Puerto
Rico, so coming from a tropical paradise to live in a desert
was a little bit of a SHOCK. Let me just state the fact that I
moved to Vegas without ever being there before. CRAZY!
So when I was on the plane looking out the window and I
saw all that red rock I thought I was landing on Mars. LOL.
The other crazy part is that Michael and I had only been
doing the long distance relationship for three months.
We knew right away that we couldnt live without each
other, so I packed my bags and started a whole new life
with him. Its been awesome!
Would you ever want to move back to Puerto Rico, or is
Vegas home now and forever?
As much as I love my little island and my family that lives
there, Vegas is definitely home now. I have to say, Ive
been in Vegas for five years now and I have been blessed
with lots of opportunities that I would have never even
dreamed of in Puerto Rico. It has been an amazing
journey for me.
And of course I have to ask what is your favorite type of
cupcake?
Funny enough, while on tour Farrell Dillon found this
place in New Jersey called the Cupcake Magician. I had
the best cupcake EVER. It was a maple pancake and
bacon one. I think it was called the Breakfast Cupcake. It
was AMAZING!
85
Originally from
Denmark Anders
has quickly become
an international
BY ANDERS HANSEN
LESSONS
LEARNED
My lessons learned by using the unknown as an ally, instead of a
fictional self-made enemy.
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the top 5 in the US. One of the producers in the special event
department asked if I would be interested in designing and
performing the opening of the season finale in the networks
annual beauty pageant. I asked 2 questions: When- and
whats the budget? 7 days was the answer to the first
one, going live on air following Sunday and yet to be
defined to the second. My rational mind told me to
decline. Simply too many risk factors. It was either a hit or
a gigantic miserable miss. I contemplated the last part
for quite a while, all the dangerous unknowns; the
unconnected dots. Followed by what then seemed like
a moment of insanity I called them back and accepted.
In the same instant I felt my pulse in my throat as I
was staring down onto an empty drawing board. I
had decided to challenge my own self made doubt
and take some active steps towards at least trying
to define a self made success. The routine HAD to
involve all 6 finalists, and since they were competing
they all had to do something on an equal level. So I
designed 3 illusions from scratch involving 2 girls
each. For us magicians, changing methods
is obviously important in a routine like
this, so the measurements of the
girls (incl. their slightly altered
chest sizes) had to be taken
into heavy consideration when
designing the props. Monday
and Tuesday was spent in
the company of a measuring
tape, drawing board and 6 of
the most beautiful women
Latin America could possibly
produce. Wednesday to
Friday, we had 18 hour days
in the workshop building
the props with Univisions
carpenters. Rehearsal and
staging of the routine
with the choreographer
and director of the show
took place Saturday.
Sunday began for me
at 5AM, doing my own
final adjustments for the
evenings broadcast. The
winner of the competition
from the previous year
was going to assist me,
and I planned for her to
disappear on stage and
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STEVE SPILL
Aspen, at the top of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, is an internationally famous ski resort
and glitzy playground for the affluent. But in 1976 the Aspen vibe was not unlike the frat boy
atmosphere depicted in the film Animal House. I was twenty one years old when I started a
four year plus tour of duty working for Bob Sheets as a magician/bartender at The Jolly Jester.
Bob is a hilarious comedy magician with a round face, thick neck, twinkly eyes, big moustache and a gap-toothed smile,
known as the Jolly Jester... hence the bars name. In 1975, Bob had been hired as a bartender just outside Aspen, in
Snowmass, at country-pop singer John Denvers Tower Restaurant.
Sheets quickly became a successful local legend behind the bar, mixing drinks and merriment with his comedy and
magic. So much so, that the following winter a patron sponsored Bob and he opened his own bar in Aspen. That place
in Aspen, The Jolly Jester, was so singular and unique, so specific to its time, its almost impossible to describe this insane
fun saloon. Nothing could mess with what was going on at The Jolly Jester.
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guy secretly let me know his buddy was a first time visitor.
Just as the beers were served, I accidentally knocked one
over. The stranger jumped to his feet to avoid ruining his
clothes while his friend burst into uproarious laughter.
The knocked over glass was a fakeroo with solid contents,
a means of initiating newcomers to the fun at The Jester.
The gag over, I removed the fake glass and served real beer.
The instigator didnt notice the switch. Look, its a fake
beer, so saying, he grabbed the newly served glass and
threw the contents into his friends face.
Suddenly the music stopped, the lights went up to last call
brightness and the magic show was on. Bob and I would
do a total of about ten minutes of our best stuff, the crowd
would cheer, the lights would go down, the rock music
cranked up, and wed be back serving drinks. Thats how
it went from early evening until 2AM night after night. To
us it was slick and choreographed and the crowds went
ballistic. Customers were just as wild, raw, and often more
spontaneous and ridiculous than we were.
In the winter knit beanies and ski caps were popular and
I had a trick where I asked to borrow one. A finely built
young lady put her lacy red bra on the bar, will this work?
and then she kindly showed everyone where it came from.
No, not Victorias Secret, her chest.
One summer we had a bowl of goldfish sitting on the back
bar. Now and then, we apparently grabbed a live one outta
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Paul Romhany
95
Years ago, magicians that were making the leap from parlor to big stage
would save up thousands of dollars
to add illusions and assistatns to their
act.
sucked into the screen, that I would do all I could to fix
my eyes on the live performer. I failed, and I would bet
Las Vegas money 10 to 1, that you would fail, too, given
the same test.
The producer and the director in our show know the power of the screen image. They use this power to magnify
the medium size magic, and to make it play larger than
life. Many of the most compelling magic moments in our
show dont happen with the larger illusions, but are audience participation or manipulation routines that have
emotional and artistic appeal. The only way that these
pieces can be enjoyed in huge theaters is to have them
expertly magnified and projected on huge screens. This
96
Screens have changed the way I teach magic. Most of my students met me first by watching me on a tv screen, either on a
magic show, or a teaching video. Almost every day, I am meeting new students online via Skype or through my 24 hour a day
virtual classroom, at our online magic school. Every Monday,
I meet with hundred of magicians just like you, to explore the
many faceted art of magic. Screens are bringing us closer than
ever before. I hope to continue my relationship with you, dear
reader, and we can continue to grow in the art of magic. . I
hope to see you on the screen, online at http//www.magicalwisdom.com
Photos: Page one top: Paul Romhany as Chaplin using a screen, The Illusionists screen, Shawn Farquhar with his
FISM card routine on screen and Charles Bach performing his Sand Routine.
Middle page: Chipper Lowell using a video screen
Below: Shawn Farquhar performing at a corporate event.
97
Ben
Robinson
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Marx says, So hip, he was hip, when to aiding methadone rehab centers for
hip was Hep.)
heroin addicts to get clean, this call had
the ring of something very special. My
Hey, do you know anything about instincts proved correct.
Occupy New York? my friend began. I
did. Id circled the grounds of the mas- The evening was set to raise money
sive crowd of those sitting in the Wall and then purchase huge debt at
Street area letting their displeasure be roughly twenty cents on the dollar.
known (for nearly a year) about the Or, for 20% of a full debt, be able to
very questionable lending practices literally buy debt away. Except, that
of major banks. Old established in- reduced debt was NOT passed on to
vestment houses such as Bear Sterns the initial debtor. Instead, we at Strike
and Lehman Brothers went out of Debt, simply agreed to give those in
business in the early 21st century be- suffocating debt the surprise of their
cause of reckless financial practices; lives. The undertaking by Michaels
some downright illegalthough none friends, whom he said, ran with my
have been prosecuted, just as assault idea were led by: Ann Larson, Thomas
weapons are still common. If money Gokey, Christopher Casuccio and Laura
can not be used an assault weapon, Hanna.
then the rest of this article may not
interest to you.
The well-known comedian Janeane Garafolo, a group of radical nuns, former
While Michael Azerrad was not the Sonic Youth member Lee Ranaldo, hupoint man to the press, his friends morist David Rees (author of Get Your
were, and on November 14, 2012, The War On) a mariachi band, Lizz WinNew York Times, ran a quarterpage stead (a co-founder of the Daily Show
story titled Occupy Wall St. Offshoot with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central
Aims to Erase Peoples Debts:
cable TV) physical comedian Peter
Straus (formerly a Ringling clown),
Ariel Kaminer wrote:
rappers, columnists, and your scribe,
a master magician, all participated in
A group of professors, documentary what was termed a Rolling Jubilee on
film makers, corporate drop outs and the evening of November 18, 2012 at
others had spent months protesting Le Poisson Rouge, formerly the famous
Americans debt burden when a novel Village Gate Theatre. For all you magic
idea arose: What if they could just fans, this is where Richiardi famously
wave a magic wand and make some played his 1975 Evening of Magic and
of the debt disappear?
Illusion splattering his severed victims
so close to the audience that many left
The group named themselves Strike the theatre with bloody clothing.
Debt and the idea (Azerrads initially)
was this: Collect as much money as Our evening was not bloody at all. The
you could, seek those with burden- show began promptly at 8pm and was
some debts mostly the result of preda- broadcast live over the Internet, foltory lending, and then tear up the lowed by thousands in what I heard
balance sheet. In other words, make were at least 40 countries. In the club,
the debt(s)disappear.
averages of attendees ranged from
700 to 1500. It was hard to get at a
Thats why Michael was calling me.
real number because the crowd was
massive, loud, involved every step of
While I have certainly done benefits the way, and had one of the greatest
ranging from children born with AIDS communal vibes I have ever been in,
sponsored by Hoover vacuum cleaners anywhere from Pete Seegers famous
in England, attended by Princess Anne; Clearwater Festival that succeeded in
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money since I was 14, so knew that if I did not make the
money, then it was not mine to spend. Credit was for other
people.) However, some recent grads did not know better,
and were suckered into the world of supposed free credit,
convenience cards. At a young age, they got in deep; just
as you would to a loan shark. Now, imagine having a personal debt of over $250,000, being 21-years-old, having
just finished college, planning on attending medical school
that youve struggled for four years to have the grades
and talent to enter, and soon your debt will be over half
a million dollars with an interest rate that will never allow
you to get out from under unless you win the lottery or
someone lends you a pile of cash as high as an elephants
eye? Enter Strike Debt.
Predatory lending to those without the means to possibly
repay the loan is a rampant global practice (Im being polite)
whitewashed by those who say they are helping others,
when in reality, they are doing the exact opposite. I realize
my opinions may offend and that banks make money by
lending money. Im all too aware of that. I am also aware that
when I finally did clear my credit rating of a debt I personally carried for a decade, that the fine print interest rate
changed yearly, and is now under Federal investigation in
the US, for possibly illegal practices.
I was third on the bill that night of about 22 acts. I did my
signature invented routine set to music to capture attention. Then I said, I come from a long line of revolutionaries. My mother for one. She was a copywriter on Madison
Avenue since the 50s. She created the line GIVE UNTIL IT
FEELS GOOD. So thats what we at Strike Debt intend to do.
Were going to take some money, change it, and then give
it away. I borrowed a dollar bill, changed it, and then threw
it back into the ocean of smiling faces and received a cheer.
Mother was right. (I came home to 136 emails from all over
the world asking me to make money for them. I could do
it once, why not again?)
My whole time on stageabout 4 minutes. Walking off
stage, pain seared through my body. Luckily my old clown
student Peter Straus was there to catch me. It was adrenalin
hitting, fast and hardsometimes a build up of energy to
a performance that doesnt happen on stage. Backstage it
vanished. And then I spent the next 3 hours working the
crowd and I can tell you, the joy in that room was palpable.
The actor from DIE HARD (With a Vengence) Justin Long
(famous from the Apple Computer TV commercials in the
US) came up to me and spun me around, telling me that he
made his way through the crowd to see my outstretched
fingers adorned by silver rings. He said, Dude, that had
meaning! I mention the above to give a flavor of who was
there and what happened to me.
Given New York City had just been slammed by Hurricane
Sandy, and left 60,000 homeless, all New Yorkers felt like
they needed help. My question is: Who rescues the rescuers? Well save that for another time.
I urge you to go to: Strikedebt.org or RollingJubilee.org to
find out more and how you can be involved in a philanthropic effort that will use your talents, and help change
the structure of a system that has become perverted. If
Republics stand by the backbone of its populace, then
all deserve a fair shot. The greedy few who think it is fair
and rightful to get rich quick because someone else was
ignorant of what was REALLY happening to them thats
a reality we can change. Strike Debt proves that.
Ideally, the magician is a problem-solving icon. I posit that
the Strike Debt model, created by a small group, fostered
by two creative kids from Briarcliff Manor, NY, both of whom
went to the creative work camp called Bucks Rock, founded
by Jung-contemporary Dr. Ernst Bulova (brother of the man
who started the watch company!) is a model of the future
that sets up a win-win-win scenario:
People under crushing financial burden receive partial
relief, banks still make money (just not as much) on their
loans, and audiences helping through generous donation
are entertained by some of the most talented people alive.
The single greatest cause of bankruptcy (and resultant
homelessness) in the US is a health emergency. What happens if you cannot afford or are not eligible for health insur-
101
ance, your living rent is sky high, and suddenly you contract
a virus that requires a lengthy hospital stay? One magician
I know of was literally left to die in a hospital Emergency
Room because he did not have Health Insurance. His name
was Tony Blanco. Had Tony survived, and received care,
would the cost of his hospital care have stacked the deck
against him during his recovery; as it has for millions? DO
NOT think you are immune from this discussion. It affects
everyone.
If all of this sounds odd and freaky to you, but you get
celebrity culture, then look at a gent also asking for Debt
Relief for nations such as South Africa. He does it by picking
up the phone and talking to world leaders, as he flies on
his own plane to his worldwide concerts.
His name is Bono and his band is called U2-nest-ce pas?
STRIKINGACHORD
LEE ALEX
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Music adds a quality to a stage performance, bringing the total experience to a higher level for both the
performer and the audience. Choose
your music carefully just as any other
element of a performance. Use the
music as a tool to reflect your style
and as an enhancement to your actions. In the words of Shakespeare If
music be the food of love, play on!
Choose your music with the utmost
care music, and your audience will
love you!
YOUNG
MAGICIANS
Chase Hasty
CORNER
Entering the Field of
Sleight of Hand
Paid Advertisement
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WITCH QUEEN(S) OF
NEW ORLEANS
TC TAHOE
The participant is asked to touch the
back of a card. The card they touched
is turned face-up and left in its place
in the spread. The card is, lets say the
7 of hearts.
would they would meet was
named les Caf Sept Curs or in
The performer sets the deck down, and English, The Sevan Hearts Cafe
spread slightly with the chosen card
slightly up-jogged.
The performer points to the
card the participant had touched
That is odd. The performer says to moments ago.
himself.
Odd things always happen around
Sorry, before we go on, I would like to the 7 of Hearts.
tell you something interesting about
the 7 of hearts. But I am getting ahead The performer spreads the cards
of myself. I am sure some of you have slowly on that table.
heard of Marie Laveau. For those that
have not, Marie Laveau lived in New I should have mention Marie Laveau
Orleans in the 1800s, there are many and Agnes Turnbull were nicknamed
legends surrounding her. One of the The Red and Black Queens of New
things she was known for was fortune- Orleans.
telling. People came from far and wide
to seek her advice.
The performers turns over the cards
on either side of the 7 of hearts, they
There was another fortune-teller at the are the Queen of Spades and Hearts.
time named Agnes Turnbull. She had
fiery red hair and a great talent with The Red and Black Queens of New
Tarot cards.
Orleans still sitting at the Seven
Hearts.
Marie Laveau and Agnes Turnbull had
a friendly rivalry. The would meet once THE HOW?
a week, each with their Tarot cards and
sat at the back table of a caf and tried The how, is Bill Simons Prophecy
to outdo each other.
Move. Queen of Spades starts on the
They would try to divine who would top of the deck, the Queen of Hears
come in the caf next, on what people on the bottom. Do not flash these.
would order and even on the next days Spread the cards face down and
obituaries.
allow a spectator to freely touche
the back of a card.
Now why in the world am I telling you
this? Because they caf they where Outjogged the card the spectator
MAGIC
REVIEWS
PAUL ROMHANY & FRIENDS
Based upon top selling products
from magic retailers and
wholesalers, as well as consulting
with over a dozen professional
magicians, Paul Romhany reviews
tricks, DVDs, books and Apps.
110
FLOWN AWAY
By Jasper Blakeley
The props used are things you can buy for a few dollars at
any stationary shop, and wont take you long to make up.
In 15 minutes youll have a routine that you will want to
use in every show!
Watch covert footage of actual stand-up comedy-club performances of Flown Away, done by Jaspers Russian-esque
comical mind-reading character, Kockov.
111
SNAPPED
Piccard
The quality of the special FX finger is very high and will last
a lifetime if you look after it. Piccard suggests keeping it in
a box to protect it as it is slightly fragile.
DIFFICULTY:
Anybody can use this, from beginners to professionals. If
you can slip something on your finger you can do it!
EFFECT:
If you want to freak people out then this is the PERFECT effect you for. The basic routine is after you shake somebodys
hand you come away showing they SNAPPED your finger!!
They see blood and bones popping out of your finger - you
WILL get a reaction from this. This can be treated as a gag
or as a magic effect where you restore your snapped finger.
MY THOUGHTS:
This is a very UNIQUE item because each one is hand made
by Piccard and he meticulously spends time on each finger
to make sure they look perfect. You can only buy them
through him personally as he does not wholesale to magic
dealers.
Ive used this quite a few times now and the reaction is
jaw dropping. If you are after screams then this will do it!
It works really well in bar type situations but I wouldnt use
it myself for kids because you would freak them out too
much. Teenagers get a real kick out of this and it would
make the perfect video reaction shot seeing a bone popping out of your finger.
This is a quick visual gag that youll probably carry with
you and at the right moment perform it. The handling is
super easy, the gimmick just fits over top of your finger and
one size fits all. Im sure if you have any specific coloring
Piccard would be more than happy to talk to you about a
custom version.
For the bizarre performer you could work a strong routine
around this. Your finger is SNAPPED in half and then visibly
restores itself. While it is intended perhaps more of a jaw
dropper gag, it could easily be incorporated in to an overall
effect or longer routine.
112
A TASTE OF CHAOS
Loki Kross
MY THOUGHTS
Here is another evolution in the long line of TNR card
routines, and this one has aspects that make it superior
than many that have come before. There are two versions
taught on this DVD, one that a beginner could handle called
Mythos, and the other is Legacy, which is definitely for the
more advanced card handler.
Personally I like effects that require work on my part, especially if the pay off is an effect that is as visually strong
and clean as this one.
If you want to get your head around Legacy then watch
it through TWICE to digest what is happening, and THEN
take your cards and start working on it. Its definitely NOT
going to happen overnight, but if you are already familiar
with some of the other methods such as Hollingworth and
Garcia then youll have an idea of what is going on. Having
said that, many of the moves are original to Loki, but the
inspiration from other versions is there. Having worked
through almost every version available I would say this is
definitely one of the most visual and cleanest.
THE AD COPY:
The TNR Debate Is Over!
Two TNRs that range from beginner to expert.
Legacy: A Hyper-Visual, 4-Piece, Signed TNR.
No Prefold
No Gimmicks
No Sticky
With restorations that happen with no cover, and it can be
shown on both sides, hands empty, after each phase.
Mythos: This is not just a Signed TNR, it is a performance
piece that can be done for up to two spectators.
It can be done from a sealed, or borrowed deck.
Begins and ends clean, with a restoration that they feel
happening in their own hand. With a 5-6 minute presentation that will leave them remembering you for a long time.
With A Surprise Ending...
Featuring: Kross. Rose. McBride.
Loki is devilishly clever. And the carefully thought out
Mythos is no exception. Any close up performer will gain
insight, techniques, and excellent presentational points
from this release.- Ben Seidman
113
CRIMENTAL
By Harrismatic
DIFFICULTY:
The great thing about this is the routine. The methods
THE AD COPY:
Three spectators are called on stage and they are asked are all fairly easy so the performer can concentrate on
to participate in an imaginary case of crime. Each one will the story line.
have to play a specific role; the victim, the murderer or
the eyewitness. Depending on their role they are able to BONUS:
correctly determine important clues of the story after the You are also supplied with templates that you can used
for each phase of the routine. These can be printed off.
mentalist manages to accurately find their identities.
The gimmick envelope needed in phase two is easy to
If you are searching for fully built routines, if you want to make up and even easier to use.
dress your act with interesting puzzling and mysterious
stories. If you are looking for effects that bring audiences FINAL THOUGHTS:
participation into the highest possible level, then you are There is nothing new in methodology but that should
not deter you if you are looking for a great themed menalso searching for CRIMENTAL!
talism routine. With the popularity of mentalism crime
CRIMENTAL is not just one more mental routine, but is a shows on television this particular theme would be a
story created on stage in which the participants play the great addition to any mentalism or magic act.
most important role. And while CRIMENTAL is a fully built
routine, the techniques and ideas included can even be 20 pages
COST: $30
used individually as small miracles!
Available from magic dealers worldwide
Wholesale: Murphys Magic Supplies
MY THOUGHTS:
DOWNLOAD - $18 from www.yourmagistry.com
This is a full length mentalism routine that can play for
almost any situation from intimate parties to theatre
shows. While the plot is not new in mentalism, Cris Johnson released a full hour show based on the idea of solving a crime, this still offers a good story line with strong
effects. The methods used are workable and several
options are explained in each scenario. You could also
use the methods for other routines or develop your own
PROFILE/SKEWER
by Garrett Thomas
MY THOUGHTS:
Garrett has produced two very visual effects with these
two gimmick coins. Each one is made to last and will
work with a Kennedy half dollar. If you already use halfdollars then this can be added in to any part of your routine, or as a stand-alone effect. You are supplied with an
instructional DVD and two special coins.
INSTRUCTIONS:
The value of this DVD is not only the gimmick coins, but
also the excellent instructional DVD that comes with it. In
here Garrett shares many methods for various switches
which range from very easy to hard. The harder version is
a roll over coin switch which is great if you are looking to
do a quick switch. Under most working conditions where
you would perform these miracles I would say any of the
easier methods would be all you need.
There are studio performances as well as live performances and Garrett has included a lot of material on
here. If you watch the entire routine you will have everything you need to give you a clear understanding of how
this works. It just requires a little work and confidence in
handling the coins.
AD COPY:
As the art of magic evolves, we find that a single amazing
moment is often strong than an entire entertaining act.
Coin magic, focused almost entirely on transpositions,
is in particular need of something to make it stand out
and give it more depth.
With PROFILE and SKEWER world-renowned sleight of
hand expert, Garrett Thomas bring you two amazing
moments of strange that will give your audiences something very different to talk about.
PROFILE
In Garretts new coin concept, you slowly press your
finger into a Kennedy half-dollar that amazingly melts,
shaping a deep impression into the metal of the coin.
PROFILE includes an optional twist ending, as the portrait of the president can be shown to have been pushed
out in 3D.
SKEWER
Garrett has reworked the classic Karate Coin into an illusion that allows you to slowly push your finger completely through a half-dollar and make it look as though it is
melting in every direction through the face of the coin.
This is definitely NOT your Grandmothers finger through
coin trick.
INCLUDED with PROFILE and SKEWER are two amazing
new tools, made from Kennedy half-dollars.
I did find I needed more time with the Skewer coin to get
my finger in the right position so as not to expose the
effect too early.
Some of the switches taught include; The Fake Take,
Spellbound, Snap Change, and the Rollover Switch.
I found Garretts take on The Finger Palm very useful and
made a lot of sense, it certainly made me change what
I was doing to his method. Its these little nuances that
make an effect like this really look amazing in the eyes of
the spectator.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The coins are extremely well made, and this is a very
commercial routine. I feel the Karate coin needed a
re-working and certainly this could be the new coin
through cigarette especially with fewer and fewer people
smoking. You no longer have to borrow a cigarette, but
can now make a coin literally melt. Both are just as strong
as the other, and having two options is really a great idea.
If you are working a bar or restaurant and people ask to
see the melting coin trick, you could easily use a different
coin and its a different effect but same concept.
Great value for money and something I would imagine
is easily within the handling range of most magicians. If
you can switch a coin you can do this! Very strong and
visual coin magic.
COST: $39.99
AVAILABLE FROM ALL MAGIC DEALERS
WHOLESALE: www.murphysmagic.com
This review appeared in Edition 4 and has been paid to be placed again.
SEX TEST
Carl De Rome
MY THOUGHTS:
I started performing a version of this in my mid teens,
that is over 30 years ago. I never left home without it until
I could no longer find a supplier for the necessary gimmick. Imagine my great surprise when Carl sent me this for
review!! It is probably the strongest effect anybody could
hope to perform. When I performed it all those years ago
it involved a powder chemical, but Carls version is much
more practical because it uses a very special liquid solution. What makes this far superior is that at no time do
you need to do any dirty work to get the trick to work. You
do it once prior to your evening and it will last. This really
makes the trick perfect for anybody working walk-around,
THE AD COPY:
A small ball of tin foil becomes red hot in the spectators close-up, bars, etc. where no set-up is needed between
performances. It is so easy to perform and the instructions
hand!
are clear and precise, including some great routines.
Sympathetic Heat
The magician takes some tin foil and rolls it into two small There are lots of ways to present this, and Carls own rouballs. He gives one to the spectator to hold. He then holds tine is a cheeky but fun way using a woman, and involves
the remaining ball with some tweezers and places it in the a sex test. For the single magician this should definitely
flame of a candle to heat up. The ball held in the hand of the be in your repertoire. Actually its a fun routine that any
spectator will also heat up, as if the heat from the magcians magician, both male and female, could perform and get
great reactions from. I can tell you from experience that
ball transfers to the spectators ball!
people WILL want you to repeat it, and YOU CAN.
Voodoo Heat
This performance is very simple, perform the routine as What makes this such a powerful piece of magic is that
taught but ask a second spectator to hold out their hand you borrow the silver paper that is needed. It also lends
palm down. Hold a lighter about 10 inches beneath their itself to stage as well as close-up performances. You can
hand and light it. Tell the first spectator (the spectator play this for comedy or serious.
holding the foil) that they will feel the heat from the flame
and the second spectator with the lighter underneath their There is enough of the special liquid supplied to keep
you going for a few hundred performances. Another
palm will feel nothing.
important point of this routine is that you can repeat it
and nobody will be the wiser. I am so pleased to finally
Hot Spot - Sex Test
This is the preferred routine of the creator - Carl De Rome. find another source so I can start performing this again.
Ask the spectator whether they have ever taken the Sex Perfect for the mentalist, magician and even a hypnotist.
Test. This usually gets a good laugh, although it tends to
get a better reaction from a group of women rather than a COST 28- Including Worldwide Shipping
group of men! Proceed with the method we teach you, as AVAILABLE FROM www.cdrmagic.com/heat.html
usual and as you hand the balled up tin foil to the spectator
ask them to imagine what it feels like to have really good
sex. Naturally the foil will heat up and the spectator will
DVD
REVIEWS
HAND PICKED ASTONISHMENTS - CARD
FORCES by PAUL HARRIS & JOSHUA JAY
Professionally shot and edited footage that makes learning the classic forces taught in this DVD easy and fun,
and will change the way you view many of the standard
forces. Joshua Jay is the perfect person to host and teach
this as he explains both the technical and misdirection
aspect of each force.
It is obvious the research behind this has been very
involved with twists on every force by some of the top
card workers in the world. This is what makes this such
a great DVD, because even if you already know how to
force a card, you will want to learn the subtleties and
many variations that will take your card force to a higher
level. One example is the Cross-Cut Force if you thought
it was just for amateurs then this will change your mind!
There is a great idea by Jon Armstrong where the spectator can shuffle the cards yet you can still perform a
Cross-Cut Force.
Paul Harriss cell phone Cross-Cut Force makes this a modern miracle, especially if you use the spectators phone.
To ad to the mix there are some highly commercial routines taught by Jay, which involve the force, and again
performed in a live bar situation. The reactions are real
and not staged.
This DVD is one every performer would get benefit from
including both amateurs and professionals. There are nuances and twists in here on every major card force that
make this very highly recommended. Every single person
who calls themselves a magician should know how to
do one good force and with this youll have plenty to
choose from.
Total Running Time Approximately: 55 min
COST: $19.95 Retail
ALSO AVAILALBE AS A DOWNLOAD
Available from magic supply stores worldwide
Wholesale from www.murphysmagic.com
118
This DVD covers all the basics plus a lot of extra work that
will make both the amateur and professional want to rethink the way they use a thumbtip. There is no reason
why you should ever feel conspicuous when you have the
thumbtip on after watching this.
This is VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Total Running Time Approximately: 35 min
COST: $19.95 Retail
ALSO AVAILALBE AS A DOWNLOAD
Available from magic supply stores worldwide
Wholesale from www.murphysmagic.com
BUILT TO LAST
By Doub Conn
AD COPY
TRCKY.COM is proud to bring you 3 hours of the underground legend, Doug Conn. Many of his most popular
items, and a few new things, have been captured on
video for the first time. 24 effects and more!
Doug performs each gem in his own stylists and beautiful manner. Prepare to be fooled by these routines. Each
trick is then explained simply and clearly, leaving no detail unmentioned. These are neoclassic, and built to last.
Doug Conns magic is that rare combination of creative
ideas, technical innovation, and smart presentations.
Joshua Jay
I strive to be as original as Doug Conn. Thats why I uses
so much of his material, Tyler Wilson
QUALITY OF DVD:
This is a professionally produced DVD with different camera angels enabling learning a breeze. Dougs manner is
laid which makes learning easy and fun.
MY THOUGHTS:
I had never heard of Dougs name prior to this DVD, and
119
purchase. There are two routines performed by Al Schneider, and while he talks his way through them in a studio,
you can easily adapt both to suit your own style. You could
easily learn either routine from start to finish, or ad some of
the moves and concepts in to your current routine.
The Solo Linking Rings routine is a solid five ring routine
but with the addition of an amazing fake count. Learning
this count alone will help any performer. The moves are
easy to do but Als thinking really makes it look as though
you have shown five separate rings.
AD COPY:
The goal for these experiments was to push the envelope
of existing Linking Rings technology far beyond its normal limits. We believe these goals have been realized in
the Quantum Rings project.
Youll find two Linking Ring routines demonstrated and
explained on this DVD. The first utilizes five rings and is a
shorter routine suitable for use in a parlor show or as an
opener for a larger stand-up show. The other is a six-ring
routine intended to be a featured item in a very formal
stage show. This routine utilizes several people from the
audience to come up on stage to assist the magician.
Both of these routines serve to introduce several new
bold and original ring concepts. The first is a five-ring false
count that, while fairly easy to do, really appears as if you
are fairly counting five separate rings. The other concept
is a keyless ring routine. In the six-ring routine, the performer links the rings and gives them to audience helpers
to examine. Please keep in mind that the helpers have all
the rings and each and every one of them is completely
solid. This is accomplished by clever switching, creating
the appearance that single rings are linked together.
MY THOUGHTS:
If you are looking for new and innovative ideas for a
Linking Ring routine then this is something you should
120
PINKY SWEAR
By Doub Conn
AD COPY:
A collection of miracles utilizing the Pinky Count and Pass.
Runtime: 45 minutes
MY THOUGHTS:
I think every single person who uses cards should know
how to Pinky Count cards. Just as they should know basics
such as a double lift or pass, the Pinky Count is a technique
you will use all the time once you get the hang of it.
I learnt the Pinky Count after reading Ortizs work on it,
and was one of the best moves I could have learnt as a kid.
In this DVD Doug teaches how to pinky count and then
applies it in various effects. You will also learn the pass, and
in this case it is based on the Derek Dingle Pass.
Once you have mastered both of these techniques you can
then set to work on some really amazing card routines by
Doug Conn.
The first effect is Coincidice which is an original idea using
dice and cards. It has a follow up moment with a nice punch
finish making this a fun card routine. Its a new plot for me
with a deck of cards which really appealed.
Magic Spell is a nice four ace routine where cards are freely
placed back in the deck and you find them by spelling to
them. This could be a great addition to any find the ace style
routine and uses techniques already taught. As a bonus
Conn also explains a slight of hand version for finding the
aces. What is clever about Dougs handling is that while
you are doing moves such as a pinky count other things
are happening, which takes all the heat off your hands. If
you have mastered the pinky count then this trick is very
easy to do.
121
AD COPY:
Seasoned to Perfection!
Beautiful productions, smooth vanishes, and impossible
appearances, Salt & Silver has all of this and more. Not only
is Salt & Silver a polished, show ready signature routine
from one of magics greatest innovators, Giovanni Livera,
it is also the perfect thing to sharpen your sleight of hand
and master your misdirection. With this DVD you will learn
every detail of this time tested audience pleaser. Seasoned
to perfection, this is Salt & Silver.
It is surprising, amazing, humorous and very magical. I was
both fooled and delighted. - Eugene Burger
As good as I have seen. His timing and misdirection are perfect. Go for it! - Dean Dill
Unlike most table tricks this one is sophisticated and magical enough to include in a formal performance. Dinner and a
show. - Eric Mead
This routine is subtly seasoned to please. It is Tommy-Wonderful. Malini would have swooned. Vernon would have wept.
- Jon Racherbaumer
I watched Gio do this routine three times and each time I saw
it, I shook with my head with how magical and amazing it is.
One of the most entertaining and mystifying effects I have
seen in years. - Barrie Richardson
MY THOUGHTS:
This is one of most elegant pieces of magic I have seen.
122
INSTRUCTIONS
Very precise and clear. The routine is broken down in to
segments making it much easier to follow with the coins
in hand, then stop and work on that part then move on to
the next. Practicing like this I was able to get the routine
down within a few days. I would NOT suggest performing
it in public after a few days practice, but you can certainly
master the moves.
The production of the DVD is of the highest quality with lots
of different angle shots. Giovanni takes his time making sure
the viewer can follow and understand each of the moves
and shares techniques and advice on getting the most out
of this routine. Timing and misdirection are important but
its all covered. If you follow what he says youll have no
problem getting the same response he does.
There are several performance shots both live and in studio which is great because when you do master it you can
follow along with the props getting a feel for his timing.
DIFFICULTY
This routine is for a person who is comfortable with coins.
You need to be able to palm three coins, and drop a coin
from a hand but that is probably the hardest thing to
learn. Because of the structure of this routine the moves
themselves arent difficult. Because this routine is such a
masterpiece of magic it would be worth putting in the
time and effort because youll end up with a piece that can
play anywhere.
It comes with the DVD and an ordinary salt shaker. You
supply your own coins.
WATCH:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbrtSeAOqv8
COST: $50.00 US
AVAILABLE FROM ALL MAGIC SHOPS
WHOLESALE: http://www.murphysmagic.com
E-BOOK
REVIEW
FRANKLY DISILLUSIONSED
by Dean Metclafe
AD COPY:
Frankly Disillusioned is the crazy, rats an all tale of master
magician, Dean Metcalfe and his sometimes hilarious, often
chaotic, globe-trotting adventures with his glamorous assistant and wife, Claudine.
Dean explains with honesty and humour, how his and
Claudines lives turned from a world of dazzling illusions to
a world of bitter disillusionment. He candidly tells how their
glamorous (?) lifestyle took them at times, to the edge of
their endurance and had them sleeping with rats, dropping
through the skies and plunging over ravines.
The magician exposes how he and Claudine were deliberately set-up and cruelly humiliated by the production
company behind Britains Got Talent. All in the name of
light entertainment!
123
This is an easy read and once you start you wont want to
put it down. Its the perfect book to read on your Kindle or
iPad, but is also now available as a paperback.
When I finished reading this I was compelled to write to
Dean and thank him for sharing his stories. If you are new
to magic then this is A MUST READ to find out what life can
be like if you one day choose to become a full time professional. As Dean says, it isnt all glamour. The professionals
out there who have their own experiences will LOVE this
book because you will relate to what they went through.
There are stories in here that really made my hair stand on
end and I wondered how I would react if I were in the position. From stories about working cruise ships to strip night
clubs and television shows this book covers it all.
EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
E-BOOK COST: $4.99
Printed Version: $15.99
AVAILABLE FROM: http://franklydisillusioned.com/
Contact: sam.baker@franklydisillusioned.com
AD COPY:
When this routine was first released in the Pyscrets publication Liber Mentis, it created quite a stir. It offered a
means of performing both a lie detector type routine as
well as an incredibly clean and direct mind read, devoid
of any standard form of method. At the time, the text was
only available through the Psycrets publication, but, after
the widespread approval it received, the text has been reworked and dramatically extended, offering 22 more pages
of additional material. This new material not only contains
another means of performing a clean, impromptu, and
apparently impossible mindread, but it contains instructions for a book test that is unlike anything you have ever
seen before!
Imagine being able to have someone choose a word from
a book, close the book and set it aside, and then change
their word to any other word they can think of (and Im
not talking about a different word from the book, but any
other word they can think of ) - only to have the performer
subsequently reveal their new word with NO fishing!
MY THOUGHTS:
Is it really possible to read minds? After reading this e-book
I believe I can, at least thats how I felt. Inspired by Jon
Thomspons Naked Mentalism, Atlas has taken the method
to another level. I have been doing this and it really works,
so its not some pipe dream. It is very easy to understand
and this book is well written so you dont have to be afraid
of psychological thinking. I couldnt wait to try it out on
friends after reading and it blew them away. The great thing
is once you have learnt this youll have some incredibly
powerful impromptu mentalism that will fool people badly.
The method can also be applied to a book test. There is a
gimmick book involved which is described how to make, or
you can order one online from the author. I would probably
just order one because its not expensive and save yourself
a lot of time and trouble. I would say its easily one of the
strongest book tests Ive seen in some time.
For close-up performances there is a great routine with
business cards using the method. You can perform this on
one person or several. There are a lot of variations explained
in this e-book. Its the method that really impressed me
because I hadnt come across it before, and my mind was
alive with ideas on how to apply to other effects.
This is some of the best psychological thinking Ive read,
because its not hard to understand and even easier to put
in to practice. If you could really read minds this might be
the way to do it.
40 Pages
Price $32.00 for INSTANT download!
For the first time, this extended version of The Real Thing Available at:
teaches you how to do this and much more!
http://www.atlasmentalism.com/AtlasProductsCatalog.
html
Released publicly through this site for the first time, this
text contains an astonishing array of impromptu routines!
Any time you are asked to perform a feat of mind reading,
all you need is a pen and something to write on.
For example:
On five (or more) different pieces of paper (business cards
work well) you write a unique sentence, folding each card
as you finish.
The participant takes all five pieces of paper, and while you
turn around (or leave the room), opens one and reads it.
Once this is done, the Mentalist has a short chat with the
spectator, and then tells them the sentence they were
thinking of. The papers stay in the participants possession
the entire time.
No peeking, no confederates, no dirty work - Just REAL
psychological Mentalism.
124
125
Paid Advertisement
OK, back to the theory you can see that with a little
bit of searching, and minimal artistic talents, you have
created a very nice focal point for the event AND kept it
in budget (next to nothing!)
Nuff said on the theory so how do you apply this
to your performing work, you ask? (good and valid
question) Simply put, remember that your audiences
DOESNT KNOW about your resource limitations / experience level / trial of a new routine so (all together
now) Make it Look Like You Did it On Purpose
NOTE: thank you to all of you who offered your own insights to our last BIZofSHOW insights and this is your
invite to chime in again at: www.facebook.com/BIZofSHOW and click on the MESSAGES button! See you next
month with more insights into using Show Business to
Grow (Your) Business.
FR
OM
Regular
readers
who have
followed my
exploits thus
far will know
that Sunday was
an interesting day! If
you are a new reader
maybe you should
download the last two
months of Vanish Magazine
for parts one and two. You
might as well because it is the
best free magic magazine in the
world.
TH
ED
ES
KO
FK
EIT
H
FIE
LD
S
As I mentioned in my last piece amplifiers are not allowed in Chicago but for
some reason the police today do not seem bothered by that infringement. The volume is low but carries across the whole area meaning that the East side pitch is not
going to be workable. Emmett, being a man of peace takes the pitch I was working
instead, and he is quite happy about it. Unbeknownst to me at the time he had spent
the whole of yesterday looking at my pitch and seeing me with big crowds. He was thinking that my pitch was better than his!
Truth is that I only looked over to see how he was doing when I was struggling to get my next
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NICK LEWIN
PRESENTS ...
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and try and cut down the chances of blood clots in your
body. Walk around the plane a little and do some knee
bends in the galley, at least you will keep the flight attendant amused.
Oh, if you want just one magical note in this column--pack an extra thumb tip too, if you use one in the show.
Some precautions just make sense.
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AND ANOTHER
THING
ONE
WORD
OFTEN
FORGOTTEN
Rantings of
a
Comedy Magician
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BAG OF TRICKS
By Bill Warren
Just as Spencers Theatre of Illusion is not your typical magic show, Kevin
Spencer is not your typical magician. Over the course of his decades
long career, he has left a trail of accolades in his wake including 2009
International Magician of the Year and six-time recipient of the Performing
Arts Entertainer of the Year title. But perhaps his most cherished honor
came when he received the Harry Chapin Award for Contributions to
Humanity.
Spencer has a passion for helping individuals with learning
and developmental disabilities. In addition to touring the
world 40 weeks of each year with one of the largest theatrical
illusion productions in the U.S., he also has a certification in
Autism Studies, is a Qualified Autism Services Practitioner, and
is Adjunct Faculty in the Occupational Therapy Department at
the University of Alabama in Birmingham. His ground breaking
research on the benefits of teaching magic tricks to people
with special needs has been published in leading international
education and healthcare journals. He has presented papers
at a dozen international education conferences. His work
has taken him literally around the world 26 countries on 6
continents.
Spencers current project needs your support. He is working
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Photo:
Kevin with
some of the
students who
appear in the
movie.
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Our first shoot day was at the 2010 IBM convention in San
Diego. We then shot one or two days a month for the next
eighteen months.
Here are some behind the scenes highlights from our shoot:
1
1
Our first shoot day in July, 2010 at the IBM convention in San Diego. This is magician, Michael E. Johnson pulling a coin from Sascha Alexanders ear. We had never met Michael before the convention, but we
loved his costume and fun personality. Many months later, we asked Michael to join the cast in a bigger scene.
Our 2nd day of shooting in October, 2010. This is the first of several guerilla shoots. Its a quick shot of my character getting gas after a magic show. We shot this at a gas station without getting permission. It was a Sunday morning. The gas station opened at 8am. We got there at 6:45am, started shooting as soon as the sun came
up, and got out before the first employee arrived. You can see the Open sign in the background is not lit up.
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mental
JOKER
DANNY ARCHER
I thought I would take a break from the stories and tales of my previous
columns and teach you an easy yet baffling card trick. Joker Mental was inspired by a trick I read in John Lovicks excellent Skinny lecture notes called
I Dream of Mindreading.
WILSON MEETS
WEBER
How: Start with the two key cards as the top two cards of
the face down deck. Depending on your presentation, you
can false shuffle retaining the top two cards as you ask the
spectator to think of any card. Hand the person the deck
and have them hold it face down.
I usually turn my back back or even better have the spectator stand behind me as they follow the three simple tasks
I will ask them to do. I firmly believe that if the spectator
makes a mistake it is not their fault. I picked that person
and I told them what to do. So that means that I try and
pick an intelligent looking person and my instructions are
carefully scripted. I also ask for conformation after each step.
1) If your card is a black card, do nothing. If it is a red card,
take the top card and place it in the middle of the deck.
2) Double the value of their card (J=11, Q=12, K=13) and
without reversing the order of the cards (see THIS), transfer
them from the top to the bottom.
3) If their card is a Club or a Heart, do nothing. If it is a Spade
or a Diamond, transfer ONE card from the top of the deck
to the bottom. After they have finished, turn around and
take the deck back.
The position of the key cards will tell you the name of the
selection. My patter at this point is that the spectator is
thinking the name of their card and as I spread through the
face up pack I will spot it. This allows me to spread slowly
and not talk and concentrate as I begin counting every card
up to and including the first pencil-dotted joker(s). If the
two key cards are next to each other, end the count on the
last key cards. Remember that number.
If you only see one key card, the selection was a red. If the
two keys are next to each other you know it was a black
card. Dont stop looking at the spread after the count, but
continue spreading the cards as you do the final two steps.
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I hand them the deck, turn around and talk them thru the
procedure. When I take the deck back, I push cards off and
count them in twos and count past the key card and upjog
any non key card. I gaze at it for a moment, as I figure out
the name of their card. I remove the upjogged card and ask
if they would be amazed if I was holding their card. I turn
it around and show it and say Jokers are Wild! Do you see
the King on the Bicycle? He has a teeny mouth, (I hold the
card up to my ear), you have to listen really hard because he
has such tiny lips he said your card was black... a number
card... he just told me you card was the 5S!
They confirm. When he gets that right, it makes all the
other kings laugh and laugh, said as I turn the cards face
and spread through showing a full deck of Jokers. If working at a table I like to let the Jokers spill from my hands and
cover the table.
Well there you have it. If you are like me (and most other
magicians I know) you have a lot of stacks of rubberbanded
Jokers just sitting there. Try this out and I think you will be
please with the reactions you will get with Joker Mental. As
always your bricks and bouquets are welcome and encouraged. dannyarchermagic@gmail.com.
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