Month: August 2004

Osterlind rules!

I just love watching Richard Osterlind! With almost no special props he performs clean and incredibly powerful mentalism right before your very eyes. When he takes you through the explanations your respect for this man contines to grow. He just nails the effects with the simplest of methods and techniques.

The 2nd volume which is exclusively on his stacked deck (the Breakthrough Card System) is one of my favorites as he performs a whole act using the same stack each time, and each effect is wildy different. He also explains in detail the stack itself so you don’t even need to buy the book!

This is very practical mentalism from one of the best performers in the business. Highly recommended!

Click here for more information.

How does he do it?

I don’t know how CardsByMartin (Neil Lester) creates his double faced cards – but they are as good as factory printed cards, making them perfect for card effects relying on specially printed cards.

This effect by Derek Dingle is a wonderful effect and now I have the perfect cards for it, what is to hold me back!

You can find out more about card splitting here and details of this effect here.

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Nice Brass Chips and Clean Prediction!

This effect is a clean prediction of any one of 5 colors. It’s not new as I’ve seen the principle used in other effects, but the chips are nicely made and it also comes with a presentation to perform it twice in one setting which does add a good twist to the routine.

If you like brass magic with no sleight of hand and a simple plot then this is a well priced effect for you!

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Great trick but where have I seen that wallet before?

Ok, this effect is a fine effect using a very well made wallet that allows you to perform a very direct and simple think of any hour type effect.

But just in case you already have the Heirloom Wallet, think twice before you buy this effect since the wallet is almost exactly the same. In fact, either the same manufacturer made these and made a slight change to one pocket at the end, or this wallet was altered slightly for the Heirloom Wallet. You could certainly use the Heirloom Wallet for this effect, but it would be nice to have the specially printed (and laminated) cards.

This effect is not as strong as Heirloom primarily due to the presentation. Otherwise it is still a worth having, just don’t buy both wallets – unless like me you fancy doing an easy any card from wallet and purchase 4 wallets!!!

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This is more like it!

There are way too many locks and key effects on the market. This one from David De-Val has gone straight to my favorite list because it is so clean.

It can be used to lock a ring on the hasp, a box, bag, etc. The genuine, heavy, brass padlock is made in England by Squire. Of course after showing only 1 of the 7 keys unlocks the padlock, the performer or spectator can always choose the correct key.

What makes this method so clean is that at no time whatsoever does the magician need to touch the padlock or keys – either during the testing phase or the final choice of the key that opens the padlock. Once the effect is over the magician does need to briefly touch the padlock to reset it – but this can be done after the performance or just in the process of handing the padlock out again (if desired).

There are also no external pins, magnets, batteries or gimmicks to worry about. Truly the best version of Annemann’s Seven Keys to Baldpate type effect that I have seen.

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Better than Twisted Sisters!

This is one of my favorite packet tricks of all time! I got my original one from Ron MacMillan in the UK over twenty years ago. Recently, I managed to remake it in Bicycle stock using some cards from Daryl. To my mind it is more impressive than Twisted Sisters (which is a great trick too), and is particularly convincing if you perform it 3 times in a row.

Click here for more information.