5 Stars

Ah look at these beauties!

The Criterion Demo Table fills a great void in my close-up magic performances and practice sessions. I have tried a number of different tables and table tops, but when it comes to performing they all fall short of my requirements. When it comes to close-up you need a larger top and more accessible space beneath to place your new and shown items.

Not only does the Criterion Table look beautiful, it works really well too. The size is perfect for any close-up performance I do and with a lot of easily accessible space beneath the table, I can store my whole act and get to it very easily too.

The display of effects on this table were all made by the talented George Robinson, and what better way to show them off than with a very classy demo table. This is the one to impress them all!

Click here for more information.

Grab these while you can!

As I look at all the magic I’ve puchased over the last 32 years it becomes very clear to me that there are very few real craftsmen around still making quality magic. Craftsmen like Alan Warner, Mel Babcock, and Richard Gerlitz are all on my list of course. But sometimes I forget to add to that same list: George Robinson of Viking Mfg./Collector’s Workshop. When I look at the quality that he consistently pumps out it is quite amazing, and then you factor in the price – there is noone else in the industry, period, that produces the same quality at the same price.

This little bottle is a wonderful piece that you will be proud to own. It is easy to do and comes with some great ideas. I suggest you snap these up because I don’t know how George is able to offer these at such low prices. For the amount of work involved they are a huge deal!

In fact I would say the same thing about a lot of Viking pieces – George has kept his prices very low for a long time. You can get some of the same effects for less from the rip-off guys, but if you want the real deal pay a fraction more and you will be much happier. Viking quality really shines when you take the time to appreciate it.

I suggest you point your browser to the Viking site and load up on many of the cool effects that George has to offer – I have owned nearly all of the pieces from the current Viking catalog, and only now am really starting to appreciate how much better they are than so much of the other dross out there.

Click here for more information.

Finally a Book Test that is Entertaining!

I have owned five different book tests and only performed one of them. The reason is that, with the exception of Lee Woodside’s Dream Revelation, I’ve never really felt that there was much point to them – the methods are often clever (hence their appeal to magicians), but they really lack in entertainment value.

Brad Henderson has come up with a very funny and amazing book test that draws value and entertainment from the books themselves as well as the final revelation. The Satanic Book Test is clearly a performance piece – you can’t just roll it out the afternoon you receive it, and it does require some careful practice and talent to do it justice. The mechanics are easy to grasp, with plenty of tips and subtleties to handle various situations, but you will need to be confident in your acting abilities to pull it off.

This is a "good thing" – if more magicians spent time actually rehearsing their shows we would see better performances. I think in the right hands this could easily become the greatest eight minutes of your act. I plan on spending a long time before I roll this out in my act, but I am confident that I will in fact roll it out, which will make it a very good book test indeed!

As it arrives you get a very well produced 25 page booklet with numerous photos, tips, patter, and subtleties. You will need to purchase the actual books required for the test, but these are readily available.

Highly recommended if you really want to entertain your audiences, rather than just show a few tricks to your friends.

Click here for more information.

Ready for a Heart Attack?

Mephisto of Belguim have a fine line of quality magic – this fall apart table and the matching Fall Apart Chair are no exception. This table is so solid you could stand on it if you desired. There is no sign of gimmicks or anything and its radio controlled. So you can use it quite normally throughout your show, moving it around without fear. But when you press that button, watch out! It comes crashing down to the ground with a thunderous sound! This is how fall apart props should be made. Wonderful to play with and a real surprise for the audience.

This table is so solid I had my 21", 75 lb computer monitor on for a three month period when I was moving last year. I can even stand on it (I’m 215 lbs!).

Click here for more information.

Wow! These are beautiful!

Ok so Howie and Bob spent some time with less worthy craftsman – that glue and pencil guy, that tricky shamrock guy, … now finally they are working with a real pro. If you saw the old Jack and Jill that Howie sold these are so much better its like a whole new trick.

They are very thin and beautifully finished. The cards are expertly made and the effect is just so clean now. You place the jack in one holder and the queen in the other and instantly they swap places. Even though they can see the cards at all times.

If you are a medium to high high-end collector that appreciates the fine Magic of craftsmen like Alan Warner and Mel Babcock, you will surely appreciate the workmanship in this new release.

You can only buy them from Howie and Bob over at the Trickery – do so now before the run is over. They are exquisite!

Click here for more information.

Strong, Direct Mentalism with no funny business!

This is more than just predicting 1 out of 3 choices – which is not that magical on a good day – you provide a prediction, of which there is just one, that predicts 3 out of 3 choices.

You predict what goes in the bag, what goes in the spectators hand and what goes in your hand. Every time. The other cool thing about this effect is that it is always ready to work. No set-up at all. Just put the prediction and the wooden disks back in the bag and you are ready to roll. Everything can be examined too!

In fact, it almost sounds too perfect to be true. But it is true. You will like this effect for its clever method and the impact it has on your audience. And I’m sure you will use it often because of its simple requirements and set-up. Highly recommended!

Click here for more information.

Now for the truth about magic and entertainment …

"Magic, as exhibited by the majority, is the indulgence in a hobby which rarely instructs, seldom amuses and almost never entertains." Dariel Fitzkee, Showmanship for Magicians, 1944.

If you want to take the warm fuzzy feeling away from what many magicians, both professional and amateur, have with regards to their performance and their magic, then Fitzkee is your man. The first book of this trilogy changed my life, well at least that aspect that is devoted to magic. He makes you really think about the entertainment value of a typical magic performance.

I think everyone wanting to be a "Magician" should read Fitzkee’s words. Highly recommended!

Click here for more information.