Andy Martin

Even better than before!

Ok so I’ve been a huge fan of Jerry’s work for about a year now, when I bought my first Jerry O’Connell wallet. Before this new line came out I owned nearly all of the wallets Jerry was making and I could not be happier with them. They are perfect. So along comes this new line, at a lower price, and dare I say it the quality is the same if not better.

This new Plus Wallet really is better than the old perfect Plus Wallet. Wiith the addition of the Wonder Unit and the ID Case, this really is the best wallet you can buy, and the price is amazing.

Along with this wallet comes a newly made DVD featuring close friend of Jerry O’Connell: Craig Dickson. it is a very useful DVD with lots of ideas and tips on the use of the Plus Wallet.

All in all this really is the best wallet package available anywhere at any price. At this price you’d be crazy not to purchase it.

Most Highly Recommended!

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Clever and very Versatile

This is a wonderful new utility device for making the spectator’s card appear in a very magical way.

What is particularly cool about it is that it can be done without any clue to how it is possible. When I first received it – without reading the instructions of course – I didn’t realise that the gimmick could be hidden. Once you understand that, then you really can go to town. There is no switching or additions and it all happens very cleanly in front of the spectator. There is no reset either, it is automatic.

With the large 24 page booklet that comes with this gimmick there are plenty of ideas to put you on the road to glory.

Another Highly Recommended!

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Come Back Magic Hands!

Magic Hands made some really great magic and it is a shame that they are no longer with us. This unique item came out in the early 90’s I believe and it really is a great piece. As you would expect from Magic Hands it is made very well. The thick lucite boxes that hold the (real) Rubik’s Cubes fit perfectly. I picked it up from magic auction site where all sorts of treasures can be found!

The unit itself comes with a number of routines: it can be used for transpositions of jumbled cubes for perfect cubes, dissappearance and reappearance and other combinations.

The gimmicks are very well made and if you actually learn how to do a Rubik’s cube you can add an extra kicker to the end.

Very nice magic!

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Along with the P&L Ultra Perfect Card Box, this beauty from Joe Porper is one of my all time favorite Card Boxes. When I first received this I couldn’t figure out how to get to the second compartment (and I’ve seen a lot of card boxes!) – this is always a good test! I have not seen a card box using this precise method before but even if it is not original with Joe, no one makes them like Joe Porper!

Apart from the very obvious: that this box is flawlessly machined and works perfectly, I really like this box because the “flap” is totally under the magician’s control. If you want to put a card in there, switch it, and then retrieve the original card you can. And you can do this right under their noses, with no magnets or other devices to add or take away. The whole box is totally self contained. The only potential problem with this card box is the weight: 11 oz. That’s a heavy block of metal to be lugging around in your pocket.

When these came out in 2006 they were shipped with a great booklet from Magic Inc.: 50 Ways To Use A Card Box.  And I included a Houdini routine that is based on an idea in the booklet called Houdini Card.

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Classic Escape

This is the solid chrome version of this effect and I’ve always liked. I think it was called electronic release in the UK. So named for the speed for which you can release and shackle yourself. It’s Great!

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The Absolute Perfect Kids Effect!

I have been performing different versions of Harry Leat’s Masterpiece: Run Rabbit Run for over 30 years. It has never failed to drive the kids wild. Some of the versions I have used have been poor, but most have been good enough. But none of them come close to this new item from Chance Wolf over in the Hen Coop at Wolf’s Magic. Wow, does this unit work smoothly and look at those vibrant colors (my photos don’t even get close to doing this amazing piece of work justice).

Chance Wolf makes Magic the way it should be made – this truly will last a lifetime and the moving parts are perfect. The Running Wolf slider is incredibly smooth – and easy to operate with one hand. All the controls are right where you want them. The doors even stay closed using tiny magnets.

Did I say how vibrant the colors are? The routine makes perfect sense too. One of the problems with the original Run Rabbit Run is you have this fairly basic prop and you have to make up a story as to what it represents. Jack Hughes’ Run Bonzo Run was the first version that I am aware of that tried to have a richer theme around the basic idea. There have been others since then – one of my favorites is the poorly made, but still effective, Run Cookie Monster Run from Hank Lee. But with Run Wolf Run Chance has come up with the perfect story and rationalization for why the Wolf keeps running back and forth.

So from the smoothness, the colors, the routine, and all the little touches, there is no doubt in my mind this is truly is The Absolute Perfect Kids Effect!

The first run sold out faster than the Wolf could run back to his home, but a second run is being built as we speak. Even if you aren’t a kids performer get one of these beauties.

Thank-you Chance for waving your magic wand over this classic.

Most Highly Recommended!

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I’ve always liked this effect.

I don’t know where this principle originated but I’ve owned the same basic effect with props from Alan Warner, Wild Magic, and this one. I think I prefer this one as it uses real dominoes, that are ungimmicked.

The effect is simple and clean: the spectator mixes the dominoes and lays them out in domino fashion ane each time you predict what the two end dominoes will be.

The method is easy to do, but not easy to figure out and the prediction you make can be different every time. In fact, you could easily do this effect 3 times in a row, each time predicting a different outcome as they mix and lay out all of the dominoes. For the finale you could even be blindfolded and still determine the final outcome, without seeing or touching the dominoes.

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Genius.

I buy a lot of magic and these days I really look for effects that totally astound the audience. I am not so interested in nice props that just look great – I want magic that totally blows away the audience.

Trilogy, by Brian Caswell, fits the bill for me. As you receive it you are required to write numbers on the backs of the cards. Some reviewers might think this a problem, but heck if I have to spend 30 minutes to have a clean and totally mind blowing effect that is a total no brainer.

This will be the closer for my 2006 close-up act – I think it is that strong. Easy, beautiful and mind blowing.

Highly Recommended.

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Great Impromptu Magic and Great DVD Production!

Howie at the Trickery has surprised me with this DVD release. The production quality is great, the idea is great, and the performances and explanations are great too! When you look at the amount of DVD’s that come out every week, it is difficult to know what to buy. If you do any sort of magic in impromptu settings, these effects are very strong and should be on top of your list.

The live shots and the explanations are very clear and both effects are covered thoroughly and entertainingly. This DVD is much higher quality than Howie’s previous releases with his long time friend Big Boy Bob Solari – The Spy Before you Buy sagas. The Spys are fun, but due to the sheer amount of material they cover, some times the boys are a bit fast and loose. Not so with this new DVD.

Howie is a turning out to be a bit of a Renaissance Man – he developed the ideas, wrote the music, did the DVD pre-production and authoring, performed the effects, and their explanations too. What is amazing is that he is just a little over 5 foot tall, so a lot of talent has been packaged into a little guy – maybe he gets his strength from his long hair like Samson? Well done Howie, I look forward to your next release!

Highly Recommended!

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The Perfect Mentalism Package for your Shirt Pocket!

As you probably know by now I love wallets! Who doesn’t? And this little wallet is the perfect size for your otherwise unused shirt pocket!

The wallet designed to hold the murder cards and poker chip is black on the outside and has a rich red satin interior that nicely emphasizes the murder cards and poker chip. The high quality, credit card sized murder cards are made to last a lifetime.

The theme by Andy Nyman, who certainly steers towards the more theatrical when it comes to his patter suggestions, is wonderful and it dresses this multiple out idea into a very clean piece of mentalism.

Highly Recommended!

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