Magic Reviews by Cameron Ramsay

Above the Fold

Rich Aviles

Vanishing Inc Plublishing

Manufacturer’s  Description

Published by Vanishing Inc. Magic, Above the Fold is the debut collection from one of magic’s most exciting new talents: Rich Aviles. In this intelligent, praiseworthy collection of card and close-up material, Aviles details thirteen effects and seven moves, each one explained with equal parts clarity and wit.

Cameron’s Description?

Yes,Yes,Yes, people are still writing books. Andy Gladwin and Joshua Jay are bringing sexy (books) back and I am certainly loving it. This debut collection from Rich Aviles has a lot of great material in it. Highlights for me were Pocket Protector-a clever prediction using an Alex Elmsly move. Asher Twich- Rich’s take on the now classic ace routine by Lee Asher. Now I’m not a guy that thinks any one should be boring their audience with 37 different color changes but I really like 2 Legit as a double color change.

Cameron’s Favorite Part

Again this is a book, what’s even better is that it is a book I can take on the subway (I don’t’ go on subways ever since Spiderman) and easily travel with anywhere with it. It’s not big and that’s what the guys at Vanishing Inc Magic are trying for. They are calling it their “Small But Potent”, just the best material from that one creator.

Now I didn’t want to write about this but there is a secret gem in the book that I am sure a lot of card guys won’t use. It’s the only non card trick/gag in the book. I have been able to put this gem in my comedy club set. To sum it up this is a great card book from a really funny guy that everyone will enjoy.

I really look forward to more books and products coming out of the Vanishing Inc Publishing company.

Cameron 

MrCameronRamsay@Gmail.com

@Cameron401 on twitter

Book, Booklet, Card Magic, Comedy, Worker Material | View Comments

Mark Tirone has had his review selected for iTricks Raves. Would you like to see your review here? Email Reviews@iTricks.com

Welcome back guys. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve reviewed something and I guess this is a little bit late since itricks just hosted a very special live chat event with the guy who created this next piece. As the title says, I’m about to rip open Alvo Stockman’s “Elixir of Life”. A quick note before I begin though: During the live chat thingy, Alvo was consistantly tossing out some FANTASTIC advice (I highly suggest you go back and watch the recorded show) as well as some great quotes. Well I took notes and some of those will be appearing in here, as well as a slightly different layout for y’all!

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Book, Booklet | View Comments

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 Hey Mr. DJ - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Docc Hilford’s Hey Mr. DJ is the trick to perform when you want to get the party going. The routine is sequenced so that at the end, the rising climaxes pour out over the audience and get everyone up on their feet cheering and dancing to the music – which, conveniently enough, is the final revelation in the effect.

After doing the one time setup, you are ready to perform this effect with only a few seconds notice. The effect plays for groups of five to five thousand. It really has the potential to play big.

During the effect, several members of the audience yell out song titles. Two of them are selected in a very fair manner and both are revealed in different ways. As long as the songs aren’t obscure, they can be chosen freely. If you’re worried your DJ may not have the songs your audience is likely to select or you find you don’t have a DJ with you all the time, the booklet discusses a variation in the effect where a pre-made CD with a dozen or so tracks on it is used and members of the audience select from those songs; sacrificing showmanship for practicality.

Reading through the instructions, I had to pause a moment and reread one particular section which covers the first ‘move’ in the routine. I kept thinking to myself, “this is so $#(% stupid.” The move is just so dumb-as-post easy that it took me a while before I could laugh in delight at its simplicity. What’s more, this method is cancelled out moments later when the second song on the list is selected.

Now the downside: you need a DJ. Well, not really, but to build the effect up to the biggest it can be (aside from perhaps having a famous band in place of the DJ) you’ll likely reserve this effect for larger events where a DJ is present. That said, it is completely possible to perform the effect on the go with a CD and boom-box or even a cellphone that can play music.

Bottom Line:
If I were playing a big event and needed a packs small plays big routine to really kick start a party, “Hey Mr. DJ” is probably the route I’d go.

If you are a magic dealer and are interested in carrying this product, you can contact Murphy’s Magic Supplies at 916 853 9292 or visit them on the web at www.murphysmagicsupplies.com.

Booklet, Mentalism, Standup/Stage | View Comments

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 Falling For You - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Ups:
- New Plot!
- Easy to make
- Pretty darn creative
- No thread or any of that nonsense.
- Lots of room for creativity with this new idea.
- Spectator could do it if you encased them in a glass box

Downs:
- Card only flies out a maximum of 2 feet
- If spectator does it, they handle gimmicked card(s).

Bottom Line:
I was ecstatic when I read about this effect and even more excited at the method: it’s easy, practical, and awesome!

If you are a magic dealer and are interested in carrying this product, you can contact Murphy’s Magic Supplies at 916 853 9292 or visit them on the web at www.murphysmagicsupplies.com.

Booklet, Card Magic, Close Up, Mentalism, Street Magic, Visual | View Comments

Reading? Overrated! Download the review for later or listen to it below! If you have a product you want to talk about, tell us about it. Here’s how.

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Available here:
http://www.outofthehatmagic.com

This is a great compilation of pen through dollar bill effects. I really think these are clever, and well thought out. Very practical, and I will be performing them!

Introduction:

It is just what you think it is, the creator talks about how he created the effects.

Puncture:

This is the main routine. a dollar bill is borrowed, as well as a pen. The bill is folded in half legnthwise, and the bill is cleanly pushed through. The pen is taken out, and the bill is shown to be unharmed. The bill is then folded widthwise, and the pen is placed into. Now, the pen starts to slowly melt through the bill, and they are both handed back to the spectator. I really like this routine, and it is also easy. Just imagine Misled, but completely impromptu. By the way, this should work with any bill. There are no gimmicks either.

Holy Rip:

This is whte first phase of Puncture, but with a gimmick. It is even cleaner, and you rip the pen through the bill, and it can even be heard. The bill is then restored, and handed back out with the pen. I think this is a neat idea, and a nice cimple gimmick.

S.M.U.P.T.R:

The is the second phase of Puncture, but done in a different way. I like this version a lot, and is also completely impromptu.

Scribble:

A card is selected, and placed back in the deck, or whatever. The spectator is instructed to take a sharpie, and make a bunch of marks on the magician’s hands. After then is done, the magician’s hands are completely scribled on, but when the fingers are interlaced, it forms the name of the selected card. I think this is a clever idea, and people will like it. I won’t use it, because I don’t like to get my hands drawn on, but it is a cool idea.

Thanks To Sankey:

A prediction is seen to be paperclipped to the inside of the card case. A card is selected and signed. The paperclipped card turns out to be the signed card. If you like Paperclipped by Jay Sankey, but didn’t like the folding of the card, you will like this. It is nice, easy, and practical.

Booklet, Close Up | View Comments

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 Thought of Cards Across Project - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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This short booklet teaches three Thought of Cards Across routines that are all impromptu meaning you can perform this with anyone’s shuffled deck without anything extra.

The three routines are of a moderate difficulty level and have a nice streamlined feel.

At times the instructions were a little confusing and took a little rereading, but it was nothing compared to the horrible instructions that typically plague most cheap packet tricks.

Honestly, not too much to say here, the effects are simple, straight forward, impromptu in nature, and yet they are perfect for real worker magicians.

If you are a magic dealer and are interested in carrying this product, you can contact Murphy’s Magic Supplies at 916 853 9292 or visit them on the web at www.murphysmagicsupplies.com.

Booklet, Card Magic, Close Up, Impromptu, Mentalism | View Comments

Reading? Overrated! Download the review for later or listen to it below! If you have a product you want to talk about, tell us about it. Here’s how.

 Fresh Mint - Reviewed By Derek Merdinyan: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Fresh Mint is a simple, straight forward next-in-boxes sequence for restaurant performers. The entire package is self-contained and basically resets as you put it away, ready to go again at the next table.

As it stands, someone’s borrowed bill vanishes and appears within a tic-tac box concealed inside a Altoid tin. Should you decide to take this routine outside of the restaurant performing environment, you could theoretically place the tin inside another box, have it sealed in concrete, eaten by an Elephant, and still have the bill appear inside the tic-tac box.

Once the tic-tac case is made up, it should remain in good condition for a very long time to come; I’d imagine the most likely reason for having to make a new one is someone accidentally stepping on the prepared case. I think we have a worker on our hands here.

Ooh, and how could I forget, this can also be done with playing cards, business cards, billets, and similar items.

If you are a magic dealer and are interested in carrying this product, you can contact Murphy’s Magic Supplies at 916 853 9292 or visit them on the web at www.murphysmagicsupplies.com.

Booklet, Worker Material | View Comments

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 360 - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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360 is a modernized version of the head-twisting illusion using something that *almost* doesn’t look like a prop. Instead of using a box to apparently get rid of your assistant’s neck pain, 360 accomplishes the same thing with a motorcycle helmet.

Now you may be thinking ‘Great!’, finally something that looks natural. Well, it would, if it weren’t for the cloth drape attached inside of the helmet to help hide the method. Now that’s not to say this should be a bother to everyone, but keep in mind that you may look a little odd – on the other hand, I think using a motorcycle helmet makes more sense than a red and yellow box with dragons painted on it.

You receive a simple instruction booklet teaching how to modify a motorcycle helmet to perform this all-in-one, self contained illusion. This is a fairly involved project requiring more than your basic set of tools, however, it’s not like you’re building a deceptive base; you won’t need a full workshop to do this (think power drill, screwdriver, riveter, etc.)

Once it’s made, this baby is ready to go.

If you are a magic dealer and are interested in carrying this product, you can pick it up at http://www.laportamagica.it.

MORE PIX after the Jump!
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Booklet, Standup/Stage | View Comments

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 Imagine - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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‘Imagine’ cautions potential purchasers that “if [they] are the type of person that often reads something that is a bit different, and immediately believes that it will never work, then this manuscript will not be worthwhile for [them].”

It is true that skeptics may not get past the first couple of pages, but being a person of faith myself, I pressed on and was presently surprised and grew ever more excited as I continued to read through the pages.

Rick Maue is quite thorough in his teaching and progresses through a variety of possible effects using this infrequently used principle. By the end of the book, you’ll have learned several of the fairest, most organic feeling, impromptu mentalism routines. It’s probably as close to real mind reading as you’ll get.

Nevertheless, I have yet to pull this off. Then again, I’ve only tried this a few times and I still have faith that this will eventually work.

If you are a magic dealer and are interested in carrying this product, you can contact Murphy’s Magic Supplies at 916 853 9292 or visit them on the web at www.murphysmagicsupplies.com.

Booklet, Impromptu, Mentalism, Standup/Stage | View Comments

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 Conjunction - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Here are the ups and downs of Conjunction. I’m putting it out there in a very concrete form because you are either going to love this or hate it – mainly based upon it’s real world applications.

Overall, Conjunction is, in the words of Paul Harris, “a perminant piece of strange” that can be given away. The fact that these two ‘frames’ REALLY ARE LINKED should net Joshua Quinn a Nobel Peace Prize…or something.

The booklet is very well written and learning the tear is not nearly as difficult as I’d imagined. Joshua thoroughly covers everything you need to know about this routine. It’s also nice that he’s very open with it and wants to see how this principle will be used in the future.

The major (‘downfall’ is too strong of a word here, but) downfall of ‘Conjunction’ is that the tearing process takes about 2 minutes and you’re going to need some engaging patter and be really solid with the tear if you intend on performing this regularly. Also, it’s going to take some trial and error before you get the right business cards and a good design that will leave your contact info in tact after the tear (although, Joshua helps you out a lot in this department). Otherwise, Conjunction stands alone as a special give away for special clients that, occasionally, can be performed with their own business card – should it be of the right quality.

To close, I have just five words:

“YES, THEY REALLY ARE LINKED”

If you are a magic dealer and are interested in carrying this product, you can contact Murphy’s Magic Supplies at 916 853 9292 or visit them on the web at www.murphysmagicsupplies.com.

Booklet, Close Up | View Comments

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 The Second Guest - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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The Second Guest is a simple solution to what seems an impossible effect under test conditions. The comprehensive booklet teaches you how to setup and prepare the special card box in addition to the basic routine and other possibilities for this versatile peek device.

Once prepared, the secret to the box is not ‘obvious’ but it is not 100% invisible in close quarters. Fortunately, because of the way the box is handled throughout the routine, the special part of the box is rarely seen and therefore draws little attention.

The Second Guest is not something you could easily prepare on the go if presented with someone else’s deck of cards, nor would you be able to hand it out for examination (or at least not the box). Of course, this effect was designed for a real world ‘worker’ – whether you perform up close in restaurants or before an audience of hundreds.

If you are a magic dealer and are interested in carrying this product, you can contact Murphy’s Magic Supplies at 916 853 9292 or visit them on the web at www.murphysmagicsupplies.com.

Booklet, Card Magic, Mentalism, Worker Material | View Comments

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 Cipher Speak - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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James Bond knows how to ‘Cipher Speak’, I’d bet on it! Of course, being able to communicate certain bits of information between two people in a way that’s impossible to catch on to means those who plan on learning how to ‘Cipher Speak’ have endless hours of practice and memory work ahead of them.

The coding system taught here is complex but gets the job done if you wish to perform this type of mentalism routine without giving away any clues.

If you are a magic dealer and are interested in carrying this product, you can contact Murphy’s Magic Supplies at 916 853 9292 or visit them on the web at www.murphysmagicsupplies.com.

Booklet, Mentalism | View Comments