Jamie D. Grant is now a regular contributor to iTricks Raves with an enhanced version of his reviews from MagicFriday.blogspot.com.

What The Audience Sees:

”Man, we’ve been talking about Friday all day around here! The Monday water cooler talk has never been so lively; and all because Jamie came up in here and read our &*^%^ minds. You would think we were used to it by now! But Friday was special because it involved something we all know and love- the lottery.

Jamie came in and said that someone had told him that if he was so great at magic and all, then how come he didn’t win the lottery. They had even sent him some scratch and win tickets to prove their point. But Jamie explained to us that sometimes he just gets a feeling about certain things and the lottery just hadn’t been one of those “things” yet. But he showed us the tickets that his friend had sent him and asked us if we wanted to try something. He asked me to think of any number between one and sixty. He then showed me the six tickets and asked how many of them had my number on them. I only had two, to which he said that that was better than most. He put the tickets away though and said he was starting to have one of those feelings he was talking about, and he quickly jotted down something on a Sticky Note. He then asked me what number I was thinking of and, remember, I hadn’t told a soul what that number was yet. But when he turned over the sticky note, my number was on it!!! It was craziness! How does he know these things?! I told no one!!! Big Ted started to clap behind his back and Angry Bob almost cracked a tooth!”

How It Went:

Powerball 60 is awesome. Anytime I can add a routine to my wallet, I am a super happy guy, and this has been in it since I got it. I’ve been performing this every single day and have had such great reactions each and every time. Part of it has to do with the fact that every spectator has been thinking of the same thing at one point or another, namely, if this guy’s so good, how come he hasn’t won the lottery yet. So on Friday, my patter was right on point. Not only did it explain why I had lottery tickets on me, but it also justified why I’m not riding around in a Lambo (I just love saying that word).

There were a couple of hiccups during the day that I’ll go through in the JDG Tip and iTricks Idea but overall this effect went over great. It was interesting to see how many people liked the fact that every number that was scratched was a soccer ball, lol. Everyone commented on that. And the method is absolutely foolproof- I never made a mistake and wasn’t worried about it. A couple of things I did to protect myself was I had the spec lay the lotto tickets face down after they checked them (I didn’t want to see the numbers) and I chose to write the number down and have them verbally say it. I think Bill and Richard suggest, in one of the routines, to have both of you write it down, but I like having them just saying theirs out loud and then I turned mine over.

(more…)

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The Official Spam:

Quote:
One dollar morphs into a one hundred dollar bill! & Change a blank piece of paper into money!

~Visual
~Stunning!
~Easy-To-Do!

Running Time Approximately 50min

Kozmo Magic:

Ted Brainard, also known as Kozmo, has been making a name for himself in the magic community. With his top-selling Reel Magic Magazine, to his wonderfully produced DVDs, he setting a new standard for magic production. He has a knack for finding the top magicians in the industry, people including Eric Jones, Justin Miller, Paul Green, Chris Capehart, Cellini, and MORE. His DVDs don’t cost much, which is a HUGE surprise considering the amazing production work.

The Effect–The Spritz Switch:

The magician shows a one dollar bill, which he took from his coin purse. He shows it cleanly, and opens it fully. He blows on the bill, and it visually morphs into a 100 dollar bill! The 100 dollar bill is put away, with the magician smiling.

The Effect–The Paper Dollar:

The magician cleanly shows a piece of paper the same size as a dollar bill on both sides. His hands are also shown empty. He starts to fold the paper, and when it is open it’s a 100 dollar bill. This bill is shown cleanly on both sides and the hands are again shown empty!

Production:

This is one of those DVDs that when I look at it, I smile. Let’s start off with the DVD cover. The DVD cover is clever, and something I’ve never seen done before. What Kozmo and crew did was make each side of the DVD case a separate trick, giving the appearance of two DVDs merged into one. It’s very intiguing! Kozmo also made the DVD case half as thick as normal DVD cases, which is also the case for many of his other releases. When you put this into your DVD player, it’s very well organized. I had no trouble locating anything. There is a live performance, then a studio performance, followed by the explanation for each trick. The credits also include bloopers. I enjoyed the bloopers very much.

My Thoughts–The Spritz Switch

I’ve always liked the Juan Pablo switch. I’ve tried it a few times, but always stuck to different switches. In Lonnie’s first DVD set, Outlaw Magic, he presented a handling for the switch which he called Grandpa’s Dollar. What he has done here is cleaned it up, making it much more effective, and much more efficient. In the switch, he has motivation for every aspect. I’m not going to give it away, but the idea is genius. The switch is also very visual, and spectators will not see it coming. The full bill changes, not just a folded portion. A very good change, easy to do, and looks great!

My Thoughts–The Paper Dollar:

This was originally published in John Lovick’s Switch. It’s a very nice change, but my predilection leans toward The Spritz Switch. It looks great, but does not have the same motivation as the other. It is very practical, and is easy to do. It does require a standard magic item, which most of you will have. If you don’t have one, any good magic shop will have them, and they aren’t to expensive. Overall, it’s good, but not the best.

Overall:

I really enjoyed this DVD, from the production aspect and the magic aspect. For the rating, I am going to give this an 9/10. I really liked The Spritz Switch, but The Paper Dollar was just okay. If you are thinking about buying this DVD but can’t decide, I would say buy it. The Spritz Switch made it money well spent, and The Paper Dollar was a nice added bonus. For $20, you can’t go wrong. Remember, pick it up at Kozmo Magic!

Also while you’re at it, check out all the other products from Lonnie Chevrie and other various artists: http://www.kozmomagic.com

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 Millionaire Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Highlights from the Podcast Review:
- Peter Eggink’s Millionaire is a visual bill transformation that happens in the spectator’s hands.
- You are supplied with gimmicks and several fake bills for practicing the effect
- Instruction on the DVD covers the main points and gets you on your way to productive practice sessions
- I haven’t seen a bill change like Millionaire before. The effect manages to set itself away from other bill changes, not by the fact that the change happens in their hand, but that the change that takes place in their hands is a visual one.

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

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 World's Greatest Magic: Close Up Magic (No Card Tricks!) - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [3:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Someone at L&L Publishing must have read my mind. Seriously. This particular 3-disk set in the WGM series is all about non-card close up magic. Why would I be so excited about something like this? I love variety and don’t like books and DVDs that call themselves close up magic resources when in fact they should really be called card magic products: 19 card tricks and a coin trick isn’t the same as a book that teaches you 2-3 card tricks, a few coin tricks, effects with dollar bills, sugar cubes, dead mice, mayonnaise, etc… The latter is what this set presents the viewer: variety (minus the dead mice and mayonnaise).

I found it quite enjoyable watching this mashup of professional magicians, both modern and from the days of old performing some of their best close up effects; the tricks that were different. Of course, each is fairly adept at teaching their respective effects from their own professional repertoires.

Here’s the reason I love the variety: you’re bound to learn something or about something you never knew before (Example: I had never seen what a ball and tube gimmick looked like before I saw this DVD and also learned there is so much more you could do with those two objects than just put the ball through the tube).

Bottom Line:
If value, professional magic from magicians with ‘worker’ reputations, and (my favorite) variety, are things you look for in a learning resource, then this set may be for you.

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.

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 Extreme Burn - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [3:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Is it possible to create a perfect magic trick? I’m going to say no; despite my deepest love for this effect. Overlooking the fact that I consider myself a visual-magic junkie, I can say this effect got me seeing things I didn’t know were possible. I’ve been using Richard Sander’s Slow Burn for several years now but after seeing this DVD I quickly upgraded to Extreme Burn.

What does this effect have going for it you ask? For the most part, $5 => $500 bill change effects have fairly decent handling; some are better and more natural, and others are lacking; the logic behind Extreme Burn’s handling from the audience’s perspective isn’t too shabby. But that’s not what made me fall in love with this effect; it was the visual nature of the change that did me in. It’s easy, fun, astonishingly visual, and may one day give someone a heart attack.

Richard Sanders’ instructions are nicely laid out and easy to follow. The only challenge I see with this effect (aside from performing it for yourself for hours on end) is choosing which of the half dozen or so changes to actually use. The most basic change will get the job done for most folks and is by far my favorite; but the others aren’t without their charm and can work better in some environments over some of the other changes. There’s even a change that looks like no moves are used; it’s the most challenging one on the DVD, but it’s a stunner when performed.

This DVD is so comprehensive, Richard Sanders also teaches his original Slow Burn effect for good measure.

Bottom Line:
This effect is fantastic, it’s a real world worker, a visual stunner, and an effect that’ll make the eyes of your audience stick. Easily going to make the top ten this year!

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.

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 Prophet - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Tom Isaacson’s Prophet is another iteration of the 5 $1 bills to 5 $100 bill changing effects. This particular change prides itself in being the most fluid and most visual change of its kind. Around the same time this product came to market, Richard Sanders released a similar effect of the same high-visual quality; my only comment on the Sanders effect known as Extreme Burn in comparison to Prophet is that most of the changes on the Extreme Burn DVD are easier to perform than the change taught in Prophet. The change used in Prophet is going to require more practice than other effects of the same classic plot but should be well within the reach of the average magician.

From the audience’s perspective, the change appears to require zero cover has a very clean and open look.

The teaching on the DVD falls in line with previous Theory11 releases. Those unfamiliar with the classic change gimmick get an in depth look at the construction, followed by a straight forward rundown of how to perform the effect.

One thing to be aware of, however, is that Prophet does have some angle issues but only slightly more so than other $5 – $500 change routines. Thankfully, the angles are openly discussed and viewers are taught how to deal with them.

Bottom Line:
Despite an elevated difficultly level and a marginally increased level of angle issues, Prophet is a beautiful, streamlined, no cover bill change that won’t fail to astonish.

If you are interested in picking up this product you can check out www.theory11.com.

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 Heiny 500 - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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“$*#&!,” is what I think I said the first time I saw this performed. Heiny 500 takes advantage of the original bill changing gimmick but manages to make the effect look insanely better. I used the Hundy 500 effect for quite a while and was astonished with its visual impact; Heiny 500 brought that feeling back and kicked it up a notch.

This one is a worker baby (albeit an expensive one to make up). Overall instruction gets you through the process of construction and basic performance.

It’s amazing to see how alternative handlings to a classic gimmick can do so much for an effect.

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.

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 Bunko! - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Quality props, relative ease of performance and excellent patter make this a thoroughly great product that stands a good chance of being used.

My only concern with the effect is that this was designed to be performed with the included play money bills. It is true that buyers could make up their own set of bills out of real currency (doing so is discussed in the instructions). The effect benefits greatly from the use of the fake bills in that the color contrast between the bills helps show the changes better than normal American currency that is traditionally green on both sides. Furthermore, there are subtle clues printed on the fake bills that help the performer remember the sequence of the routine. Finally, the bills slide over one another nicely so they don’t get stuck to one another as the bills are counted.

Overall though, I stand by what I said before, this is a great product.

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.

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 Fingers of Fury Vol. 1&2 - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Fingers of Fury, the two disk set has some pretty interesting and original magical effects on it – including card magic (oh my!).

Volume One contains all the ‘other’ magic effects, like Deep Impression where a selected card slices through your arm like on of those knife-through-arm effects; however, it’s not really an entire routine, I’d classify it as a quick throw-away effect. Hells Bend is a coin bend which uses a fairly simple invisible switch that can be a real fooler when you show the only thing in your hand at the end to be the bent coin; what’s the downside, you ask? The switch requires a table. Of all the effects on this DVD, the favorite by far, however is the borrowed coin through cellphone screen (Relentless). It’s fairly easy, pretty darn visual, and can be done with most modern camera phones. Course, there’s more on this DVD…

Volume Two is where cardicians can get their fix – and no, I wasn’t feeling the pain when watching this one. In continuation with the clever thinking on Vol. 1, we get some equally interesting card effects. My favorites include: PolterDeck – an impromptu haunted deck; Whiteside & Penman – an effect where two halves of two different cards fused back into a single mismatched card (this one requires a special card that is not included. Also of note, this effect won’t be too useful in walk around situations unless the performer has two of the right one-way decks that match the special card); and Linker – a linking card effect with multiple variations – steady hands are required to perform this visual linking sequence.

Between the two, I’d imagine you could find enough likable material to justify the price of buying these two volumes together.

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.

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 Bill Shift - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Bill Shift is a creative use of the PK Ring, can you say bill switch? It’s nice to see a branch out from penetration and PK effects with this popular magicians utility (you’ll get more of this good creative stuff throughout this series).

That said, Bill Shift has some distinct disadvantages that are common amongst standard TT Bill Switches. For example, Bill Shift is not best suited for borrowed bills (although it could be done). Furthermore, the switch does not accommodate magicians wanting to switch the bill back.

You can, however, change your own bill and pass it out for examination in the end and that is good enough for some people. Plus, I’ve never been a big fan of the ‘I need to switch it back because this is illegal’ line.

I’d also like to give props to Randi Rain for the entertaining video opener and creative way of incorporating the Bill Shift performance on this themed DVD.

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.

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 UV Nightshades - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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This is the Nightshades we’ve been waiting for.

When the DVD arrived, I was surprised to find everything you need to perform the effect (minus the bill) was included – even the fine-tipped Sharpie recommended when performing this effect. The really great thing is that you get all this for the same price of your average one-trick-DVD with all the goodies included.

The workings of the effect are quite simple, however I’m a little nervous about carrying around the effect just expecting to perform it at someone’s request. I’m not saying it’s not doable, I’m just afraid I might lose one of the ‘parts’. Course, there are other methods taught on the DVD for getting setup and ready to go quickly and how to carry things around for real world performances. I should also note that the package also came with a carrying case to store all the necessities.

One of the pieces that makes this effect work requires you to make a trip to the local office/craft shop to pick up some refills. You receive enough of this stuff for about 100 performances and after that, this stuff is relatively inexpensive.

Construction of the gimmick is pretty straightforward, all you’ll need is a pair of scissors and a few minutes of your time. For folks who are new to the Nightshades effect (Improv Nightshades), it may take more than one attempt to make the right gimmick, but you are supplied with more than enough stuff to make at least half a dozen gimmicks.

The workings of the effect are quite simple. The get ready isn’t bad, and depending on how you perform the effect, there is the opportunity to show your hands clean (but I really don’t think it’s a big deal in the case of this effect). Angles are fairly reasonable as well. This can be performed surrounded with your only potential weak spot being behind and lower than your outstretched hand.

As mentioned on the back of the case, this can be performed with any borrowed bill that you have a prepared gimmick for, although newer, crisp bills work best. If presented with only wrinkled bills, you can keep the original setup but may have to resort to the original change as taught in Paul’s Improv Nightshades (it’s explained on the DVD for this purpose).

In addition to UV Nightshades, you’ll learn two extra effects using the included props, one of which is an equally visual adaptation of Paul Harris’ Peeler. (Seriously, you need to see it).

If you are interested in snagging this up for your self, you can The Astonishment Project visit on the web at www.theastonishmentproject.com.

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