Magic Reviews by Cameron Ramsay

Hello readers! Welcome to my new review section. If you are looking for a column where a guy rips into bad magic products than tries to trash the creator than this is not the column for you. My whole idea and goal for the review column is to just highlight good effects and recommend creators that put out great products. Yes the format of the column might change but hang on there guys, this should be a cool trip

T2P

Torn to Pieces

Shawn Farquhar

Manufacturer’s Description

Here’s the killer effect Shawn has kept secret for over a decade. It’s the effect Shawn does when he wants to get a client to book him again and again! A real photograph, signed by the spectator, is torn into four pieces. The photo is really torn. Then in an instant all four pieces join together but in the wrong order leaving the spectator with a mismatched photo with their signature! That’s right their signature is on the odd “almost restored” photo.

Cameron’s Description

Okay it’s not often you see an effect that is a killer on television and that’s also usable for a walk- around performer. Shawn’s effect does all of that and it leaves you with the chance to add your own personality.

Shawn does give many ideas of what photos to use (he also supplies digital images to get started with) and also presents ideas for many age groups. I am not the best with kids so when I saw Shawn explain the version with Humpty Dumpty I knew it would be going into my close – up arsenal. No, not the soccer team.

Cameron’s Favorite Part

This is a personal effect; it can be used to tell your audience exactly who you are. My favorite aspect is that this can be carried in your wallet and it actually makes sense to have it. Bravo Shawn, Bravo!

Thanks for reading my first column, many more reviews to come. If you have any comments, concerns or submissions please email me or contact via this new thing called the World Wide Web.

Cam
MrCameronRamsay@gmail.com
@Cameron401 on Twitter

Card Magic, Close Up, DVD, Effect, Restaurant, Standup/Stage, Street Magic, Visual, Worker Material | View Comments

Corey Martin is a regular contributor to iTricks Raves.

We have all seen it. The Magician shows a box that has been hanging in full view the entire performance, is sealed, anything in the box can be seen. Random selections are made, be it a card from a deck or a set of numbers or even a word from a page of newsprint. The box is carefully opened, one part at a time to insure that it has not been tampered with in any way. The prediction inside the box matches that of the selection made on stage. The crowd is stunned. The Magician smiles and takes his bow. The stage goes dark….

(more…)

Book, Mentalism, Standup/Stage | 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.

 Mind Scanner Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Highlights from the Podcast Review:
- Comes with forcing deck and clever Mindscanner device
- Mindscanner device can display up to three different revelations (which is great if you want/need to repeat w/out programming the device).
- Programming the Mindscanner sucks, but once you’ve got your messages in, you’re good to go.
- This effect is great for magicians that like customizing effects to suit them. You can reveal what you want and have all the flexibility you could want for choreographing the routine.
- Packs small and can play big!

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

Card Magic, Close Up, Effect, Mentalism, Standup/Stage | Comments Off

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.

 Smart Ass - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Highlights from the Podcast Reviews:
- Great effect for workers
- Packs flat and plays big: cards are eliminted by throwing them in the air. Bill Abbott covers ways to minimize the mess for the people that would be an issue for.
- Includes required jumbo card and specially made forcing deck
- Clear instructions
- Can’t wait to perform it myself

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.

Card Magic, Comedy, Effect, Mentalism, Stage, Standup/Stage, Worker Material | 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.

 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

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.

 Assassin's Card Sword - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [4:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Docc Hilford’s Assassin Card Sword presents you with a natural-looking gimmick that will allow the you to perform an organic feeling card sword routine. What does that mean exactly? With this gimmick in your pocket, you can perform a card sword routine at a moments notice so long as a knife or sword and a deck of cards is handy. Neither the deck or knife is gimmicked in any way; both of these items can be borrowed. In fact, the gimmick is in play only for one brief moment and is ditched without giving it any thought; it’s taken out of play before anything ever ‘happens’

Additional points for this effect that I liked: the card isn’t forced or gimmicked so you can perform this effect under near-test conditions (however if you prepare a card before hand and force it, a gimmick isn’t necessary). Unlike most card sword routines, the selected card in this effect can be signed (although not with a Sharpie-type pen). As far as angles are concerned, there’s only one, maybe two moments where the dirty work is done and ‘the move’ is executed; these shouldn’t be too much of an issue because you’ll be swinging a sword in a moment; the only person that should be near you at the time is your volunteer who should be easy enough to keep at a safe distance. Because the blade isn’t gimmicked, your volunteer can remove the card from the sword/knife and keep it.

Now that I’ve got the praise out of the way, there are a few other things I feel should be mentioned. First off, this effect is best performed with cheap-playing cards (i.e. non-Bicycle brand). In fact, the cheaper the cards, the better. While some of you may be Bicycle-purists, remember that these cards are going in the air and on the floor so a cheap deck that you can throw or give away at the end of a show isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Part of the reason this effect is so expensive is because of the replica sword that is included with it. That’s great if you don’t have one around the house if you want to star practicing right away, but the replica isn’t of the best quality. After a few weeks of practicing this effect, the decorative elements of the sword sheath started coming off (of course, this is remedied with glue). For stage purposes, however, the included sword will more than get the job done.

Finally, it should be noted that the instructions don’t cover how to repair or replace the gimmick should something happen to it. Using cheaper cards will definitely make the gimmick last longer, but not forever. Eventually something will need repair before you continue to perform the routine.

Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for the cleanest, ‘no gimmick card sword’, this is probably your best, albeit expensive, solution.

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.

Card Magic, Effect, Standup/Stage | 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.

 Healed and Sealed 2.0 - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Anders Moden’s original Healed and Sealed manuscript brought about a new wave of astonishing street magic-esque effects using soda cans; this follow up DVD with additional thoughts, moves, and presentations seriously takes this effect to new levels.

The DVD kicks off with an in-depth look at the original Healed and Sealed and quickly opens up into new ways to execute the various magical phases of this all in one effect. Moden’s comprehensive look at the effect goes beyond just techniques and methods and offers both real world performing tips (for close up AND stage) along with several presentation ideas.

As far as single-effect DVDs go, this one is almost as good as it gets. This learning resource has what you need to get this effect into your repertoire and get you performing in the real world.

The DVD is available from Anders Moden at his website: http://www.andersmoden.com

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.

Close Up, DVD, Standup/Stage, 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.

 Real Ghost - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Ups:
- You can create some pretty deceptive and spooky effects with this device.
- The device is remote controlled and the button is very easy to find and activate from the outside of your pocket.
- 1 yr warranty included
- You can put a great deal of distance between yourself and the ‘touched’ volunteer – and remember, the timing of the touch is under your control.
- Very fair conditions for performing on stage; can be performed in more intimate standup or close up situations without much restriction.

Downs:
- Instructional videos must be retrieved from the internet – I would have greatly preferred a DVD, but you get enough instruction from the online videos to get you going. That said, I would have liked to see more applications for this $300 device explained.
- The remote is made from a cheap feeling plastic but should hold up well if properly cared for.
- Device requires a bit of fixing up every dozen performances or so. Nothing you can’t handle though and most of the supplies are included for your first dozen tune ups.

Bottom Line:
If you are looking to take your PK touches routine up a notch or want to dive head first into this spooky classic of magic, the Real Ghost may be your ticket (if you can afford a $300 ticket).

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.

Effect, Mentalism, Standup/Stage | 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.

 Bammo Dekronomicon - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Ups:
- This effect claims to be the ‘Holy Grail’ of ACAANs. In the eyes of the audience, it comes close.
- Very complete instructions
- Best suited for non-repetatitive close up situations (Parlour is better than table-hopping).

Downs:
- (While it really shouldn’t matter) Method wise, this is not the Holy Grail of ACAANs
- I wouldn’t use this ACAAN if I were table hopping
- You must make props yourself. Simple, easy to do, shouldn’t cost more than the effect will be worth to you if you perform it. (There’s a fair chance you already have everything you’ll need, so it may cost you nothing).

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for a clean ACAAN for a non-repetitive performing situation this is something you may be interested in checking out.

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.

Card Magic, Standup/Stage | 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.

 Time and Space - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Time and Space is one of those routines that tries to pull together multiple effects into one continued sequence… only, in this rare instance, everything works together quite nicely. Time and Space is accompanied with a great presentation that ties everything together and makes this a good worker candidate.

The final give away at the end of the effect is pretty cool, unfortunately, the refills are going to make this an expensive card trick to perform for walkaround (+ $1/ performance).

If you like the effect description and think you can swing the performance cost of this effect, then go ahead and check this one out and see what you think.

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.

Card Magic, Close Up, Effect, Standup/Stage | View Comments

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 Ice From Water - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Ice From Water has a lot of potential behind it – it’s begging for some awesome mystical/bizzarist presentation to make it a knockout. On it’s own, the effect is simple and easy as heck to perform (you just reach into the water and pull out ice, nothing’s concealed in or on your hands or arms).

The product comes with enough supplies to produce thousands of ice cubes (I’d estimate) – and since they are reusable, refills probably won’t be necessary. Preparation is really simple – to quote the infomercial superstar, Ron Popeil, “Just set it, and forget it!”

One final bit to digest – the ice cubes that are produced should not be consumed, but a method for passing out the ice cubes for examination is discussed in the instructions.

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.

Bizarre, Close Up, Effect, Standup/Stage | 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.

 Influence U2 - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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The second effect in the ‘Influence U’ series is finally here and really kicks things up a notch.

Like the original Influence U effect, Influence U2 comes with everything you need, including: all the props, a bonus ‘Demon Deck’ (not required for the effect but can be used), and a great presentation. Workings of the effect are relatively simple and quite clever.

Unlike the original I.U. which was designed as an impromptu effect, this one is aimed more for more traditional performances (although this one can be performed nearly impromptu).

NOTE: This review is for the North American/Canadian version of the effect. At the time of this writing, the International Edition has yet to be released.

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.

Card Magic, Close Up, Effect, Impromptu, Mentalism, Standup/Stage, Worker Material | View Comments

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 Broom Through Body - Reviewed by Bizzaro [2:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Penetration effects are not uncommon in magic. They are usually small or frickin’ huge. It’s nice to see something for the parlor performer once in a while.

Now that I have gotten the pleasantries out of the way, I want to preface this with: In no way am I saying I dislike this product and don’t buy it. I am simply giving you a heads up of the cons in my opinion. The idea is solid; I just think the application could have been a bit better thought out. Lemme tell you why….

The ad claims the following:
• No Set up
• Performance ready right out of the box!

Now I cannot obviously tell you specifically why these two items from the list are inaccurate. If you want to perform this effect out of the box EXACTLY like the demo video you need something special that they DO actually provide, but it does require a set up. To do it properly (or if yer a victim of body hair) you have to do as I did and create a special add on to wear under your outfit.

The price is also a bit steep for what you get. I expected an internal mechanism only to find the product did not meet or exceed my expectations. (Which, in magic, is not unusual) The effect indeed does deliver what it sets out to do. A broom thru your body. At first performance, it looks exactly like what it is however. Only thru careful routining and practice will this effect sell. Do not think of this as a “street” effect. (Why is EVERYTHING put out nowadays perfect for “Tha street yo”.) It is a vignette or interlude effect to a larger routine.

All in all, it’s a good idea with a high price. There are some minute details I personally would change to make it function better, but that’s me. So if you are looking for a penetration effect that won’t cost thousands or can be seen from more than 10 feet away, this is your best bet so far. Enjoy.

If you are interested in picking up this product, you can check out www.masterofillusions.ca.

Effect, Stage, Standup/Stage | View Comments

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 The Lady Travels - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Lady Travels essentially accomplishes the same thing as as an Intercessor Gimmick.

The major advantage this idea has over the Intercessor Gimmick is that in the end, it is possible to show this deck cleanly where the Intercessor Gimmick must be removed if the deck is to be examined (it is still necessary to conceal something in this deck, but since it is the size of an actual playing card, it is much easier than an Intercessor). Because of the way these types of effects are performed, however, I do not think this is a major issue as the attention is not directed towards the deck.

You are supplied with three gimmicks, each of which will allow you to give the torn corner of a Queen of Hearts (the only card that works with this, and yes it is forced) to an audience member and vanish the card from the face of the deck. You cannot directly take the torn part of the card from the deck and burn it, tear it, etc – it must vanish from the face of the pack. The good news is that the card matching the tear can appear anywhere you want. There are no switches.

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.

Card Magic, Close Up, DVD, Effect, Standup/Stage | 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.

 Dial-Abolical - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [1:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Dial-Abolical features two completely different, impossible mentalism routines that share a similar, simple method.

Both of these routines were performed before a live audience with Kochov’s (Jasper Blakeley’s) complete, comedy presentation to see how the effect would run in a real world performing situation.

Preparing for the effects should be a one time job – which is good to note since the construction time for these effects can take several hours of work. It’s nothing difficult, actually fairly easy to do – it’s just very repetitious.

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.

DVD, Mentalism, Standup/Stage | View Comments