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

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:

“Wow, Jamie sure has had a tough time the last few weeks. I mean some of that magic lately was a bit weak- too bad I can’t tell you about it. Anyways, he made up for it this Friday. And it wasn’t anything big either. Check it out, he took out his pen, right? It was a plain old Bic pen, but he could make the cap jump on and off at will! It was crazy! Basically, he would be holding the pen, writing side up and the cap on the bottom and then he would then just twirl it and the cap would be on the writing part. It was nuts! Just by turning it around he could make the cap go from one end to the other. It was so cool! We loved it!”

How It Went:

Lol, sorry about the delay in Magic Friday reports folks but the last couple Fridays haven’t been the most fantastic, lol. Oh well, that’s the point of MF- to try things out. I was quite happy with this Friday, though. Greg’s new effect played way bigger than I thought it would. I think it has something to do with the fact that everybody has used a Bic pen at one point in his or her life. That, and the fact that the illusion just catches people off guard.

I started off the day doing the full routine but, by the end of the day, would just do it twice. I found that the first time was a “What just happened, show me again!” kind of moment and the second was a “Wha? C’mon, one more time!” to which I would respond, “No.” lol. It’s a perfect little opener that is a great introduction. It’s not like you’re walking up to someone and pulling a bird out of their shoe or anything. You’re simply doing something really visual with an object that they’ve used many times in their own life. It went over really well.

(more…)

Close Up, DVD, Manipulation, Uncategorized, Visual | View Comments

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:

”Yo, you want to know what I saw, right? Yeah? You sure? Because I saw the devil, man! Or maybe not! Maybe he’s a miracle worker! Who the %#^# knows what the heck Jamie is! He probably doesn’t even know!!! Check it- he puts a deck of cards on the table, right. He NEVER touches them again; I swear to you it’s true. He doesn’t touch the things. Instead he has me and Big Ted come up with a card. We chose the 2 of Clubs. BOOM! It’s gone, he says. We count the cards. There’s only 51. Big Ted starts to giggle. I start to get nervous. He tells us to turn the cards face up and find the 2 of Clubs. Well, guess what? Yeah, I know you know! The 2 of Clubs isn’t in the deck and the %^$^^$%^^$ pulls it out of his shoe! I couldn’t believe it! Big Ted started doing jumping jacks! Me? I just got the heck out of there before the Seven Horsemen showed up. It was awesome!!!”

How It Went:

I’ve reviewed a Ben Harris effect in the past and gave it a great Rating (Enlightenment) and I’m about to do it again. You know, the thing I liked about Enlightenment was that it was something that I wouldn’t use all the time- it’s something unique that I can break out on special occasions. The Crossroads deck, however, doesn’t fall into that category because I will be using this all the time. I mean, it was almost made for Magic Friday- self working and instantly resettable = awesome.

Everyone loved it, as well. The thing that makes this so impossible is the fact that I never touched the cards. It’s just so surreal. And I didn’t play it like, “I knew you were going to pick the [card]”. Instead, I played it like, “Voila. I just made your card vanish from the deck.” And it killed. Over and over again.

(more…)

Card Magic, Close Up, 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.

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

—

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

Close Up, Effect, Money, Restaurant, Street Magic, Uncategorized, 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.

 Night and Day - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

—

You know that feeling when you’re on an roller coaster and you reach the top. You look over the edge, you hold your breath and clench your chest. That’s the feeling I got when I saw Alan Rorrison’s ‘Dark as Night’ effect on the ‘Night and Day’ DVD. Rorrison created a beautiful, surreal magical moment. Very cleanly, I saw Rorrison balance a coin on his finger tip and slowly rub it against the bottom of a clear drink glass. A moment later, he moved his hand away and tilted the glass back and forth – the coin slid around as if it were swimming through the solid base of the glass. That was the moment of anticipation, when he moved his finger out from under the coin and I could see it apparently rising up through the glass; the release, the moment of going over the crest of the roller coaster came when he shook the glass and the coin was bouncing around inside, trapped within by his other hand covering the mouth of the glass.

‘Clear as Day’ is almost equally as stunning. If you’ve seen Mariano Goni’s Melting Point, you have a good idea of what this coin through glass table top looks like. I prefer Goni’s effect, but ‘Clear as Day’ uses less gimmicks.

Both effects have very workable angle constrictions. ‘Dark as Night’ is a little more prone to bad angles, but you are taught several ways to minimize them. Overall, the two effects (and accompanying bonus effects) are taught in great detail and will have you well on your way to some productive practice secessions.

Whether you’re looking for a practical and visually stunning ‘through glass’ effect for your performing repertoire or when you’re out on a social engagement, I’m going to recommend you check out Night and Day.

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, Coin, DVD, Restaurant, 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.

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

—

I’m a Paul Gertner fan. I like his thinking and I enjoy watching his magic and his ‘Heartbreaker’ effect didn’t disappoint.

Included in the packaging, you receive both text and video instructions along with a nice quantity of specially printed ‘Heartbreaker’ cards to get you practicing the effect right away. You will, however, need to pick up some refills from Paul every few dozen performances (he includes a special number you can call for refills which you can get a discount on).

Heart Breaker creates an emotional connection between the performer and the participant. Paul’s honed the presentation to the point where you can see the moment when you ‘magically heal a broken heart from long ago.’ The effect comes together in a sequence of beautiful and emotionally charged magical moments. Visually, you pluck a set of initials off of a card and they appear on the card held by the spectator (which they can keep!)

The effect is relatively simple to perform and has many years of real-world performances behind it. It’s got the potential to become your next ‘workhorse’ 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.

Card Magic, Close Up, DVD, Effect, Restaurant, Visual, 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.

 Tome - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [3:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

—

I think this is the best way to describe Sean Fields’ ‘Tome’: haunted deck effect with a book. The participant selects a page from the book – the book is placed on the ground – and the selected page visually rips itself out of the book.

Naturally you must be wondering what the real world applications of this effect are (right?). Let me take a moment to re-illustrate the visual phase of the effect to give you a better idea:

After the page is selected, the ring of spectators watches as the magician places the book on the ground and waves his hands close to the book but seemingly remains free of any connections between himself and the book. And then the page rips itself out.

The important thing to note is that the natural performing arena for this effect is within a ring of audience members. While the ring of people isn’t essential, it creates a natural cover to mask the workings of the effect – even in some of the harshest conditions. This isn’t to say you couldn’t perform the effect in a close up theater environment if you have more control over your performing environment or even on stage if you had the assistance of a camera and projector.

So now that you know you don’t have to perform this effect in a ring of people, remember that if people see you creating crowds at a walk around gig and then see everyone explode outwards as they watch the page tearing out, you’re only going to make your crowd bigger.

Now for the big one: setup. While there really isn’t much of a skill to preparing the books for the effect, once you know what you’re doing, you can set one up in 6-10 seconds and leave it on a shelf until you’re ready to perform – even if it’s 10 years later (theoretically, of course). Tome can be performed with nearly any paperback book. Unfortunately the effect ruins the book (remember, the page that tears out…) On the plus side, if you wrote the book, it’ll make a great give away.

Bottom Line:
Bar none, ‘Tome’ is my new favorite effect using a book; the idea of adding a visual element to the jaded book test effect breathes new life into this classic of magic.

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.

Beginner, Close Up, DVD, Mentalism, Visual | View Comments

When I first heard about InKa, Robert Haas, And even Magic Enhancer, I didn’t believe it. I saw the add and said ‘Wow. This is really cool. I wonder if it looks as good.” So I went on to www.magicenhancer.com and looked at the video. I instantly knew… I didn’t want it. So a few months later, I was at the “Magic Fun Day” convention in New Jersey. And guess who was there. Yup. Robert Haas. Him and his booth. I walked up and asked to see this trick performed live. I was completelly wrong about it. It is one thing that you cannot take from the video. when you see it live, It’s an entirelly different thing. you get to see it performed 10 inches away from your face and it looks so darn visual.
There have been lots of insanely visual effects, but none just as visual as this. I saw it and was ready to pull my wallet out. There is not one effect I use just as much as InKa. A few things you can do with it, are make signiatures vanish, Appear, business cards switch places in crazy fair conditions, go David Copperfield style and even… tear the signature right off the back of the card, Which is taught in great detail inside the book provided. If you thought WOW was visual, you have no Idea what visual is. InKa redifines visual.
InKa is a new idea never before been done. It is a crazy unique tool that can be applied to anything. You can apply this to almost any trick you want. You can be in a restaurant setting, do a few things with a signed card, then make it visually vanish off the card.
When you order InKa, you receive the tool required to make any miracle happen 5 inches from their face, A very detailed, Professionally made 32 page book with over 15 unique tricks and tips for you to use and incorporate into any trick using this tool including a mini lecture on creativity in your magic. All tightly squeezed into a baggy. In fact, the book supplied is so big that when it is laying down on the table, It is almost entirely opened because how big it is. Just something to throw out there.
On Robert’s website, This is up for sale for the measly price of $25 dollars. If you have 25 dollars this year to spend on one thing, This is it. It is without a doubt the best item I have ever bought from anywhere, And I would happily buy it again just to support him for creating such a unique and original prop for the magic world. I’m sure there will be other items to use in conjunction to this trick. Just because how good it is.

Card Magic, Close Up, Effect, 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.

 Grab That Pinhead - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

—

I was literally smiling when I finished watching this DVD. The two routines on this DVD are simple for audiences to follow, easy to perform, well taught, and are the epitome of workhorse routines.

Taught in a candid conversational style between famed magicians Bob Sheets and Dan Garrett, the linking pins are explained on a level that even the most novice of magicians could pick up; heck it’s even borderline entertaining. Things kick off with a look at how to set up your pins which, I should mention, there are two large pins included with the DVD for you to start practicing with immediately and even use when performing for your paid audiences. From there, viewers get all the real world secrets that only true workers would know.

I feel I should say more to make this review longer, but it’s really all straightforward from what I’ve already said. (Update: I thought of something else: the DVD is only $25 which is a very fair price in my opinion).

Bottom Line:
Whether you’re looking to learn this routine or beef up your professional repertoire, this is most certainly a resource you’re going to want to check 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.

Close Up, DVD, Effect, Restaurant, Visual, 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.

 Enlightenment - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [4:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

—

Ben Harris’ Enlightenment is most certainly a paradigm shift in the art of levitation, but is it something magicians would use? Let’s take a look:

Included in the fancy packaging is the instructional booklet, several informational inserts, and the Enlightenment Engine: a clever elevator-like device that is caused to expand (and lift objects on top of it) when in close proximity to a magnet.

Do yourself a favor and read the book before you start playing around with the Enlightenment Engine. Harris teaches his ‘quick start’ deck for those of you who want to start levitating cards immediately. If you can make it to the end of the book, Ben also teaches you his professional setup that makes the gimmick hidden in the deck even more deceptive; it takes a little longer to build, but it’s definitely worth it.

A bill levitation is also taught, but for the most part, you’re left to create your own effects with the engine until the next companion book of ideas comes out. You can also check out the Enlightenment Blog (www.wowbound.com/blog.html) for more ideas (including one from your’s truly).

There are some definite advantages and disadvantages of using this levitation over other methods such as ‘IT’.

Advantages:
Fully self contained
Cards can be freely selected
No lighting issues.
No threads to break!
The spectator can hold the deck while the card levitates off of it.
The card levitation effect is very clean and the spectator does most of the work.

Disadvantages:
Your spectator cannot look under the object that is levitating.
Levitations get a max height of just under one inch, depending upon how close you get the drive magnet (not included, and no a PK ring isn’t strong enough).

Bottom Line:
This product package teaches a very clever, straightforward card levitation effect. If that’s what sells you, then all signs point to GO! People expecting a cure all miracle gimmick should keep up the search (despite the fact that this gimmick has some new thinking behind it doesn’t mean it has real magical power within it).

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, Restaurant, 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.

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

—

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.

Close Up, DVD, Money, Restaurant, 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.

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

—

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.

 DBL STFT - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

—

A few months back, a video of Bizzaro performing an effect with a refilling Oreo cookie spread through iTricks and beyond. Almost immediately I contacted Bizzaro with an interest to perform this effect; eventually I scored a unit to test and review.

DBL STFT (read: “Double Stuffed”) is a surreal piece of visual magic. The effect is dead-as-a-doorknob simple to follow and produces a special moment of astonishment (even when performing it for yourself).

You receive both a gimmicked cookie and set of instructions which also explains methods for handing out a real Oreo cookie for consumption after the effect. Just be weary that you apparently already licked the cream off of the cookie…

My particular cookie was one of the first made in its limited quantity production. And even though the production process hadn’t been perfected before mine was made, even at a distance of 3-4 feet, the cookie is nearly indistinguishable from a real Oreo – this is due in part to the fact that you are keeping the Oreo in motion throughout the piece.

Angles are fairly reasonable when performing this effect. DBL STFT was designed to look like an off the cuff, spur of the moment piece of magic where the magician notices a case of Oreos at a strolling event and decides to do something impossible. Because of this, the advantage is in your own hands to set up and frame your audience to view the effect out in front of you. Only one sequence of the effect is susceptible to bad angles from behind; this can be eliminated by controlling your audience as previously mentioned or performing the effect closer to your body.

Bottom Line:
If you like the effect, definitely check this out before Bizzaro runs out!

If you are interested in picking up this product, you can check out SmappDooda.com.

Close Up, Effect, Restaurant, 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.

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

—

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.

Close Up, DVD, Money, 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.

 STS - Reviewed by Derek Merdinyan [2:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

—

Some thoughts on Jay Noblezada’s Self Tying Shoelace (STS):

Ups:
- Very Easy
- Fun to perform
- Simple to follow
- No angle issues
- Gets people asking you to perform – the best icebreaker I’ve seen!

Downs:
- It isn’t real magic
- The reset is simple, fast to do, and can almost be done in front of people, but without practice, the method may be exposed.

Bottom Line:
I think the best thing about this effect is that it gives beginner magicians nervous about approaching people to perform the perfect icebreaker to boost their confidence. The progression from walking past a potential audience to finishing your performance couldn’t be more natural.

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.

Beginner, Close Up, Effect, Street Magic, Visual | View Comments