Pinky Swear, Doug Conn

The pinky count, one of the most underestimated moves in the tool box, combined with a sidekick (in this case a pass) works supremely to create a device with countless applications.

American artist Doug Conn, prolific in the card scene, has teamed up with Trcky - the latest outlet for high quality magic shot by the sharp productional eye of Rich Aviles. Here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JsaLuYW4M 

The download starts off with an overview of both the pass & the pinky count, Doug tips the works on his handling's clearly & insightfully as well as respectfully crediting.

To fuel our own creativity, we now go into a few of Doug's tricks - which of course use the pinky/pass power tool!

First up, it's 'Coincidice' - four dice are introduced & distributed between three specs, each spec rolls their die/s with a number of corresponding cards dealt between each throw. When the dealt cards are revealed they're shown to match the rolled number. With a grasp of the pinky/pass mechanics you'll be performing this in no time. It's a direct & connecting plot, perfect for a parlour act.

Doug also offers a follow up trick called 'Fortunate' which simulates the previous but serves to produce a four of a kind. This is a nice addition that again rewards the spec & allows you to make a smooth transition into a four of a kind effect. With some thought towards presentation, these two tricks could allow you to present an intriguing spec-pleasing parlour routine themed around dice, for me this is worth the asking price alone.

..So I was even more excited when Doug went into an impromptu version 'Random Specificity', as an on the fly card guy, this suits my style perfectly & nicely replaces the previous method I was using!

Next up is 'Magic Spell' - produce a four of a kind, fairly cut them back into the pack & then locate through spelling. I felt this item was a little flat, none the less there are ideas here which you'll benefit from, but as an effect I was left wanting more.

We're back on track with 'Legendary Ace Cutting' - here is Doug's approach to Scarne's timeless ace cutting demonstrations. Involved is an underused positioning technique & a no messing procedure, the final ace can even be cut to by a spectator.

'An Artistic Application' is the most commercial effect taught & will probably be the highlight for many. I can see this becoming a table hopper's favourite & as I very slowly edge into effects which aren't achieved in a purist fashion (an untampered deck) I can safely say this has landed amongst the rare gems which make my extremely selective 'gaffed repertoire'. 

So there we have it, an extensive resource on the pass & pinky count which you certainly won't be disappointed with, Doug is a top bloke with a magical mind to match. Highly recommended. 

Available at http://www.trcky.com/catalog/pinky-swear.html

Strange Attracters & Odd Men Out, Pit Hartling

Reviewed by Tom Denton.


OK, so I've had a look at this new download from Vanishing Inc and I've got some thoughts to share with you.

First of all, if you don't know about Pit Hartling, he's a German magician probably best known among the magic-consuming public for his book “Card Fictions”. His style combines sleight-of-hand, preparation and elegant subtleties to create miracles with an ordinary deck of cards. And the two effects in this download continue in the same vein.

First up, “Strange Attractors”. This is a progressive sandwich effect, in which a card is selected, the magician openly sandwiches a large group of cards containing the selection, then, with no apparent manipulation, the sandwich cards magically move through the deck to capture a smaller group, then finally, they jump to the centre of the deck to sandwich the one selected card. I think this has a very clean, hands-off look to it in performance, and if you're a fan of sandwich effects this gets the job done very efficiently.

The trade-off for the clean presentation is that some preparation is necessary. While it's not too extensive, I think it would be quite difficult to get away with in front of spectators. For me, this doesn't have the immediate audience engagement that I think an opening routine requires, so if you were going to work this, you may have to switch decks or open with a non-card piece. That's the only downside, though, which isn't insurmountable. I like this effect and, more importantly, I think that some of the ideas and subtle touches that Pit has included can act as inspiration for your own creative endeavours.

The other trick is “Odd Men Out”. This begins as apparently a piece of mental magic, in which two cards are selected, with the prospect that their identities will be divined by the magician. There's a twist, though, when the performer shows that the first spectator has apparently chosen the only red card in an all-black deck, which then transforms to show that the second spectator has chosen the only black card in an all-red deck. I really like this trick, and the way it's structured offers plenty of opportunity for comedy and by-play with the audience. The preparation required may put some people off, but, this time, I think it's certainly possible to get set-up in front of the audience, so this can be plugged straight into a set.

Both of these routines share the mentality of minimising difficult sleights with subtlety and preparation. Nevertheless, I would suggest that neither of them are “easy”. The difficulty isn't in the finger-work, but in the presentation, as I think the tricks stand or fall on your ability to sell them as real miracles. The video download is only fourteen minutes long, but wrapped up in both tricks is a wealth of detail which will reward careful study. “Odd Men Out” is my favourite of the two effects, but I think that the lessons in trick construction and subtle thinking that both tricks contain are well worth much more than the £6.26 that Vanishing Inc are asking for the download.


Available at http://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-downloads/card-magic-downloads/pit-hartling/

Pivotal Peek, Ryan Schlutz

This is our second review of a Schlutz release, following on from the incredible Sense-Sational, I'm pleased to see he's sharing more!

This time alongside fresh to the scene american company Trcky. Developed by creative close-up connoisseur Rich Aviles, their aim is to bring light to the finest advancements in our art.

My introduction to Trcky through 'Pivotal Peek' has certainly left me hungry to see more from the accomplished team, as the name suggests it's a peek, a card peek to be specific & one of the best I've seen.

Usual procedure: the pack is held at fingertips, the cards are riffled, spec calls stop & the pack is marginally split to display - now unlike most peeks, the pack can be instantly handed to spec for shuffling as you ALREADY know the card. It's so clean you'll think it's a force! & what's more, the method won't intimidate even the newest of the newbies.

Ryan Schlutz & the Trcky production make for a faultless download. The in-depth performances, explanations, psychology, tips & thoughts are the extra mile which really do make all the difference when learning a new effect. The clean, methodical approach to tipping the works behind 'Pivotal Peek' will have you one ahead in no time.

As cheesy as this may sound, when I think of peeks from now on, I'll be pivoting towards this one. 

Highly Recommended, available at http://www.trcky.com/

INTERVIEW: Alex Pandrea

Interviewed by Tom Denton.


MRB: Alex, from my point of view it seems that you made your mark on the magic community very quickly. From the first time I heard your name to you building a solid reputation as a highly-skilled card man, a respected magic creator, and entrepreneur seemed to be almost overnight! Can you tell us a bit about your journey in magic and how you got to where you are today?

Alex: I started in magic at a pretty young age. I practiced constantly for years, but also went out and performed a lot. I performed whenever I had a chance. For gigs, strangers, whatever. I was always drawn to cards. I still see moves today that look like a challenge, so I like to try to master them. I'm also always trying to come up with new ideas for sleights and effects that are direct and create a high impact with an audience. As I got into my 20s, I decided to start releasing material. I didn't want to be exclusive to one company, so I released things through several, which I think made it easier for people to find my stuff. I love going to conventions, and people would see my effects/sleights and start talking about them, which also kinda got my name out there. I released my first DVD in 2009, and other downloads after that, finally launching The Blue Crown in 2011. And I was doing magic for pretty much my whole life before I ever started thinking about selling material.


MRB: Focusing on The Blue Crown for a moment, I've seen a lot of magic producers and online retailers pop up and never really make much of an impact, whereas your company has consistently impressed the community. What's your philosophy behind The Blue Crown, and what do you think makes it different from other companies?

Alex: I've always had a love of photography and film, fashion, design, and technology. I wanted to put my own artistic spin on my releases, not just leave them in the hands of others. So I decided to create my own production company, The Blue Crown. My goal was to provide magic that people will actually go out and use, and to present it in an artistic way. My overall philosophy is to provide a high-quality product that I'd be proud to own. We spend a lot of time on selecting effects, filming, editing, etc to create an entire package that reflects the personality of the artist involved. Because it's so cheap and easy for people to make their own DVDs and downloads at home, there has been a trend towards lower production quality for the past few years, with only a few exceptions. I wanted to raise the bar, not just for the magic content, but for the style as well. In general, I was just seeing a lot of stuff that I thought was 'wrong', from effects offered, to site layout, to production quality, and I thought I could offer something worthwhile.


MRB: One of the things that The Blue Crown is known for is its custom decks, and I understand you're developing that side of things further with The House of Playing Cards. Of course, there's often a debate about custom cards, with some people saying that they can detract from the natural look of magic, or that young magicians are too concerned about fancy cards at the expense of effects. What are your thoughts on this debate, and also, can you give us some hints about what The House of Playing Cards will be?

Alex: The custom deck market has been growing for nearly a decade now, but only really exploded in the past couple of years. As a card guy myself, I like to use cards that handle well, last a long time, and look great. Again, anything we do has to appeal to my artistic side. Our Crown Deck is designed to be a simple but elegant deck that looks 'normal' and can be used in any situation. Our Vaudeville Deck, which we spent 10 months designing, was meticulously made to pay tribute to the Vaudeville era, which was a really important time in magic history. As far as people using custom decks, I think people argue too much about it. If people like custom decks and like to use them, they should. If they don't like them, they can stick to Bikes. There are tons of options, so everyone can choose what works best for them. If an audience is going to think you're using a trick deck, they'll think it no matter what deck you use. Custom decks can be great if your show or character follows a certain theme. More importantly, rather than what deck you use, it's what you do with it. If you use a normal deck, but do fishy stuff with it, an audience will still suspect that something's up. People should put their magic first, but I don't think magic is sacrificed by using a custom deck. Also, you hear guys argue about using a deck that looks normal, but then in their same show they pull out all kinds of other weird magic props, so there's no consistency to their argument. I use different custom decks every day, and no audience has ever called me out about it, other than commenting that the cards look cool. Info about HOPC will be revealed very soon. We think it's going to have quite an impact on the card market.


MRB: You're known for your sleight-of-hand expertise, especially in your mastery of the pass. Difficult moves are growing in popularity at the moment, but there is also a vocal group of magicians who would prefer to use easier methods where possible and, for example, would rather use a double-undercut than a pass. Why do you think that people should try to master the more advanced sleights? Do you think that pure sleight-of-hand is intrinsically better than gimmicked tricks?

Alex: My friend Tony Chang speaks a lot on this, including his recent talk at Magic-Con, and I share his opinion. Basically, people should use whatever move or method best serves the magic. For a pass vs. a double-undercut, the audience either sees the card go back into the deck and get squared up, or they see you cut the cards. So with a double-undercut, they see that you could have done 'something' to manipulate or control their card. Sometimes the best, most direct method is the hardest. Sometimes it's the easiest. Sometimes the best method involves a gimmick. As long as people are trying to make their magical effect as good as it can be, the method comes second. For a lot of casual performers, learning tough moves isn't something they want to do. A lot of people make excuses for being lazy. I've seen some incredible things, from really young kids pulling off advanced moves to a guy in Canada, Madhi Gilbert, who does amazing card magic and he has no hands. So everything else is an excuse. There's no special secret to harder moves, you just have to have the desire, and put in the time and effort it requires. But always choose the method that best serves your effect.

MRB: Finally, what can we expect to see from you personally, and The Blue Crown as a company, over the next few months? Are there any forthcoming releases or other projects you can tell us about?

Alex: Most of my time these days is taken up with running The Blue Crown and developing new products. I do still work on my own stuff from time to time, so I might have another personal release before the end of the year. We always have a lot of cool stuff in the pipeline, from artists you've seen, and from new talent. One thing that we have coming soon is an awesome coin gimmick. And of course, The House of Playing Cards. People should sign up for our email newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest news about our effects and decks.

INTERVIEW: Andi Gladwin

Interviewed by Tom Denton.

MRB: Hi Andi, thanks for talking to us! It seems you have a very methodical, organised way of approaching the business of magic, and your career in general. Can you tell us about your thinking on that?


Andi: The only way to run a business (be it as a performing magician or any other field) is to be on top of everything. It becomes even more important when you do quite a few different things, like me. I run Vanishing Inc. Magic, have a performing career, I lecture to magicians, sometimes consult on magic TV shows, organise The Session and own an IT business.


MRB: A lot of people will know you from Vanishing Inc. You say on your website “everything on Vanishing Inc is performance quality and worthy of your time”. For you, what are the criteria that a product has to fit to make it worthy of being stocked? Do you and Josh Jay always agree on those criteria?


Andi: People are often surprised to hear that either Josh or myself (often both) perform almost everything that we release at Vanishing Inc. Where possible, before we release something, we use it in various performing conditions to ensure that it's something our customers would like and use. I think this shows in some of our more recent releases like Legacy and Timeless, where we've tweaked things along the way, based on what we've learned from our performances.


MRB: I think it's fair to say that a lot of the Vanishing Inc products, and the work that you're known for personally, is quite sleight-of-hand focused. Do you think that becoming a “move monkey” can be a bad thing for a magician? Are the hours spent practising difficult sleights more fruitful than the same amount of time spent working out gaffed solutions to the same problem?


Andi: I love sleight of hand magic. It's never a bad thing to learn lots of sleights as trust me, one day you'll need to use that weird pass to find a lost card, or a strange switch that you practised for months to rectify a mistake! The more sleights in your repertoire, the better equipped you are for any situation.


MRB: On a similar subject, how do you feel about the state of modern sleight-of-hand artistry? Of course, there are a lot of young flourishers around, and people happy to show off a few techniques on YouTube, but do you think that the art of real sleight-of-hand magic needs more attention?


Andi: We're in a great place. I'm twenty-eight and the kids in magic today make me feel old and terrible at what I do! There are some incredible young magicians out there and you're all really paving the way. Many of you are so good, you make me sick. And very jealous.


MRB: Of course, close-up sleight-of-hand comes to the fore in the convention you organise, The Session. Can you tell us why you decided to start The Session, and what it offers that other conventions don't? Also, as it has a capped attendance of just 130 magicians, do you think that there's the possibility of expanding at some point, maybe going down the EMC webcast route so that more people can get involved?


Andi: There wasn't really any great close-up conventions in the UK and we wanted to change that. We wanted to make a convention that we'd like to attend ourselves, so booked a great venue, great performers (most of which had never been seen in Europe) and organised the type of event that we'd enjoy being at. Luckily, other people enjoyed being there too and we're now in our eighth year!


MRB: I know you're a great proponent of the good old magic book, you've mentioned being greatly influenced by Marlo techniques. Are there any books, Marlo or otherwise, that you think get overlooked by magicians?


Andi: That's a tough question as there are many magic books that are overlooked. But in general, I think every Marlo book is overlooked. How many people have really read, experimented with and tried every move in the Revolutionary Card Technique books, or how many people have fully read the six Marlo's Magazines (each about 400 pages). Not me. But I'd love to one day.


MRB: And finally, I'd like to give you an opportunity to brazenly plug any projects you have in the offing. What can magicians look forward to from you in the forseeable future? Are you producing any more books or DVDs that you can tell us about?


Andi: We're finally getting close to releasing The Definitive Sankey; a 1500-page trilogy of Jay Sankey's magic. Josh and I have been writing these books for over four years and we're so happy to be nearing completion. It's in the final stages of layout right now.


And we've just launched another project that I've been working very hard on: the Vanishing Inc. iPad app. It's a way to watch and buy all the downloads from Vanishing Inc. We've built a custom ebook viewer too, which makes it a great way to read our publications!

INTERVIEW: Lewis Le Val

Interviewed by Tom Denton.

MRB: Lewis, just to get us going, maybe you could give us a bit of your background. How long have you been in magic now? Are you a full-time pro? And who were your influences to get into magic seriously?

Lewis: I started out around the age of five with a kid's magic set. My interest grew and I spent so much of my parent's money on magic tricks, I also became a member of the MJMC, the Merseyside Junior Magic Club. At the age of six I passed an audition to appear on the TV show 'Kids Say the Funniest Things', where I, along with three other young magicians, cut Michael Barrymore in half! A few years passed and I completely lost interest in magic. At the age of 13 I discovered modern magic websites such as Ellusionist. All of a sudden, magic was cool again! During the summer I work six nights a week performing in bars and nightclubs in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. I was heavily influenced by David Blaine and especially Derren Brown. 


MRB: I've seen some performances from you on YouTube, combining mentalism and card work, as you do on your DVD. What's your thinking on performing these two kinds of material together? Do you think it requires a certain kind of presentation and character to pull it off?

L: I believe that it is important to not let the mentalism look like card tricks, even though you are still using cards. For example, if I do an ambitious card routine, then I want to do a mind reading routine, I make it clear to my audience that I am going to do something different. I even sometimes tell them about fictional mind readers and mentalists from history, and that I am going to try something similar to what they used to perform. That way I can build up an image in their head, which stops them from thinking 'magic tricks'. Also when I do mentalism with cards, I like to make it seem as if it is something I hardly ever do. I stutter, pause for long periods of time and improvise. The whole thing is a well-rehearsed act. It makes it appear real and stops it from looking like just another routine that I am going to perform again at the next table. 


MRB: What comes first for you when creating magic? Do you think of the effect first and then work out a method, or do you start with a technique that you want to use and build a routine around it? Have you got a set process for your creation of a trick?

L: I think it just depends really. Most of the time I will think of the effect first, and then work out a method to produce a close enough version of my original idea. I never sit down and create an effect from start to finish, I will just keep the effect in the back of my mind and every so often, think of possible methods. My favourite effect on my DVD 'Harmony', started out as a daft idea that was going nowhere. Now, three years later it is fooling some of the best minds in magic. 


MRB: In your performances, you seem to take on the role of what I think of as “the mysterious stranger”, an ordinary person who dresses, talks and acts like anyone else, but has amazing abilities. Is that the image you're trying to convey, and is that a conscious decision? How much of your performance character is planned, and how much just comes out as a natural consequence of interacting with audiences?

L: I guess I try to relate to my audience in some way. I do like the mysterious stranger character, I just try to do or wear something to make me stand out a bit more, such as painting my nails black or wearing eye-liner. Even sometimes wearing unusual hats, wide brimmed fedoras etc. I'd say forty-percent of my performance character is planned, the rest is a natural consequence of interacting with different audiences. With some people I may need to be a calm, serious guy. With others I may need to be a loud, cocky guy. I try to adapt to the 'theme' of the group. In the past few months I have discovered a more surreal side to myself. Taking inspiration from the likes of Tim Burton and Alice in Wonderland, so now I aim to build that into my character. A sort of darker mad hatter style. Subtly of course! 


MRB: Finally, now you've got this DVD under your belt, what's next? Do you have more Le Val creations ready to release, or will we have to wait a while for that?

L: As I have not really thought about teaching magic before, I cannot say I will be releasing product after product, but I do have a few ideas for the future! I also aim to release a hypnosis DVD with The 1914. I love hypnosis and I have some great techniques and methods. It's about time I shared them!


Lewis Le Val's debut DVD, 'Paint the Roses Red', is out now atwww.the1914.com.

LCD6DL, Yoann

Reviewed by Tom Denton.


I should probably start off by telling you that this is a collection of flourishy double-lifts. I mention that, because I know there are a lot of people who will be instantly turned off by that idea, feeling as they do that a multiple-lift should always look as natural as humanly possible. If you can bear with me a moment, though, let me explain why I think you might be mistaken.

For one thing, I've seen very few performances of double-lifts which look completely natural. The strange finger-tip action of the instantaneous or strike double, the tendon tension inherent in a thumb or pinky count, and the hesitation seen in many push-offs mean that achieving a double with truly natural handling is not quite as simple as it first appears. Of course, we could counter this with hours of assiduous practice until every slight twitch of the fingers is overcome. Or, we could make the unnatural movement look deliberate. This is where flourish doubles come in. The question of the duality of the apparent single is obfuscated by the elegant and flashy movement.

Anyway, having got that out of the way, let's move on to what you actually get with this product. Yoann teaches six double-lifts using the teaching style that has become the standard for flourishy move instruction. In other words, he teaches silently, using multiple camera angles and on-screen captions to highlight the necessary steps for execution. I found this exceptionally clear and easy-to-follow, although I have to admit, having watched the whole download in one sitting, the grinding repetition of the soundtrack forced me to deploy the mute control. Fortunately, though, given the silent nature of the instruction, that didn't detract from the learning experience. If you go down the route of just watching one move at a time, this shouldn't be a problem anyway.

There were some nice, unexpected extra bits and pieces included in the teaching, too. For one thing, Yoann goes over some double-lift fundamentals like the Stuart Gordon (yes, I know, I'm ignoring the crediting dispute for now) turnover, the pinky count and the pinky pulldown. If this is your first excursion into more advanced lifts then this section will be indispensable. Additionally, we get a snap change variation called “Damisnap”, and an ambitious card idea called “Ambistart”.

The moves taught are certainly interesting and will spice up your card work if they suit your style. However, I think that what's really great about this download is that, for less that seven dollars, you get all the tools you need to start creating your own flourish doubles. If you just learned the material on this, sure, you could make yourself look like a high-end card twirler, but with the fundamental techniques and the variety of moves taught, this should really get your creativity going.

Great stuff!

Available at http://www.magicalsleight.com/index.php?page=downloads&trick=LCD6DL

The Spiral Principle & Beyond, Stephen Leathwaite

Reviewed by Sam Fitton.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=420832613577&set=t.734515393&type=3&theater

Available at http://www.leathalweapons.co.uk/

Solitary, Cameron Francis

When two of my favourite forces share superpowers, I know I'm not going to be disappointed & fortunately I wasn't!

The plot: object to impossible location, specifically a coin to coin holder. It's a direct, visual & baffling effect which perfectly fits the Vernon 'one sentence' criteria - if you agree with that..

The 'behind the scenes' for Solitary are simple, easy to do & practical - definitely a worker! What I particularly like about the effect/method is that there's a vast amount of variations/presentations you can do, many of which Cameron offers but I'm convinced he's just scratching the surface. I think this is a concept that were likely to see a lot more of & I'm sure this will inspire your own Solitary-esque creations.

For me the best item on the release is what Cameron himself calls a 'mega routine'! It takes a pinch of almost every item, combines a card trick (always a win) and leaves the spectator with an impossible souvenir, this is the one you'll be using, a real show piece.

As usual I think it's pointless reviewing Papercrane's production as their consistently flawless in this department - very nicely shot, clearly structured, detailed, credits, you get the idea..

Overall I think is a cool trick which you won't just find yourself performing in Solitary (I know.. I do try). Recommended.

Available at http://www.papercranemagic.com/solitary.htm

The Satellite Change, Ben Prime

I had the pleasure of hanging with Ben at the recent Blackpool Convention, during which time many folk asked to see his change in action & geez were they impressed! Hell, even by the gazillionth time so was I!

For anyone who doesn't know my taste in magic, I'm a huge fan of fresh, boundary pushing card sleights/moves & especially those with a touch of flair; this move boasts all those qualities, check out the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgYBFYC3RWc

So now that you've seen the visuals, lets discuss the challenging mechanics, is it worth it..? In my opinion, yes, but do bear in mind I revel in the journey endured with perfecting card sleights - what I'm trying to say is that Ben's move will require work & patience, but surely this makes achieving a goal all the more worth while right; if you didn't have to work for something would it be worth having..

I philosophically digress, Ben's move is a 'Prime' example of advanced & intelligent card magic, I think this is among the flavour of things to come. Recommended.

Available at http://www.ellusionist.com/satellite-change-by-ben-prime.html

The Treachery of Tricks, Francis Menotti

Stand and applaud.

Now for something a little different from Papercrane, I say little, this project is a monster! 

First of all, total kudos to the production team as they really had their work cut out here, but with patent vigour they really have captured this masterfully - in bog standard English, the shots are perfect! Every visual detail is captured, the editing is slick & the whole spirit of Menotti's work shines through, huge thumbs up to Papercrane, this is possibly their best release to date.

So what exactly are we dealing with here? Well, the pinnacle teachings (or should I say treachings, b dum) are focused around the psychology of performance, in particular the various techniques that can be employed to specifically create memory recall, or as Menotti describes 'hooks' in the spectators mind - thus leaving your audience with the ability to remember many multiple moments throughout the show, a sort of family tree but for memories. This alone is hugely powerful & will be sure to inspire your own approach to routining.

To experience these 'foreshadowing' techniques, the viewer is delightfully subjected to Menotti's parlour show where the true value of creating hooks is evident. The show I could talk about all night, it's freakin awesome! The audience management, scripting, effects, choreography, it's all super smart and very inspiring.

To capitalise on the performance tape, their is also commentary version where Menotti talks you through his reasons for certain actions, lines, provides insight into the history of the effects, includes stories of past performances & points out small details which your likely to miss first time round. This really goes to show how a class act is constructed and the commentary concept is something that I've never encountered with a magic product before, I do hope to see it again! 

A few of the effects from the parlour show are explained in great depth, I have to say Menotti is the finest teacher I've ever come across. Incredibly clear, perfectly paced, every point is justified, credits are extremely well researched, the list goes on.. you can't fail to miss a thing. There are also a couple other effects taught, suitable for close-up or parlour and again these aren't throwaway items, each aspect has been thoroughly considered.

Also included is a section called 'Essays' which gives us a chance to peek into Menotti's mind and see how he thinks. Some excellent advice here and content which we rarely see with magic products, the fact that Menotti shares this with us shows his immense attention to detail.

Overall I think this release is worthy of a standing ovation. Highly Recommended.

Available at http://www.papercranemagic.com/treachery.htm

The Elmsley Count Project, Liam Montier

Reviewed by Tom Denton


As someone with an almost unnatural fascination with the nuances of card sleights, I was very interested to get my hands on Liam Montier's latest release on Big Blind Media, The Elmsley Count Project. I've liked Liam's previous work, especially his two volumes of The Wicked World of Liam Montier, but, as a purist card guy, there wasn't much there that was useful for me personally. Still, I knew he had a creative flair and good attention to detail, so I had high hopes for this two DVD set.


As the title very helpfully makes clear, this release is all about the Elmsley Count. It's become a ubiquitous card move since it's popularisation by Dai Vernon in his Twisting the Aces routine, but, to my mind, it's often performed badly. In some contexts, it's quite an unnatural way to show a packet of cards, so if you're going to use it, your technique needs to be flawless to avoid arousing suspicion. The first disc of the set goes into minute detail on Liam's handling of the count, and I would go as far as to say he performs it as well as anyone I've ever seen. The teaching in this section is superb, and I think that anyone from the novice to an experienced card handler will find something to improve their Elmsley Count here.


The rest of the first disc is made up of variations of the basic move, and teaching of additional similar counts. All this content makes this DVD an excellent resource for the principles of false counting, with Liam's personal touches and details which genuinely inspired me to think more about these kind of ideas. As this is a Big Blind Media product, it goes without saying that the production quality is very good, everything is shown clearly and this is very easy to learn from.


Then we come to the second disc. Here, Liam teaches eight tricks using the Elmsley Count, or one of the variations taught on disc one. These range from the classic to the modern, and include two contributions from Liam himself. Having been impressed with the content of disc one, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with this disc. As I've said, one of the main failings of the Elmsley Count, to my mind, is the fact that it can look very unnatural, and therefore it needs to be well-justified by its context. I didn't feel this came across in Liam's performances, as, many times, I felt that the execution of the move itself didn't fit the rhythm of the trick itself. Therefore, I don't think this disc showed off the move to its best advantage. In fact, I would suggest that some tricks would have been better if they had been streamlined and the count removed completely, which kind of defeats the object of including them on an Elmsley Count DVD.


Having said that, this DVD set is still a great investment. While the second disc doesn't really bring much to the party, the first disc more than makes up for this. The subtleties in handling that Liam teaches, make this a brilliant resource for studying the Elmsley Count.


Available at http://www.bigblindmedia.com/product-elmsley.html

Note, Matt Sconce

From the mind of Matt Sconce, let's take a look at 'Note' -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tizozoQjGd0

This powerful effect is taught thoroughly by Robert Smith, aka B.Smith and cinematically produced by PaperCrane productions, these aspects as you'd expect are top notch.

'Note' boasts a very strong USP & clearly from the live performances, laymen freak!! Both the method/s for transferring & gaining information are covered extensively, showing you multiple ways to achieve the requirement - you definitely get your money's worth with the amount of added extras sewn into this project, as they don't just have to relate to the 'Note' effect.

Although B.Smith makes the method look simple, I feel this will take a competent performer to pull it off naturally. There's a lot of bold actions (depending on effect) with which a whole array of subtle techniques need to be employed, experience in audience management is key.

Overall this is impact magic at it's best, I can see the devil using this one! Recommended.

Available at http://www.papercranemagic.com/note.htm

Cinch, Shaun Robison

The PaperCrane review-athon continues as I get my teeth into the highly anticipated 'Cinch'! Here's the demo -  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a44tzr6GyhQ&feature=plcp&context=C3eca3e6UDOEgsToPDskKlow_N_o_Dll3n9wmm9ZKM

As you can see, this is a super-fly version of the bill change where the moment of magic literally unfolds before your very eyes.

The method used here, as far I'm aware, uses a totally new spin on the handling which is practically self working & has some useful advantages over it's predecessors. This is achieved through the use of a gimmick (not a TT) which although helps to eliminate difficult sleights doesn't allow you to end clean - Shaun does ensure us that this isn't an issue for him as whilst the heat is on the bill, you can ditch the dirty South.

Being primarily a card guy, I've never had the urge to learn a bill change, I'd love to say "that was until now" but taking into account reset & examinability (from a workers perspective) this just isn't practical enough for my liking. For parlour or screen however, I think this would work great - definitely not to be overlooked in that respect.

The DVD is superbly shot in HD with multiple angles, step by step teaching, live performances & additional presentations.

Overall an eye-popping effect with a neat method, but the best out there.. I'm on the fence.

Available at http://www.papercranemagic.com/cinch.htm

Xpand, Brandon David & Chris Turchi

Expand your repertoire with this latest release from PaperCrane featuring Brandon David & Chris Turchi, aka Christyrious.

Xpand is a very visual shrinking & expanding card effect which would best be described through the use of a performance clip, so check this out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v56akTxmA-Q Note: the tape Justin Miller uses is purely for presentational purposes.

Completely different to anything else out there, this is fresh & I like it! By now you may have realised that PaperCrane have a knack for releasing new ideas & concepts into the magic scene, straying away from effects which Daniel Madison would consider to be 'dead magic'. This effect seems truly impossible & YES, they really can keep/inspect their signed card!!

I was also pleased to see how surprisingly simple the method is, I was creating all sorts of convoluted contraptions in my mind but none as slick as this. Although Xpand uses a gimmick (supplied), the handling is natural - easy to use, conceal & ditch. 

Production standards are obviously top notch along with the teaching & attention to detail.

Overall this is a far out effect which is sure to freak out too! Recommended.

Available at http://www.papercranemagic.com/xpand.htm

The Minotaur: Final Issue, Dan Harlan & Marv Leventhal

Up next is another Dan Harlan release who's joined by Marv Leventhal as they hit us with their final issue of The Minotaur!

The DVD is based around (as the blurb says) a 'wild tale', which although means well didn't quite do it for me as I soon found myself skipping to the actual magic content which fortunately was in abundance! There is a lot to learn here, not all the effects grabbed me but almost all contained a neat transferable idea/plot which will certainly work well to inspire your own creations for both close-up & stage.

There are twenty five effects in total, here are my highlights:

'Fairest of them all' is the opening effect and what a start! In brief, two cards are fairly selected/lost and yet you determine there choice. The thinking here is superb - the simple ones are often the hardest to create but Dan & Marv haven't disappointed, this is impromptu gold, will definitely be working this one into my rep.

'Adjoctive' is a Max Maven effect which you may have already come across, a pack of random words are shuffled & dealt out in to packets, once turned over the face words combine to make a sentence of your choice. Being able to tailor the ending to suit your needs is what makes this so strong, well worth learning.

'Holding the bag' is Harlan's psychometry test that uses brown paper bags, I guess the idea here is to throw off any doubts by using an inconspicuous item. Although I probably won't use this effect I really liked the method & presentation, this would make a great addition to a stage act for any psychological illusionist. 

'Glass Backwards' is a matching mates effect by Tom Craven. This requires almost no effort at all and is yet seamlessly fair, a perfect stroller.

'Royal Plushy' sees an audience member freely generate a game of poker before being 'psychologically persuaded' to deal out a winning poker hand - you know the plot. This trick usually carried a fairly dull presentation until Harlan came along - unfortunately it's too good to reveal what makes this routine commercial gold!

'Folderol & Dagger Move' is a visual stunner whereby the sharpie magically produces the selection, caught me by surprise, an ideal quickie for sharpie users.

'Counting on you' is Harlan's take on the four card repeat trick except in his version your adding not subtracting. It's quite sleight demanding so I might streamline the handling but for now I've got no choice but to use Harlan's method, as there's absolutely no way I'm missing out on performing the kicker involved - no spoilers I'm afraid! A perplexing routine with a fun finish.

'On your mark' is another Harlan winner that uses some additional cards and some mini prep. Using one sleight & these three cards you can create a safe bet crowd pleaser.

'Beer money' is a super neat transpo involving beer & money! With that said it's no surprise that this would be perfect for bar magicians or indeed any social/event where you might find a bottle of beer. This is simple/effective and despite being a card-guy is going straight on my to learn list.

The above is what got my taste-buds excited but there's definitely something for everyone here so do check out the contents page (link below).

The production & teaching are all as you'd want & a mass input of time/effort is obvious. Retailing at around £40/$60 seems borderline steep but you ARE sure to find some priceless gems, trying not to sound cheesy - I know I have!

Overall there is lots of strong, practical magic to be learnt here. I was going to criticise the effects which I deemed to be filler but the live performances prove me wrong, so what can I say.. add to cart!! Highly Recommended.

Available at http://www.papercranemagic.com/minotaur.htm

SpeakEasy, Dan Harlan & Jen Weston

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czOwKWUn7pM

Wow, Dan Harlan's 'SpeakEasy' is awesome - turbo fast to understand and killer in concert! 

Harlan's latest release featuring the ever wonderful Jen Weston (no I'm not flirting..) should also be called Watch & Learn Easy! The style and layout of this DVD is just butter smooth, entertaining, crammed with performances (the efforts here should be awarded) & explanations are crystal clear.

The system taught explains how to secretly communicate names, numbers, symbols, colours & even dates! And to give you even more bang for buck, Harlan also tips his treasured stage set (performance included) which purely uses the system. The act has been developed over the course of years & for the first time, all neatly wrapped up is the whole shebang, you get the methodology, presentation, patter, subleties, EVERYTHING!

Myself and a secret sidekick learnt the basic techniques alongside the running time of the DVD, it's that simple/genius. Sure there's some further rehearsal before going live, but if your already experienced with pattering on the spot then this is almost effortless! 

Major pro, the 'SpeakEasy' system is brilliantly devised in such a way that you & your 'psychic' partner can create limitless presentations - you are restricted only by your imagination.

Small con.. some of the live performance audio is hit'n'miss so make sure your sat with the zapper, but please don't let that put you off, you WILL be inspired by this.

To conclude, the sneakiness of this system makes it a thrill to perform & you'll have fun learning too - why couldn't they teach stuff like this in school! Highly recommended.

Available at http://www.papercranemagic.com/speakeasy.htm