Long-time Australian pro magician, Kevin Casaretto, has assembled a volume of 10 fantastic effects with as many different themes with patter, using one of three gaffed cards that all magicians already own.
Magicians - you are given an incredible diversity of top-flight magic...transpositions, transmutations, vanishes, appearances, an assembly, gambling themes, ESP, classics of magic, and incredible topological problems - all within this one e-book. 10 amazing effects all eked out after years of performances.
Some may say "Oh I don't use gaffs...I'm a purist!" That's fine...but don't blame me when someone fools you badly at your next meeting.
Also provided is an informative forward by Paul A. Lelekis and a very nice history of gaffed cards by Kevin Casaretto.
Contents of JANUS:
JANUS - A card, sandwiched between two cards, transposes with a selected card. This effect has a "Wow!" factor that can't be described.
SIGNED, SEALED, and DELIVERED - This transposition of two signed cards is not only simplicity itself...but may well be the most powerful effect that you will ever perform. Your spectators will freak out!
2-CARD MONTE - This timeless classic will definitely go into your repertoire. All of the hilarious patter is included. Paul provides a video of exactly how to perform this amazing effect and it's fun for everyone.
FIVE COLOR TWIST - This trick is E-Z to do, and mind-bending. The Aces turn face-up and face-down...then their backs change colors three different times. Everything can be inspected.
MAGAZINE MENTAL TEST - ESP at its finest. A spectator chooses a page of a magazine, and you read her thoughts while your back is turned. No one will figure this one out. So very, very clever!
CARD TO WALLET - A selected card flies to your wallet...and then changes back colors - twice. Use any wallet.
CHANGING BACK - This is Kevin's variation of a popular Dai Vernon effect. Two cards change their back colors and can even be inspected. You have to see this trick to believe it...incredibly fair - yet so deceptive.
IT CAN'T BE DONE - A fun and engaging "Do As I Do" effect with three phases that will stun your spectators...and it all happens in their hands.
ONE AT A TIME ACES - Kevin's version of an Ed Marlo effect. This is a one by one assembly of the Aces to the leader position...and then the Aces all change color. Learn a true classic of magic here.
TURN-OVER CARDS - This one is fun to do. 8 cards turn face-up and face-down under impossible conditions. Everything is performed nice and slow and deliberate...yet, the impossible keeps happening. Included with this effect is a video by Paul Lelekis, teaching a popular display/sleight that few magicians perform properly - this video will "Up Your Game".
"Rarely...if ever...has a book of magic had so many winners in it. I love all 10 effects...and I've pretty much seen it all!" - Paul A. Lelekis
1st edition 2018, 34 pages + 2 videos
Reviewed by Brian Smedley
★★★★★ Date Added: Friday 01 February, 2019Great content!! Check out my video review of Kevin Casaretto book on my YouTube channel Magic, Ventriloquism and more.
Brian Smedley/Myriad Creative Entertainment.
Reviewed by Enrico Varella
★★★★★ Date Added: Friday 31 August, 2018The cover of ‘Janus’ alludes to a hidden message: a lesser-used method/principle in card magic. This two-faced gaff acts as a portal, forwards and backwards, to create a direct pathway between method and effect. The 10 routines featured in these 35 pages are simple to perform, yet they pack a punch on entertainment value – this should appeal to the bold-faced strolling magician.
I boldly predict that Kevin Casaretto’s broad body of work on the use of these dubious faces, should receive far more attention through the authorship of Paul Lelekis (with 52 ebooks to his writing credit). I enjoyed the various applications of these tools, especially ‘Magazine Mental Test’, ‘Five Colour Twist’ and ‘Signed, Sealed & Delivered.’
Do buy this book, and ‘ring in the fooler’. I back up this book with a very high recommendation.
Reviewed by Roy Eidem
★★★★★ Date Added: Saturday 25 August, 2018If you have never used double back or double face cards before you are truly missing out on some truly magical affects. The diabolical concept of these gaffed cards is something that is not in the psychological realm of laymen. They have nowhere to go. The resulting magic visual & stunning. These "little helpers" streamline and elevate the magical impact well beyond that which even advanced, difficult sleight-of-hand can accomplish. There are some great routines here once you try, you will smile and use.
Reviewed by Christopher Weber
★★★★★ Date Added: Friday 24 August, 2018JANUS: The Magic of Kevin Casaretto compiled and written by Paul A. Lelekis is a very welcome addition to the card magicians’ library. All the effects require the use of gimmicked cards that I’m sure most card magicians already have or can easily acquire. These brilliant effects are well written and have really no very complicated moves. They are streamlined and straightforward and they will have maximum impact on your spectators. I really enjoyed working through these effects. They proved to me that with the use of just a few gimmicked cards it can really kick up the overall effect to a whole new level of Wow Factor for your audience. Well worth the effort of having just a few extra cards on hand! I learned some fun new handlings along the way particularly in the effects JANUS, Magazine Mental Test, Turn Over Cards and Card to Wallet. The 2-Card Monte move is awesome; you’ll be fooling yourself in no time. Overall, these are real workers effects that again are not complicated or confusing. The book includes two videos by Paul Lelekis to help you learn two of the moves. Kevin Casaretto has offered effects that are fun to perform and amazing to your audience. I think you’ll find JANUS to be refreshing and well worth finding a few of those cool little gimmick cards. You’ll be happy you did!
Reviewed by Rick Carruth
★★★★★ Date Added: Friday 24 August, 2018Janus is the card magic of Kevin Casaretto of Salisbury, South Australia ... as told by Paul Lelekis. Kevin compiled this exceptional collection of original effects through years of hard work and recently contacted Paul with the enviable task of putting everything together into an ebook. There are a total of ten effects and all effects use a simple combination of gaff cards.
Nothing other than double backers, double facers, and red/blue backed cards are used. Nothing is used that you could not create in a minute or two with regular cards and a roll of double backed tape or rub on and/or white children's glue. Of course, you can buy gaffs at most magic shops and online ... and they are very affordable.
I truly appreciate all the time, thought, and effort that went into JANUS ... and I thank Kevin and Paul for their efforts. Well worth your time and money.
