Reviews of products by Paul A. Lelekis : page 2
1 ★★★★★ reviews
2 ★★★★★ reviews
Janus: The Magic of Kevin Casaretto
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Enrico Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 31 August, 2018)
The 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.
Janus: The Magic of Kevin Casaretto
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Roy Eidem
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 25 August, 2018)
If 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.
Janus: The Magic of Kevin Casaretto
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christopher Weber
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 24 August, 2018)
JANUS: 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!
Janus: The Magic of Kevin Casaretto
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Rick Carruth
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 24 August, 2018)
Janus 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.
That's Impossible!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Enrico Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 27 May, 2018)
Before the Internet age, when our audience exclaimed 'That's Impossible!', it was music to our ears. Indeed, it still is an assuring response, when today's jaded and informed audience (raised on a plethora of magic performances and exposes), utter this simple exclamation.
To astonish and amaze the spectator, the classical plots remain, yet, undaunted by time and technology. These are clearly designed effects with a direct route from Method to Effect, with clever integration of built-in Misdirection.
Each of these four gemstones in this small book, can help us cast illumination and elucidation on our individual sense of purpose in magic. 'That's Impossible' nudged me to reconsider the in-the-hands impact of a simple translocation. The finish of this trick tempted me to do Francis Carlyle's 'Homing Card' trick. 'Changes' is an 'Interchange' effect, done naturally and deliberately (with neatness and precision) before the big finish. One would be incomplete as a close-up worker without a strong 'red-black' separation in 'Ultimate Oil & Water'. The bonus effect by J.K. Hartman emphasises why acts of impossibility can be distilled into simplicity and boldness of moves.
Professional magician and prolific writer, Paul Lelekis has once again written and compiled four powerful card effects from his repertoire. Learn these, rehearse these as scripted and choreographed, and await those lovely words 'That's Impossible!'
That's Impossible!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christopher Weber
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 24 May, 2018)
That’s Impossible!! By Paul Lelekis is another time-tested collection of awesome card tricks that you’ll find both a pleasure to learn and entertaining to your audience. These are old classics that Paul has reworked and updated for the modern audience. Read Pauls’ intro and you’ll learn why it’s so important to know and honor the great magicians and their wonderful effects from the past. It’s like the musician who’s new to jazz. He must learn all about Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Louie Armstrong and the great tunes they made famous. I loved working on “That’s Impossible” in particular. So cool that you’re set up for a card to pocket trick at the end…very clever! An awesome working of “Oil and Water” a neat transposition effect and an ingenious sandwich effect all together is one handy e-book. The workings are all streamlined and written up in Pauls’ clear, easy to grasp style. Includes three video clips to help you along the way learning some beautiful controls. So what are you waiting for? Get this book, grab a deck of cards and start having fun!
That's Impossible!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Rick Carruth
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 24 May, 2018)
Paul knows what magicians like. They love effects that amaze the public.. and fool fellow magicians. The former is available in many magic books. The latter is available right here. I recommend THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE to my readers and to my magic buddies. You can't beat the cost.. at only two dollars per effect for professionally scripted classics. Get it...
That's Impossible!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Roy Eidem
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 22 May, 2018)
Paul is a full time working magician & knows what plays for the working performer. If you are a lover of card magic, these are some direct magical effects you will use & even fool your magic friends.
The Magic of Derek Dingle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Enrico Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 19 March, 2018)
Paul Lelekis pays yet another thoughtful tribute to his friend and one of the great performers in Close-Up Magic. A recurring theme to Lelekis’s work is that he resolutely recognizes the ‘shoulders of giants’ that he sits on. What he has done with his latest book, and exceedingly well, is to simplify the “work’ so that the effect is retained. As a fan of the late-Derek Dingle (who is a class act), I am grateful that his work lives on, to be appreciated by a new generation of audiences. The classical works stay alive when each piece of magic is expressed in unique ways, through the mindful and respectful interpretations of contemporary artists. I toast to both Dingle and Lelekis for their love of friendship, humour and magic.
The Magic of Derek Dingle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Mike Powers
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 17 March, 2018)
Derek Dingle is one of the greats and Paul has done an excellent job of selecting some classic Dingle and putting his own touches on it. Great job Paul!
The Magic of Derek Dingle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christopher Weber
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 17 March, 2018)
The Magic of Derek Dingle by Paul Lelekis
Here is another outstanding contribution to card magic from Paul Lelekis. Written in Paul's pleasant and easy to grasp style he pays tribute to the great Derek Dingle. For those who are new to the magic of Derek Dingle, this book is an excellent introduction and highlights some of his best and most entertaining material. Paul starts each explanation by giving some easy to understand and very practical advice that will help you to improve your magic overall. As always his advice and performance suggestions are very solid "down to earth" based on real-life experience from a person who has as we say in the education field, clearly learned by doing! I particularly enjoyed the Fabulous Jumping Card Trick, Too Many Cards and Paul’s own version of a terrific three card routine called Hypnotic Quick 3-Way. The coin material Slot Machine and Silver Quick are both very strong and very entertaining coin routines.
The routines are all very approachable by the average magician and as with much of Paul's routines, the impact on the audience far exceeds the technical effort the magician has to put into them. These routines work great and they are comfortable to perform with most of your concentration on the presentation. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn some outstanding fun material and a little about one of card magic’s all-time great performers. Here is another solid winner from Paul Lelekis for all of us to benefit from and enjoy!
The Magic of Derek Dingle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Roy Eidem
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 16 March, 2018)
Derek Dingle was one of the finest sleight of hand artist I studied in my early years. His material, although sometimes technically difficult, never failed to evoke mystery & magic. Paul has taken some of his favorite entertaining workers & without sacrifice of the magical effects, streamlined the handlings to put them into reach. In addition, video links are included to demonstrate by Paul the streamlined sleights. Replete with worker material.
The Magic of Michael Skinner
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Rick Carruth
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 27 November, 2017)
'Magic of Michael Skinner' MAY be my favorite of all the many ebooks by Paul Lelekis. I'm not ready to make the final call.. yet... but I'm certainly leaning that way. Why? Because I have a profound respect for the magic of Michael Skinner, and an equally profound respect for the writing of Paul Lelekis.
There are nine effects.. and each is very different in method and culmination.
Business Card Prediction, Thought Projection Pack, and James's Miracle are all distinctly mental magic with cards. Altman's '7' Location, Mona Lisa Card Trick, and Invasion of The Body Snatchers are all Skinner's handling of card effects that are both original and clever.. in a Michael Skinner way. And if you aren't familiar with Michael's magic, Paul has lead this ebook with a very interesting tretise on the life and magic of Mr. Skinner. In addition, Torn & Restored Paper, Giant Coin, and Fechter's Hanky Force are all very interesting effects and a force in and of themselves. Nothing is simple.. aside from the force, and nothing is overly complicated. Just wonderful magic theater from someone considered highly unique and gifted.
The Magic of Michael Skinner
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christopher Weber
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 26 November, 2017)
The Magic of Michael Skinner by Paul Lelekis is a wealth of great advice and techniques from a true Master of our Times. This is Pauls' finest eBook of the year for sure! Handlings that are straight forward and convincing along with some exceptional presentational tips throughout. The foreword by John Carney and Introduction by Paul are easily worth the price of the book. Here you'll be presented with Michael Skinners philosophy on practice, discipline, creativity, ingenuity and naturalness of performance. This is a fantastic way for you to get acquainted with the presentational style and wonderful magic of Michael Skinner.
The nine effects are all time tested routines that you will enjoy learning and performing. There’s a little something for everyone here. They are all geared to emphasize entertainment, presentation and the art of engaging your audience. Straight forward clean, non-complicated and direct routines. I particularly liked the opening effect "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (one of my all-time favorite movies), the best patter/presentation, and interpretation for this classic effect I've ever seen. A solid winner for sure!
The "Mona Lisa Card Trick" another favorite of mine is a perfect example of a short routine that has a great kick to it and you'll be having some fun with it in no time. Besides the card effects you’ll get a cool Giant Coin routine and a beautiful, clean, smooth handling of a Torn & Restored Paper routine that goes a step or two further than similar effects. All this plus an ingenious prediction Bonus effect from Stewart James makes Pauls' "The Magic of Michael Skinner" destined to be a top seller.
The Magic of Michael Skinner
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Enrico Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 26 November, 2017)
Michael Skinner is a legendary name among close-up magicians. John Carney in his Foreword to this book respectfully delves into the psyche of this extraordinary professional performer. Skinner exemplified naturalness, deliberateness, neatness and exactness in his routining and moves. Throughout this book, the astute student of magic will be able to appreciate abject lessons in Pauses – that which precedes each revelation or transformation – and shifts the moment of each effect to a heightened level of dramatic and psychological impact.
Paul Lelekis – certainly a fan of Michael Skinner – has written an exclusively, befitting, tribute to one of his major influences. Lelekis’s extensive breadth of performance experience and encyclopaedia of effects, successfully captures the Skinner Spirit – discovering perfection through disciplined practice, dedicated analyses, and a determined appreciation of the audience. He has compiled nine of Skinner’s effects that include a Wild Card routine, torn & restored paper, demonstration of ESP, busines card prediction, coin transformations, and preferred card force. Every nuance and subtlety is described through Lelekis’s thorough descriptions and video explanations of sleights.
The legend lives on through the pages of this important book. May you carry on the legendary work in the Skinner tradition.
The Magic of Michael Skinner
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Roy Eidem
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 26 November, 2017)
Paul’s knowledge of magic is encyclopedic. Such a treat to see this tribute to arguably one of the best close-up magicians of all time. The introduction with stories about Michael are worth the price of this book to magic lovers. In addition, one receives pro-working, Skinner magical miracles. Paul’s writing style is clear & easy to follow plus one receives with the purchase some tutorial videos.
A Close Up Show
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Enrico Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 05 November, 2017)
A full close-up show in one book! You cannot get better a deal than this.
Your audience will come a little closer to you, enjoy interacting with you, and respect your space at the same time.
In his inimitable and generous style, Paul does not hold anything back with his teaching. As a active performer and Teacher-At-Heart, he delivers a 3-piece act complete with a strong Beginning, Middle and End. I learnt 'stronger magic' with his one-coin, Triple Threat Coin routine (this went straight to my impromptu routine), integrated with strong misdirection. I loved 'Cheek To Cheek' which gives a variation (albeit stronger) to Triumph. I found his Bonus sleight to be practical, and boldly effective. The three routines flow, seamlessly, with meaningful misdirection built into each routine. Above all, Paul attributes and pays tribute to the originators of these effects that have inspired him.
Get a little closer, and enjoy a strong close-up show!
A Close Up Show
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Roy Eidem
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 31 October, 2017)
Paul is an in the trenches worker. You can make a living with just these beautiful magical routines. Every nuance is field tested & smoothly designed. The price is a gift to lovers of real world magic.
A Close Up Show
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christopher Weber
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 30 October, 2017)
This new EBook,” A Close Up Show!” from Paul Lelekis is a really cool idea! Three wonderful routines that flow together perfectly or they could be easily performed independently. What a great idea!
The opening routine “Pastboard Prison” is a killer! Here you’ll learn a fantastic control of three selections that you’ll use in many other routines, plus Pauls’ rendition of this classic effect is by far the smoothest and most direct handling you’ll find. As usual, Paul streamlines the moves so your concentration can and should be on presentation!
“Triple Threat Coin” is a fun and interactive routine that features a marvelous vanish/transposition that is well supported by some great audience control, fun patter and timely misdirection. Again, this is a fun and entertaining routine to perform and you’ll find many uses for the coin steal slight presented here.
The Closer of the three routines offered here is “Cheek to Cheek”. Another classic that Paul has taken to a whole new level by adding a signed card to the effect! Not to mention a deck switch that really works itself and some very practical refinements that make the effect more engaging for your spectators.
I love the Bonus! “Selection Produced from a Fan of Cards” is one of those great little moves that you’ll do over and over again in front of a mirror and you’ll laugh every time because it looks so cool! I love to fool myself! Thanks Paul, you did it again!
Killerz!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Michael Lyth (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 09 October, 2017)
All the other revues cover all the best bits with 100% accuracy, but lets remember 7 effects for a small cost and any one new to the author will not be disappointing.
Killerz!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christopher Weber
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 29 September, 2017)
Killerz! by Paul Lelekis is a terrific collection of effects that you’ll enjoy performing and they will entertain your audience. As with all of Paul’s publications, don’t overlook the Introduction. Here is a wealth of information on performance and magic etiquette that alone is worth the price of the book. Paul explores topics such as the importance of practice, patter, presentation and putting it all together. He reminds us that how you make the spectator feel is of primary importance. Throughout this book Paul has streamlined moves to enable you to concentrate on presentation and interaction with your audience. The moves are all very clearly explained and Killerz! Includes three video attachments to help with learning some of the moves that you might not be so familiar with. I particularly enjoyed working through “Another Point of Departure”, “The Phantom Card”, and “The Queens Have Risen”. I’m sure you’ll enjoy these as well as the other effects in this collection too. The Bonus Coin effect is a terrific study in the importance of great story telling patter. You’ll love it. Thanks Paul for another winner!
Killerz!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Roy Eidem
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 28 September, 2017)
Paul Lelekis is a thinking man's, full-time close up worker who makes his living entertaining in the real world. His knowledge & insight into creating magical moments is based upon his thinking & knowledge of entertaining magic for paying audiences. Always money well spent!
Killerz!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Enrico Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 27 September, 2017)
Paul’s new book KILLERZ does just that: Slay your audiences with many moments of ‘Wow’!
He has a knack for choosing effects that hit between the eyes, and where audiences may enjoy a good whack on the side of their heads. His effects can fool both laypeople and magicians. The reader will realize how to reset their sights, aim high, lock on, load, and shoot to thrill: Aim for the magical moments that matter – through the magician’s ability to amaze and wow his audience.
Paul makes mild creative shifts to well-known effects, whilst allowing us to carve our personal marks on each plot. That is, to make our audiences feel good about our magic. As a fan of Alex Elmsley, I enjoyed ‘Another Point of Departure’ with Paul’s ‘Push Off Switch’ (accompanying video). Also, I enjoyed the simplicity and interactivity of ‘The Queens Have Risen’. Do read his Introduction – as always a nugget of performance wisdom.
Killerz!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Rick Carruth
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 26 September, 2017)
You can't keep a good man down.. Even the fury of Irma couldn't keep Paul from publishing another inspiring ebook. This one.. KILLERZ!.. consist of seven well-planned effects, ( six card effects and one excellent coin effect) some inspired by several of the giants of magic. Paul has a unique way of taking an already strong effect and making it stronger with a couple of well-thought-out changes.. sometimes actually simplifying the effect while retaining the original appeal. Look for effects inspired by Alex Elmsley, Michael Skinner, Michael Ammar, Dan Tong and Ned Rutledge.
Paul has included videos and pictures to help explain the finer points. He also references previous works to draw from special sleights that make the effects easier. Two of the effects are partially 'inspired' by the Ambitious Card effect, which in an act of disclosure I have to admit is one of my favorite effects. Anything that gives me a different version or new insight always peaks my interest. And one effect is a take on an Ammar coin effect that can be performed by almost anyone with a little practice. This is all good stuff
Openers and Closers 3
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Michael Lyth (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 25 July, 2017)
Paul Lelekis writes a revue of OPENERS AND CLOSERS 3 on Rick Carruth site magicroadshow.com which Rick reviewed for the Magic Roadshow. I purchase most of my books in PDF format from two main sites this been the main one. So to encourage others to read, follow or just study this authors work all I can say the other revues do this work full justice so all I will say value for Money and usable material.
Well done to the author Paul for this contribution to the magic family of magicians.