Reviews of products by Paul A. Lelekis : page 6
1 ★★★★★ reviews
2 ★★★★★ reviews
Powerhouse Routines
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Roy Eidem
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 17 May, 2015)
Paul has done it again. Eye candy for lovers of card magic. Also his ideas in spectator management & smoothness of performance elevate the art we love.
Powerhouse Routines
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Bob Solari
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 17 May, 2015)
RUN don't walk to get Paul's latest e book. If you want to learn USABLE,
REAL world magic then look no further! The effects and plots are well
thought out straight forward.....' Lelekis Style ' . Highly Recommended!
Bob Solari
Six Easy-To-Do Card Miracles
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Rick Carruth
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 29 April, 2015)
When I found out Paul had a new ebook on Lybrary I couldn't wait to read it. Paul Lelekis, as many of you know, is one of the very best card technicians on the planet. Aside from being so skillful, Paul is both a very good writer and shares invaluable advice based on years of real-world experiences.
This latest, 'Six Easy-To-Do Card Miracles', is right up my alley.. Anything magical that's also easy was written specifically with me in mind. In all fairness, not every effect is what I term 'easy'. 'Ghost Collectors' and 'You Must Be Lucky' require a couple of manipulations that are easily within the scope of the average reader. The other four effects are darn close to self-working. In fact, 'Make the Cards Match' and 'Translation' are both of the Martin Garner variety that, when performed step by step, will work correctly even though we know not what we do.. Don't you love it when the magician is as impressed as his audience!
Simon Aronson's 'Shuffle bored' is the last of the six effects. This version is based on Simon's 1980 version, with personal aspects added by Paul, along with explainations. This is one of my all-time favorite effects, on any level. The fact that it's self working is an added bonus.
Paul begins this ebook with a treatise on performing effects for folks, particularly in a restaurant setting, that is alone worth the price of the ebook. He is absolutely right on with his observations, and I will always remember Paul telling of how his tips went up exponentially as he began to 'show off' less and 'show less'. Suddenly, his magic began to appear effortless and his audiences were more impressed by what they didn't see than by what they did. Priceless.
Buy the ebook. Enjoy the effects. And you'll be a fan forever.
Six Easy-To-Do Card Miracles
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jozsef Kovacs
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 28 April, 2015)
You can really find here six miracles with patter and they are really easy to do (three of them are self-working and the other three require a little bit of sleight of hand) and also good tips how to maximize your performances. All the tricks are amazing and worth the price of the book. All the moves are explained very well. You can't go wrong with buying this book.
Six Easy-To-Do Card Miracles
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christopher Weber
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 28 April, 2015)
Another book of winners! Thank you Paul for another wonderful contribution to the magic fraternity. The effects in Six Easy-To-Do Card Miracles are fun and easy to perform. Let's you focus on presentation which is what it's all about. The "Tips for Maximizing your performance" in the Introduction alone is are worth the price of the book! Something here for everyone and again, lots of great presentational possibilities. Enjoy Pauls' clean, clear relaxed writing style that is so easy to follow. The one thing I've noticed about Paul's effects can be summed up in two words..."They Work!" I'm sure you will agree...Enjoy!
Six Easy-To-Do Card Miracles
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Roy Eidem
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 27 April, 2015)
Paul Lelekis has done it again! Low price & great, do-able, entertaining magic. If you don't do "Poker Mental" this handling is a breeze and so easy to understand in Paul's easy to read writing style. Multiple card effects are taught for one low price. Advise on performance style & the bonus effect are gravy on top.
Obscure Marlo
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christopher Weber (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 30 March, 2015)
Another terrific e-book from Paul Lelekis. The effects in Obscure Marlo are all very direct and easily mastered by the average (that's me) magician. As with all of Paul's publications his explanations are excellent and easy to follow. His teaching style is very comfortable and the slights he teaches are presented and explained perfectly. I'm really enjoying working through "Obscure Marlo". The effects are all "workers" and the bonus presentational material will open the door to your own creative thinking and routines. Thanks Paul!
Obscure Marlo
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Roy Eidem
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 29 March, 2015)
Truly "Marlo without Tears" as this is Marlo material within the grasp of this bar magician. Direct Magic with card magic easily executed and presented by card genius in our field. Paul is a worker's worker.
Obscure Marlo
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Enrico Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 24 March, 2015)
Hot on the heels of ‘The Art of Magical Entertainment’, Paul Lelekis publishes ‘Obscure Marlo’.
Those of the Marlovian card persuasion may embrace his prolific ideas, and ubiquitous variants, with enthusiasm. However, his works are still considered ‘obscure’ and ‘eccentric’ unless you spent time with the cardician at his Table in Chicago.
In this e-book, Lelekis demystifies Marlo and presents five main items, one of which has three routines in it. ‘The Switchless Switch’ is an easy sleight that allows you to ‘muck’ the packet. ‘The Poker Supreme’ allows you to explain how cheaters win in a hand of poker, with no need for challenging dealing. ‘Marlo’s 21-Card Trick’ uses a clever Marlo invention (often attributed to Vernon) to locate a selected card that transposes from one packet to the other two. ‘Without A Key Card’ uses a simple mathematical principle to locate a spectator’s card that he buried into the deck. ‘Space, Time and Love’ is a collection of scientific patter you can use in your pieces of strange with your pasteboards.
With my cards in hand, I tested out each effect and conclude that these are easy-to-do, cleverly-chosen, practical effects that Lelekis has tested out in the trenches. You may have to re-read some of his descriptions to grasp the relevance of the methods and applications; I did. Buy it, and use the ideas.
The Art of Magical Entertainment
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Enrico Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 01 March, 2015)
This is a book of ‘workers’ for the Worker.
Seven strong effects and one rich essay grace the latest book by Paul Lelekis, an experienced professional performer. You may know Paul from his extensive and enthusiastic contributions to The Linking Ring magazine, as well as for his previous e-books. As a bonus, Dan Tong contributes his own renowned Egg Bag routine. You will require basic to intermediate level of skills to perform these effects, however it should be within your range of practice.
Raise your performance game with the approach of ‘choreographed, interactivity and having fun with spectators’. Many useful performance tips are shared, as Lelekis generously shares his tacit wisdom and experience. You may even succeed with more tips as a strolling performer in a restaurant or private function.
Each item is a ‘worker’ (to express a term, popularised by Michael Close), including the offbeat pencil levitation. However, more importantly, this e-book is about presenting magical performances that benefits the performer, client, and the audience. I single out ‘Fair Play’ for its simplicity and involving the spectator in the miracle. In the ‘Laws of Attraction’, the Gilbreath Principle is put to good use in a deck separation process that minimizes the procedure, by including purpose.
I recommend this book heavily, as it ‘packs small, but plays huge’!
Reviewed by Enrico Varella Vice-President, IBM Ring 115, Singapore Editor-At-Large, The Quantum Ring magazine
A Topological Trio
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by William Lainsbury (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 31 January, 2015)
Though T&R is well thought out it is almost identical to HOODWINKS version from the Abra series in the 60's. Doug Hood used MELROSE which meant that ANY card could be used with any OTHER card. This is the version I have used for 40+ years and as it does not require extensive preparation is the one I will continue with.
Afghan bands is a classic and this routine is a top liner for kids who can handle scissors...too much work for most magicians...which suits me fine.
Time Warp is another from way back and again this version almost images that shown to me by Ralf Wichman (Braco)...for those NOT familiar with magic of the past...You won't waste your cash.
Billy Benbo 2015
A Topological Trio
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Enrico Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 24 November, 2014)
Paul's e-books are a treat to read, and a joy to apply. He is an active writer and product critic for IBM's The Linking Ring magazine, and he asserts the same rigorous standards to his own work. In a unique twist (no pun intended), he shares his thoughts on topology and effects related to three-dimensional planes. Other than the large body of work of the late-English magician Terri Rogers on topology, Paul re-introduces this overlooked area with his professional applications to three main areas: Namely, a new and novel Torn & Restored Card routine (its construction is elusive, sensible and it can be given out), presentations for the Mobius Strips, and a simple (but logical) finish for Card Warp. Highly recommended.’
- Enrico Varella, Vice-President IBM Ring 115
A Topological Trio
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Bob Solari
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 24 November, 2014)
"As always, Paul Lelekis delivers the goods! A TOPOLOGICAL TRIO is NO exception! Great plots with simple handling! A MUST for any serious performer!" - Bob Solari
Triple Impact
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Patricia Mcshannon
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 01 June, 2014)
it was an honour to be included in the acknowledgements in this book.. paul is one of the most amazing guys ive ever met and has a talent no words can describe! thankyou paul! a true gentleman and amazing magician!
Showcase Magic
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Roy Eidem (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 02 November, 2013)
This is a steal for the money and all you get - it's loaded. True "Worker's" material in the real world of entertaining performance -- stand up, close up, surrounded. Paul has hammered these out for you over hundreds of performances. The introductory advise of how to get gigs and perform at different venues is direct and priceless if you are thinking about taking your magic out to the world. But then you get videos too. My favorites are Stickman!, his handling of Out of this World, and if you have never done Card Under Glass, this is a workers delight.
Eight Plus One
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jozsef Kovacs
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 20 September, 2013)
One more great e-book full of excellent tricks from Paul's professional close-up repertoire. My favourites are: Name Any Card; Impromptu Book Test; Four Card Coincidence; Telepathic Spectator and Signed 2 Card Transpo.
A Fix on Six!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jozsef Kovacs
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 05 September, 2013)
All the tricks in this e-book are very good. All of them are impromptu and all the effects are very strong. They are real workers. My favourites are: Inspector #1953, The Trick That Can't Be Explained (which trick has nothing to do with the Vernon trick which has similar title), CAAN TU and Triple Revelation.
A Fix on Six!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Douglas Lippert
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 29 March, 2013)
If you want to perform close-up magic for a living, these six routines would be a great start! These routines come straight out of the working repertoire of a real magician's magician. Paul has won the Howard Bamman trophy for a good reason. This set of works is well, thought out, magical, and most importantly, entertaining! The presentations provided are excellent. Be sure to modify them to fit your personality though.
“Inspector #1953” - is Paul's entertaining routine for the classic thumb through shirt effect that's been performed on national television in Europe. He provides excellent advice in using this routine as an “in” for performing at restaurants. The method is simple but devious. Highly recommended. “The Trick That Can't Be Explained!” - is one of my favorite card effects from Paul's. If a layman asks you to show them a trick you'll be prepared. Even when they know how it's done it will still be magic! The best part about this effect is that it is totally impromptu and self-working. There are just a few procedures to memorize and then you're all set. “B-Fly” - is a very magical version of the Biddle trick involving an invisible card that gets some good laughs from your spectators. There aren't any tough moves to learn here and Paul describes a great feint by Paul Cummins. This routine is very practical and plays very well. This will get you the money in a professional setting. “A Devilish Miracle II” - This is a solid card effect that gets great reactions and multiple moments of magic. This effect is definitely one of the harder card effects in his notes and is for the experienced card magician. Paul expects the reader to know several card moves that are not explained. Paul makes use of several card sleights for maximum deception. Also, a great card sleight of Harry Lorayne's is explained. Another one of my favorite card effects from Paul!
“CAAN TU” - Card At Any Number has been all the rage among magician's for the last couple years. Paul's take on J.K. Hartman's CAAN is a beauty. I like how the double revelation catches the spectator's off guard. There's a lot of humor in Paul's routine which will help guide you in the right direction towards making it your own. There's a move involved in the routine that if you own JK Hartman's “CAAN Craft” you'll have no problem doing. In the “Post Note” of CAAN TU there's an excellent piece of advice for when a spectator names any card! Don't skip over this!
“Triple Revelation” - This is a great variation on Al Baker's “The Mind Reading Trick” with minimal props that fit in your pockets. I especially liked Paul's variation on the classic playing card force by Balducci. It breaks up the action to make it harder for a spectator to reconstruct the effect!
My Favorites
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Laurence Hookway
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 24 March, 2013)
A friend of mine burned me badly with 'Dream Card' and pointed me to Paul's eBook.
Paul puts his own spin on some of these classic effects and what you have is a brilliant collection of working card routines.
He's obviously worked these for years demonstrated by all the little nuances and tips he drops in here and there. Paul's crediting is full and to be applauded.
You could spend $30 on a DVD and be lucky if you end up with one working effect. For $10 I guarantee you'll get at least 3 or 4 workers to add to your repertoire.
To be honest if I had paid $20 for this I'd still consider it a bargain.
Regards,
Laurence.
A Fix on Six!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Chris Ostrowski
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 20 March, 2013)
Reading this material for the first time, it is a wealth of usable close up for performing in close up magic and or parlor. Not only does the author show he has experience but you can feel the passion and energy in his descriptions. Besides the 6 effects offered here, he also gives great words of wisdom to anyone starting out in the realm of restaurant performing. That alone is worth the price of the e-book. These effects are pricless, most is card work, with great homage to the card master of yesteryear. Paul putting his original handling on the effects. I have performed for the past 20 years doing magic in all types of venues, out of all I must say my favorite is restaurants. It allows you to do great feats of magic in short burst and perfect your patter and handling of your chosen effects. If this sounds like you, then buy this e-book. I would highly recommend it.
My Favorites
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Doug Byrd (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 04 March, 2013)
I bought Paul's book just the other day and man was I impressed. I am so looking forward to performing his Dream Card II. This is a real world worker for the close-up entertainer. If the other items in this book are even one-tenth as good as Dream Card II then this booklet will become a classic I'm sure.
Thanks Paul for sharing these routines with the community.
Eight Plus One
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Bob Solari
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 02 March, 2013)
Paul's material is Fresh, Entertaining and most of all, Fun to perform - three things that sadly lacking in today's magic! His plot's are well thought out and for the most part, easy to execute. If you're a 'worker' or just a hobbyist Don't pass up the material in "Eight Plus One" or "A Fix on Six", they are both winners in my book!
Bob Solari
A Fix on Six!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Bob Solari
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 02 March, 2013)
Paul's material is fresh entertaining and most of all fun to perform - three things that are sadly lacking in a lot of today's magic! His plots are well thought out and for the most part, easy to execute. If you are a 'worker' or just a hobbyist, don't pass up the work in "A Fix on Six" and "Eight Plus One". They are both winners in my book!
Bob Solari
A Fix on Six!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ronnie Wood
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 05 February, 2013)
When reading the quotes in the forward of this book, from well known names in magic, I thought Mr Lelekis must be a very experienced close up magician. After reading through his ideas and effects! I realised Mr Paul Lelekis IS a very experienced close up magician. You can actually feel the enthusiasm he has for his work while reading.
After working in a restaurant environment for many years, I still learned a few tricks (no pun intended) from the material and the afterthoughts that Paul provides.
The opening effect of the book, Inspector #1953, which Paul says he usually opens his routine with, is a sure fire way to approach a table and get the other tables noticing you. I’m not going to give the effect away but I know it’ll have many readers jumping to their “magic den” to find that prop that we all own but hardly ever use nowadays!
“The Trick That Can’t Be Explained” is an ingenious routine for when someone asks. “Can you teach me something to show my friends?” It’s based on a mathematical principle that, well, “can’t be explained”! I don’t know about an ingenious routine but Paul Lelekis must have an ingenious mind to have came up with this.
My favourite of the book, B-Fly brings back memories of The Biddle Trick, but so much more up to date. The performer NEVER sees the cards! Although a card trick, it seems to the spectators to be more like mind reading, ESP etc. A mind blowing effect that totally blows them away. (I’ve used this effect a few times and my audience are bewildered!)
I’m not going to comment on every effect. (There are three more. Devilish Miracle II, CAAN TU and Triple Revelation. I’ll leave those privileges for the reader to find!) But just add, when I buy a book nowadays and get one, maybe two usable effects, I am happy! Every effect in this book is workable and entertaining. And isn’t that what we do? Entertain!
The effects in this book and the notes that Paul Lelekis provide have shown me that there is so much more to learn in the art of table hopping! And I learned so much more here.
A Fix on Six!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Mcaig
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 28 December, 2012)
The notes are an interesting read. The presentations given may or may not suit you, but the tricks themselves are solid. The great highlight for me was B-Fly, which is a streamlined and very easy to follow use of the particular move. A very good trick.