Reviews of products by Enrico Varella
1 ★★★★★ reviews
1 ★★★★★ reviews
Memorable Mentalism: Mysteries With the Mnemonic Deck
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Marc Rehula (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 10 April, 2022)
I am a lowly but well-read hobbyist. Memdeck routines with a mentalist presentation is exactly what I was looking for. But I have to say, Varella's Memorable Mentalism was disappointing.
The first half of the book is devoted to background about stacks and with helping you find and memorize a stack. There is a single page about switching in a stacked deck, which I found helpful.
There are four close up tricks offered, and this was the biggest disappointment. Not only are the ideas simple (to the point of simplistic), there are no suggestions about how to present them as mentalism (unless you find this line helpful: 'My patter revolved around intuition, coincidence or pure luck.'). They're tricks, not magic.
There is essentially a single idea for stage or television, and it involves a tiresome cliche as method (with minor variations).
The saving grace of this book is the Bonus Effect, Varella's variation of Elhers's famous routine in Ackerman's Las Vegas Kardma. (Oddly, Varella spends six pages on the previous five tricks, then devotes six pages to this single 'bonus' effect!) I don't expect I'll use any of his ideas, but the ideas are good and thought-provoking.
The book offers many sources as credits. There are better places for a beginner to start with stacks and memdeck work, and they can be found in this bibliography.
No Jacket Required: The Tiepit
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Paul Lelekis
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 28 February, 2017)
This extremely innovative idea by Enrico Varella is nothing short of genius! Now you can perform vanishes and ditches of an enormous number of props, gimmicks, coins, decks, paddles, bills, eggs, billets etc. - with NO JACKET! Many creative ideas and tricks are presented to bring the level of your magic up several notches! Thank you Enrico for finally releasing your "pet" utility item! This will be the wave of the future...do NOT hesitate to get this!
Clock Your Boston Qualifier: By Running Less, and Running Faster
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Andre Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 18 February, 2017)
Enrico’s book applies to anyone wishing to take their running to the next level. It draws from his experience as a runner. Enrico's journey -- which starts off with his first marathon in Hong Kong and finally qualifying for Boston -- is impressive, and a strong motivator. It certainly helped me return to running after suffering a massive ankle fracture.
The book changed the way I thought about training. It doesn’t go into technical details nor does it require adhering to rigid rules. Instead, it sets the stage for you to draw up your own training plan, and to train smarter.
This is a great all-round book, whether you aim to finish your first 5K or qualify for Boston.
Clock Your Boston Qualifier: By Running Less, and Running Faster
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jamal Ismail
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 12 February, 2017)
Excellent and essential read for anyone who runs! As an overweight runner and beginner triathlete in my mid-40s I have always struggled with recovery and weight. This book provides some useful tips to train, recover and proper nutrition for my upcoming races. I'm not planning on a Boston Marathon anytime soon, but like the writer said, "First to complete, then to compete!" Also includes several frank interviews with other highly accomplished marathoners on how they train and recover - priceless!
Memorable Mentalism: Mysteries With the Mnemonic Deck
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Paul Lelekis
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 08 February, 2017)
MEMORABLE MENTALISM:
Mysteries with a Mnemonic Deck
Enrico Varella has presented an enormously important work to the magic community. This e-book begins with the value(s) of a Mnemonic or Memorized Deck (‘Mem Deck’) and some history of the Mem Deck including many renowned magicians and mentalists. The magic/mentalism that can be obtained with a Mnemonic Deck is profound. DO NOT take this form of entertainment lightly…it is very ‘disturbing’! Enrico also provides some huge differences between the Mem Deck and “cyclical stacks” such as the ‘Eight Kings’ and the Si Stebbins orders, as well as a glossary of terms. This book begins by teaching a VERY clever system, step-by-step, to more easily learn the Memorized Deck and make it “stick” in your mind…including the PPAP principle and Enrico’s own EV System by using ‘associations’. Also included are some very resourceful methods to “Ring in a Cooler” or make seamless, deceptive deck switches. If you learn Enrico’s methods, your audience will be left with their ‘jaws hanging open’!
Enrico provides FIVE excellent, close-up routines with the Mnemonic Deck that will have your spectators completely baffled! Included are Enrico’s methods of utilizing “Jazz Magic” that will further distance the method from the ‘Retrograde Analysts’. Important advice here! Also included are a number of ‘Stage’ and/or Television multi-phased routines for larger audiences, including a BONUS EFFECT that utilizes some brilliant and ‘sneaky’ effects by some well-known professionals, including all patter and presentations. Mr. Varella's references and credits are numerous and complete and are to be commended.
I truly feel that this book is a very important work in a field of magic that has not been well explored…the enormous range of magic and mentalism possible cannot be fully appreciated until you go out there and actually ‘Wow’ your spectators with something that they’ve never seen before!
Thank you Enrico Varella!
Paul A. Lelekis
Clock Your Boston Qualifier: By Running Less, and Running Faster
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Khairil Anuar
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 07 February, 2017)
An excellent read by an excellent coach and trainer. How to get to Boston, the holy grail of marathons, dissected and served up in an easy to read piece. This ebook will give you insights to what it takes to earn that ticket, how to do it and the pitfalls to avoid.
Whether you want to earn your ticket to Boston or clinch a PB in your home race, who better to learn from than someone who has been there, done that and keeps coming back. Multiple Boston finisher, Ironman EV is the man to go to.
Making Mondo Magic: a tale of three routines
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jeremy Tan
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 14 June, 2016)
Enrico teaches you 3 different effects that you can perform together (as an act), or by its own. His attention to detail and patter are well woven into each effect. Which is hard to find nowadays. He makes the Magic look seamless and has a good flow from start to end - as he literally adds a "punch" at the end of this 3 piece worker. Definitely a must have whether you are just starting out in Magic or a seasoned pro! Highly recommended!
Making Mondo Magic: a tale of three routines
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Bernard Sim
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 08 March, 2016)
I have known Enrico for a very long time and I have seen the live performance of the routines in the book many times. I like the coin routine as it is a full routine and can be done standing. It is not difficult to do. At $8, this is a steal.
Making Mondo Magic: a tale of three routines
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Paul Lelekis
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 27 February, 2016)
I have known Enrico for a number of years, and even though we live on different sides of the Globe, I am privileged to call him my friend. He is a world-class runner and a world-class magician. These three routines are superb and will find a "home" in any magician's repertoire. Buy it now...you'll be glad you did!