Reviews of products by TC Tahoe
2 ★★★★★ reviews
3 ★★★★★ reviews
The Luck of the Tarot
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Sean Klein (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 31 October, 2025)
This routine is based on an old method, probably dug out of a Professor Hoffman or Fulves book that is almost self-working. For what you are getting, I feel that $15 is a bit excessive. If it was a $5 download, I'd feel a bit more satisfied with my purchase. That said, it is adaptable to cards other than tarot, and I like the idea of using other types of cards, perhaps something appropriate from a kids' game or that you found in a vintage shop.
The Luck of the Tarot
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by mark glass (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 27 June, 2025)
I think this is a wonderful routine and it, perhaps not intended, but really got my brain wheels turning on how to do the thing other ways ( not that TCs way is in any way lacking, it's great, but it did just get the wheels turning ). Just after purchasing I got an email this morning from a dealer with a new item that normally I wouldn't consider buying ( no good routine given - need to come up with your own ) but it seems to be a good possibility of another ending for TCs The Luck of the Tarot.
IMO, this isn't a "magic trick" nor is it a shut eye concept but a wonderful ending to a real reading with the Tarot. If you want a magic trick, pass this by. If you're a true shut eye reader, pass this by. If you do "readings as entertainment" or do readings for real and desire to have a "kicker in your pocket" this is for you.
TC Tahoe Re-Thinks Vol. 3: Salt Pour
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Larry Brodahl (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 15 November, 2019)
Totally misleading copy for this. Although, if I'd have been paying attention, the PAGE COUNT information might have saved me some $.
The copy reads "two different routines". In only 4 pages of text - AFTER teaching me about making the gimmick?
Yeah, there is the briefest of mentions of a routine(s), but no teaching. No "here's the props needed, here's how you steal the gaff, etc". Just a very brief mention of a theme to use.
However, this will prevent me from buying any of the other items in this series.
The Elimination Principle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by J.A. Murphy (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 21 November, 2018)
Save your money! Buy the Colombini Farewell Lecture instead and get a routine that can actually fool people (Rachel's Elimination) plus 23 other Colombini routines. Tahoe's The Elimination Principle has a glaring problem which, in my mind at least, is extremely likely to discovered, and commented on, by one of the participants. Rachel's routine describes two different ways to avoid the problem. Tahoe's Intro says "The Elimination Principle was inspired by Max Maven’s Kurotsuke" -- I consider that a HIGHLY misleading claim! Kurotsuke is one of my favorite routines, but I would never dare try it using the method in this book. I kept thinking that I MUST have missed something, and I've gone back and reread the Tahoe method several times -- and I still come away saying "You've got to be kidding!"
Emoticon: An Emotional Design Duplication
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 14 December, 2016)
First, let's get this out of the way: Emoticon uses an old, old method. TC says that it is from Annemann, and without pulling out my copies of Practical Mental Magic or The Jinx to check, I don't doubt that. The method also forms the basis of Richard Osterlind's ODD, Osterlind's Design Duplication System. And essentially this same method is used in Feel by Peter Nardi and Marc Spelmann on their Unpexpected DVD set. Not to mention, you could do a design dupe like this using Anton James's Mentalism Symbol Pack. So if you are familiar with any one of these, you'll know immediately how Emoticon works. Now here's what's different: TC has adapted the routine for two spectator duplications. He also shows you how to use a clever crib in plain sight. (There's no doubt that you can get away with this. If you don't like the idea, you can always use memorization or a more discrete crib like the one Mark Elsdon demonstrated in his first Penguin Live lecture, where you fiddle with the greyscale settings of the font in Microsoft Word.) But most significantly--and definitely pretty darned cool--is that TC uses emoticons for the design items, and the pdf gives them to you in two different sizes for ease of duplication in manufacturing your own cards. This is a great idea since just about everyone today who has a cell phone is familiar with them. And since they represent facial emotions, what better way to lead into a cold reading.
So while the method is nothing new, for your ten spot, you get reproducible cards; a crib idea; and a neat, new routine. I'd say that Emoticon is well worth the download even if you are already doing a similar routine.
The Elimination Principle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 03 December, 2016)
Ah, TC Tahoe, the working magician's magician. He has some of the best, most practical, and usable stuff around, and once again, he hits a homer for the low price of a ten spot. The Elimination Principle is TC's way of doing a completely ungimmicked version of Bank Night. Now contrary to some, I like Bank Night and can execute it nicely about a half-dozen different ways. TC's version uses a simplification of a ruse developed by Max Maven. When I saw how he used it, I thought, "Absolutely. It will work in a half-dozen different settings. Why didn't I think of it?" Anyway, the ungimmicked version of Bank Night is 100% examinable. One move--and it's easy and not dodgy at all--and you end absolutely clean. If that weren't enough, TC gives you a bunch of those different settings. They are all wonderful ideas.
Alakazam has been selling out of late on Steve Cook's brand new Volition, a commercial version of an ungimmicked Bank Night. Folks are going nuts over it, and I have to admit, it's either the slickest or stupidest thing that I've ever seen. Maybe both simultaneously. But now that I've seen TC's Elimination Principle, I'm not sure you need to buy the much more expensive Volition, which, while clever, uses a knacky procedure. Summary: TC keeps his batting average high. Highly recommended.
The Magic of Magic
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gerard Zitta (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 26 September, 2016)
Very nice examples of what Magic should be indeed. Thanks for sharing.
TC Tahoe Re-Thinks Vol. 9: Out To Lunch
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 17 April, 2016)
TC's stuff is always excellent, but I would save my money and get the expanded version of this material called Lunch is Served, co-written with Paul Romhany. It has these routines and so much more. (One contributed by Banachek called "No Stars" is simply amazing, possibly the single most creative use of the OTL principle.) Unfortunately, it's not available as an ebook.
TC Tahoe Re-Thinks Vol. 9: Out To Lunch
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Antonio Scaramella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 08 May, 2013)
poor ideas for this price.