Reviews of products by Devin Knight : page 5
22 ★★★★★ reviews
11 ★★★★★ reviews
11 ★★★★★ reviews
15 ★★★★★ reviews
The Secret Edge For Children's Entertainers
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ronald M Levy
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 28 June, 2016)
Devin Knight has focused his lens on an absolutely important and yet sorrily neglected issue that will make a huge difference to all those who aspire to be considered as performers for children. This will definitely determine whether a given performer receives a contract to do a gig. He gives good advice on this, and it could help all child performers who heed his advice. If you want to perform for kids, put down that magic wand right now, and take the time to read Devin's brief and helpful book.
Novel Publicity Ideas For Magicians
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ronald M Levy
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 21 June, 2016)
This is a useful book because Devin Knight explores ways to create publicity that other books do not go into, making these areas "novel" by comparison. In addition, these ideas have all been tested by Devin, except for the White House Easter Egg Roll. Devin names the magicians who have used this avenue, and magicians who have benefited by using the other "novel" publicity ideas. I knew little about some of these methods and knew nothing about the others. Devin has educated me, and in his easy and careful teaching style, there are, no doubt, many other magicians who can benefit from this well written book.
Excalibur Forcing Deck
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 15 June, 2016)
As a mentalist and not a card guy anymore, I'm always amused by the way some current world-class mentalist will take a hoary gimmicked deck out of mothballs and use it to great effect. The card guys just roll their eyes and think things like, "Tut. Tut. Look at the mentalist, such a simple soul, he's using a gimmicked deck from the 1940s to force a card. Awww, that's so cute. We cardicians know 50 different ways to force a card using Marlo/Vernon sleights that only took steady daily practice over a decade to master." Perhaps I exaggerate, but while sleights are great and pure, I love the way you can take something simple and easy and be just as effective. Luke Jermay uses a Franklin Taylor peek deck. Richard Osterland, much earlier in his career, came up with the Radar and Dynamo decks, variations on the Bagshawe/Koran deck, before abandoning them in favor of his Breakthrough Card System. And if I recall correctly, Derren Brown wowed a TV producer with a Mind Power deck. There's no shame in using a gimmicked deck if you are a professional and know what you are doing. If you are an amateur, there's nothing to see here. Go back to working on your classical force until it's perfect.
When I first looked at Knight's Exacalibur Forcing Deck, I wasn't impressed because it seemed so...so...unnecessary. But then I read more, smiled, and thought, "Hey, if it works (and it does) why the heck not?" Do I personally need an Exaclibur Forcing Deck? Naw, my Psychomatic Deck or Phil Deck does the same thing. But just like there are Chevys, Fords, Toyotas, and dozens of other kinds of cars, variety is a good thing. Check this deck out. You may not need it, but it relies on a good, interesting theoretical concept. If you are an aficionado of trick decks like I am, you'll get it. (Maybe some day when I'm bored, I'll trot it out and fool 'em with it.) And if you want to really tick your card-sleight buddies off, show them how well it works on civilians.
Four Told 2: Modern Symbol Edition
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 15 June, 2016)
I knew when I saw the peformance of this in the video that not only was I going to buy it, but I also knew that it was going right into my do-at-any-time set and that I could kill with it. There's not much for me to add here except to say that Devin has improved on the original version. The use of the cellphone icons is genius. In fact, to do it impromptu, all you need is to download the JPG with the icons to your phone and get something to write on to keep track of the choices. (I'm really lazy. I carry a piece of paper that not only fulfills that purpose but has the crib pre-written on it so that I don't have to rely on my memory.) The principle used here is one that I've seen in Leo Boudreau's writings, which I refer to as "observational mentalism." (Boudreau's three ebooks, all available on lybrary, while not for beginners or the faint of heart, are absolute musts for the advanced/professional mentalist. His jaw-dropping routines will stop even the most knowledgable, savvy spectator--or mentalist--dead in his tracks because they look like honest-to-goodness real mind reading. Boudreau's processes are unknown to laypeople and just overall bewildering. But Four Told 2, fortunately, uses one of his easier to apply principles.) You will need a good performance, audience management, and the more spectators the better. And I would never do this with less than four spectators because you risk exposing the transparency of the process. But that said, this is not just water-cooler or Friday-night-at-the-bar mentalism. This is real deal stuff to make a reputation.
Sight Unseen Revelations
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ronald M Levy
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 13 June, 2016)
Sight Unseen Revelations is a well thought out, well written, and helpfully illustrated book of instructions for doing a stepwise series of four card revelations that build to a climactic fourth revelation. All four need not be done at the same performance. What is amazing is that they are all meant to be done while the performer's eyes are securely covered from behind by a spectator, so that the performer cannot see! It is if the performer does the card revelations while being blind!
These card revelations are interesting enough that they would be entertaining even if the performer could see. Devin has choreographed them into an astounding blindfold card routine, that has a young woman standing behind him covering his eyes at every step, (which is a more secure method of rendering the performer sightless than any blindfold.)
Learn to Recite and Write the Alphabet Upside Down and in Reverse
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 27 May, 2016)
If you don't have these parlor tricks down cold yet, then download Devin's ebook now! There is another system to learning the alphabet backwards, but this one is better. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that it took me 10 minutes on a rainy Saturday afternoon to learn the recitation part. Writing upside down and backwards took a little longer, but not much, with a little practice. Now both skills are like second nature. When I retire and get around to giving corporate motivational lectures on learning, memory, and intuition, you can rest assured that I'm using Devin's techniques, and they will delight and astonish audiences. This ebook might be the best use of mnemonics that you'll ever see. And it costs a fiver. Come back and thank me later.
The Assistant Test
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ronald M Levy
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 09 May, 2016)
This is a very clever performance piece that strongly attracts and holds the interest of spectators through the brilliant application of the experienced magician’s ability to direct and manipulate a spectator’s attention. Devin Knight shares with all of us this distillation of his performer’s experience. Although math facts, and also the calendar are utilized, this entertaining piece pivots on the magician’s knowledge of what people will typically notice, and what they usually don’t take notice of. The math facts and calendar facts are treated as everyday life without snobbery, and this is a handy performance piece that can occupy those moments in the performer’s act that do not need him to do an effect. Like tying your shoes, you will have numerous uses for this. Well written and illustrated, Devin Knight has given us a gem.
Roly-Poly
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ronald M Levy
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 06 May, 2016)
Roly-Poly is a charming effect where the magician begins by bending a quarter repeatedly in order to soften the metal and then rolls the metal in his hand to form a metallic ball that is then given out to a spectator. This is an entertaining exhibition of conjuring with a delightful conclusion, and can amaze both children and adults. Every performer will be able to deliver an impressive experience of magic with Roly-Poly. Devin Knight's instructions are easy to follow and have helpful illustrations. Don't allow the price to mislead you: This is a gem
Streamlined Newspaper Prediction
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gianmarco Malini
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 29 April, 2016)
Great improptu powerful trick.
Well explained and with logical steps and pictures.
Great idea Devin
A to buy item
Streamlined Newspaper Prediction
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Mark Chandaue (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 26 April, 2016)
At $8 this was a bit hard to resist particularly with Devin's track record. Well after reading this all I can say is this is grossly underpriced. The description above is completely accurate. The tearing procedure is completely natural and innocent and yet extremely easy to remember. You can practically pick up a newspaper and perform this impromptu. For me this is a perfect compliment for my eStooge dice as I can know the number before the spectator does. This was money very well spent.
Streamlined Newspaper Prediction
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ronald M Levy
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 26 April, 2016)
There have been numerous instructors who explained how to tear a newspaper page so that it yielded a piece of newspaper that bore words that had been already predicted by the performer from the beginning, and where its place in the stack of newspaper pieces corresponds to a number chosen at the beginning by the spectator. Devin Knight has actually streamlined the performance of this effect and made it easier for the mentalist to learn and easier to perform. The other versions of this effect have been surpassed and outdone by Devin's ingenuity and by his crystal-clear instructions that are to the point, and which at every step focus on how the effect looks to the mentalist, guiding the reader to giving an applause-worthy performance. This is, now, the best way to achieve the full entertainment value and the full mystery inherent in this effect. Devin Knight has taken this classic effect and both modernized it and simplified it, bringing it within the abilities of today's performer.
Girl in Little House Illusion Revisited
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Karl Mathers
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 17 April, 2016)
I performed it in a show last night and people thought I had trap doors and everything, totally fooled them all and dead easy to perform and good fun.
The Kolophon Revisited
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 17 April, 2016)
I agree with everything said by the other reviewers. This is apparently an old principle but one that I'd never seen before. It's not entirely 100% foolproof--and there is some audience management involved--but when it works, it will befuddle even trained professionals because of its subtlety.
Predictionary
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 17 April, 2016)
I chuckled out loud when I read what the gimmick was and said to myself, "No way. This won't play at all." Then I made the gimmick (It will cost a couple of bucks in material and the use of a Sharpie), played with it, and thought, "Way! Way cool. It's a keeper." And then I made a backup gimmick. The handling will take a little practice, but this thing can be used as quite the utility device for predictions. In case you are wondering, no, it's not a force. The spectator makes a completely free choice. I use it with a small 40,000-word pocket dictionary. (I have a few of those in my bag, including a gaffed one to do Annemann's 40,000 Words effect.) You can look around to see if you can find the full trick with pre-made gimmicks, but I wouldn't waste time and money. Just download the incredibly reasonable ebook and get going. Work on it, and you'll have a super-nice parlor or stage effect, using a classic routine too. Highly recommended!
Simplex Magazine Test
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 16 April, 2016)
For $6, this is a great magazine test that is worth much, much more. Get a couple of different magazines, spend about 20 minutes preparing, and you are ready to go. (I use copies of two Mensa magazines. Seems appropriate. :)) It uses an old book-test principle, but once again, Devin has put together a dynamite effect that will work for close-up, parlor, or stage.
Credit Card Divination
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 16 April, 2016)
This is a nice completely impromptu effect--within certain limitations. While I knew the "theory" behind it--I think that it's in one of Jon Thompson's Naked Mentalism books--but the working is extremely clever. OK, being able to figure out Mastercard, VISA, American Express, or Diner's Club, by itself, isn't spectacular, but I think that if you do it a couple of times with different folks, it will play well.
Girl in Little House Illusion Revisited
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Eric Gumieney (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 16 April, 2016)
This is just plain fun. It is a real winner. I smiled as I read the pdf. It reminds me of good old fashioned magic from a bye gone era. Devin Knight does a great job in explaining all that needs to be done to make this effect one that will be talked about long after your show is completed. I'm very pleased with this purchase and I believe you will too. The psychology behind this is insane and FUN!
I highly recommend this.
Eric
5 Ways to Stop Your Pulse
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Art Vanderlay
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 07 March, 2016)
Just finished reading this, as someone who has performed pulse stops, I was excited to see what techniques Devin has used. I am familiar with the well-known method which utilities a small gimmick; however, the alternative version of that particular pulse stop and the bonus effects and the one using a chair, I was not familiar with. For someone who wants to learn the secrets of stopping your pulse, then this is the perfect start for you. The propless versions are fantastic and I will be using these methods in my own working set. Highly recommended.
Mindreading for the Masses
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Bill Montana
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 05 February, 2016)
When I tell you just stop what your doing and click the buy button - that should tell you everything you need to know about this work. I do not say that very often maybe only twice before.
The work is only 11 pages and only contains a couple of effects. No questions Asked with the Jason Micheal's Refinements is worth many times the price of this work which is only $15 by the way. Should be $50 or more in my opinion and would still be cheap at that price for what is he teaching the reader. Why are you still reading what I am saying? When you should be reading and studying Mindreading for the Masses!
This is the real world worker stuff I have been looking for for a very long time. Reminiscent of the best works from Jason Micheal's - Al Mann - Bob Mason. I say Bob Mason because I learned from him early on and Devin studied with Al Mann and this effect reminded me of some other things Bob taught me way back when - many years ago. I am telling you that this effect with cards is one of those rare gems that you can use over and over anywhere once you understand its diabolical nature. It looks like real mind reading.
The second effect in the work is a TV only effect that is everything that I have wanted to see published from Jason Micheal's simple - direct and effective. As this is the stuff he personally used way back then to become a known force within the psychic entertainment world.
Both of the effects are in Mindreading for the Masses the new work from Devin Knight that was just released on February 4th. Both are real worker stuff.
Just simply killer mentalism!
Ungimmicked Linking Ropes
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Dale Lorzo
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 27 January, 2016)
This trick can easily be done exactly as stated. There should be credit given to Dick Williams who published this idea back in 1994 in "Lights, Camera, Magic!" Williams later explained it with ropes from his TV show "Magicland" and credits Conrad "Connie" Bush for coming up with a similar idea many years before.
The NTE Principle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Michael Lyth (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 26 January, 2016)
a very practical routine not to be missed an excellent way to promote through the media
Ungimmicked Linking Ropes
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Scott Starkey (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 11 January, 2016)
This is a fantastic value for the price; in fact, one could argue that this is way under-priced. It may be my best purchase on Lybrary to date. The advertising text is spot-on. I've played with this several dozen times, and it almost seems like real magic in my hands. It's quite fun seeing the impossible come to life in my own hands. The "moves" are well covered by natural actions, and not very complicated.
My only minor quibble is I think a couple of the illustrations should have an "exposed" view. Some of the illustrations are very clear, and a couple were not as great. Part of the model's thumb gets in the way of some of the stuff I was wanting to see. However, I was able to piece it together with the very clear text and the other illustrations.
Finally. There seemed to be a bit of a knack with making it work for me, at first. Keep working it! After a couple of dozen times of going through the procedure, I was able to make it work 100% of the time. It's certainly not complicated, but like anything, it takes practice to get the "feel" and "smoothness" right! If you perform the rather simple and natural "moves" on the off-beat, you will hide even the slightest hint of funny business. The end result - three linked ropes previously tied separately - is a miracle ready to happen. The only way to undo it afterwards is to untie the knots!
Ungimmicked Linking Ropes
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jeffrey Damens (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 06 January, 2016)
This is a wonderful illusion. The method is quite clear and it looks quite good after a few run-throughs. Quite a bargain at $6.
Gyrater: Floating and Spinning Deck
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Timothy Rose (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 20 August, 2015)
Interesting... The word cheesy comes to mind. It might play well in a one on one but for a group bigger than say, 2, not a worker effect. Cool looking on video but not a worker.
Hat-A-Rama
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Devin Knight
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 19 July, 2015)
Although honeycomb hats are temporarily not available from the source given in the PDF. They are still available worldwide. You need only go to Google and search for China Honeycomb Vase Hat and you will find hundreds of companies selling the hats. In some cases, you can buy just one hat and get free shipping to the USA. This is a great alternative until someone buys the company and once again makes the hats available in the USA.