Reviews of products by David Devlin
5 ★★★★★ reviews
2 ★★★★★ reviews
4 ★★★★★ reviews
4 ★★★★★ reviews
Mind Control
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by David Hughes (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 15 September, 2025)
This is a really good look at the way we get equivoque wrong. Great advice in here.
The Holy Dixie Cup
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jacob Johnson (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 14 March, 2025)
This is a fun and clever effect! The explanation is clear and concise. The move will not take long to learn and will be quite an effective tool in your toolbox. I only gave it 4 stars because the link in the PDF to a YouTube video demonstrating the "move" was dead. The video isn't necessary but would have been the icing on the cake.
David's ESP Routine
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by David Burmeister (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 20 January, 2024)
I have used this effect quite a few times close-up. It shocks lay people to death. You can use this effect as it says in the ebook but I prefer using regular ESP cards in a Himber Wallet so nothing appears gimmicked with the ESP cards. This has my highest rating.
The Untouchables
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Jesse Hittle (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 10 January, 2024)
Disappeared in this effect. This is my first review here and all I can say is I was fooled into buying this effect. The writing on the effect is misleading.
Kill Bill
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Don Jarrard (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 06 September, 2022)
Nice idea. Basically, Harry Lorayne's Don't show me the money from magic for dummies book. But this has a variation with 2 outcomes. The way he gets around it is ingenious. It is fast-paced and over in 5 minutes. Could be done anytime but also a good opener. Highly recommended. Fake bills could be used. Any normal envelopes. If you don't have bills you could use receipts that add up to the same value or copies of utility bills. Highly recommended.
Thought of Card at Thought of Number
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Michael Cook (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 17 August, 2020)
Was looking for a good simple ACAAN. I thought maybe this would be good. Nothing really good about it. To much dealing and counting. It’s just too confusing. Way to much procedure. Not recommended. There are better ACAANs out there this isn’t one of them. The Untouchables by the same author is the same convoluted ACAAN.
Heads, I Win. Tails, You Lose!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Phillip Dennis (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 17 August, 2019)
I prefer this to Max Maven's version. I've used this many times as an impromptu effect in bars and restaurants. All you need is to either be prepared for the reveal, or just carry or borrow a sharpie.
The Fly
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Michael Cook (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 06 June, 2019)
This is an excellent effect. All the dirty work is done before the trick even begins. I had to change the handling on some parts to suit my needs because the original handling looked very unnatural. Overall a great trick. Definitely worth buying.
Optical Opener
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Devin Knight (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 17 February, 2018)
This is a great opener for any show. I will be using this to open my mentalism shows. I can see this getting a great reaction from the audience. Not just a gag but a real fooler.
Mind Control
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 27 May, 2016)
Although it is as old as dirt, there isn't a lot of literature on equivoque, an essential, but often poorly handled, mentalism technique. You have Max Maven's seminal work, Docc Hilford's "E'Voque," and this pamphlet, which is not bad, but incomplete. Mark Elsdon, who is more proficient in equivoque than just about anyone around, keeps promising an encyclopedic, definitive work, but so far, it hasn't turned up. If it were me, I'd get UK mentalist Stephen Long's download video "The Art of Equivoque." It's very short, but it's to the point, cheaper than "Mind Control," and Long is a good, humorous lecturer. My equivoque technique is tried-and-true, but he gave me some new subtleties. Check it out.
Heads, I Win. Tails, You Lose!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 26 May, 2016)
Okay, here's another variant on Max Maven's Positive/Negative. It follows the same presentation/techniques as the half-dozen other versions that I have (E + MO, for those in the know), but the reveal is different. And it's not bad. I like Scott Guinn's versions better, but this is an acceptable alternative. Interestingly, Rick Lax uses a similar method for one reveal in his "which hand" routine, Quarterly Report, and Penguin charges a lot more for it. At $5, this is a good purchase if you like Positive/Negative.
Overboard
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Joel Kaplan (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 12 November, 2014)
Excellent, clever routine. For 5 bucks, you can't go wrong. And it's for a good cause. Get it!
Joel K.
Bookworm: The Ultimate Impromptu Book Test Act
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ewen Wilson (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 12 September, 2014)
This book test is everything that David says it is in the advertisement. He has taken two separate book tests and very cleverly routined them to create a third. This is truly a blow away piece of mentalism when performed to lay people and would fool the vast majority of magicians also. The structuring is terrific and the test is suitable for private performances at a party in someone's house, on the radio or on stage or any stand up set. I tend to agree with David that it is strongest when performed impromptu I don't think there is a snowballs chance in hell of your participants or spectators being able to backtrack the method. I've performed the original two tests on many occasions over the years and when I read David's eBook it was one of those "Why didn't I think of that" moments! A fellow mentalist saw me performing this a couple of years ago and immediately bought it. To this day it is the only book test he is interested in performing.
The reason I'm posting this review is that a couple of days ago a young mentalist I am friendly with contacted me to say that he had performed one of the tests in this effect at a birthday party the night before to very strong effect. I decided to recommend Bookworm to him and I was just checking for any reviews that had been published since I purchased it a couple of years ago. I discovered that Jeff Stone had posted a very positive review on You Tube.I had one issue with Jeff's review he mentioned that there is a one time preparation that you have to do that would take a few hours. In my opinion this is completely inaccurate, it is a very short memorisation that Jeff is referring to that should take no more than five to fifteen minutes even for someone who has no knowledge of memory techniques.
At the price this an absolute cracker and I know for a fact that when I've performed it, it was talked about for sometime afterwards. I don't know David I've only ever been in contact with him once to leave feedback on how it played out in performance. I would highly recommend this book test.
Contact
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Phil Reda (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 11 September, 2014)
Very detailed as is all of Devlin's material that I have purchased. I realy like the overall effect and thinking behind the routine. He does not include a script just the workings of the effect. You will need a little something that is difficult to find. He does provide a source. If you elect not to purchase this little device he does give two alternative handlings - though not as strong as the original. After reading the manuscript it did get me thinking of other options as well as other methods. I would recommend for purchase
The Holy Dixie Cup
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Alex Silva
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 22 July, 2014)
bad quality, not recommend
Theta Waves
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Matteo Filippini (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 05 July, 2014)
Very clever idea!
And the two platform/stage routines included are just...brilliant!
I'm gonna use it for sure in my next platform show...
I'm sure that this clever concept can be expanded..
The Holy Dixie Cup
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ewen McLachlan (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 04 July, 2014)
The text implies a much more 'hands off' flow to this trick than is the case. In fact, it does require a sleight that you are likely to have to 'man up' to master. I have no objection to tricks based on such mechanics, but to my mind, that's not what the description suggested, albeit the reviews now do.
Which raises a different question - if you want to learn this trick but will have to learn a sleight to do it, is it worth your time to learn it? Possibly so, in fairness it is something you could also use quite organically to manipulate cards either for other tricks, or as a backup means of getting yourself out of a hole. Personally, however, there are other sleights I'd rather spend the time on.
The Holy Dixie Cup
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Larry Becker (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 03 July, 2014)
If you're familiar with my card effects you'll know I'll go to hell and back to simplify the working and eliminate any difficult sleight of hand. David's handling of the Holy Dixie Cup includes a card switch you SHOULD learn if you don't already know one. Man up and spend the time necessary to get it down pat. This is the first DH effect I've purchased and I'm glad that I did. Keep up the good work David. Warmest regards - Larry Becker
The Holy Dixie Cup
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by David Devlin
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 02 July, 2014)
Hi folks...Just to clarify...there is no "false deal". There is a switch that is similar to a "bottom deal"; however the sleight would never be used as a false deal as in a gambling routine, and especially in "fast company". Again, it is a very slick switch. Sorry for the misconception.
The Holy Dixie Cup
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Xavier Serra (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 02 July, 2014)
I am sorry to say that, opposite to the claim in the product description, there is a huge false deal. I think it is important for any potential buyer to know in order not to be mislead.
Theta Waves
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ronald Wood
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 20 June, 2014)
After reading the preview of this ebook earlier today, I looked up “8 Card Brainwave” as I couldn’t remember the handling! On revising the Nick Trost effect, I spent most of the day trying to work out how David Devlin could give the cards away as souvenirs at the finish! I could not work THAT part out!
Tonight I bought Theta Waves. It was only on buying it that I noticed it came with two presentations.
After reading the introduction, the basic effect and then the method, I stopped reading! I didn’t get to the presentations!
I was too busy getting 7 blue and 1 red card to practise!
This is a very workable routine that WILL be going into my act.
I finally read the presentations David also gives. Both are brilliant entertaining routines.
This is one of those effects that will have you smiling to yourself when you perform it.
Heads, I Win. Tails, You Lose!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Didier Dupré (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 08 June, 2014)
hello,
Simple and easy ... I find the style I like.
Nb: the cover is beautiful
Nice day.
7i7ier
Trapped
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Didier Dupré (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 08 June, 2014)
Hello,
Shame ...
I like your ideas ... and ... I have a feeling of deja view.
Good day
7i7ier
Hammer Smashed Aces
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Mark
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 03 May, 2014)
So I received this 16 page PDF file and read through it twice, once with cards in hand. This is my type of effect. Well written, logical and packs a punch. The effect itself is not difficult and the moves and sleights as performed by the creator are all described. Overall, this effect works and plays as described without embellishment of magi advertisement fluff. Some may elect to substitute some moves with their own , their preferred handling in some places. Not that it is needed , all is well written and described as performed. It just is a personal preference, at least for me. The effect does play out as described. The four cards can and should be signed, which immediately rules out duplicates or gaffs. Another plus is the routine has audience participation. There is a lot of magic throughout from the cards shuffled into the deck, a triumph type sequence, a transpo of a sandwiched card and the climax of having signed cards revealed in different locations. The deck can be borrowed. I like this effect.This is intermediate but not difficult.I think a video demo would be fantastic and assist with overall interest in his effect. Until that happens--- or not, I highly suggest you read through the effect once again, believe the truthful advertisement and then head over to Lybrary.com and purchase this. If this type of effect piques your interest, you will not be disappointed.
Recommended.
David Devlin does credit his inspiration for this effect.
Time Out
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Alfonso Bartolacci (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 11 December, 2013)
No please, there are tons of time forcing, sure and safety, and here we find the worse !!!!! Oh my God, but where this persons lives ????
Popcorn Routine
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Devin Knight
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 01 December, 2013)
I just watched this video and it was entertaining with bits from the Simpson's mixed in. Dave has taken Ramsey's Four Bean routine published in 1952 and updated it. I am very familiar with Ramsey's method. Ramsey had you putting beans into your ears and eyes and spitting them out of your mouth. Dave has changed this a bit and has you putting popcorn kernels into your nose and one of them comes out of your eye during the routine. If you like GEEK magic, this is sure to freak out your audience. Although, there is nothing original in the methods, the video is worthwhile if you are into this kind of magic.
Eddie Joseph put in print probably the most detailed information on putting stuff into your eyes and removing it, but the printed description was hard to understand. On the video Dave gives you details, actually showing how to put the popcorn into your eye. This was very informative. He also gives you invaluable tips to avoid red and watery eyes.
As he points out in his video, you can do the whole routine or parts of it. His video comes out at the right time. On one of Criss Angels recent episodes of Believe, he does the bit where a popcorn kernel comes out of his eye. Magicians have complained that the stuff that Angel does on TV can't be done in real life (well, most of it). Here is an exception. Get Dave's video and when people comment about the Criss Angel Popcorn trick. You can do it for them.
If you have any interest in inserting stuff into your eyes for later removal then this video is a must have. Frankly, I am not into geek magic and would never do this, it is not my style, but for those who want to do this, you will find this video invaluable.
I now have a better understanding of how the eye trick works. Trying to follow Joseph's directions is something I would never have done. After seeing Dave show how it is done, I may someday try this.
Once you learn the technique you can do the thread from eye as done by both Blaine and Angel.
For those into this kind of stuff, then I recommend this.
Mind Control
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Phil Reda (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 19 December, 2012)
Good But! Overall this is a good booklet - but for the price I was a little disappointed. There are some good points but the explanations are a little light in substance and the author tends to contradict himself. I am glad to have it on my shelf but you definately need other resources and that is the rub - there is very little information - I would recommend Max Maven's "Voice Control". This would have been a great book at half the price. Also the watch routine is good but you need to have a gimmick watch that is no longer available. But he does use the routine as an example of the magician's force. If you like the routine it can be duplicated with other methods.
The Mark of Abigail
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Carlos Visa Vidal (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 03 October, 2012)
For me, a little disappointing. I really bought the ebook cause I thought I will see some pics and drawings of the cards, etc.
The secret was what I though, so.. for me not a good thing to buy.
Maxi Twisto ReTwisted
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Aaro Sorva (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 10 February, 2012)
First, sorry my bad english. I've to say, this is really good packet trick. Only five cards used and this is really stunning. Also this is really easy to learn, so I highly recommend this to everyone. Resets easily when casually showing the cards and when you put the packet away. Aaro Sorva