Reviews: Read What Brad Smithart Is Saying
10 ★★★★★ reviews
5 ★★★★★ reviews
2 ★★★★★ reviews
Abraca-Poof April 2019
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 30 December, 2024)
My favorite article in this issue is on the use of sponsors to fund your magic shows. Although I've been involved in working with sponsors for multiple non-profits, I've never thought about applying the same approach to magic. The other articles were interesting as well.
Abraca-Poof April 2018
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 30 December, 2024)
As usual, the author provides useful, real-life advice for working magicians. Most of the articles in this issue center around building or destroying your reputation.
Fundamental Techniques
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 30 December, 2024)
It's Roberto Giobbi, the modern standard for instruction in card handling, providing 30 minutes of video teaching, and it's free on Lybrary.
What else do you need to know to give this five stars?
4 Most
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 30 December, 2024)
This short book provides four fun effects, three of which are basically self-working, and one that requires an intermediate level sleight.
The author provides the simplest handling and presentation required, but each trick could form the basis for a more elaborate routine.
Low Vision Marking System
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 30 December, 2024)
Don't let the title fool you; this is far more than just a system for those with limited vision. It provides several options for a coded marking system for a standard Bicycle Rider deck. The basic pattern provided allows marking more than just value and suit, with additional markings for one-way, and position and sequences for stacked decks.
At a basic level, the system proposed by the author substitutes some (simple) math for improved visibility of the marks. Of course, it won't be long before identifying the marks will become automatic and the math will become unnecessary.
Although you might be familiar with some of the approaches, it's likely that you will find some things that could spark your own marking system.
I would recommend it to anyone who wants ideas for creating a marked Bicycle deck (though it could even help with ideas for other decks).
Victory Cartons
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 13 December, 2024)
Unfortunately, this minimal ebook doesn't add anything to all of the other easily available literature on this classic effect.
Exhale
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 13 December, 2024)
Exhale is a shuffle force using a gimmicked card. It is designed to allow locating the force card by both touch and sight.
The product includes directions for building the gimmick, as well as handlings for various situations. It then follows up with some example performance uses.
Limitless: more than 50 effects using the Romero Box
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 13 December, 2024)
I was not familiar with the Romero Box before reading this book, but it is built on several familiar principles.
The gimmick no longer appears on any of the online magic stores I checked, but is apparently still available from the creator's official site.
It is not inexpensive, but I suspect it would be difficult to build at home because of some of the mechanics involved, so the price might be justified.
The Romero Box has some clever features that allow for a variety of effects.
The book itself is filled with a large number of excellent tricks, many of which could be adapted to other methods, so it is a worthwhile read even for those who don't own the gimmick.
Si-Step
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 12 December, 2024)
This is my first attempt at working with a stacked deck. It's something I've avoided since I've been concerned with the memorization and/or mental math required. I believe the approach advocated in Si-Step will be a good place for me to start, since it provides a lot of techniques to limit both of those requirements. And using a standard stack like the Si Stebbins stack means I should be able to leverage a lot of the existing resources available.
(I appreciated the diagram showing the full deck in order, which made it easy to set up the deck the first time.)
Abraca-Poof November 2016
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 11 December, 2024)
This issue contains another nice collection of mostly business-oriented advice. The article on invoicing for donated performances was particularly interesting.
Suzy the Psychic Fish
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 11 December, 2024)
This is a VERY short routine which is dependent on a hard-to-find commercial product.
I assume this is for a very limited audience, even as a free product.
Magic Roadshow Special Issue #6
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 11 December, 2024)
This newsletter contains instruction for a number of professional tricks, links to Youtube tutorials and performances, and reviews of a variety of commercial/for-sale tricks.
The reviews are well-written and I found them helpful in determining my potential interest in these purchases.
I highly recommend it.
Scripted #25: Hofzinser Card
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 11 December, 2024)
I wasn't familiar with this effect, but the author does a good job of explaining it, critiquing the normal handling, and providing a routine -- with detailed patter -- to overcome the limitations.
I definitely want to play with this idea.
Abraca-Poof October 2016
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 11 December, 2024)
This issue is jam-packed with useful information. I particularly like the short routine called "Bar Code."
The running theme through most of the articles is on elements that separate professional magicians from amateurs.
The Double Issue 2
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 11 December, 2024)
The highlight of this newsletter is a short interview with Peter Duffie, but it also includes instructions for a couple of small effects, and a few other tidbits.
Dice Stacking Without A Cup
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 11 December, 2024)
This download provides a short description for constructing a card trick that incorporates a stack of dice (or a dice trick that incorporates a card selection). It doesn't have much to do with traditional dice stacking.
It's an interesting idea, but the document is poorly edited making it harder to follow.
This isn't yet a fully developed effect, but it is a good seed for one.
Deckology: Mystic Deck
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 08 December, 2024)
I don't do much mentalism or occult-themed magic, so I wasn't sure if this short book would be of interest to me, but after reading the other two volumes in this series, I decided to give it a try.
I'm glad I did since I found a lot of usable material. As with the other two books, the author relates elements of a standard card deck to other elements (in this case, primarily spiritually or mystically themed). It provides potential patter ideas for anyone doing card tricks.
Deckology Volume 2: Biologic Deck
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 08 December, 2024)
I'm reading these three volumes from the Unknown Mentalist in backwards order, which probably influenced my perceptions.
As in volume 3, the author provides explanations for the various card values, Ace through King -- this time in terms related to the human body.
I definitely prefer the material in this volume over volume 3. It should be usable in a variety of performance styles.
Deckology Volume 3: Comic Deck
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 08 December, 2024)
I wasn't sure if this would match my style, but there is a nice mix of entertaining bits of humor in this collection.
I especially liked the introductions to the various card values in a deck.
(About half of the document is essentially a catalog of products by the author, which is not surprising for a free promotional product.)
A Proven Junior Magician's Curriculum
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 08 December, 2024)
I **love** this small curriculum. It literally has everything you need you teach an entire introductory class for children.
It is not only focused on the magic but also on building confidence and social skills.
The use of the plastic cups from the "cups and balls" included in virtually every children's magic kit to represent each level of achievement (similar to the use of various colors of belts in martial arts) is genius. As the students earn each cup, they also learn new tricks they can do with one, two, then finally three cups.
Each trick is taught through an accompanying video, and several printable props are also include. I haven't been through all of the videos yet, but they seem well-made. These are clearly intended as examples, and it would be preferable for the teacher to teach the tricks live, when possible.
Five stars is not enough; this is an invaluable resource for anyone who is interested in teaching a beginner course in magic.
Abraca-Poof February 2020
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 08 December, 2024)
This issue of Abraca-Poof contains articles on marketing and reputation, as well as taking care of magic props. There is nothing startling or new, but it provides good reminders for things that we might be tempted to forget -- things that can separate amateurs from professionals.
Definitely worth a read.
Abraca-Poof August 2020
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 07 December, 2024)
In this issue, Brian provides some tips for pre-/post-show sales of small tricks.
Curiously enough, he also revisits some topics from older issues, including recovering from performance mistake, and backing up information (including patter) for tricks that might not be frequently performed.
The primary tip from the article on patter is: do not underestimate the patter that often comes with purchased tricks, as they are occasionally unexpected gold mines.
Abraca-Poof August 2019
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 07 December, 2024)
My favorite article from this issue is on recovering from mistakes during a performance. It included some good tips and one-liners.
Another good article was on the role of assistants in magic.
Abraca-Poof April 2020
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 07 December, 2024)
My favorite articles in this issue were on:
"Backing up" your magic so that you can revisit how to do tricks you might not have done for a while.
The necessity (and possibilities) of performing magic while working within your physical limitations.
Counts with Jumbo Cards
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 07 December, 2024)
I haven't had a chance to practice these moves yet, but they seem like a practical approach. I want to see how well they work with regular-size cards as well.
I suspect using these methods as a casual display (rather than as a strict count) will be very effective.
The explanations and the illustrations are excellent, and the included video is a nice bonus.
100 Card Trick One-Liner Jokes
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 07 December, 2024)
None of these short jokes are groaners, and a few of them will be usable when I'm performing.
Hints and Tips
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 04 December, 2024)
None of the tips included are earth-shattering, but I suspect that most people will find at least one or two ideas in this short collection. The tips cover a variety of topics, including improvements to specific effects and storage/transport of equipment.
Scripted #4: The 21 Card Trick
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 02 December, 2024)
This is the first of the "Scripted" e-pamphlets I've read. The patter is humorous, and the inventive plot does a great job of disguising the simplicity of this standard trick. I will definitely incorporate some of these ideas in a performance.
I look forward to reading the other issues of "Scripted."
Ancient Rings Mystique
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 02 December, 2024)
This is an interesting philosophical and psychological take on this classic trick. Unfortunately, it is only a teaser for the actual content. It would have been nice to see at least one example handling.
Counting Terminology
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Brad Smithart (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 01 December, 2024)
This is a very short video, but it explains something that I've never seen clearly explained anywhere else. I'm not sure it's worth the price, but I don't regret my purchase since it answered my questions.