reviewed by Angela X (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 13 October, 2018)
The genius thinking behind the Optik Deck is a game changer. Like in most of his works this author once again demonstrates the enormous power of simplicity without ever losing out on impact. Very fresh and very out of the box. I find the picture cards as easy to learn as the number cards. In fact, I got the whole deck down in under 15 minutes. Got to use this on over a dozen occasions so far and I'm very comfortable using this. A good false cut and false shuffle is all you need to round off your routines. Usually at the beginning of a routine, after a false shuffle and cut, I ribbon spread the deck and keep it that way for a minute or so while I complete my intro patter. No one so far has caught up on the stack, though. I'm not a heavy stack user, just a couple tricks per show. Actually the process of learning the Optik deck was very enjoyable. And the variations suggested are worth exploring. I like this.
On a side note, I found the Sloka Deck also very useful and quite easy to learn, although completely different principle.
reviewed by Dan Beach
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 07 October, 2018)
(I don't own the book; the rating is for the trick) Don't let the age of a trick keep you from making it your own, and doing it in a fresh new way. I think it is remarkable someone wrote a book about this old standby. I actually opened a show with this one, in a retirement center. My take on it was, after I had my volunteer do all the math, (first of all, do whatever you need to do to avoid using the phrase "three-digit number" as you start introducing the trick) I pretend to fail to be able to reveal the number by myself, after some effort. So I get more volunteers who draw "random" cards from a "shuffled" deck. They don't even look at the cards, they're just holding them. (If they don't know the value of the cards, how could the magician?) Then yet another volunteer with another pad writes the numerical value of each of the cards as they are read off, then they turn their pad around, to show their number; the first volunteer turns their pad around, and bingo-bango the numbers match! To my delight, this got attention! I never read this or anything, but it sure worked. I don't know if this is in the book or not, but you are more than welcome to it if you can use it.
reviewed by David Burmeister (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 07 October, 2018)
This is another GREAT and unusual effect from the UNKNOWN MENTALIST. I have already printed up a couple of copies of this effect myself and also a couple of GYAN charts out of the EBOOK for myself.
My opinion is I'm going to go with what I say is a bit BIZARRE and use the following effects and watch the spectators eyes pop out.
1) ADVANCED BRAIN KNEWMEROLOGY
2) KALENDAR CLAIRVOYANCE (ROMAN ENIGMA)
3) REINCARNATION
If I'm doing this for more than one person:
4) HAPPY BIRTHDAY STRANGER
IF I'M DOING THESE EFFECTS ONE ON ONE:
5) THE 59 SECOND BIRTHDAY DIVINATION
If the spectators don't believe I can walk on water after that I give up.
I recommend REINCARNATION and these other effects very highly.
Well done (AMAZING) UNKNOWN MENTALIST
reviewed by Chris Aguilar (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 04 October, 2018)
Within a day or two of reading (and practicing with the including testing webpage) this "Math Challenged" guy is able to quick generate the magic squares in less than a minute. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn a very easy, effective way of creating 4x4 magic squares.
reviewed by James Perry (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 21 September, 2018)
Love this trick! It is wonderful to take long forgotten effects and perform them for those who have never seen them. You will have a one of a kind show just by adding tricks like this to it. No one will ever guess how the heck you make the coin too hot to hold.
reviewed by James Perry
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 21 September, 2018)
I own the hardcopy of this book. I bought it when I was a kid in the 80's, and it is my favorite illusion book of all time. Just looking at the easy to make illusions let me dream of the Copperfield type show I could someday put on. The best illusion book for any beginner in magic you will find.
reviewed by Fred Rosenbaum (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 13 September, 2018)
This is a cute little effect, definitely close up, probably 1 on 1 is best. It will take some arts and crafts, finding the right pen and finding the correct 'thing' to use in the construction. But once it is made it should last a long time. You can't write with the pen and you can't hand it out. My guess is that very few people will actually do the work to construct it, but you really should. And you can't beat the price so check it out.
reviewed by David Burmeister (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 02 September, 2018)
This is an effect that I mentioned in an email to THE UNKNOWN MENTALIST that I wasn't particularly fond of because of the methodology.
HOWEVER, after buying the eBook and receiving the cards in the mail and seeing THE UNKNOWN MENTALIST'S thoughts behind this all I can say is I WAS WRONG.
I haven't really tried this effect yet but the spectator thinking that you thought of the card he selected AND the word will drive them crazy.
THE UNKNOWN MENTALIST'S thinking on this effect is SUPERB along with the price right now.
You owe it to yourself to get this GREAT, SIMPLE EFFECT, and try it on the spectator and see their reaction.
I suggest using THE UNKNOWN MENTALIST'S handling of this effect where he writes something down instead of using a playing card for the prediction. I also suggest using performance tip number 3 in the eBook.
I recommend this very highly for the spectator's surprise for the card and word reveal.
Well done UNKNOWN MENTALIST
reviewed by David Burmeister (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 02 September, 2018)
This is another GREAT effect by THE UNKNOWN MENTALIST. You can definitely divine any birthdate with this effect. You can use the prompter on the card to get the birthdate but I prefer memorizing the information and hardly ever touching the card. I think it was Lee Earle who said in one of his SYZYGY volumes said that a prompter list is fine but memorization is better! It is because the mentalist doesn't have to hardly touch the card and still have all the information needed. I thought about putting the card in a small Manilla envelope and taking it out and handing it to the spectator and leaving the envelope near the spectator and stepping back away from them. Then after I get the information I need have the spectator place the card back in the envelope and hand it to me. Then I immediately place the envelope away and then reveal all the information back to them.
By the way here's a tip for you. If you place any of the cards in a baseball protector sleeve, (clear acrylic plastic sleeve) the card will last longer, the only thing it may make the card a bit bigger because of the sleeve and then won't fit in your wallet but you can still place it in your pocket or small case etc.
In my opinion this is another winner from THE AMAZING UNKNOWN MENTALIST along with HAPPY BIRTHDAY STRANGER, SIGNATURE and STAR SIGNATURE.
I give this my highest recommendation. Well done UNKNOWN MENTALIST.
reviewed by Enrico Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 31 August, 2018)
The cover of ‘Janus’ alludes to a hidden message: a lesser-used method/principle in card magic. This two-faced gaff acts as a portal, forwards and backwards, to create a direct pathway between method and effect. The 10 routines featured in these 35 pages are simple to perform, yet they pack a punch on entertainment value – this should appeal to the bold-faced strolling magician.
I boldly predict that Kevin Casaretto’s broad body of work on the use of these dubious faces, should receive far more attention through the authorship of Paul Lelekis (with 52 ebooks to his writing credit). I enjoyed the various applications of these tools, especially ‘Magazine Mental Test’, ‘Five Colour Twist’ and ‘Signed, Sealed & Delivered.’
Do buy this book, and ‘ring in the fooler’. I back up this book with a very high recommendation.
reviewed by Greg Phillips (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 30 August, 2018)
Nothing new in this publication. He mentions "plastic" to make the brims but is more likely speaking of thin foam. Save you $5.
reviewed by Larry Brodahl (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 26 August, 2018)
This thing does EXACTLY what it promises. Nice corners with no fuss or muss. I actually had a Svengali deck that had simply been cut without any corner rounding - which meant it was basically useless. 10 minutes later, I have a usable Svengali.
reviewed by Roy Eidem
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 25 August, 2018)If you have never used double back or double face cards before you are truly missing out on some truly magical affects. The diabolical concept of these gaffed cards is something that is not in the psychological realm of laymen. They have nowhere to go. The resulting magic visual & stunning. These "little helpers" streamline and elevate the magical impact well beyond that which even advanced, difficult sleight-of-hand can accomplish. There are some great routines here once you try, you will smile and use.
reviewed by Christopher Weber
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 24 August, 2018)JANUS: The Magic of Kevin Casaretto compiled and written by Paul A. Lelekis is a very welcome addition to the card magicians’ library. All the effects require the use of gimmicked cards that I’m sure most card magicians already have or can easily acquire. These brilliant effects are well written and have really no very complicated moves. They are streamlined and straightforward and they will have maximum impact on your spectators. I really enjoyed working through these effects. They proved to me that with the use of just a few gimmicked cards it can really kick up the overall effect to a whole new level of Wow Factor for your audience. Well worth the effort of having just a few extra cards on hand! I learned some fun new handlings along the way particularly in the effects JANUS, Magazine Mental Test, Turn Over Cards and Card to Wallet. The 2-Card Monte move is awesome; you’ll be fooling yourself in no time. Overall, these are real workers effects that again are not complicated or confusing. The book includes two videos by Paul Lelekis to help you learn two of the moves. Kevin Casaretto has offered effects that are fun to perform and amazing to your audience. I think you’ll find JANUS to be refreshing and well worth finding a few of those cool little gimmick cards. You’ll be happy you did!
reviewed by Rick Carruth
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 24 August, 2018)Janus is the card magic of Kevin Casaretto of Salisbury, South Australia ... as told by Paul Lelekis. Kevin compiled this exceptional collection of original effects through years of hard work and recently contacted Paul with the enviable task of putting everything together into an ebook. There are a total of ten effects and all effects use a simple combination of gaff cards.
Nothing other than double backers, double facers, and red/blue backed cards are used. Nothing is used that you could not create in a minute or two with regular cards and a roll of double backed tape or rub on and/or white children's glue. Of course, you can buy gaffs at most magic shops and online ... and they are very affordable.
I truly appreciate all the time, thought, and effort that went into JANUS ... and I thank Kevin and Paul for their efforts. Well worth your time and money.
reviewed by Paul Lelekis
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 24 August, 2018)
I have known Roy for quite a while and his coin magic is exquisite! When he came to my house a few months ago, there was non-stop magic! I was fooled over and over again! Not only will you learn beautiful moves and routines - but also HOW to execute them flawlessly. Roy Eidem makes coin magic very easy to learn. In my many years of performing, I always noticed the big smiles that coin magic puts on everyone's faces...but when Roy Eidem performs his brand of coin magic, he makes everyone's' jaws DROP! Coin magic should be in every magician's repertoire, and Roy Eidem is the man to learn from. Roy Eidem is THE 21st Century coin magician's, coin magician!
reviewed by Dave Campbell (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 17 August, 2018)
This is a nice packet trick in the theme of Dazzle all that followed.
It's fun that the original is as it was in all it's 1970's glory. Ahead of the original there is material including screenshots elaborating on one of the moves used. I was able to quickly make up packets for this from my various open decks, and after a couple tries, it moves quite nicely.
Definitely worth the price!
reviewed by Ewen McLachlan (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 16 August, 2018)
I agree with Trevor Fletcher's review. The statement 'The cards are then cut by the spectator and shuffled' is a stretch beyond the limit of how it actually appears. Not worth it.
reviewed by trevor fletcher (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 15 August, 2018)I rarely write a bad review. That being said, this is an awful "prediction" and left such a bad taste in my mouth I had to say something.
It's too convoluted for such little reward.
All these "cuts" and counts for a very "blah" ending.
With all the other available packet style tricks out there, this one is just too forgettable.
reviewed by Jean-Paul Mercier (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 25 July, 2018)
I just paid $7.50 US for this.... Sad !