Reviews: Read What Others Are Saying: page 7
206 ★★★★★ reviews
144 ★★★★★ reviews
87 ★★★★★ reviews
132 ★★★★★ reviews
Blindsight: the original
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Larry Ekin (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 05 November, 2024)
This is one of those routines that requires a certain boldness and, until you do it a few times, you wonder if it can be pulled off with its wonderful simplicity. You quickly learn that Devin Knight understands that people make assumptions about certain everyday objects that allow your methodology to fly right under their radar. It is fun to perform and easily lends itself to transition into other effects with related themes -- colors, for example.
Understanding and Using Gilbreath Principle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Larry Ekin (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 05 November, 2024)
Well-written, succinct, and focused. Highly recommended.
Balloon Detective
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by James Gadbois (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 03 November, 2024)
This is an excellent routine. It really adds something to a magic show and it eats a lot of time, which can be very helpful for those annoyingly long 2-3 hour gigs we might sometimes find ourselves questioning whether or not to accept. This routine can turn the much beloved and highly profitable skill of simple balloon animal making into a GENUINE MAGIC TRICK, instead of... Well, instead of just being balloon twisting.
If you're a magician thinking about getting into balloons, you can't go wrong with this one.
Be warned however, once you start twisting balloons your show is basically over and you will be twisting balloons for the next 30 minutes or so until all the kids who want one get one.
Trust me, done strategically, this is a GOOD thing!
John Mendoza Lecture: 1982 in United Kingdom
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Don Shabert (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 31 October, 2024)
Good teaching but video was sub quality.
Comedy Coin Prediction
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Joe Libby (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 28 October, 2024)
This is a fun close-up prediction effect that should get a good laugh. It's based on an old math trick that Devin has brought up to date. Virtually everyone on Earth has a mobile device with a calculator app, so you can do this at the drop of a hat. You will need a penny that is cut in half; in the ebook, Devin explains how to make it. Once you have that and have the simple math steps memorized, you'll be ready to entertain!
Auto-Spell Deck
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Joe Libby (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 28 October, 2024)
This ebook is about a really good effect that is easy to make up and perform. Perform this as a magic trick or as an unusual mental effect. You cannot use the deck for any other tricks, but you could always do a deck switch. It's also not really good for strolling performances because of the reset, but it's ideal for formal close-up and stand-up shows. Recommended.
Theory of Sequential Decks
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 26 October, 2024)
This is very technical writing about kinds of sequences for set-up decks, but given the price I don't see why a cardman wouldn't get it and look it over in case something strikes his fancy. I am a card enthusiast and have tried many systems in my time, and I can see going through this a few times more. Why not? I might learn something. Personally I avoid using true memory although I did the cover art for a number of memorized deck systems, but favor the Bart Harding stack which is a calculation and not a memorization, but I try to keep an open mind about the field. This book explores a number of approaches. Just a false shuffle or false cut and you are a miracle worker. If you do true memory work, you can really even spread the deck face up. I also know a few mnemonic stacks that can be spread face up and don't seem to be in any order, but are. Have fun going through this.
Just Coins!
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 26 October, 2024)
Mr. Malinchock put a great deal of thought into this book. There are also video links provided so you can watch the routines being done, as well as read them. I recommend it highly to any coin lover. His handlings are enough off-beat as to keep your interest even if you are well versed in coin magic. I was a working pro and am now a writer and illustrator about magic, and also a hobbyist. I don't understand the price or lack thereof, but there it is.
The Words I Can Draw
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Alton Knight (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 18 October, 2024)
I love the premise of the effect. The only thing missing from the manuscript is an explanation on how to easily reset the stack without having to essentially recreate the original set up described in the written instructions.
Classic Secrets of Magic
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Amado Narvaez (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 18 October, 2024)
The classics are classics for a reason!
Abbott Magic Catalog #13 1952
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Amado Narvaez (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 18 October, 2024)
A great nostalgic trip into my magic past.
Ear Marked
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Michael Critchley (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 16 October, 2024)
Some very strong and unusual effects in this publication. I have a deep fascination and love for self working magic, self working and semi automatic card magic and mathematical principles. I am a huge enthusiast of Werner Miller's work, whom I first discovered through the excellent Colombini magic videos available on lybrary showcasing the incredible self working magic of Werner Miller.
I am now collecting all the Werner Miller publications which are all excellent. This one though has a lot of material and is jam packed with strong and unusual effects which you can easily add your own spin to and create your own embellishments and presentations.
TCF: The Counting Feint
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by John Searles (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 15 October, 2024)
This is the best $10 I ever spent! Just get it.
Estimation: a visual deep dive
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Mach (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 14 October, 2024)
Some very good advice and some interesting handlings, in the first 15 pages. I'm also glad he mentioned the pinky c...t as an alternative technique for a small number of cards. But after that, I found nothing interesting for me, and I think the paragraph on the three-way f...g deck is out of topic. This PDF does not say much about the methods to use if the estimate is not completely accurate. For that, read what Simon Aronson or Michael Close wrote on the estimation. Overall, good complement to other writings on the subject of estimation.
Jinx
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Rick Sandberg (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 09 October, 2024)
Excellent! Best deal in magic too! As a skilled amateur, I appreciate delving into some of the history and best effects Jinx records, I appreciate the encouragement to take the information, innovate and deliver unique magic with excellence.
Propless Name and Place in 45 Seconds
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Mark Millen (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 08 October, 2024)
Too contrived for my taste. Too much process. If you know Turner’s “Guess Who”, it’s along the same lines with a whole lot more process as well as reading a bank of names for spec to choose from. Not my cup of tea.
Dye Tube Masterclass
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Edwards Melvyn (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 08 October, 2024)
I have played with the dye tube for many years. This man knows his stuff. His handling is very different from the traditional handling
and much more practical. The explanations are very concise. A couple of close-ups would have helped. But you can get the basic concept from his great explanations. A great buy and it is a master class from a guy who knows and has worked out great methods.
Propless Name and Place in 45 Seconds
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ken Archer (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 07 October, 2024)
This was a joy to perform. I did this on my team mates (helping on my thesis) right after I read the pdf and it went very well. I'm a fan of propless effects (read quite a bit of Peter Turner, Phedon Bilek, Fraser Parker etc) and this one is very different - direct, short and automatic and easy to perform - a rare combo in propless effects. The premise of the participants creating an imaginary name and an imaginary place for an imaginary person is quite engaging and powerful. I plan to add some bits of my own script to personalize it, of course. This is a "quick hard punch" like effect for anytime use at a great price. This will now be in my go to propless toolbox.
Masq Stack
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Bob Max (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 07 October, 2024)
A very interesting and clever concept. It took me just a few minutes to get the stack and then it was a breeze to do the magic square effect. I think I will perform all my Si Stebbins routines using Masq from now on - this is far more random than SS. Also, now I am always ready to do magic square routine. Good buy for the price
Colorful Card Creation
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Bob Max (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 07 October, 2024)
A visual and colorful effect that can fit in any close-up set. The setup is very clever. Add a nice story to make the dealing interesting and a bit of practice. I already had the required card cases. Good buy for the price.
Swami Theory 101
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Ken Archer (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 07 October, 2024)
This is a good primer for beginners on the Swami. A lot of essential ground is covered with a wide range of useful inputs. Of course, success with the Swami can come only with sustained practice. My only minor quibble here is the accompanying 38-page PDF has almost 15 pages of ads not related to Swami.
Secrets of a Psychic Reader
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Karen King (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 07 October, 2024)
This was an interesting read. Somewhat like a fictional novel. I read it in about a couple of hours. But that's it. As a student of the esoteric arts, the core learning for me was not much. A little gem here and there. More interesting than it was informative. Nothing in terms of actual tools of the trade. And a lot of general advice. The list of books for further reading at the end of the manuscript is a good one. I find Richard Webster to be a far better resource.
The Grow Devils Principle
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Erik Corbett (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 06 October, 2024)
The two other reviews seem to be helping to hype this work. Read the description again. It says you will be able to whittle down choices from a list of potentially 100 items. Do you think it's that easy? It takes memory work to accomplish and if you hate anagrams, you're really going to dislike this.
I like the principle. Use it myself for an effect to garner an important piece of info that will help me generate much more content in the work I do. So, for me, I find it useful. You could go all lame mentalist and pull a long list out of your pocket or utilize your phone and have your audience wondering why you need a crib sheet to mind read....or how ever you are using this material.
I gave it three stars for the fact that half the people who buy this will hate it, find it a waste of money, and not use it due to ignorance and laziness. Others that can see its potential, most likely will not use any of the routines and just start applying it to their own ideas.
It says the work is already done for you to use it right away.....and it is. So pull out that crib sheet Mr. Super mind reader.
Propless Name and Place in 45 Seconds
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by hal barlow (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 05 October, 2024)
This is not really like advertised. It uses a very contrived process that is nothing I would use. Not worth the money. The only deceptive thing about it is the way it's advertised.
Faro Concepts
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Zach Connolly (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 30 September, 2024)
I've been into faro work for years, and I don't know where this has been all my life. This is an absolute gold mine of information for anyone interested in the behavior of faro shuffles and the math behind them. Faro shuffles can get very complicated. But if you have the patience, Bonfeld manages to walk you through everything in a digestible way. Some pretty neat effects are included, but the tools he gives you in this book are priceless for someone interested in developing your own effects with faro work.