reviewed by Julie Ann Johnson
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 11 February, 2019)
This little book on pitching has been gold to many people, and still can be, for those who want to do the work. I have used Stan's ideas, and will continue to do so. For those who say it is "old-fashioned," I say, just try it at historical themed venues, and keep it light and breezy. It works. Everyone wants their horoscope on a warn summer day.
reviewed by Brian Smedley
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 01 February, 2019)
Great content!! Check out my video review of Kevin Casaretto book on my YouTube channel Magic, Ventriloquism and more.
Brian Smedley/Myriad Creative Entertainment.
reviewed by Albert Lucio (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 31 January, 2019)
The description for this trick is more clever than the method. When reading the description my head swirled with solutions. This was based on a "subtle principle"! it has to be interesting. So I contemplated it's construction. Will it be reminiscent of a Martin Gardner or Bob Hummer effect with the spectators placing and moving coins around the triangle in a procedural way? Will it have a cunning logic puzzle solution to discern the coin and colored spots like the truth/liar puzzle? Will this rely on a certain placement or revelation of information that the spectator unknowingly provides to the performer? Maybe an interesting force? Hmmm...What was the "subtle principle"? I was curious. As a collector of methods, I paid the meager $4 to test my solutions (solutions that ruled out rudimentary approaches like a confederate) and learn something new.
First off this is short document. Eliminate the cover and the triangle page and you have a one page trick. That's fine. There are some very clever tricks that only need one page to provide adequate instruction. The instructions are pretty clear. It is bare bones. No patter or script, just description. The "method" itself is quite sparse with no tips to help in execution.
The cost is... well... $4. It is not costly but given the method it is expensive enough to be annoying.
So what is the method? Like it reads it's a "subtle principle". So we have to examine that phrase. First, it's not a new principle, or even a clever principle. In fact, it's not technically a "principle." That would indicate that it relies on a system. It doesn't. As for the word "subtle," it would be correct to describe a requirement of the method to make the trick work. But their lies the problem... the method. It is both glaring and uninteresting. It is the flaw in the design of the trick, a design that doesn't feel thought out. A flaw that tries to hide behind the use of the triangle, which is unnecessary to the "subtle principle."
The most unfortunate part of the product is that if the creator had created a new principle or had applied an old principle in a clever way that it spurred new possibilities then this would be a better product. But neither happens. In the end it is a flimsy Cracker Jack box trick disguised with clever ad copy.
reviewed by Dave Arch (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 07 January, 2019)
The bump created by this ingenious device is truly invisible to my eyes and yet easily felt by my fingertip. Thank you, Chris, for providing a device in which I can place much confidence that my audience will not discover the secret no matter how much they handle the deck.
reviewed by Murshid Islam (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 06 January, 2019)This download is a 90-second video, only 38 seconds of which is the actual explanation. I think potential buyers should know this even though it is a good double turnover.
reviewed by Phil Reda (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Saturday 05 January, 2019)What’s Old Is New
If you are looking to perform something new then look to the past. This a treasure trove of long forgotten principles and effects. Yes there are things in here you will probably never do but as pointed out in the introduction study the principle behind the effect and see if you can apply it. It is also fun to see some of the old effects from the past. Some of the old illusions would be great for someone who does haunted house attractions during Halloween. For the low price there are several Items that are worth the price alone. I put off for several years purchasing this publication, that was a mistake.
reviewed by Rick Carruth
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 03 January, 2019)Like many of Paul's ebooks, this one contains a great cross section of effects. There is something for everyone. All effects are explained in great detail, as Paul walks you through the methods and performances with understanding and thoughtfulness. The Muscle Pass video alone is worth the cost. When Paul says you can learn it in seconds, he's on the up and up. I will be recommending 'Even More of My Favorites' to all my friends and readers. Good stuff...
reviewed by Christopher Weber
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 31 December, 2018)Even More of My Favorites by Paul Lelekis opened a new door for me. I had given up on the Muscle Pass, then Paul's version came along and the next thing you know, I was doing a Muscle Pass!! Hooray!" You'll love this Bonus effect. Worth the price of the book right there! The book contains some nice well thought out routines that really work well. I particularly enjoyed the non-card effects like Doubble Bubble Trubble and the Torn & Restored Boo-Boo. Two cool torn and restored effects that are perfect for a kiddy shows or just fun to perform anywhere for anyone. Lots of opportunity for some great laughs and audience interaction. Another non-card I totally enjoyed is the Impromptu Pellet ESP. A Mental Epic routine that's just perfect for informal situations. Little or no real preparation and it will play really big! Another one that's great for table hopping and can easily open the door to some fun audience interaction and presentational ideas. Paul's advice and performance tips on Impromptu ESP are a welcome addition to this book. Solid advice on gathering information that will aid you in making for a smooth ESP effect performance that will keep it casual and relaxed. World Class recommendations here, a wonderful reference!
reviewed by Robert Farmer
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 30 December, 2018)The chapter on gaffed decks is worth the price of the book.
reviewed by J.A. Murphy (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 19 December, 2018)Being a Racherbaumer publication, I suppose I should have expected all of the routines to involve cards, but being familiar with some of the wonderful non-card versions of this principle, I was hoping for more. A quick scan reveals one routine using business cards, the rest using playing cards. I'll probably eventually read them all, but it would have been nice to be forewarned that it's all cards.
reviewed by Alan Meyers (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 07 December, 2018)This is, as I suspected before buying it, a reworking of Bob Hummer's trick "Little Stranger." Devin Knight has recently published his own version of Little Stranger. It's an interesting mathematical trick in both De Courcy's version and Knight's, but I prefer De Courcy's because it provides an excuse for a necessary but somewhat prolonged looking through the deck at one point in the trick, and because it has a better climax.
reviewed by Brett McCarron
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 26 November, 2018)Partial review by John Braun
Sensational Effects (Nelson)
"Bob Nelson knows how to impress the spectators with the fact that mental telepathy is a fact, and he explains exactly how to do it. In these effects he shows you how to MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE exactly what you wish them to believe, and the impact of the tests and experiments is terrific.
"Invaluable to all who do, or aspire to do, this type of work, for it is a digest of the knowledge gathered over a period of many years by a specialist in this field. Recommended."
See full review in the March 1958 "Linking Ring".
reviewed by Jean-Marie Beckers (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 25 November, 2018)Very highly recommended. Crystal clear explanation, help for easy memorization of the principle and very nice application for testing. The resulting magic square is nicely balanced. As one says: this is a no brainer, just buy it.
reviewed by J.A. Murphy (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 21 November, 2018)Save your money! Buy the Colombini Farewell Lecture instead and get a routine that can actually fool people (Rachel's Elimination) plus 23 other Colombini routines. Tahoe's The Elimination Principle has a glaring problem which, in my mind at least, is extremely likely to discovered, and commented on, by one of the participants. Rachel's routine describes two different ways to avoid the problem. Tahoe's Intro says "The Elimination Principle was inspired by Max Maven’s Kurotsuke" -- I consider that a HIGHLY misleading claim! Kurotsuke is one of my favorite routines, but I would never dare try it using the method in this book. I kept thinking that I MUST have missed something, and I've gone back and reread the Tahoe method several times -- and I still come away saying "You've got to be kidding!"
reviewed by Elliott H (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 05 November, 2018)A very basic, dumbed down version of Richard Websters Psychometry From A To Z. Not worth $10.
reviewed by Brett McCarron
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 30 October, 2018)Facebook comments about this book:
"I, and I'm sure many others, are impressed and thankful!" --Diego Domingo
Follow-up comment:
"WOW! I had it downloaded and it is an amazing body of work! Few can imagine the effort involved. Brett, you done good!" --Diego Domingo
"Congratulations Brett! I received the PDF several days ago and printed it. Not only is the inventory content beautifully organized, but the additional Nelson insights are a fun read." --David Eaton
"Thanks once again for this work. It has been very helpful trying to research Dr. A . Best regards."
--Craig Phillips
"Amazing accomplishment." --Grace Reinbold
"Got mine and I am happy!" --Peter Zenner
"Such a remarkable contribution, thank you." --Craig Phillips
reviewed by Harry
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 25 October, 2018)Not what I call an impossible bottle, method would be known if bottle was smashed.
reviewed by Enrico Varella
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 23 October, 2018)'Six card Workers for immediate maximum entertainment pleasure.'
Once again, the generous and prolific full-time professional magician Paul Lelekis presents a collection of charming card compositions from his engaging hoard of close-up magic. I enjoyed these effects and most of them went into my repertoire. These are plots, ploys and purposeful presentations that we can use. What is most valuable is the fact that the author reminds us of clever principles, seldom-used sleights, and a bit of historical referencing. We should remember the originators of sleights and principles in our quaint art, and pay homage by integrating them into our pieces of devilish demonstrations. He explains it with simplicity in a casual, reassuring, voice. Read it, with cards in hands, and anticipate what each piece of pasteboard plot, reveals. The accompanying video instructions will enhance clarity and learning process.
To conclude with the title of the first piece: WOW!
reviewed by Rick Carruth
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 22 October, 2018)PASTEBOARD REVELATIONS is like the big brother of the past several ebooks by Paul Lelekis. Certain books strike me certain ways, and Pasteboard Revelations strikes me as one of my very favorite of Paul's many great ebooks. There is definitely something for everyone. The ebook begins with an effect that, when performed properly, will stand out in the minds of both lay people and magicians alike. Videos are provided to cover a couple of false shuffles and cement the visual aspects. Another two effects use a killer cyclical stack that has fallen from popular grace simply because another cyclical stack 'seems' a tad easier.. although it's not. Mathedology and Nuclear Fusion both use different methods to reveal cards selected by two different spectators. These are ideal for couples. Cardbox Magic uses a simple technique I've used for many years.. and I can attest to its power when performed for lay folks. It's ideal for walk-around and restaurant work, as a table is not needed. Marlo Poker Deal is different. A table IS needed.. but you'll certainly get a ton of bang for your buck.. Paul has simplified this deal from the original to both make it easier and, in my opinion, more visual.
I recommend Pasteboard Revelations to anyone who wants several professional effects for near nothing..
reviewed by Roy Eidem
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 22 October, 2018)Paul is a full-time pro. Besides fun card magic, several false shuffles, false cuts, & a non-memorization card stack are taught. A simplified Anniversary Waltz, a direct Marlo poker demonstration & more. The tutorial videos alone are worth the price.
