Do you like to order single magic trick downloads or DVD’s rather than videos that teach you a collections of magic trick secrets?
Over the last few years, there has been a trend by manufacturers and inventors of magic tricks, to release each trick individually. There are good and bad points for both single trick products and collections.
I wanted to discuss one factor that I feel is important to consider when choosing a singe trick product: Transfer-ability.
Here’s a short video I filmed whilst at a gig at the weekend, about the subject of transferable magic trick secrets:
I’d love to know your thoughts on the subject. Has there been magic trick secrets that you have learned from a specific book or DVD that you have carried forward and used in your wider performances? Which source did you find the most valuable. Should magicians focus their time on specific narrow skills, or try to find as many transferable magic trick secrets as possible? Leave a comment in the comments section below:
If you are serious about studying magic, it means putting in the hours needed to practice, consistently, and over a great deal of time. There’s no shortcut, unless you want to be 
One of the best selling DVD’s ever to be released, outselling many titles that have been constantly in stock in the magic shop for many years. Produced by Big Blind Media (An magic excellent production company) Ultimate Self working Card tricks features strong easy magic tricks, that step away from the tired mathematical tricks often found in collections of this nature. This is a first choice recommendation for beginners looking to learn some card magic tricks they can perform easily and gain experience performing.
iCandy was a highlight of 2012. Gary Jones and Lee Smith collaborated on this project and brought us a DVD that contained 15 effects, and every one was a winner. What made this DVD stand out above the rest is that you can instantly tell each routine had been worked in the trenches. An excellent DVD with so much variety. The tough part was choosing which tricks to put into my act as each and every one was commercial, killer, and practical stuff any spectator would be floored by.
Over the last few years there has loads of mobile phone magic tricks released, but none quite like itwist. The beauty of this was its impromptu appearance, and the organic nature of it. Admittedly, a clever take on the classic Paul Harris effect ‘The screwed deck’, yet itwist was easier to perform, immensely visual, and ready to perform with a borrowed iPhone, meaning it could be performed in practically any scenario.
This day and age it is very rare that a new utility item is introduced to the magic world that can enhance almost everything you perform tenfold. TKO2 did exactly that. Ultra clean coin vanishes, coin changes, ditches, switches, card loads, the list is endless. We often hear the phrase ‘the possibilities are limited only by your imagination’. In the TKO2’s case, this is absolutely correct. The impossible card to envelope routine itself is a work of wonder, but its so much more than that. Those that own and use the TKO2 know its potential. Those that don’t will be fooled by it. An essential to any working pro, and a product that we know will be in most working repertoires for a long time.
Every magician is likely to have used a bill change at some point of their career, and for good reason. It’s a classic plot, the ability to change a notes value at the fingertips. So, what made First Hand so different? Well, firstly, the change happened in the spectators outstretched hand. Secondly it was instant, and thirdly, the money could be examined immediately. For a spectator it doesn’t get much stronger than that.
Sick and Saw were hits in recent years with magicians looking to add a little shock magic into their acts. Sickness added a trick called Excise, which is an outstanding piece of horror magic. Granted, it’s not every persons cup of tea, but updating the classic needle illusion, so the needle is produced from your throat, is fascinating and horrific for spectators at the same time. It simply gets spectators screaming. For magicians that perform tricks of this nature it proved to be a must have.
Lets face it, we all know enough card tricks to keep us going for a lifetime. Stitched allows a magician to instantly heal a rip in their jeans or trousers. The spectator can even take part in the process if they want. The trick turned out to be incredibly popular. Best done with jeans, it captured the interest of magicians looking for ‘street magic’ style effects they could perform for friends socially. Many working magicians also adapted the gimmick to work well with suit trousers.
Created by Keiron Johnson and released by RSVP Magic this year. The ability to produce a block of ice on the spectators hands, instantly appealed to the working pro’s. You can tell right from the outset, that Kieron has been performing this effect commerically for a long time, and has perfected the presentation. The gimmick included is very simple and makes you band your hand on your forehead and say ‘why didn’t I think of that!’ The truth is, you didn’t and Kieron did. Hat’s off to him for a great trick. One of best features of To The Max is the range of tricks you can do with a single concept. From simply producing a block of ice as a suprise climax, to revealing a prediction or even a coin inside an ice cube. It’s as much a utility device as a complete trick.
Using invisible thread is very much like Marmite, you either love it or hate it. Thread effects can be amazing, but the prospect of fiddling around with thread puts off so many magicians, The Spider Pen Pro gets in the list because it helps bridge this gap, between effect and method. It opens up so many new ways to use thread, that watching the DVD that comes with it, is as eye opening as actually using the item. The magic shop gets more thank you emails and letters about recommending this item than any other thread device. Yigal is the king of thread-work worldwide, and his spider pen delivers on all it’s promises. It’s still not self working, and requires practice to use smoothly, but it’s a just about the most trouble free way to hook up your thread and reset when performing.