Review of Dream Prediction Elite Version (Wallet) by Paul Romhany

Here’s a great mentalism effect. Paul Romhany has created a wallet and routine that allows you to perform an astounding prediction.

The Routine
Here’s how the routine plays. You bring out a wallet and an envelope that contains a prediction that you lay on the table. If you like, a spectator can hold the prediction. The envelope has a clear window so the prediction note inside is in view at all times.

You ask spectators to name anything: travel destinations, numbers, amounts of money, famous celebrities, and more. You write these down on the wallet's notepad to provide a written record. 

After showing the notepad and allowing spectators to agree that your notes are correct, you openly bring out the prediction from its envelope, and your prediction is correct. Everything matches.

As the ads state, there’s no preshow work, no forces and no stooges.

Confounding and Fabulous

Of course, this effect is a variation on the powerful and well known “Confabulation” effect by Alan Shaxton. The wallet and envelope are specifically designed to let you perform this effect in strolling and walkaround situations. 

The effect isn’t all that difficult to learn and use and requires no complicated sleight of hand – although there is a key move that you will have to casually execute. The effect quickly resets (if you prepare ahead before the gig) and angles are generous – you can perform this in any situation where your audience is in front of you.

The kit comes with the high quality wallet, envelopes and two notepads (which can be purchased at office stores). There’s an accompanying DVD that teaches you everything that you need to know.

Walkaround

It’s been awhile but I have performed a version of Confabulation in the past in my walkaround restaurant sets. In that routine, I brought the prediction out from a zippered wallet that was in my pocket. Paul Rohmany has done a great job of simplifying the effect and his brilliant use of an envelope creates a powerful convincer.

I like Dream Prediction Elite Version and plan to work it up and perform it soon.
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Dealers, contact Murphy's Magic Supplies.

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Review of Coin Thru Nose by Tyler Sutter & The Magic Estate

Here’s a bit of true geek magic that will definitely shock the house.

As with classic Hindu needles, you’re going to have work at this one to make it happen, as well as deal with discomfort and mucus. It’s not for everybody and something that I’m not about to attempt, but Coin Thru Nose is just what the title states.

From the Nose
Here’s how the effect plays. You bring out a coin and mark it for identification, place it on your tongue and apparently swallow it. After some grunting and byplay, you bring out a hemostat, shove it up your nose and pull the marked coin out. 

This effect may be more accurately described as “coin from nose.” In fact, Tyler Sutter himself even refers to this effect by that name in the video.

Shockingly Simple?
The ads state that this is “simple and shocking to do.”

However, you will have to learn how to shove a coin up your nose and keep it there, as well as deal with one in your mouth. There’s definite danger. 

The other aspect is that you are dealing with your mouth and sinuses, as well as accompanying (real) mucus and other secretions. Discomfort is a given. Even after hundreds of performances, the process causes Sutter’s eyes to tear up. In addition to the coin, all you need to purchase is a hemostat that is readily available from a variety of strores.

Sutter performs this one on stage as well as in close-up. Handling looks straightforward. It’s all in working up your tolerance to the process. Master “Coin Thru Nose” and you’ll have a geeky masterpiece at your beck and call (and up your nose).
Follow the latest magic news, products and happenings and ask me questions on Facebook ("friend me at "Wayne Kawamoto"), Twitter and GooglePlus. Also, please subscribe to my weekly magic email newsletter here.

Dealers, contact Murphy's Magic Supplies.  

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Review of Standup Magic by Tom Wright

The “standup” in the title is probably not what you think it is. I often refer to “stand-up magic” as entertainment that’s performed while a magician is standing up in front of a crowd, whether it’s on a stage, or on the floor of a banquet room, ballroom,  or living room.

Upstanding 

“Standup Magic,” as performed by Tom Wright, on the other hand, offers his approach to performing at specific close-up gigs: those at banquets where spectators are seated around tables. This two-disc set also teaches several powerful routines.

Wright’s philosophy promises: 1) more focused attention from spectators, 2) better reactions, and 3) louder applause. Indeed, there is potential for these benefits. The approach can be applied to some restaurant settings, but will depend on the seating arrangements.

Commercial Tricks

With Wright’s approach in mind, the discs teach five entertaining routines and one opening bit. The performances are done for live audiences in banquet settings, and Wright does a thorough job of explaining and teaching his routines. His opener is the well known and surprising cards from mouth, which is followed by his stunning production of a wine bottle that’s precedes a comical production of his shoe. Note that the main routines require that you be wearing a jacket.

From here, Wright performs a great wine bottle through the table routine or his "chop cup." I liked both. The wine bottle penetration requires extra gimmicks that you'll probably need to purchase. Wright’s chop cup is excellent, but employs specialized holders and ditching mechanisms. The routine features lots of audience interactions (a powerful trademark in all of Wright’s fun presentations) and two large loads at the end.

Wright also teaches a card from mouth routine - a selected card is discovered, folded in his mouth, and a ring on rope effect. The ring on rope begins with a professor’s nightmare sequence that’s followed by ring penetrations both on and off the rope.

Worth It

Even if you don’t employ Wright’s approach to performing close-up magic at banquets, this DVD set is worth it just for the routines and his insights, which he teaches in detail. 

I found "Standup Magic" to be an upstanding magic instructional DVD set.
Follow the latest magic news, products and happenings and ask me questions on Facebook ("friend me at "Wayne Kawamoto"), Twitter and GooglePlus. Also, please subscribe to my weekly magic email newsletter here.

Dealers, contact Murphy's Magic Supplies.

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Review of Houdini Blu-Ray

Hollywood just can't keep away from the Harry Houdini story. Every so often, it seems that yet another production wants to depict the career of the famous entertainer.

The latest, which aired on the History Channel and is now available on Digital HD and Extended Blu-ray, is “Houdini,” which stars Adrien Brody and Kristen Connolly. It’s an enjoyable production which was written by Nicholas Meyer and directed by Uli Edel, and was based on the book “Houdini: A Mind in Chains: A Portrait,” by Bernard C. Meyer.

Life and Career
The four-hour production roughly follows Houdini’s life as he evolved from a poor immigrant into a huge star. As a drama, the film takes lots of liberties. A new angle, the production presents aspects of Houdini’s supposed career in European espionage. There’s also marriage strife that’s shown between Houdini and his wife Bess.

The second half deals with the loss of Houdini’s mother, Spiritualism and his exposure of fraudulent mediums. While the biopic attempts to depict Houdini’s ambition, anguish and turmoil, it ultimately has a rather “by the numbers” feel to it.

Magic and Escapes
The production depicts Houdini’s notable escapes, stunts and illusions as he may or may not have presented and accomplished them. Here, Metamorphosis, escaping from a safe, the water torture chamber, milk can, strait jacket, elephant vanish and walking through a brick wall are all represented.

Interestingly, the production wants to reveal methods. Well documented escapes by Houdini: Metamorphosis, the milk can and walking through a brick wall, for example, which rely on mostly known methods, are exposed. But with other illusions, most notably, the historically inaccurate and entirely impossible (in a live setting) elephant vanish, there is no given explanation (other than implied Hollywood special effects).

The Houdini two-disc Blu-ray and two-disc DVD feature both the original televised version and an extended edition that incorporates 20-minutes of additional footage. There are also four behind-the-scenes featurettes. The sets are available at respectively, suggested retail prices of $29.99 and $26.98.

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Review of Angry God of Wealth Deck by Nanswer

Apparently inspired by classic Chinese frescoes, The Angry God of Wealth deck offers an attractive, high quality deck of designer cards. 

Rich Look
With its gold inks, 3D style pips on the faces and black borders on the back, the deck indeed has a dramatic look. Note that while the box features a picture of the "angry god" (on the left in the picture), the deck itself features the attractive gold back design shown in the image on the right. 

Made by the US Playing Card Company, the "Angry God" deck is a high-quality deck that handles well and fans beautifully. 

I'll leave it to you whether you employ designer decks in your magic (I personally don't and stick strictly with standard Bicycle decks). But if you like the look of The Angry God of Wealth deck, you may find lots to like. 

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Review of Propel by Rizki Nanda and SansMinds

Here's a moving dot effect that works on your hand. You draw a dot or symbol on your little finger with a Sharpie marker and your spectators watch as the ink spot becomes animated and crawls up across your fingers and ultimately transfers to your other hand. 

Click here to read my review.

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Review of Cootie Catcher DVD by Jason Michaels

Here’s something different. It’s a prediction or revelation that comes from what you may recall as a “cootie catcher.” You may remember from your childhood these fortune telling devices made from folded pieces. 

Using the "cootie catcher" as a start, Jason Michaels has created a brilliant system to employ these well known and easy to make paper creations and perform a force.

Getting Into the Loop
If you've ever worked with “cootie catchers” as a kid, you’ll probably remember getting into an endless loop where the spelling process continually returned to the same options. Learn Michaels’ system and the cootie catcher will logically progress through all of its options and provide the outcome that you desire.

Variations on a Theme
Michaels has created lots of themed routines with his “cootie catcher” system and the DVD even includes color PDF images that you can print out onto paper to immediately fold into “cootie catchers” and practice and then perform.

Some of Michaels’ themes cover fortune telling, lie detection, psychic lessons and more. And once you understand the system, you can make your own routines and themed cootie catchers. One other consideration, you may think that this system is limited to close-up settings, but Michaels shows how he performs this on stage (see the image on the DVD's cover - it's a giant "cootie catcher").

I would have never suspected that there were fun routines that could be performed with the “cootie catchers” of our youth. But Jason Michaels has created a well thought-out and clever system for employing and entertaining with them. I found lots to like.

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The Magic Rap

I've been thinking about creating a magic rap about my life as a professional magician. The result is the video below. It's something that I call "The Magic Rap."

Hope that you enjoy it.

Review of Drop by Lyndon Jugalbot and Magic Tao

It's advertised as a gimmick that can cause a signed card to apparently jump to the top of the deck. But it's actually a clever gimmick that quickly and visually changes the appearance of the top card. The gimmick works well and the effect looks great.

You can read my review here.

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