The Trailer

While it has been months since we had a product review, the RDM team will be doing our very best to keep these coming! Let us know if you enjoy reading our articles! We’ll really appreciate that. (:
“Warning” by Kostya Kimlat is a tricky one. Although I won’t go far enough to call it a worker, it has a lot of potential. This article is more than just a product review. I sincerely hope that you’ll read on and find out more. At first glance many may dismiss this as just a smart use of the flash paper. But to others, this is a real gem. The plot is simple, and above all it uses fire!

“I merely always begin with fire and a production. No words, just magic. That immediately grabs their attention, lets them know I’m a magician and prepares them for some entertainment.”
-Jim Pace, Magic for Restaurants

In the real world, it’s challenging to find an effect that is quick, visual and appropriate for an opener. “Warning” is one of those effects that accomplishes all three and on top of that, it packs right in your pocket. What you see is what you get. You can perform this effect in an instant if u know how to execute the simple paddle move and light up a piece of flash paper. There’s little to tell you about the effect. You peel the warning sticker off a lighter, light it up, and it magically goes back onto the lighter. I never thought much of this till I showed it to my family. For the first time in a long while, their eyes literally lit up. It’s amazing! Sometimes we forget about looking at an effect from the spectator’s point of view. It’s a dangerous trap we can fall into if we lose sight of why we’re performing. So always keep that in mind! Sing the songs they want to hear!

Should You buy the effect?
“Warning” isn’t an economical alternative for flash paper. While refills are available at the price of $30SGD for 100 pieces, the shipping cost is just as much. You do the math. To add on to that, this is also an effect that requires a good amount of effort and time to reset. Perhaps I’ve yet to work out the right system to go about with this, but the bottom line is that “Warning” isn’t as impromptu as it may look. For strolling magicians, this may be troubling.

Why did I get it? I really admire Kostya Kimlat. Many would know him for his roadrunner cull. For me, I just can’t help but love his take on restaurant magic. Won’t it be amazing if a system like this could work out locally? Quite a dream for many amateur magicians these days! If you’re one of them, who dream about working as a magician, sign up on his site! Over the weeks, you will receive short clips of the man himself talking about the business side of magic. This will most certainly put you in the right direction and help you progress further in your goals.

Thanks for reading thus far! I hope that you picked up a thing or two from this article. “Warning” isn’t a cheap investment, but it is worth what its price. If you need more information on the product, leave a comment below or email us and I’ll get back to you.

Beyond the Mirror @ Absinthe Artisan

Lets talk about the show itself. The plots behind the show were intricately designed and textured so that laymen and magicians alike are guaranteed to have some takeaways. This is my first time watching a formal close up magic show and it was definitely one of the most memorable highlights for me this past week.

Photo Credits: Bernard Sim

This is not your ordinary show which features cards and coins tricks. You will start to feel the difference right from the opening of the show which features the use of very unique props. The show then progresses into something very different as the plots transits into a gambling theme with loads of audience participation involved. Obviously not forgetting to blow you away, you can expect JC to delve into your heads and read your thoughts. The most memorable routine for me was JC’s “Morgan Mysteries” routine which features a beautiful plot which is guaranteed to turn your brains into a can of cream. For those who just like visually stunning magic, JC closes the show with his reknowned dice-explosion routine which I witnessed in person for the first time. Nothing more appropriate than closing your show with audible gasps of surprise coming from the members of the audience.

Photo Credits: Bernard Sim

After the show, the members of the audience were actively discussing about different segments of the show. I’m sure JC’s performance left a resounding impact in the audiences in one way or another.

Show Rating: 8.5/10

On a side note, members of the audience get to receive a goodie bag which contains a pack of customised playing cards and a “Jellybird”! The product  is basically a jelly with alcoholic content. It tastes amazing and Im definitely getting more for my own parties in the future. Check out the product by clicking here!

“Go with the classics, and it’s hard to get it wrong”. Not impossible, just hard.

The 5 or 6 card repeat is one of the more common routines we’ve seen on stage quite often. And its also an effect where one can easily bore the crowd with.

While there are countless versions in the market, Paul Romhany’s 5 card repeat is a combination of two things. It’s a card repeat plot put together as a “Teaching Act”. Most of us understand this better by associating the presentation style to the classic “Vanishing Bandana” (and also the recently released “Shoe Business”) . Anyone who’ve done enough research on kids market or looked up for stage workers will come across “The Mystery of the Vanishing Bandana”.  It has been performed by several brilliant artist.
Here’s one performed by one of my favourites, Justin Kredible:

As some may say, if Copperfield does it, it has to be worth a try. Having said that, there are several limitations for such effects particularly in our state. In Singapore, not many can relate to the term Bandana, and thus the main punch line is ruined. To add on to that, for the effect to work well, it still requires much audience participation which is not easy to negotiate from some Singapore audiences. It IS a LONG and draggy effect.

So how different is the 5 card repeat?

1) Shorter Routine
As mentioned above, the vanishing Bandana is really a long draggy routine on stage. 5 seconds on stage can feel like 5mins and 5 mins on stage will feel like hours. Paul Romhany’s routine lasts for about 2mins. It’s perfect for an opening and just enough lines to get a laugh. Silly Billy once mentioned that comedians judge their act based on the the laughs they get per session. With this recorded presentation, its easy to gauge the audience response at the right beats.

2) Easy to understand Humour
Personally I feel that the Paul Romhany’s 5 card repeat has a very different comedic effect compared to “The vanishing bandana”. And it works better for us Singaporeans too. For the Vanishing Bandana, people crack up because the magician is having trouble with the instructions. For the 5 card repeat, the magician is frustrated with the the cards and you can see his emotions building up. That reminds me of what Tommy Wonder mentioned in “Wonderized”.

“Everyday theatres are filled to the last place, and people who see the show, what do they see? They see people who have conflict with each other, or with the world,or with themselves & emotions that come out of that. And people pay good money for it…. This principle of emotions and conflict has been around for thousand of years and its still effective. So maybe if we put that into magic, magic will also be effective.”

Putting aside the presentation of the 5 card repeat (which is really what you’re paying for at that price) the handling of the effect is also as worthy.

One of the few reasons why I was never impressed with the effect is with its handling. Many of the methods involves a false count; pushing off a chunk of cards, and counting it as one. We all know a false count when we see one. So that really wasn’t for me. Further more, some versions require you to hold the pack in a rather awkward fashion, just to facilitate  the count. Of course, there are still several outstanding performers using the above mentioned handlings and having much success. A good example would be Michael Finney who uses it as an opener. It’s fast, direct and entertaining to watch. Wayne Dobson too has a good presentation to go with it as an opener. Wayne Dobson’s 5 card Repeat:

You do however need a dynamic personality like theirs to pull it off half as well as these brilliant performers.

Paul Romhany’s 5 card repeat is clean as a whistle. While it’s really a palour/stage effect, I can imagine it done close up with a bit of work. But that’s hardly the point. (P.S. THIS right here is a brilliant performance of the classic plot adapted close up style, thought I’d share it to other hobbyists who really doesn’t care much about palour/stage effects but are still reading.

Paul Romhany’s handling is however a gimmicked version of the effect that allows for a natural handling of the cards for a trade off.

The Gimmick:
I swear I am not exaggerating here. But it took me less than 5mins to gather the materials and to make myself an extra set of gimmick. The construction of the gimmick is included in the teaching. The method can be applied to jumbo cards as well. (One of my main concerns were whether I could make my own refills and apply the method to jumbo cards) Further more, its a perfect way to use up the aged cards. You may have chucked away in your cupboard. I’ve been using the same gimmick over 10 performances including practice sessions and it still works like a charm. To sum it up, the gimmick is flexible, easy to make and almost cost free.

Closing thoughts:
Throughout my performances, many have asked “How did You do that”. While it shouldn’t be the first comment you get from people, since the main focus of the effect is with its comedic presentation. The compliment convinced me even more that the handling is as important as the effect.
There may have been much emphasis on presenting an effect. Having said that, we should also keep in mind that its barely a trick if it fools nobody.
Paul Romhany’s 5 card repeat IMO is a worker. The only few disadvantages would be about the need of a sound system for it to work at your birthday parties or stage shows.

If you’ve ever considered performing the Vanishing Bandana, but held back due to its presentation, choose Paul Rohmany’s 5 card repeat. It packs SMALL, and plays big. (:

WOW Factor: 6.5/10
It is still the 5 card repeat plot which can be mundane. But good enough for an opener to build up the rest of the shows. I never felt that an opening effect should be so perfect that it builds up too much expecation. As how Pambudi puts it across, (one of the few entertaining mentalist who has excellent showmanship put it) “Promise less, but deliver more”. So really, I think this works well enough for an opener.

Durability: 7/10
You have no worries about refills anyway!

Value for Money: 4/10
I’ve always felt that such effects are over priced, You get a dvd with an audio track and it cost you a bomb. Some justify the price by saying that its to keep kids away from the good stuff. While it is a worker, you are still going to feel that you paid a little too much when it arrives.

Overall Rating: 7/10

I probably haven’t addressed all concerns you splendid reader may have. So feel free to leave a comment if you’d like to know more. And I’d be more than happy to have a chat with you, on the subject.
- Jasper Lee,

For this show we had Sherman Tang opening the evening’s performance. For those who do not know, Sherman came in 1st place for ‘Legerdemain’. a close up / parlour  magic competition, organised by the Singapore Magic Circle back in 2007. We first saw him perform his dove act back during the Redefine Magic Convention back in 2009.  Shermon Tang continued to enthrall his audience with his stage magic performance as he opened the evening’s performance with a cube zag illusion. Most memorable for me was his amusing production of Joey the parrot. It was one of the more original acts I’ve seen and it definitely caught the audiences off guard. He closed off with a grand illusion which he designed himself, where a girl is compressed,vanishes into thin air and is reproduced again.

Pambudi is a well known mentalist within the magician’s community who moved to Indonesia a few years back. It was great to see his return performance in Singapore. He is definitely an experienced performer and his act was one of the most entertaining performances of the evening. The main drawback that im sure most audience would agree with me was the ear piercing feedback and audio sounds that came when Pambudi spoke. He also chose a spectator which caused him quite a handful but Pambudi’s experience showed and he managed to steer through his segment without much hip-cups.

I’ve heard of a young talented magician named Markson but have never actually saw him perform till that day.  His stage presence was well demonstrated through his clear articulation and delivery as well as his fluid performance. However I must say that I was expecting a much longer dove/manipulation act. With that said, I’m not a fan of performances that will put audiences in awkward situations. His ‘chicken dance’ and 21st century bra act did not go down well with me as I felt embarrassed for the spectator on stage. Markson concluded his segment with another short act with D’lites and lots of colourful confetti, classic but it was not a performance that would make him memorable in my opinion.

Jeff Leong from Malaysia performed a version of bill to orange. I found the among of time he spent behind his box a tad too lengthy. In general I felt that his act felt too casual due to his laid back delivery style and it did not come across as a professional act to me. Some people may find him more affable that way but that’s just my personal take =). Jeff finished off his performance with a chair suspension of a young girl from the audience. From a magician’s point of view, I always viewed a chair suspension illusion as visually weak and that it lacked the wow factor. After I watched Jeff’s performance of the chair suspension, I must admit that he made me look at the illusion in a more positive light.

Kiki Tay…Wow what I can say. Being the anchor magician for this series of Scape Magic Carnival, I have seen his performances countless times but they never fail to make me burst into laughter or crack a smile. The previous 2 Scape Magic Carnivals was epecially memorable to me as he introduced his new act. It is a visual spectacle of UV lights, lasers and magic. This month’s performance saw Kiki debuting a laser illusion which is one of the most cutting edge and modern form of magic available I’ve seen to date. I have come across similar performances on youtube but nothing beats watching it live. He closed the evening with a performance where he produced ‘snow’ (confetti) for Jessica, a much talked about piece from his ‘Just Kiki kidding’ theatre show in 2006. It generated much abuzz and positive response back then but I wasn’t touched by the performance probably because I had seen it online before. I would also preferred it if he had ended off the show on a high note with his laser/light manipulation act instead of a ‘sad’/touching act like the former mentioned.

Overall, it was a visual candy fiesta for audiences who turned up for Scape Magic Carnival (July 2011) and I sincerely look forward to more interesting featured magicians in future editions of Scape Magic Carnival. Singapore is definitely filled with amazing magic talents waiting to be uncovered! Can’t wait to see more of them in action! =D

My friends and I have always enjoyed local magic productions. Every show has a very different style to it.
This year we had the chance to catch “Vision”, a multi-million dollar production at the Esplanade theatre hall.

It was an eye opener for all of us. There have been few magicians, if not at all, who blends in stagecraft, theatrical arts and magic together as well as the duo.

While some critics may may feel that the show “Needs more magic less theatrics”, I felt otherwise. As an enthusiast who enjoys magic more than musicals, I find that “Vision” maintained a good balance with the best of both worlds & it worked like a charm.

For a more objective view point, I had my sister write down her thoughts after the show and here it is.

” Last night I rewarded myself with a Vision quite like no other. It has been 24 hours but I still can’t quite decide how to begin on the task of describing something quite indescribable.

The show’s theme centered on a father and daughter relationship, bringing us into their world of challenges and imagination. The story unfolds in Two Acts, with dancing, amazing stage set ups and illusions interwoven in each scene. The audience was welcomed with high energy dance moves that oozed of “Las Vegas” and that set the tone throughout the play.

The plot starts when Priscilla rehearses one of her favourite illusions, hoping that her father will include it in their next show. To her disappointment, he doesn’t agree. As an audience, it was an ingenious way of placing an act within an act. Particularly intriguing was when Priscilla disappeared into another world right before our very eyes. The audience could see her shadow the entire time and as her fingers twirled through the translucent screen I could hear a string of gasps from the audience. Where was she?

As with any magic extravaganza, the disappearing and reappearing act ensues throughout the show. (Lawrence and Priscilla made a sports car appear in one scene). But what impressed me the most was how Vision managed to merge dramatic story telling, choreography and illusions with immaculate dramatic timing and design. One of my favourite scenes was “The Goldfish Bowl”, where the backdrop changes to an underwater scene, perfected with dancing Goldfishes and impeccable choreography. As Lawrence and Priscilla enter strange worlds in their imagination, the magic continues and the audiences were entertained by coin acts, rings, and escapes from a magical slide. Because of the magnitude of the performance, the smaller visual illusions (such as the ring and newspaper act) did little to sustain the visual spectacular that was established from the start.

“Slightly Scarlet” was the last scene of the first act. Lawrence and Priscilla were brought back to the 50s where the Capitol Theatre was still in business. Audiences were enjoying a romantic sneak preview of this old movie, until a group of dancers appeared in an originally empty caravan. The drastic change in energy was very well designed and implemented. Lawrence then meets himself as a boy and reminisces on his first experience with Magic. The plot thickens with Priscilla sharing with young Lawrence that there is no magic, only tricks. This sets the tone for Act Two, where everything becomes darker and more intriguing than ever.

In Act Two the protagonists showed their transition beyond merely magic but also acting and performing. My favourite scene happens when Priscilla meets her father in an old house with a clock that doesn’t move. The hour glass act was particularly apt at that point in time; symbolising the time lapse that they have woven themselves into yet it alludes the control that Priscilla still has over her consciousness. The audiences were also pleasantly surprised with the dancers, who were as graceful as chameleons; adding spice to the setting.

It was  clear to me when the curtains came down that Vision was more than a magic show. It was an amalgamating of musical dance, drama, aesthetically outstanding backdrops and settings, completed with revolutionary illusions. What made the show unique were not the stand alone components but rather the cleverly executed concoction of all. “

So here, now, today, You’ll be reading about effects that work. Effects that I’ve had experienced with and talked about with other performers. In an ATTEMPT to give back to magic, more effects crowned as “Workers” would be reviewed on RDM on a monthly basis.

Workers Review : Miser’s Dream Granted

As an avid coin worker, it has always been my dream to bring the beauty of coin magic on stage and in parlor situations. To my knowledge, with the exception of Jumbo coin manipulation, the Miser’s Dream is the only routine/plot that has as much visual & auditory impact, worthy of stage.

I first saw the classic effect performed by an experienced overseas magician performing at Singapore Kite Festival. He was exceptionally entertaining to watch and its noted that his coins were HUGE! As always, a kid was asked to be his “Sorcerer Apprentice”, much popularized by Jeff McBride’s Routine.

Subsequently I noticed how many other magicians had similar routining.

Eventually I met Sherman Tang, who was kind enough to talk to me about the “workers”. As a full-time professional with an established name for himself both for corporate clients and in the children’s market, his words were golden to me. This was were I got introduced to “Miser’s Dream Granted” which was also part of my wishlist after watching Ponta the Smith performing with it with such grace and elegance.

And finally, after years of saving up (Okay, I am kidding. But it did cost quite a bit), I forked out enough $$ to get a set for myself.

Miser’s Dream Granted comes along with a gimmick, a DVD Teaching by the late Mikame himself, and also 20 beautiful palming coins. The only problem was that it came without a bucket. If You’d like to learn more about the type of bucket to use, do check out a run down by JC Sum and Magic Babe Ning here:

In my case, I settled with a simple steel bucket that cost me under $10 from a store that sold kitchenware. Its very much worth the money, and it looks just as pretty.

Misers Dream itself is a routine that doesn’t require earth shattering sleight of hand. Having said that, to be able to control the coins, and coordinating with the sound of it dropping into the tin can be tedious. Misers Dream Granted can be seen as a solution to this problem. It allows for the magician to start clean (with nothing in his hands) and with the tin on the table. The gimmick is simple to use and easy to install on the bucket. Just your daily adhesive (blue tac) will work.

When I first worked with Misers Dream Granted myself, I was very disappointed. But the more I played around with it, I saw its potential and it was definitely a keeper. Trust me on this. A self contained Misers Dream saves ALOT of hassle.

So here’s the run down:

1. The Gimmick
Its a flesh colored gimmick that is precision made for the palming coins provided.
Of course it also be used for our half dollars etc. I don’t see how anyone could
spoil it even with rough handling. So no worries about broken gimmicks even over
time.

2. DVD Teaching
Mikame goes through a step by step lesson that is easy to follow for any level of
performers. I personally found the effect quite self explanatory and You would
probably too. Having said that, going through the practice sessions with Mikame does
make it easier to work with.

3. Twenty Palming Coins
One of the huge reason I justified with myself for the price of the effect is for
the coins. These 20 palming coins are half the thickness of your usual half dollar
and it shines like silver. While your audience may never get to handle the coins,
I’m appreciative of the simple design on it. As the saying goes, ‘when you look
good, you feel good’. When you’re confident with your coins, it shows.

Final Verdict:
Whether You’re already doing Miser’s Dream or not, I think that this is one effect
You’d be glad to have in your show. I do not however recommend this hobbyist because
there’re probably no close up situations that are good for this. If You find a
reason to carry a wine bucket around, You don’t need another reason to get Miser’s
Dream Granted.

WOW Factor: 10/10
(Let me explain. There is something magical about producing things from thin air.
And when its money, its even sweeter. There’s always a reason why a classic is a
classic. You will get your reactions from Misers Dream.)

Durability: 10/10

Practicability: 7/10
(As mentioned, this is not for the hobbyist. Having said that, its very
practical for any performers doing the Misers Dream because for once, its absolutely
self contained)

Value For Money: 4/10
(Its obviously too pricey.)

Overall rating: 7/10

I probably haven’t addressed all concerns You splendid reader may have. So feel free to leave a comment if you’d like to know more. And I’d be more than happy to have a chat with You, on the subject.
- Jasper Lee,

It was a pleasure for the RDM crew to be at “M” for magic event last night. As always, to support our local talents, I also bought tickets for several friends and family members to be part of the whole experience. I am fortunate enough to be acquainted with all the performers since years back. Thus it was a joy to watch how much everyone matured and improved over time.

One of the most valuable advice I got from a professional was: never to lose the ability to look at our own magic from a laymen’s point of view. After hours of persuasion, I had my lovely sister spend her time writing her thoughts on it all, as a non magician.
And here it is.

Mount Sophia turned out to be a close up magician’s dream. Despite having to alleviate oneself by a thousand steps to arrive (teleportation would have been useful here). I was immediately pleased with the cozy and personal environment.   Seated on the rear end did not impede our view of the performance at all. There was a sense of connection. Not only with the performer, but also with the rest of the audience. A social gathering of sorts, with Magic in the centre of it all.

JC Sum opened the show with the classic three fly routine called Silver Teleportation. His easy charisma and banter with the audience warmed them up immediately. Particularly intriguing was his blindfold act. The unassuming participant’s reaction was epic and intensified the overall effect. He definitely chose the right guy. Something that doesn’t happen by accident.

Alvin was next. With his tall physique, he exudes an easy presence. His fork bending routine, coupled with an element of comedic presentation, successfully got us acquainted with him. What set Alvin back in the overall effectiveness of his performance was perhaps the attempted Mind Reading experiment. It was a tricky stunt to perform and his predictions were slightly compromised. That left us with a feeling of incompleteness and doubt. His last routine, unfortunately, suffered the same.

The stage was passed on to Samuel, someone whose magic I have yet to experience. Based on the first impression he could have relied on a more formal dress-code to establish that credibility. His first coin to glass act was relatively impressive. Got me sitting up , watching more carefully. Unfortunately, the next money travelling routine was disappointing. A wrong choice of volunteer (aka drunk and overly high) made it seem like he lost control of his performance. The saving grace came in his final routine, the classic sponge bunnies! Yay! It was my favorite. I didn’t expect him to make so many. Also the story leading to how they were conceived made the finale more entertaining and conclusive.

Having seen Alexander perform back in Legerdemain 2010, I had high expectations for his act. He established rapport immediately, with effortless charisma and wit, signalling a well rehearsed and thought-out routine. Anyone can perform coin travelling tricks, but not everyone can do it with an arresting patter and a faultless delivery. Teasing the audience along the way, Alexander makes seemless transitions between his four routines. He brings personality back to magic. What impressed me the most was the second card trick, where a moving blade takes over, slices through the deck and produced the card that an audience picked. It was refreshing  and that is exactly what endears the audience to him. Lastly, we have the cups and balls routine. What a fruitful experience! Literally, in the end we were left with a Lemon, a Lime, and a Tomato!

Have you ever seen a guy swallow a dozen needles? Well, I have. Although I can’t quite appreciate the entertainment quality of it, it definitely got a reaction from me and my friends. Suffice to say, Ming Da’s act gave a nice variety to the night’s line up.

JC Sum returned for the last performance of the night, a rather smart routine that left a stunning visual image and a dramatic closure. An artistry of sorts, a table full of dice. According to neuroscientists, audiences tend to judge a night’s performance based on the first and last performance. Well if that’s the case, I have no doubt that the audiences left Mount Sophia with a lot of respect and awe for magicians that night.

Review Co-Written by Zann Lee (Right)

“M for Magic” is a 10-episode TV magic program, featuring 14 young Singapore Magicians performing their magic on the crowded streets of Singapore. If you’ve yet to catch any of our local talents, click here and take a look! (:

Some of these brilliant performers were also given the chance to perform in a “live” spin-off theatre show with a captive audience. Tickets were priced between $10 – $25 & it was quite a great turnout!

I arrived late, after Kyle Ravin opened the show, and next up was Matthew Lee (RDM’s Creative Designer). Having known Matthew for a while, I was sure that this competent, stylish performer with a sharp tongue would be hated by some, but talked about by many. Fork bending, Bill switch & an appearing rose, coupled with a lot of personality, brought many laughs and entertainment. As a “people’s choice award” winner, I was awed by both his technical competency and amusing patter.

Adeline opened her segment with some juggles which is always nice for a change. She then performed a similar feat as with what she did on the TV series.

While I could see how impactful an effect like that would be to the lay audience, graphics on the card was difficult to see from afar. A slightly larger A5 print out would have made it perfect for everyone.
Adeline also closed her part with a juggling act, and once again, its refreshing to see how she blends in magic with juggling.

Kyle Ravin came back on and brought about alot of hype within the theatre. Its amazing how he can get the crowd excited all the time. I’ve never been fond of straight jacket escapes and never could understand why it was magic. Kyle admitted to the audience that its more than that. Its a stunt and its real. While I don’t enjoy watching anyone struggle out of a “mad-man’s jacket”, to me, the real magic with Kyle’s effect was the foreplay that went on before the escape happened. As what many say “Its not about the destination, so much as the ride.”

Finally JC sum closed tonight’s act with a series of routines from “Urban Underground”. It was a great display of both flawless techniques and thoughtful presentation. Who couldn’t expect less from the director of the whole show? His effects revolved around the theme of gambling and swindles, combined with witty lines & good pacing. Its definitely an appealing show for both heart-landers and corporate clients. There was a lot to learn for magicians, watching JC sum put up a well routined act.

As a fellow practitioner of the craft, tonight was a rewarding experience. As a laymen, its an unforgettable evening of laughs, entertainment & wonder.

Within “Metal” lies not only teachings on fundamentals of coin magic techniques, but also 5 unique routines that could be added to your personal repertoire.  All of these routines are flexible enough to be adapted in both seated and stringent, real world stand up environments. In addition to its versatility, these routines are also within the grasp of a beginner coin worker.

Eric begins by giving a BRIEF run through of several basic coin concealments. While this may not be anything new to intermediate coin magicians, Eric takes a minute to explain the possibilities and subtleties that is applicable with each sleight to make it work like a charm. These pointers will certainly make a difference to any style of coin magic you perform. Many a times these finer details are left out in other coin teachings.

Many of the productions and vanishes taught in the DVD can easily be an add-on to your current coin routines. In the “vanishes” section, Eric starts off giving a run through on the concept of the “Put” and “Take” theory. This underlies the basic psychology behind coin vanishes which once again is seldom touched on in many other coin teachings. Eric was also very thorough about the retension pass, which he describes the techniques in great details.

Under the utilities section, Eric shares some of his own variations to a few classic moves in coin magic. He also had a short demonstration of showing both hands empty while concealing a coin. Its a combination of 2 different hand-washing sequences.

No matter how perfect your passes are, your audiences would inevitably look at your “Dirty Hand”. Its a big problem in coin magic, and Eric’s sharing in hand-washing techniques might just be the solution to your troubles. (Many hobbyist I know of takes great interest in the hand-washing techniques. I believe that this portion of the review would garner response since many could be buying this for these moves in particular.)

Alternatively, one would probably want to look at a complete vanish technique shared else where in the dvd. Its a contribution from Jim Pace where a coin vanishes upon a magical wave of the hands. I cannot begin to describe how elegant the moves are. Although this beautiful coin vanish was not included in the trailer, it was seen in another one of Eric’s most recent releases.

Here are some personal highlights under the routines section:

1) Simplex 3 Fly
This is as visual as it gets in coin magic. A coins across routine, right at your fingertips. As a trade-off, the classic 3 fly routine involves rather technical sleights that has always been quite a challenge even for experienced coin conjurers.

As its name suggests, “Simplex 3 Fly” is a simplified handling of the routine that allows for even beginners to have a chance at such a beautiful classic, while achieving the same amount of visual impact. The basic sleights involved are well discussed in both the explanation section of the routine and covered under the “basic concealments” section. Without holding anything back, Eric devotes another section to share about the psychology and misdirection used in the routine.

2) Loose Change
This is one of the rare gems that’s an absolute worker. (even published in one of New York Coin Seminars series under “Workers”)

Copper silver transposition is another popular classic in coin magic. Many versions require the use of gaffs or an extra hold out and the magic happens within a clenched fist.

However, with loose change, all you need is ANY two coin of different sizes. Even coins of your own currency. Right away, take out your loose change in the pocket, and you’ll be all set for this little miracle.

Not only is this a practical worker,  the transposition happens right in front of your audiences. If you’ve seen “Digital Dissolve” at work, this is just as visual. A full view, transformation of the coin at your fingertips. If performed well, it is also a magician’s fooler for its simplicity.

Final Words:
“Metal” provides a good overview into coin magic. Beginners would find it easy to follow, while more advanced workers will probably find several unique ideas and be reminded of some concepts in coin magic that could have been overlooked before. Even experienced move monkeys may find something for themselves. (Hint: Flourish as seen in the trailer!)

Unlike many other coin magic these days, Eric Jone’s is both visual and straight forward. As how Dai Vernon puts in, close up magic is beautiful as its “effects can be described in one sentence.”

A good friend of mine told me that one of the strongest effects in magic suggests to the audience that the magician possesses supernatural abilities. Its the reason why mind reading, or psychics hold much appeal to the public. When the effect takes a more visual nature, like that of levitation, it hits the top of the chart.

While in close up magic, there are not a lot of routines that allow for scrutiny yet retain its mystery and enchantment. Having said that, one particular effect has always been tempting me on the shelves. As a serious hobbyist or professional performer, You surely have seen it more than once in your mundane research at home. This was often known as a classic in magic. & then popularized by recent retailers. The most memorable time I’ve seen this was in SOMA’s Phone Act. The ability to produce smoke.
(NOTE: If You’ve not seen Soma’s Phone Act, do yourself a favor and check it out. It may just change your life. )

Before I go ranting on, I shall at least pronounce the purpose of this writing. In a short while (a few lines more) You will be reading a review on “SMOKE by Alan Rorrison”. There have been much speculation and critique on the product. As an owner of the device, here are my honest opinions from both sides of the scale.

As mentioned in the first quarter, being able to produce smoke is one of the most magical thing you can ever accomplish as a magician (if performed well of course). The  reason why producing smoke has not been as popular can only be because of its tedious set up. There are other smoke devices in the market like “Ultra Smoke 2000″, “Smokey Magic” & a few more. While I do not own any of them, I’ve done a fair amount of research to conclude that the required preparation and cost was not worth my investment..at the moment. If you’ve seen the trailers, you’d agree that both looks beautiful in the right hands. As a utility device, the possibilities are endless.

Comparing these with “Smoke”, the effect is downplayed & less flexible. However the principles are the same. You’re producing smoke which by its nature has a very magical touch. At its price, with practically zero set up, this PORTABLE device was too much to give a miss. So I bought it.

It came in perfect condition, arrived in less than two weeks from Penguin Magic. There were no hassles, no post offices, no polices. It arrived right at my door step. Within less than an hour, I find myself practicing in front of the mirror, addicted to what it accomplished. There is no doubt that You will receive what is promised and you will too be able to perform what is shown in the trailers.

Not only did it pass the “wife test” the visual nature of the effect attracts alot of attention when done in an impromptu setting.

So what are the good points to this?

Advantages
1) Portable
This has to be the top reason why close up magicians should get a hold of this. It is basically a small “device” that You carry all around with You. Like your keys, wallet, PEN..etc. Its like holding on to a small miracle in your pocket. Sounds tempting enough?

2) Almost Zero Set Up
The move is done right in front of the spectator. There is no preparation, no reset required. So just take it out, and perform. Sweet.

3) ONLY Practical Smoke Device in the market
Disclaimer: To the best of my knowledge & from personal experience.
As mentioned earlier, the other smoking devices in the market requires more exaggerated set-ups and even restricts the choice of clothing. “Smoke” on the other hand, can be done naked. So if You’ve been thinking of having this effect in your repertoire, this is it. At least for a trial before getting the big guns.

4) Safety
Some of the other smoke devices were said to be rather hazardous. “Smoke” can be handled safely and it is claimed to be safe for the human body. Many have speculated quite a bit on this point, but I am happy to tell you that I am very much alive, and to start with, You should really have other materials to rely on than just excessive use of “Smoke”.

These are the good parts to it. Now, here are the rest of the ugly truths. I’ve to say that I did not regret buying the effect. & till today, I believe that it has much potential depending on the creativity of the performer.
It is hard to point out on the most obvious flaw to it without exposing part of the secret (which really is very much already exposed over the net)
Let’s just say that the move required for the routine, is also a move that is exposing the secret. Especially if the routine is not well structured. Don’t get the wrong idea that one could FLASH while performing “Smoke”. You can almost say that its completely angle free.

So here are its flaws, and You be the judge.

Disadvantages
1) Non-Justified Moves
In my opinion, the routine suggested in the DVD is not enough to cover up the “move” required for the effect to work. The entire routine lacks justification and presentation with the cleverly disguised prop. It is probably a personal preference. The effect in the DVD is is still much suited for hobbyists or professionals in close up situations. & it is still a “WOW” seeing smoke produced.

2) Refills
Yup. That’s right. Nothing good lasts for ever. It is also what keeps the good effects away from lazy magicians I guess. Effects like Loops, Kundalini rising etc all require refills every now and then. & they don’t come cheap. The good thing is that the order comes with about 5 refills. & so far, I’ve yet to touch any.

Final Verdict:

Its really up to the performer whether it suits his or her presentation ideas. I can imagine a friend performing this and getting away with it because of his style. I will think that younger hobbyists should find this cool to play with & it is. If you’re looking for a reputation maker, this could jolly well be it for you. As I said, producing smoke is probably as magical as it gets. (:

WOW Factor : 9/10
Durability : 7/10
Practicality : 9/10
Value for money : 6/10

Overall rating: 7/10