Penn and Teller "FOOL US"

Yesterday i went to my friends house and we watch the Penn and Teller "FOOL US".
Its all about fooling Penn and Teller and when you fool them you will win a five star trip to Las Vegas to perform as the opening act in Penn & Teller's world famous show at the Rio Hotel & Casino.

I knew it from the start that they wont be fooled by any stage magicians because that's what they do, what i'm looking for is for them to be fooled by a close up magic and guess what? they've been fooled by 2 magicians.

The first one who fooled them was John Archer he's known for his comedy mentalism, he performed a bank night comedy routine. Penn and Teller thought they knew how its done but when John Archer told them that its not what they thought of, the whole crowd cheered hehehe so his been fooled :P. It was so funny because they said that they dont wanna be fooled by just an ENVELOPE hehehe.

The second magician who fooled them was happen to be one of my favorite close up magician, non other than Benjamin Earl. What he did was really awesome first he shown a picture of a man classic palming a card in his back and said to remember that situation then he borrowed a deck of playing cards from Teller then proceed to shuffle and produce the 4 aces. after that he lost again the 4 aces into the deck and asked Teller what hand would he used and he said left hand so Benjamin cuts the deck and produced the aces one by one and on the last ace he turn around and asked them if they remember that situation, yes the last ace is palmed in his right hand on his back. Penn told Benjamin that they wasn't fooled of his false shuffles etc. until Benjamin replied that he doesn't use any false shuffles. At first they didn't admit that they've been fooled but in the end they give up and said "YOU FOOLED US". In the backstage Penn and Teller were talking to each other that they were really been fooled from the start middle to end.

The other magician that i like was non other than Michael Vincent. He performed a classic card magic routine. it was so perfect they didn't see any flaws in his sleights but its not all about that, its all about fooling Penn and Teller. Since its an classic effect they already knew it but non the less its really an awesome performance :D.

The whole show was nice and Penn and Teller also perform there. What i really like about this show is its really a made for magicians. What i don't like about this show is sometimes they are exposing the magic as if all the viewers were magicians but they are using magic lingo's maybe im just paranoid hehehe. i wish there's a part 2 of this show i really enjoyed watching it.

So now you're so eager to watch it right? well i have something for all of you
heres the link to the show: Penn and Teller "FOOL US"

essencial magic conference (EMC) review part 2

session 5
the host for this session is mr. Marco Tempest

good practice makes good magician (Carlos Vaquera) - tips on getting more in your practice session and talks about the theory of Arturo Ascanio about study of magic


apollo robins performed and explained his close up coin production.

not my kind of coin magic but an interesting approach

the mind of doctor frost (david britland) - watch t.a waters do his mentalism routine in television

although this video performanced is very old its routine/effect is very nice

de'vo performed and explained "the ring" an extreme ring manipulation

he only explained the different kinds of rings and the basic ring move

five effects you never see in magic show (paul kieves) - he talks about different kinds of magic done in theater but never seen in any magic shows

dani da ortiz performanced another of his impromtu magic and a very nice triumph effect which i think can be found in fat brothers 2 dvd

panel discussion
max maven
topaz
helder guimaraes
richard macdougall
eric eswin

in this discussion hosted by max maven they talk all about the FISM, what they expect in fism and many advice if you want to join the FISM competition.

guy hollingworth performed his legendary torned and restored card effect called reformation

session 6
the host for this session is mr. stan allen

how to use internet to be popular/known (marco tempest) - many many tips on how to get many views. how to make your videos interesting etc. very informative after the he performed his version of sam the bell hop plus technology in 3D (you have to see this)

who was the first close up magician (max maven) - story of maven searching for the first close up magician

finn jon performed his beautiful smoking thumb & bubble magic

the mental path (helder guimaraes) - theory about deception. very interesting talk on why we fool laymans/magicians with our magic

the tricked brain: explorations into psychology and magic (richard wiseman) - about deception using psychology, plus many illusion diagram and videos. very entertaining even though its not magic you will still be fooled.

cyril takayama performed card manipulation as a tribute to his teacher mahka tendo

de'vo talks about the history of XCM manipulation

session 7
max maven is the host for this session

original magic (finn jon) - he talks about impromptu magic and when is the appropriate time you perform each of your effects

better than natural (gene matsuura) - he teaches the technique of slydini how hes misdirection works

paulino gil performed a beautiful string/cord magic. i want to learn that :D

7 lessons i've learned froma packet trick (guy hollingworth) - he talks about how can you improve a trick much better with what he learned.

anton lopez performed and explained his very elegant/beautiful effect called "the tenebrio". this is the very best performance in EMC (just my opinion). he makes an origami boat and swan then it moves by themselves. Also a chosen card outjog itself in the middle of a spread. note he doesnt use any I.T or MAGNET.

jason england told a story about the greatest magic he ever heard.

past, present and future of fism (eric eswin) - the president of the FISM talks about the history of FISM, what they do to improve it and their future plans to take it to another level.

session 8
my favorite card magician mr. guy hollingworth is the host for this session :D

miguel angel gea performed and explained a coin magic using an okito type of box & his coin through glass

barry and stuart performed and explained worlds coolest party trick :P

cyril takayama talks about performing his television magic into theater.

richard wiseman performed an iphone magic, nice idea :D

hokasen the 1764 japanese work on magic (ton onosaka) - he talks about the oldest japanese magic book he has and what its content

gaetan bloom performed and explained a selfworking russian roulette style magic. i like his idea mr gaetan bloom is really genius :P

panel discussion
eric mead
max maven
william kalush
mike caveney
they discussed how they got interested in researching the history magic

lennart green performed a card magic tribute to his friend

session 9
luis de matos is the host of this last session

ton onosaka performed a very visual card magic. too bad he doesnt explain it.

luis de matos shows some of the pictures of EMC subscriber

the secret way to secrets, or what i asked alexander(william kalush) - he talks and share his secret what tool hes using to research about magic, what site, its like a online library of magic books + google search capability. he gave a free 1 month trial to all those EMC subscriber.

mike caveney performed an egg bag magic routine

gazzo performed his cups and balls routine very funny hehehe

luis de matos performed his sand in the dessert effect(i think thats the name of that effect?)

after that luis de matos challege cyril takayama perform his cigarette routine live :D
and cyril does it beatifully.

thats the end of the EMC 2010 till next year :D

essencial magic conference (EMC) review part 1

SESSION 1

The host for the first session is mr. Luis De Matos
where he introduce each participants of the conference
and thank all the sponsors of the event with an
introduction video of the emc by mr. David Berglass

here are the lectures and performers of the first session:

puzzles, tricks and magic on the curious aesthetics of conjuring (Eric Mead) - he talks about different approach of magicians in presentation/magic and also what the audience thinks about our magic from skillfull to magical approach.

I like his lecture about this topic it
made me realize how my trick/effect plays for layman.

Ponta the Smith performed live from his matrix routine, ring on rope to cookie spellbound.

He performed all his act with music, i really like his coin effects
except for his ring on rope routine. the cookie spellbound is fun to
watch with a cookie bite effect :D. there's some flashes in his routine
because of the camera but you will still be fooled

dani da ortiz performed and explained one of my favorite effect in his dvd. he makes borrowed deck look like a marked deck

I like this effect a lot because its impromptu card magic
and it fools layman specially magicians :D

Lastly all the sessions end up with a question and answer
from the subscriber of the event. where you will find funny questions
with funny answers from the lecturers and performers.

SESSION 2

The host for the 2nd session is mr. Topaz

talks about creativity (gaetan bloom) - he talks about how to exercise
your creativity to come up with a different approach to magic and
create your original props.

This is the first time i saw mr gaetan bloom, i just knew him because of his
effect "escalator" where the chosen card rises top visually. All i can say is
he is really genius :)

helder guimaraes performed his variation of reset and invisible palm.

things worth thinking about (stan allan) - He talks about different kinds of FAQ and advices for magicians.

marco tempest performed his digital magic stick man drawing comes to life and even marco tempest
became an animation hehehe fun too watch.

everything weve learned so far (barry and stuart) - how they become successful, how they make new routine/effect. and also

dont do ambitious card routine 14 times LOL

carlos vaquera performs mime + magic = refreshing magic

PANEL DISCUSSION:
max maven
cyril takayama
tempest britland
marco tempest
luis de matos

they discuss about television magic, how they get and succeed getting into television

gazzo performs ambitious card 14 times or more. He made this performance for Barry and Stuart

lastly another question and answer.

SESSION 3
eric mead is the host for the 3rd session.

zigzag girl scandal (mike caveney)- story about illegal copying of magic (the zigzag girl) and some moral lessons about it

about attitude (james freedman) - He talks how you can change everything you want
just by chaging your attitude. Another topic i like.

max maven perform a two card divination to Barry and Stuart under inpossible condition
with a solo video explanation not in this session.

misdirection (apollo robbin) - He talks about theroy of misdirection, pickpocketing
and putpocketing techniques. He even putpocket some of his business card to almost all the magicians in the conference including the staffs like the cameraman.

use your imagination (richard macdougall) - like mr gaetan bloom topic but concentrates
not in your props but in your performances in giving details to make it more
interesting for your audiences

paul kieve performs marauder's map folding in itself like the folding bill. he is the only magician
consultant of the famous movie Harry Potter

lennart green performs master of chaos, with his clumsy style magician you will be
fooled how he shuffles the deck he even teach some of his techniques

again question and answerwith a funny question for
mr max maven "How do you make your hair and beard like that?"

SESSION 4
For the 4th session the host is mr. mike caveney

flypaper (luis de matos) - he talks about how you can improve/monitor your ratings in tv appearances. he talks about strategy to develop a magic content to attract a tv audience

idea society (topas) - He talks about being original with your magic performances. he also performed music using his deck of cards. isnt that original hahaha

miguel angel gea performed a coins a across with a glass then reverse the effect and lastly coin through table with the coin change into a chinese coin. sadly he didnt explained it :(

magic goes public (paulino gil) - history how the magic goes public like festivals, conventions, etc.

radical coin magic (ponta the smith) - teach his other effects not in his dvd.
he taught his other coin effect you see in his youtube channel :D.

anton lopez performed nice elegant performance with elegant music and an assistant frog :P (real frog)

magic and cardsharping (jason england) - He talks about crimps and different applications of it.
im currently studying riffling techniques and this is helpful :D

guess what????? your right Question and answers again hahaha

I will watch the other sessions and give you another review. subscribe hahaha

ULTRA CERVON

I was bored last monday so i decided to revisit/watch some of my magic videos and end up to watching ULTRA CERVON BY BRUCE CERVON. I fell in love again to his magic, all his effects are direct to the point, baffling and easy to do :D. I really liked his variation of card warp and his ace assembly. this dvd consist of 6 effects (5 card magic and 1 coin magic). im sure there will be effects in here that will suit you.

WARP II - his variation of card warp which uses 1 card and 1 bill. I like this variation because it only use 1 card to be ruin :P it is also a multiphase routine that will baffle laymans and magicians. i also like how you can show the inside of the card everytime. even though i know the secret of this effect i feels like real magic to me everytime i do it. *****

THE RED BACKED ACES - typical ace assembly routine with a twist, the aces have different colored backs :D. i also like this effect because of its directness, easy to perform and specially NO gaffs or gimmick. *****

the BC card across - bruce cervon favorite closer, under impossible condition while the spectator is holding the packet of cards with a hankerchief wrap around it, still it managed to get in the packet. i like how the effect is constructed and how fair it is to your spectators :D. i really dont do any card across effects but i think i will try this one. ***

TO PAY THE PRICE - A poker routine which involves 4 spectators. they will choose what card to give you but still the magician is still the winner. looks easy but needs a hard sleight (but its much easier in this effect). ***

A MATTER OF PSYCHOLOGY - this is like an ambitious classic effect but uses 4 cards. I really like the patter/presentation bruce cervon, even dai vernon and derek dingle liked it :P *****

HANKY PANKY - A hankerhief gag plus coin flurry plus mini misers dream and a kicker ending of producing a wine glass WITH WATER/WINE/SOFTDRINKS anything liquid hehehehe. If you want a comedy in your act and also want to avoid card magic then heres the trick for you. this is not just an effect its a routine that will get you an applause :D. *****

thats all the effect, enjoy and practice :D.

the mechanic shift

The Mechanic Shift is created by Jo Sevau and Richard Hucko, if you are like me who likes hard moves then here it is :P. This shift is not like other shifts because it can accomplish many different things like controlling a card to bottom of the deck, to the top, to palm, mutiple shifts, palm to palm transfer and color change....... did i say that you can do this with only one hand :D.

heres what can i say about the contents:

The Basic Mechanics Shift - this is the basis of all the moves you will encounter here so practice this till your fingers ache hahaha

Covering Actions For the Basic Mechanics Shift - there are two covering actions that they taught using both hands and one using only one hand.

Control To The Bottom From Centre (With Covers)- if you know the basic mechanics then this will be easy for you

Two Handed Centre To Top Control - this is like a pass but not a pass, it can also done with one hand and some misdirection

Mechanics Shift To Palm - This is my favorite application of mechanic shift, imagine doing the diagonal palm shift with one hand.

Table Palm - if you can do the mechanics shift to palm then this is much easier with the cover

Palm Transfer - palm to palm transfer clean in the video but i think its hard to execute in real performance and its a little angle sensitive.

Colour Changes - think of it as a cardini change without a clean up :P

The Split - the one and only trick included in the video, a very visual card split that looks like a camera edit when done smoothly

Multiple Control - i dont like this multiple card control because it needs table or someone to hold the packets

the video production isn't the best like the other instant download out there, its like a homemade video from your neighbor but much better, they explain it thoroughly but i wish they add some videos about the common pitfalls of the moves :P

So for the someone who likes hard sleights that are versatile then this is for you, learn it and have fun fooling your spectators and friend magicians

THE MECHANICS SHIFT

roadrunner cull dvd by Kostya Kimlat review

So you want to learn a move that can do many things? Well then you should learn how to cull and "the roadrunner cull dvd" by Kostya Kimlat is the right material to learn it. he teaches you the basic of culling one card then four up to the full deck separation plus many applications of the cull like how to force a card, as a control, using special deck with cull and much, much more.

I like how he made the explanations, first the explain the method then followed by a performance (spectator view), magicians view from above and below. I also like the cards he used, he is using a tranparent card (acetate) so that you can see the proper mechanics of his fingers. still have a problem learning it? don't worry there is a section called troubleshooting, this is the section where he talks about the common mistakes that you will encounter and how you will solve that problem.

He also made a live performances of all his tricks using the cull, there are 6 sets of routine that will help you see how it should be performed and how powerful all this effects are. the tricks that he performed and explained afterward are:

Culligula Triumph: One of Kostya Kimlat's favorite don't try this one if you're still not comfortable with your culling techniques. i like this "HARDCORE" triumph because it is so direct, the spectator pick a card, then "really" shuffled it face up and face down then show the cards to be completely shuffled then booooom! it is fully restored except for the chosen card.

Shuffle first, ask questions later: Well i think they is a more friendly triumph than the culligula. what i like about this effect is your almost done while the spectator thinks you will be starting the effect.

Four 4 following: I like this effect but i still dont perform it, maybe i should try it later hehehe, this is a 4 card production of a named card in the spread. note its from a shuffled deck ;)

If all goes wrong: Its like the shuffle first, ask question later effect where you put back the 4 cards (this effect is a nice follow up to four 4 following) from a shuffled face up and face down cards. Then magically restore it. this effect is nice but i much prefer the shuffle first, ask question later effect.

Plus a bonus cd with an interview with adam rubin, michael ammar and vito lupo. and an ebooks.

All in all i will recommend this dvd to all card magicians, this sleight is a must have.

enjoy practicing :)
trycks

c3 Con, Ca, Coimcidencia by Paul Wilson

this is the latest "ondemand" effect by dananddave.com, c3 is the name of the effect which means Con, Cam, Coincidence created by Paul Wilson. this is effect is inspired by the effect of chad long named shuffling lesson. if you saw the performance video of the effect, that is what your audience will remember when they try to decipher the trick. the performance video isn't really everything they omit some parts so that it cant be decipher because it is a selfworking effect (swe) . dont be discourage to try this because of what i have said, it can fool layman and MAGICIANs too with proper presentation.

what i really like about this effect is that it can be done on a shuffled deck which means "impromptu magic" hehehe, also its a do as i do effect not only with 2 persons but 4 persons and they are really into the effect because they all handle the cards.
Paul Wilson also taught an alternative ending method this is also nice.

overall i really like this kind of effect, easy to do but it kills layman and magicians. also this effect isnt reall 100% swe you will still do something but its really easy if you know the method :P.

my first magic video review - SICK by Ponta the Smith

After waiting for a long time finally i got a copy of Sick dvd by Ponta the Smith
Sick is first released in Japan then after a month it is released nationwide by the ellusionist this january, and also murphy magic will release it too this february.

Sick is an advance coin magic dvd made by Ponta the Smith from Osaka Japan, yes he did it all by himself from the performing, filming and editing. In this video he made 11 no gaff coin routines that when you first watch it you will think that he did it with gaffs. The routines are spellbound, One Coin Routine, Tenkai Pennies, 3 Coins Across, Vanish, 3 Fly, Winged Silver, Matrix, Backfire Matrix, Quick Matrix, Backfire Assembly. The dvd only last 34 mins ='(.

The video quality is ok but not the best like the "coin one/two" 4/5

I like the music a lot, its an acoustic type music, very relaxing you will be surprized that the routine you are watching is already finished. All the music he used is from Kevin Macleod. 5/5

The teaching of the dvd is very poor in my opinion. First of all it has no talking in there, it is substituted by a text, if you own a xcm/flourish video like dan and dave trilogy or david stone real secrets of magic its like that. He teach the routines step by step in slow motion then a full performance view of the routine in slow motion followed by a full performance view of the routine in real time. 3/5

The routines that i really like is the spellbound routine its like his hands is dancing when doing the routine, also all the matrix he did (im an avid fan of matrix routine) also the vanish where the coin instantly vanish into thin air then appear suddenly in your fingers.

sick trailer


This dvd is a must have for a coin magician but i will not recommend it for a newbie to coin magic, almost all the sleights he uses are advance.