Conscious Magic is a collaboration between Andrew Gerard and Ran Pink. Although this is volume 3 it is the first I’ve seen so far. They promise not to just teach the effects, but also to explore some of the thought processes behind them. Let’s take a look at the routines first.
Accuracy – by Andrew Gerard (previously published in a pamphlet) – a coin in spun and two notes are hidden in different locations – all while the performers eyes are hidden. You can then reveal the locations and whether the coin is heads or toils and where the notes are – all without asking any questions.
A small amount of preparation is needed to perform this miracle, but it relies on subtlety not skill so is very easy to do. A nice, gentle, presentation is given which really sells this. In the UK, you will need to choose which bank notes you use carefully…
STFU – This is a really clever use of an old principle. In performance, the spectator chooses a card and remembers it. Then another spectator takes a photo of the first spectator holding their card. The card is returned to the deck – but when the spectator spreads through the cards – their card is missing. They then look at the photo and discover they’re thinking of the wrong card! The card they originally thought of is in your back pocket!
This is just one possible presentation using the clever gimmick provided. I really like this one and can see loads of applications for this principle which essentially allows you to make a card vanish from the deck very cleanly. An extra segment on the DVD explores other ideas for the gimmick. The use of the gimmick gives such freedom to the presentation and makes it dead easy to do. Love it.
The Formula – Here is a strange variation on the ACAAN plot. The spectator creates a number to represent a card. They then deal down to that number in a freely shuffled deck. Their card is at the number and then all the other cards are seen to be blank! Then, even their chosen card becomes blank. This is outrageously cheeky and requires a little bit of chutzpa to pull it off. I would like to road test this with some real people since the method was very obvious to me – but I suspect it would fly past a muggle! I like the sneaky or lateral thinking here. In lots of ways this effect takes place entirely in the mind of the spectator – and as we all know that is where all the most impressive magic takes place.
The White Room – in this effect the spectator creates a card entirely in their mind, and you are able to tell them the name of the card they are just thinking of. This is a very engaging presentation which for the right spectator will captivate their imagination. The presentation can also be applied to a simple force/peak and add a level of emotion to the reveal which can easily be missed in this kind of routine.
The completely hands off/mental version is linguistically limited – and so you will require some confidence with this kind of mentalism scripting and fishing. But I love the presentational hook and think this could be a really powerful routine. The DVD also includes a couple of pdfs – which include lots of extra thoughts and alternative variations – well worth a look if you like the concept.
I enjoyed the relaxed yet thoughtful feel of the explanations. The DVD also includes plenty of live performances to give you a sense of the strength of the routines – though I remain convinced that American audiences have greater reactions than Brits!
I’m very impressed by the quality of the effects and really enjoy the way they discuss the development and application of the various ideas. Although I’ve not yet seen episodes 1 and 2 – on the strength of episode 3 I will certainly take a look at them when I get the chance.
CM3 is available from Magicshop.co.uk for £32.50 (at the time of writing)
Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.
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