What’s the effect?

In a nutshell, a spectator can accurately predict whether the next card will be red or black as they are dealt from a face up deck! This can be packaged in a number of different ways, and the detailed online tutorial (which runs to 55 minutes) describes three different frames or hooks.

The first is framed around recall and intuition. In the first phase the spectator correctly ‘recalls’ the colours of a series of cards. And in the second they are able to correctly name the number of red cards in a packet that have been set aside at the beginning of the effect.

In the second effect, influence is the frame. The performer asks the spectator to make a series of choices before the cards are dealt. They turn out to correctly identify the sequence of cards to which the spectator has cut. And in a final kicker the next card is predicted on the back of the sheet of paper.

Greg Wilson admits he only came up with the third variation minutes earlier and it shows. It is a kind of ‘mini triumph’ effect where a mixed up set of cards rights itself. Not all ideas are good ideas and I feel like this puts too much emphasis on the card, and loses one of the great strengths of the other routines – that the spectator is the hero.

The first two are both strong effects. Where Offworld arguably has an edge over the classic Out of this world, is that there is no need to go through the whole deck (so it is potentially crisper and more engaging than a poor performance of OOTW) and it could be done entirely in the hands if needed. Somehow the immediacy of seeing each card as it is called also adds to the dynamism of the routine.

What do you get?

You receive a special deck, the detailed online tutorial, explained in Greg Wilson’s typically entertaining style. The online video also includes a live performance which is always a bonus.

If I was being really picky, I would complain that the deck didn’t include a Joker. Greg makes much of the use of the Joker in the handling – but it isn’t included. This is a pretty tiny thing since if you’re anything like me you will have hundreds of the little fellas in your drawer – but it wouldn’t have been difficult to include one.

This is not a new principle – I’ve seen it before – but it is applied in (to my knowledge) a quite different way. And the end result is a very effective trick which is not at all difficult to perform. You will have to practise a little to get the handling perfect, but it is not far off self-working since the deck does most of the work for you.

It is possible that the deck might wear out if you used it a great deal. But it would be possible to revive it yourself (!) or to buy a replacement. I wouldn’t recommend using the deck for any other effects, but it comes on standard Bicycle cards, so could easily be brought in to play.

There’s a lot to like about Offowrld, and I could see this bringing OOTW into a more everyday context.

Offworld is available from MagicShop.co.uk for £37.99 (at the time of writing).

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

JP Vallarino – Offworld – review

4.4 / 5 Reviewer

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The post JP Vallarino – Offworld – review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

The DVDs

Let’s start with the prosaic. It’s a really nicely produced box set – graphics are appropriate and interesting, the menu structure on the DVD is clear, the background music is inoffensive, and the explanations outstanding (much more of this later). If I was going to be really picky, it seems slightly odd that the when you open out the 4 DVD holder, the DVD listings are in an odd order when you open it – reading 3,4,1,2 – which is neither logical, nor corresponds to the order when you fully open the folder. But this is more or less irrelevant – but the border-line OCD in me felt the need to mention it.

The Performance

Rarely have I enjoyed watching a magic DVD as much as this set. Jermay himself is a consummate performer and a joy to watch. It is great to see some live performances with real audiences which show him at his best (though he’s still VERY good when in front of magicians!). His use of language is beautiful – he is confident and winsome – to my mind it is in every way an extraordinary performance. Using only minimal props he keeps his audience spellbound by simple force of personality. He is engaging emotionally at every point but also with a light humour. You will learn an enormous amount simply by watching the manner in which he does what he does – never mind the method.

The performances and lectures and explanation are all nicely shot – the soft fuzzy edges adding a traditional feel; the background music which has been added to a live performance is slightly odd but surprisingly soothing.

The Explanations

One of the amazing things about Luke Jermay is the detail in which he appears to think everything through – and all the subtleties are explained. Classics like the Tossed Out Deck are given the Jermay touch and his routine is beautifully constructed to become even stronger.
Very clear and detailed explanation.

He includes incredible detail on ‘Touching on Hoy’ and its variations. On the way, I love his frankness about some of our hang ups (e.g. about psychological forces). After a blow by blow run through, he then recaps at speed, helping you not lose the wood for the trees. Everything is covered. Then variations applying the underlying principle to different presentations.

There is a long section on his approach to the Q&A routine. You may be disappointed if you’re looking for ‘hard’ techniques (though there are some) – instead there are many ‘soft’ techniques and cold-reading type principles – to develop yourself. He’s clearly very bright! And perceptive. And I love the way he demonstrates a wonderful confidence on stage and the freedom to explore (magicians might say ‘jazz’) routines as he goes.

I particularly enjoyed the drawing duplication routine – and again you see the way he works from a set of principles which undergird various routines, but the morph into (from the spectator’s point of view) entirely different effects due to the presentational gambits. Presentation is a massive thing on this set and there is much to learn here. For example he has a brilliant take on the classic OOTW which overcomes many of the ‘problems’ inherent in the original version.

In addition to the live performance before real people (!) there are a couple of lectures from different Session conferences, and another lecture including some general questions and answers from a group in Newcastle. I loved the interview with Max Weber – though there seemed to be some lip-synch issues!

Many of the principles used in effects are discussed in detail e.g. whole section on Dunninger principle. There are many valuable insights here – and even if you don’t end up performing any of his routines there should be plenty of food for thought for your own.

He touches on many of the classic mentalism questions – should you use playing cards in mentalism? What should you claim (or what disclaimers should you make)? You may be surprised by some of his answers – but again they will make you think.

There’s a very funny moment which is almost like an ‘outtake’ when the film runs out and Jermay seems astonished by how long he’s spoken about the card trick!

And if you want to know which ESP Deck he recommends I can save you the bother of watching – it is the ESP Origins Deck!

In conclusion

This is an outstanding collection and well worth watching by anyone with any interest in mentalism and probably if you are simply a student of good performance and presentation. A word about the ‘level’ of the material – some is ‘technically’ easy – but experience is needed to perform some of these effects in the real world – they will require confidence and the ability to think on your feet and decent presentation skills to pull them off. I am not saying anything new here – this is true of pretty much any magic – but never more so than in the arena of mentalism.

If we were the sort of site that awarded stars, this would get the highest 5-star rating – unreservedly recommended. Available from MagicShop.co.uk for £70.50 (at time of writing).

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

The post Jermay’s Mind review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

Out of this packet

This is a small packet OOTW with an extra kicker finish. All the hard work is eliminated by the clever construction of the routine – all sorts of subtleties are built in. This avoids one of the well known challenges of the original routine, speeds it up (since you’re only working with a small number of cards) has an extra prediction kicker, and can be done any time with any pack of cards. Love it!

Either/Or

A double prediction effect where the spectator does all the work. They cut part of the deck several times and use the cards they arrive at to come to a number. Dealing down to this number in the remainder of the deck they come to a card which perfectly matches your prediction set aside at the start. As a double kicker the number they freely arrived at is written on the back. There’s a bit of set up for this one but the pay off is that the performance is very straightforward. This is a strong trick, but runs the risk of being a bit complicated to follow. Cameron’s done some nice subtle convincing work on the clever force involved.

COAT

This is a really novel effect using business cards – which is immediately a plus in my mind since it gives you the opportunity to leave one with your spectator! Five business cards with simple pictures on them are mixed and the spectator goes through a random process to turn them all face down but one. This one turns out to be the one you predicted in advance and has a really clever kicker ending. Based on an idea by the ingenious Max Maven – this is a corker – easy to do and very fooling. And of course it fits in your wallet so you can have it with you any time.

Sleightless Sightless

A nice little triple mind-reading effect – based on an Annemann classic. THe spectator cuts to three random cards. You read their mind to reveal the first, reveal the second without anyone having looked at it, and show that the third was pre-predicted in advance. I love the sneaky way your prediction sets you up for the force. There is a small set-up, but it is so easy that you could really easily set it up while playing with a borrowed deck putting it, for me, in the almost impromptu category.

Creation

The spectator ‘creates a card’ by cutting randomly in a shuffled deck and using a pair of cards to determine suit and value. They then deal through the rest of the pack and the magician stops them at a particular point which, of course, matches the card they have created. This uses a full deck stack but is worth it for a really fooling effect.

Find the Kings (with John Guastaferro)

A poker/gambling themed trick where the spectator does all the work and makes all the choices but still locates the four kings. Another small set up required, but incredibly economical set up for a very clever routine. Nice.

Humming Words

Another business card effect, this one using letters. After an involved mixing procedure the spectator makes a word out of the letters they have chosen. Not only can you reveal the word, you also show you have predicted the left over letter in advance. This utilises a principle I have seen used with playing cards but I think it works really well to do it with a smaller packet of cards. There are a number of different subtleties going on here which make for a really strong effect. Disclaimer – I’m a Scrabble addict – so this particularly appeals to me!

Gemini Annihilator

The clue’s in the title – another variation on the classic gemini trick. I’ve lost track of the number of variations I have seen on this effect (and I still perform the original often in an impromptu setting). The principle has been used slightly differently here to produce a prediction of a single card rather than a pair. This uses a normal deck with a couple of extra cards. Easy to do. A nice twist on a classic.

Coupling

Two spectators manage to choose the only red cards in a black packet in the fairest possible way. A nice theme of friendship/relationship carries this one along. It relies on a clever force by Terry Lagerould – which really makes me think I need to know more of his work because this is the second time I’ve come across something by him I have liked. Well worth a look – with a strong presentation this could be a killer.

Date Fate

The spectator freely mixes the cards in an elaborate way which is connected to a special date known only to them. In spite of the fairness of the procedure they have located four of a kind. Loosely based on a Bannon effect (and therefore of excellent heritage!) this is very fooling and produces a strong reaction. Can be set up on the fly and so completely impromptu. This is heading into my impromptu set…

As you will probably have gathered as you go through, I really like this material. There are some strong effects here, many of which require little or no preparation – which makes them exactly the kind of thing I like to have up my sleeve when someone asks me to show them something quick.

I don’t know why you wouldn’t just rush off and buy this straight away! It’s a cracker.

Available direct from MoM (with thanks to Big Blind Media who kindly provided a review copy) price £19.99 (at time of writing).

And yes, they will continue to use attractive ladies as their ‘spectators’…

The post Out of sleight review – Cameron Francis appeared first on Bicycle Cards.