John Carey is a real understated gentleman of magic and we have looked at and enjoyed many other of his releases before. This latest release promises “10 incredible routines that require no sleight of hand”. Let’s get straight into the routines.

Opening Time – you name a card – they choose a number – and they match! The performance of this was amazing. In performance you won’t always get quite such a strong result. But with any outcome you still have an extremely strong and all but self-working effect. Some lovely subtlety built into this simple routine.

Think as I think – to a nice premise about learning how to handle playing cards the spectator makes all the choices as they shuffle and cut their cards and choose one. Yet amazingly you end up thinking of the same card. This is disarmingly fair and incredibly simple. (first published in crafted with carey – and if you like his work this is well worth a look)

One hand one pocket – this is very clever. The spectator mixes some cards up and chooses one. The performer takes the cards in one hand (the other hand has been in his pocket since before the trick began) and deals them out – and the spectator’s card is seen to have disappeared. When the performer removes his hand from the pocket it contains the missing card! A simple little gimmick makes this one self-working. I love the plot and the simplicity. Great routine.

Yes you caan – this is a great simple card at any number variant. The spectator thinks of a number and further randomizes it. Then looks at the card against that number on a ’52 on 1’ card from your pocket. This is found to match the card already predicted in an envelope at the beginning. This uses a clever mathematical force and a bit of subtlety to make a strong routine. Instant reset and minimal pocket space. What’s not to like? You will need to print a special 52-on-1 card for this – pdf supplied on dvd.

Scattered – This is a sort of ‘invisible deck’ kind of feeling routine where the spectator makes lots of choices and yet the outcome of their choices is shown to be predicted. There’s a little bit of set up but most of the work is done with clever wording. I’m a bit ambivalent about this – I generally enjoy this kind of effect but am so familiar with the various techniques that it felt like there was little new here. But if you’ve not performed this kind of thing before this is an easy introduction.

A la goldman – this is a ‘do as I do’ kind of effect which starts with both you and the spectator shuffling the cards very fairly – and yet after a super clean looking procedure you have both chosen the same card. This is a great easy to do effect with no set up required. Wonderful.

Dice Caan – a card is chosen based on the roll of three dice. This is found to be the card predicted at the beginning. This may be to do with my mathematical bias or my mis-spent use – but I would hazard that the principle on which this is based is very well known – even amongst non-magicians. This made this one of the weaker items on the DVD for me.

Sync – a spectator ‘creates’ a card by combining a suit they’re only thinking of with a value they have cut to from a shuffled deck – and yet you are able to show you’ve thought of the closest match. There are some nice subtleties in this which give you a lot of bang for your buck!

Make believe – (the only) non-card effect on the DVD. The spectator examines three imaginary coins and makes some choices about who is going to hold what. And yet the coin only thought of appears in the performer’s hand. A nice use of an old gaff which makes a pleasing little routine. I think I would have done a little more ‘verbal work’ and given the spectator a further degree of freedom – but if you’re starting out with this kind of routine, this would be a very easy starting point.

Redford unplugged – based on an effect by Patrick Redford – from a shuffled deck, three cards are chosen for three spectators and based on some random decisions they are distributed in different ways while the performers back is turned. Yet you are able to reveal who carried out which actions and the chosen card. This is a whole lot of window dressing for a very simple force. With a bit of presentational skill this could be a very entertaining routine.

Is it sublime?

As John himself says, these are not magician-foolers but are designed for performance in the real world. That being said, the most frequent word in my review is probably ‘simple’ – and sometimes these felt almost too simple. I think there are 2 or 3 routines that would play very strongly, but several that slightly underwhelm.

The possible caveat here is that John himself has a very understated performing style – and it is possible that with your own performance style these could fly a little more. This would be a superb DVD for someone who was very new to card magic, and a good DVD for someone who has been around a bit more and is looking for one or two more impromptu effects to have in his repertoire.

Sublime self working card tricks is available from the Merchant of Magic for £25.50 (at the time of writing).

(With thanks to BBM who kindly provided the review copy)

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Aqua Ring

An impossibly clean looking escape of a borrowed finger ring from a knotted loop of dental floss trapped in a cup of water. A slightly bizarre premise – but a really clever idea which looks like real magic. Ends clean and examinable – entirely self working. The tiny downers are the need for a little bit of pre-preparation and a cup of water in your performing area – but I can see many contexts where this would be a real worker.

Fixed Quote

This is Dave’s take on a self-working book test using (though not limited to) a book of quotations. In order to make this self-working there is a slightly drawn out (see how I’m resisting the use of the word contrived) process for selecting the page. I don’t think this is an inherent drawback – but does require some personality/presentational ability to carry it through. Dave has this in spades which makes it an entertaining routine – and as the reaction of his spectator shows. There are also a number of levels of subtlety/dressing which hide the principle quite well. I love book tests – and the use of a quotation book certainly adds lots of scope for extra reveals and presentation.

Lead Free

This is a really clever idea which enables you to do a self-working coin bend. You show the spectator two contrasting coins, they choose one, and it bends whilst in their hand. That’s really the way it plays. It requires a gimmicked coin which you may already have (especially if you own Automata 1 – no more hints!). There is also an extension of the routine which gives you a double bend and still virtually no moves, and other ideas which use the principle in different ways! The very simple handling is completely disarming – and I can certainly see this making its way into my walkaround set. Great stuff.

My Hero

This is a clever idea using the latest technology! You send the spectator a photo of themselves, and then they make a choice from a selection of cards with the names of different superheroes on them. When they look at the picture it shows them looking like their freely chosen superhero! You will need a smart phone to do the routine as presented (though you could, of course, do the whole thing with just an ordinary prediction, but the photo is much more effective). This is a really fun routine – the selection process is engaging and easy to do. Makes me wish I had a smart phone!

No Luck

This is a prediction effect using three dice and a nice premise about being ‘out by one’ all the time. A clever principle is in play here which is surprisingly deceptive. Not my favourite routine on the disk but worth a look.

P.O.A.

This starts off looking like a memory test, and turns into a coin which vanishes and re-appears on a card previously signed by the spectator. Uses a couple of old principles to create a nice routine – which could also leave a business card in their possession at the end. An unusual and self-working trick.

Chip Shot

A poker chip passes through a solid table top. A very simple method first found in Bobo, but with a modern twist. It looks like clever slight of hand but a very simple ‘gimmick’ does all the work for you. I’m not sure it makes a routine in itself but could be a nice extra in the context of a longer routine.

Peeky Blinder

Three spectators draw pictures on business cards and you correctly identify who drew which one – revealing the final picture without even looking at it. Gary explains how you can make the necessary wallet very cheaply – though I can see myself using this routine with the Jaks Wallet. There is something very poweful about this routine which far outweighs the simplicity of the method – and the emotional involvement of drawing a picture always engages the spectators. Well worth a go.

Ear Worm

This is a clever mind reading effect where you can reveal the song a spectator is merely thinking of after a very fair looking procedure mixing up a stack of cards with different songs and artists on them. The clever principle used here is not new, but is not widely known – and you will fool yourself when you use it. This is a nice routine – and I could also imagine re-using the principle with other applications.

Weird Wallet

This is a sort of just chance routine using a wallet with four different coloured compartments. The spectator(s) chooses 3 out of 4 pockets and, of course, the remaining one is the one with the cash. This is an old principle (which I first met in a wonderful Larry Becker book) applied to a prop which you can buy online (Full 52 can supply these if you can’t find your own). Easy to do, very clean and very fooling for a spectator.

The Amazing Business

A nice little prediction effect where a set of business cards are mixed face up and face down according to the spectator’s choices. You correctly predict two outcomes and then the final card is found to be your own business card. It is essentially a Peter Duffie routine (from Cards by all means) re-imagined with business cards. This one didn’t do that much for me but is certainly in the puzzling category. You can re-use the principle in a number of ways – I rather like the idea of using it with lottery cards.

What do we think?

The interaction between Dave and Gary makes the teaching segments engaging and everything is clearly explained. They bounce off each other well and often chip in thoughts and subtleties which are really helpful. Almost all the routines are in the hands with very easy re-set. Several involve business cards – which is always a bonus if you’re looking for more work!

We think this is another cracking DVD and are excited to hear that a 3rd disk in the series is in the offing (with the return of Chris Congreave). There is a great variety of routines here, all of which are very easy to do. But don’t despise them because of their simplicity – these are almost all strong effects which will play very well in the real world.
Highly recommended.

Available direct from MagicShop.co.uk (with thanks to Full 52 who kindly supplied the review copy). £19.99 (at time of writing).

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We’ll jump straight into the tricks first of all before making some more general comments.

Your thoughts are mine – John Carey
You reveal a spectator’s thought of card which then magically turns face up in the deck and turns out to be from a different pack. There are some nice touches here but for me it was one of the less striking effects on the disk – which makes it a shame that it is most likely the first one you’ll see.

Compatability – Wayne Dobson
Here’s a clever effect with a nice premise – testing your compatibility with the spectator. Despite an incredibly fair looking procedure you and the spectator end up having signed the same card without knowing it. Can be done with a borrowed shuffled deck. There’s a little bit of mental maths to do – but with a bit of practise you’ll be baffling your audiences.

Wayne Man – Wayne Dobson
This is a fantastic pseudo-memorised deck presentation which is incredibly easy to do – but if you can sell it you will absolutely knock their socks off. I love the simplicity of this and directness – and it can be done with a borrowed shuffled deck. This probably won’t fool magicians but is a brilliant application of an under-used principle.

Future Deck – Jack Vosburgh
From a classic book (Scarne on Card Tricks) this is an effective prediction trick where a freely chosen card matches one you previously set aside in the card box. It requires a bit of set up (and will be a one trick deck) but all this preparation makes it incredibly easy to do.

Automatic Ace Triumph – Kuniyasu Fujiwara
This is an unusual effect (originally published in the well named Japanese Ingenious) in which having mixed the aces up in amongst a larger packet of cards, some face up and some face down, in the fairest possible way the cards instantly right themselves leaving only the Aces face up. Now I know how it works, I still don’t know how it works! It’s a little bit ‘procedural’ but in the right context it could work. You’ve got to try it out!

Emotional Reaction – Dai Vernon
A subtle little routine, as you’d expect from Vernon, using a very well known technique but in a very well hidden way. This enables you to locate a card the spectator has peeked and lost in the fairest (looking!) possible way. Reveal it in your favourite way. Again this can be done with a borrowed and shuffled deck.

Power of Thought – Paul Curry
This is a very powerful coincidence effect with two decks of cards. The spectator thinks of a card from the first deck – and it turns out to be the only one which matches with the second deck as they are dealt out together. This fooled me first time – which is quite rare – and the method is so simple yet devious you’ll love it. Some set up required but re-sets quite easily for subsequent performances. (Paul Curry is clearly a genius – if you liked this, check out Worlds Beyond, the book it comes from – full of more Curry magic)

What a Turn Up – Kaymar Magic
A small packet ‘do as I do’ – where you and the spectator both turn over a single card in a packet behind your back and they are found to match. Not a massive puzzler – but easy to do and a nice kicker at the end when all the other cards are seen to be jokers. It has the benefit of slipping in your pocket or wallet when you need a no-pressure trick to perform.

Route 1 – Dave Forrest
This is a very clever and fair looking ACAAN effect utilising two decks of cards. I love the sneaky and subtle method here – a great example of Dave Forrest’s lateral thinking. You will need to do a bit of work to set this up but it is well worth the effort. A few variations are suggested too.

Double Salto – William B Gibson
You and the spectator have half the deck each, then each choose a card and return it in the other person’s half. In an instant both cards reverse themselves in the re-assembled deck. Super simple to do – but with a strong impact on your spectator. You can do this any time with a one second setup. This is a classic effect.

Further than that – Stewart James
You read the spectator’s mind, spell to their card, produce the aces and a straight royal flush. Quite a lot of magic for almost no effort! There’s a setup (of course) but otherwise self-working – though a false cut or shuffle will significantly improve the impact of this. A great little trick.

So is it really awesome?

Yes – I think it is. The list of contributors alone should be enough to tell you that! The DVD is as usual very well produced. It has been shot in a variety of locations with a range of performers and the usual good-looking ladies to assist! Explanations are all clear and concise and for the most part the effects really are self working – in the sense of requiring no sleight of hand.

I keep wondering when they will run out of material for these kinds of disks, but I have to say that this feels like one of the strongest releases yet. They seem to have plumbed a few of the more classic routines which many newer magicians may have missed and made them more accessible by making a DVD of them. So I’m highly impressed by the collection – although one or two effects feel less strong I could see me using almost all of them in the right setting.

Highly recommended – and available direct from Merchant of Magic – £23.99

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Let’s get straight into the effects:

Metal Sheep

– when I saw the demo for this it rung a bell with something I had read many years ago – but it completely fooled me. Some copper and silver coins swap round without any sleight of hand. You will need a certain something to perform this – you may have suitable things knocking around in your cupboard, or you may have to purchase them – but I would certainly be tempted to do so on the strength of this. Instantly ready to go again – great for walk-around.

Card2Matchbox

– does what it says on the tin. A card is selected by the spectator and then disappears from the deck, reappearing in a previously empty matchbox. I like this – it uses a number of old principles put together into a pleasing routine. A bit of a setup, but worth it for the effect.

Princess Redux

– you find a selected card from a selection of 5, when it has been freely lost and then placed in your pocket. The effect is repeated and then as a final kicker you have predicted the two choices in advance. For me this was one of the weaker effects on the disk. Requires some setup but ends clean and is certainly easy to do.

Free Phone

– a clever re-working of an effect you have probably come across before. You text a prediction to your spectator which correctly predicts the location of three of their personal possessions. A great way to get your website/phone number out to a prospective client. Neat.

Fireballs

– a fantastic and punchy little cups and balls routine utilising some little shot glass-sized cups. The size of the cups makes it very practical for walk-around since they take up so little space and the whole thing re-sets at the end of the routine. Excellent.

Poker Cheat

– based on Paul Gordon’s Poker Deal (and also showing some similarity to a John Bannon effect who’s name escapes me) – this is a comedy poker effect where the spectator makes all the choices, but you still win. Should get a laugh as well as a gasp!

Thirty Four

– a magic square type effect based on an original idea by Jim Steinmeyer. Not only do you predict the number outcome in advance, there is a message on the backs of the cards they have chosen. No memory work and easy to do. Easily customisable for e.g. corporate work or a birthday party etc.

Birthday Card

– don’t watch this one if you’re a music lover – Gary’s rendition of Happy Birthday is frightening! You find a spectator’s card by singing the song. Does require a special something – but again you may well have it, or can get hold of it easily. Don’t be disappointed by the method – it’s the effect that counts.

Kingpins

– a spectator’s ring jumps from one safety pin to another – instantly and visually. As Gary says, this is an old trick brought up to date. Neat and fooling.

There’s a lot to like about this DVD. Some of the effects are very strong indeed – out of all proportion to the ease of performance – which proves my long held view that effect is everything and method is nothing. They’ve done a good job of digging out some old effects and methods and bringing them up to date.

Gary and Chris have an easy, relaxed style in their explanations which are clear and thorough and the DVD is well produced. Two or three of the effects have only studio performances – and I always prefer live ones – but this is to nitpick.

I appreciated the variety of effects on the DVD – and if you can’t find at least one that you will use I will eat my metaphorical hat.
Automata is available from MagicShop.co.uk for £25.50 (at the time of writing).

(With thanks to Full52 who kindly provided a review copy)

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