The Lee Asher Thunderbird & Diving Board Double (PDF Download Reviews)

Price: $28.98 (Both Thunderbird & Diving Board Double)

I was recently asked if I might post a review on the Diving Board Double and decided to do a combo review of both the DBDL and Lee Asher’s Thunderbird. The reason for the combo review is because if you go to purchase either download you will first be sent to a screen that asks if you would like to purchase both together for $28.98. If you are interested in Lee Asher’s magic this combo pack is the place to start so I would recommend you take him up on his offer.

A few thoughts about the PDF downloads: These are a pretty nice way to get magic quickly. Similar to instant downloads and on demand videos available from other sites except in booklet form. Both of these booklets come with video components that when reading directly from your computer you can click on and view. It is a nice system that allows Asher to give detailed written instructions and also provide a visual component to help those types of learners. After ordering a PDF download from the Asher site an e-mail should arrive within 30mn that will give you a link to the download file. Once downloaded you will have an option to save the file to your computer and either read it direct from the acrobat file or print it off and read it on paper(the option I preferred.)

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The Diving Board Double PDF Download: by Lee Asher ***** (Five Stars!!!)

Price: $19.95 (Diving Board Double only)

Effect:

50 page instructional booklet that covers the following topics: One handed DL utility move. Acrobatic Diving Board Double, an advanced version of this move in which the card is launched into the air and lands face up on the deck. Bonus ambitious sequence using a Fugazzi sequence. Behind the back move. Deck vanish move using the DvB DL.

Teaching:

This booklet was very well written and described. Included in the text are over 29 full color photographs to help illustrate the moved described within the text. Also, as mentioned before, there are a few links provided that will send you to a video post of the move in action. I am personally a very visual learner, especially when it comes to learning physical skills. Therefore, I am often willing to spend a higher price to learn my magic from DVDs. Asher seems to have accounted for all learning styles in the publication of these PDF downloads and I had no trouble learning with this format. Furthermore, he devotes over 10 pages of this booklet just to learn the basic sleight. If Erdnase had spent 10 pages describing and illustrating the SWE shift maybe Chris Kenner wouldn’t be the only person to figure it out! All jokes aside, I think you will find these instructions more than sufficient to learn the sleight

Quality of materials:

While several applications for this move are described in the booklet most of you will likely be purchasing this to learn the basic sleight so we will start with that an move on from there.

Diving Board Double:

The move itself is, in my opinion, one of the most useful and secure one handed DLs available. Many may have seen the move performed in it’s acrobatic version and assumed it to be to “flourishy” to be practical for a magician. I can assure you that the basic DvB DL is nothing like the move featured on Discovery Channel’s Time Warp. It is true that there is a bit of flourish involved in the basic move but I find it to be about on par with the Derek Dingle DL or about any other one handed DL I have witnessed. It will look as if the thumb pushes a card over, the fingers on the far side of the deck will then grab the card and snap them into an out-jogged position. From there you can continue to flip the cards over with the same hand(if you are dexterous enough) or you can flip the card over with your off hand. The applications of the move are as varied as with any DL. As a general rule it will be much more deceptive than the standard DL(as are all one handed DLs) because laity generally can’t grasp the concept that such a move would be possible with just one hand. It might not be quite as deceptive a move as a push-off double only because it does not pretend to mimic the moves of a standard deal. Here is a demo I put together of the basic DvB DL. http://www.vimeo.com/9215963

Difficulty:

Expect it to take some time to master. The only other one handed DL I have worked on is the move Brian Tudor describes in Generation Extreme. The DvB DL takes advantage of a few characteristics of card construction that makes it a little more secure than the Tudor DL. Perhaps the most difficult part of this DL is that it is a no-get-ready DL. To offset this Asher does describe a way in which you can get into the DvB DL with a standard break. It took me several weeks to get the move down while using the standard pinky break and several months to get the move down using the no-get-ready approach. The good news is that, because of the standard break method, most of you will be safely performing with this long before you have completely mastered the move. There are still times where either I, or the deck I am performing with, are not in the right “zone’ for the no-get-ready but when this happens I can always revert to a pinky break. One final note on the difficulty, because this move relies on the physics of how cards move you will find certain cards will perform this move more securely than others. I don’t mean to imply that the move cannot be performed with any deck of cards but once you learn the move you will get an intuitive sense of just how freely you can perform the move and with what decks. In the demo video above I am able to flip the DL over with one hand and even give it a little spin. I would have to revert to a somewhat of a standard turnover with a Bike 808.

Applications:

Same as with standard DL

Acrobatic Diving Board Double:

This is the handling that gets the most attention. It is a nice flourish and might even be good for a card production but completely useless for magic. Basically the DL is flipped in the air and lands on the deck. Here is a performance video from the demo trailer:

Difficulty:

Getting the cards to fly in the air is no problem. Getting them to land on the deck will take some work! When you first start learning the basic move cards will launch in the air by accident so the real trick to both moves is learning to control when it launches and when it doesn’t. Controlling the flight is the most difficult part, more so if you like to play around with many different cards. Minor differences in card stock stiffness and overall card weight will change the height and power of this move so you need to get a feel for how hard to launch each card. Again, catching the card is the toughest part. I rarely bother to catch the card by having it land back on the deck. Generally if I use this move I will do it as a production and catch the DL with my off hand.

Applications:

Flourishes and productions

Bonus Ambitious:

This is simply using the DvB DL in an ACR. You flip the DL and display. Next flip it back to face down. Cut the pack placing the DL in the center of the right hand pack and then break open the left hand packet placing the right hand packet in between. As Asher explains it is a Fugazzi sequence using a DvB DL.

Difficulty:

Once you have learned the DvB DL it is no sweat.

Applications:

ACR

The Exercise:

This is just a quick deck flip I’m sure most of you are aware of. In one hand flip the deck 180 degrees. It is taught here to give you a feel for proper pressure for areal moves. When you get good at it you might be able to do this.

Difficulty;

The flip is easy. Shooting off the double, flipping the deck, and catching the double….Do I really need to say more?

Applications:

Impressing your buddies, showing off to girls, winning bar bets, and other forms of male status displays. Sadly our species is devoid of manes, antlers, and peacock feathers so we have been forced to evolve through tight jeans, gold medallions, mullets, and now this.

Behind the back:

Flipping the DvB DL from behind the back and catching in front.

Difficulty:

Lee says it is no more difficult than the Acrobatic DvB DL. Supposedly it just ads more of a juggling element to the effect. Personally I haven’t bothered with this one.

Applications:

See above.

Deck Vanish: In the action of flipping an Acrobatic DvB DL the deck vanishes.

Difficulty:

Not easy but not as hard as it sounds either.

Applications:

Vanishing a deck!

Other comments on the booklet:

Lee is great at citing his work. This is great because it not only gives you references on where moves come from but it also helps us magicians keep our history alive. In this booklet he describes some of the process by which he developed the move. The DvB DL was first released in his now out of print notes “Cutting Up a Live One”. If you are interested in just the basic move it can be found in “Le’ Asher: French Tour ‘99” http://www.leeasher.com/store/books/le_asher.html but the description within is only 2 pages and not as in depth as this. In this PDF he includes a quick history of the DL which includes a citation of the first magician ever to publish the DL. Vernon anyone? Wrong! It was Richard Neve in his book “The Merry Companion” published in 1716!

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Thunderbird (the Modern Ace Production) ***** (Five Stars!!!)

Price: $14.99 (Thunderbird only)

Effect:

Four Aces appear 1 by one from the fingertips. One variation to the standard Thunderbird production is taught.

 

Teaching: Similar in breadth and quality as the DvB DL PDF download. Thunderbird is a 15 page manuscript with three extra pages of advertising. Again this one is a well made manuscript for the visual learner. A total of 29 photos are included and two links are provided. One link directs you to a performance video and the other shows the production from an exposed view.

Quality of Effect: The Thunderbird owes its lineage to Cliff Green’s Phoenix Aces. From outstretched hands aces appear one by one. It is a really well designed effect that is a perfect opener for any card routine, especially if the routine will involve a few packet effects. Asher originally designed it to open for his Asher Twist effect but any trick you can do with four cards would be a good follow up.(a four ace ambitious, Marlo’s four aces to pockets, The Four Queens ect.) There are other four card productions out there but I find this one to be my personal favorite with it’s blend of both flash and simplicity. Perhaps it’s best to just take a look for yourself.

There is a variation taught in which the third ace is produced back forward to the audience instead of face forward. It isn’t much of a variation and he uses it in order to accentuate the ace of spades so that it can be produced in the center of the formation and be revealed last. I personally don’t think it is necessary and I am obviously not alone as I have yet to see anyone of the 80+ YouTube performance videos use it.(not that I watched every single one of them…I’m not that lonely!)

 

Difficulty: This effect is not as difficult as you might think. That said it will still take a lot of practice in front of the mirror before you feel comfortable performing it to an audience. The basic move can probably be learned within a day of reading and studying the PDF however it may take weeks of practice to perform it without “flashing.” It is likely no secret that it involves some palming. Fortunately for us Lee devotes an entire section of the booklet just to learning the palm(s) used. He also devotes another section to ways in which you can comfortable “hold out” just prior to performance.

Applications: As mentioned before this is a perfect opener. It is quick and visual leaving you in the perfect position for a four card packet effect or even a deck production. In my opinion the perfect blend of flash and practicality. It can be used as a male status display for the purposes of attracting mates and intimidating competitors and also for setting up future dominance displays(i.e. More magic!)

Other comments on the booklet: As before Asher cites his work and gives a bit of history of how he created it and the moves and routines that inspired it.

Final Verdict: When you add up the simplicity in presentation and handling I would say this becomes one of the best, if not the best, four ace production on the market.

Overall Rating For T-bird / DvB DL Combo: ***** (Five Stars!!!)

Lee Asher Booklet Deal (Review of all 6 Booklets)

Price: $50.00 for all six or $12.00 Individually

The original six booklets published by Lee Asher are chocked full of great magic and card tricks.Anyone in getting past “Royal Road” materiel would do well to start here!

Opening Thoughts:

Admittedly I’m a big Lee Asher fan. (Anyone who has purchased from his site will likely know why) With that in mind I will still try to give an honest review of this bundle of booklets. As an overview of the material I will say this is definitely “bang for your buck material.” Contained within this bundle are 31 sleights, effects, and routines and one recipe for pudding. The quality of the booklets is about what you would expect from any magic booklet, anywhere from 12 – 24 pages of material stapled together with thick paper for a cover. The only color photograph in the set is on the cover of the Pulp Friction booklet. The writing is direct and to the point with tidbits of Lee’s sense of humor interjected throughout. Overall there is nothing terrible fancy or detailed about the instructions but I think between the writing and the photographs most of the material should be easily understood. The best part about these booklets are all the hidden gems you will find within. Many of those have gone on to be sold as individual PDF downloads, like the Diving Board Double, Instructional DVDs like Witness, but best of all are the ones that have yet to be mass marketed. With these opening thoughts in mind lets dive into the booklets shall we.

What follows is a list of the booklets with an overall grade for the booklet and each effect found within. I, like many others, am not big on assigning “grades” to tricks since there is a lot of subjectivity in that, but I chose to do it on this review so you can see what I found to be the highlights and then jump to that specific review. Hopefully this will save you a bit of time sifting through all this.

How to interpret this review:

Each effect description will be color coded based on my personal favorites. (Red) as in red hot! This is an effect that has a clever method and delivers a powerful effect. The kind of effect that most people will find a place for in their show. (Orange) Hot. This is an effect that either has a really clever method or delivers a powerful effect but perhaps not both. Most performers will be able to use at least some part of this effect and tweak it to their liking without much trouble. (Green) (this was going to be yellow but you couldn’t read yellow) Warm. This is a good effect but neither the method or the presentation will likely “blow you away.” It will be an effect that some people will get a lot of use out of and others will not. Most people will “like” the effect but few people will “LOVE” the effect. (Purple) Neutral. This is an effect that some folks might like and some folks wont. It will all depend on individual styles.(Blue) Cold! This is an effect that I estimate most people will not like. It either delivers an unimpressive climax or the method used is convoluted or just plain bad.

A quick look at the booklets and the effects within::

Sex Sells

Yo: C

 

Tray Sheik: B

BS Control: A

Various Ideas: C

Old Gambler vs The Young Card Punk: B

Overall: B+

[Read the Full Sex Sells Review]

Thinking Out Loud

The Ripper: B

Asheresque: B

Joking Around: C

Deuce Bag: A++

Tres Pas: C

Overall Grade: A

[Read the Full Thinking Out Loud Review]

Lee Asher French Tour ‘99

You Bet Your Asher: B

Magic Finger Box Of Death: B

Diving Board Double: B (but the move itself is an A++, I recommend getting the pdf download dedicated to this move)

Making Ripples: B

Overall Grade: B

[Read the Full Lee Asher French Tour ‘99 Review]

Pulp Friction

New Addition to the Thunderbird: C

Pulp Friction: B

Multi Peek Control With No Change to Bottom Card: B

Red Black Separation: A

 

Touche’…is What You Say? A++

Overall Grade: A

[Read the Full Pulp Friction Review]

Hand Jobs

Third Fastest Card Trick In the World(AKA Betraying Braue): B

Losing Control: A

Slap That Ace: B

Fan-see Meeting Both of You Here: D

Not Impressive: A

Cheek to Cheek Asher Style:A

Brute Force: B-

Overall Grade: A

[Read the Full Hand Jobs Review]

Close Cover Before Striking

Wipe Your Ace: B

Face Down Silver Surfer: B

Put Your Tray Tables in the Upright Position: C

Rosie Palm: B

Resistance is Feudal: A

That’s A Wrap: B+

Overall Grade: B+

[Read the Full Close Cover Before Striking Review]

Overall Thoughts On 6 For $50.00 Booklet deal:

On and off for 9 months I have been working my way through this material and for the last month (when I decided to write this review) I have been devoting the majority of my practice time to this work. I am far from mastering any of this so I feel a bit leery about dismissing anything I rated a C or D because it is just possible I have yet to put in the time to understand how good it is. Because of that I strongly recommend you look at this package as a whole and understand that if something rated a ‘D” it is a subjective grade that I gave it and also to understand that that “D” or “C” should be compared against other material within the Lee Asher booklets. Overall this is a fantastic set of card magic that includes top card controls, bottom card controls, a DL, a steal, transposition plots, assembly plots, oil and water plots, and the list goes on. Anyone who is serious about card magic should get this set of booklets. Anyone who gets this set of booklets should force themselves to work through every trick and sleight in the book. I found that some of the stuff I liked the most wasn’t the obvious or “top billed” effect from the booklet. Furthermore, many of the effects and moves that I personally won’t use still gave me ideas on how to improve other effects and sleights I do use. Overall I can’t see any intermediate card magician not finding value in these booklets if they give them the time they deserve.

Overall Grade for the Booklet Deal: ***** (5 Stars!!!)

Lee Asher Booklet Deal (Review of Thinking Out Loud)

Price: $50.00 for all six or $12.00 Individually

Thinking Out Loud **** (Four Stars)

[Asher Booklets Main Page]

The Ripper:

The magician displays a double backed card. In a flash he “rips” it into two jacks and again into two more jacks. In the end one card has turned into 4.

Teaching and Methodology

This is one of the easiest 4 card productions out their. Add to that the quick visual nature and you have a great little production for beginning card magicians. Once you have learned Phoenix aces and or Thunderbird you probably won’t have much use for this but this would be a nice addition to any newer magician. The only problem with it being in this booklet is that, quite often Asher will give you a free download of this when you buy from his site. So chances are many of you will already have this.

Overall Grade Fun for a beginner..B

Asheresque:

A tabled card control to the top of the deck.

Teaching and Methodology

This is kind of a tabled convincing control that brings the card to the top instead of the bottom. Part of the control is done by having the spectator cut the pack where they want the card to go to. The combination of moves and spectator interaction really help sell this control. If you do magic at or near a table I expect you will find some good use out of this one.

Overall Grade This one has lots of potential but Asher’s “Losing Control” accomplishes much of the same in an in-the-hands version…. B

Joking Around:

The magician has a card selected and when it is time for the reveal he gets the wrong one. Frustrated he begins folding and tearing at the card and when all is said and done he has torn the card into the shape of a King of Diamonds…the spectators card.

Teaching and Methodology

This is basically a way to tear up a card and make it look like a couple of K pips and a Diamond pip. It’s okay I guess.

Overall GradeMehh? C

Single Piece Version:

As above except the torn card stays in one piece instead of three. Same overall opinion.

Deuce Bag:

Magician pulls out a sealed zip-lock style plastic bag and inside is a Joker. He claims that it is his lucky Joker and asks the spectator hold on to it. He than has another spectator pick a card. After some magical gestures the card and the Joker change places.

Teaching and Methodology

This is one of the true hidden gems of Asher’s Booklets. This effect has been renamed “Witness” and sells as a $20.00 download. It is basically a card to impossible location trick. It was originally named Deuce bag because Asher prefers to use a 2 because it contrasts well with the Joker. Depending on you own card skills this one can be done with varying levels of “cleanliness.” With a few modifications this one can be done with the bag and the deck never making contact what so ever. Deuce bag cannot be done with a signed card but I don’t think an effect like this necessarily needs that. Wayne Houchin has a card to inside ziplock trick that can be done signed but that one cannot be done “in the spectator’s hands” so essentially you will have to chose what’s more important to you when deciding between these two effects. Do you want it signed or in the spectators hands. I prefer Deuce Bag and when you consider it can be found in a $12.00 booklet along with four other sleights and effects I’d say this one is a good buy.t

Overall Grade

Fantastic transposition effect that could be, and is, sold individually for $20.00 can be found in this cheap little booklet! A++!

Tres Pass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARsl4kIC … re=related An interesting way to do a pass while pretending to check your watch.

Teaching and Methodology

while this is probably one of the most invisible and “burnable” passes out their the fact that it must be under cover of checking you watch makes it close to useless in my opinion. How many times can you honestly get away with that before someone gets suspicious? I suppose it won’t hurt to learn. It isn’t a hard move so it won’t take too long to get down, but in the end I’d recommend learning one or two of the more standard passes and just working on those until they are bulletproof. Your opportunities to use this one will be rare indeed.

Overall Grade

An interesting idea and easy to perform but it is so situational that I can’t justify more than a D.

Memphis Corn Pudding: A

I finally got a chance to try this out. I cooked this as part of my recent Christmas dinner. This is a pretty easy dish to make and it got several compliments around the table. Although it says “pudding” this is not a “sweet” dish. (I say that because many assume all puddings are sweet) This is a perfect dish to bring as your contribution to holiday feasts and pot luck dinners. You can literally mix all the ingredients together in under 10 minutes(probably 5) because it requires no chopping or complicated cooking instructions. Once you whip it together just throw it in the oven for 45 mn and you are good to go. Easy to make, hard to screw up, and of all the other side dishes at my Christmas dinner, this was the one my guests commented on the most. I’d say that speaks for itself.

Overall impression of Thinking Out Loud: A

I’ll say that the whole outweighs the sum of it’s parts. T.O.C. includes an easy and visual ace production, a very deceptive card control, and a routine that has gone on to be sold as a stand alone effect. Those three gems there more than make up for the mediocre Tres Pass and the “kind’a okay” card gag, Joking Around. Though I haven’t had the chance to try out the Memphis corn pudding it is a fun idea to include something out of the ordinary in a magic booklet every once in a while. His first booklet had strippers and this one had a recipe!

Lee Asher Booklet Deal (Review of Sex Sells)

Price: $50.00 for all six or $12.00 Individually

Sex Sells **** (Four Stars!!)

[Asher Booklets Main Page]

Yo: C

This is a flourish that looks somewhat like shooting a YoYo up in the air and catching it as it comes back down(Chinese yo-yo) For a card visual, imagine a one handed, upside down spring flourish.

Teaching and Methodology

This is a knacky move. Admittedly I have not spent much time on it so I can barely do it. This one all comes down to how much you like the flourish and from there whether you are willing to put in the time to get the “knack.” For me, the flourish itself has not been worth the time to master. I’ll get to it some day but I have other priorities at present. The writing on this one seems difficult to follow. This one has some timing of movement issues that are difficult to describe in text so if you really want to learn it check out the “On the Road” DVD. You will get a better idea of what it should look like and Asher, with the aid of video, does a better job of describing it.

Overall Grade Mehhh? C

Tray Sheik: B

It’s a packet trick and before I give you my thought just know that I am not crazy about packet tricks…just not my thing. The magician takes out a packet of 4 kings and 4 threes (Or any combination he/she chooses). The kings are placed face down on the table and the threes are face up in the hands. The magician turns over the threes and spreads them in his hands while at the same time spreading the kings on the table. With a snap he turns over both packets and we see the kings are in the hands and the threes are on the table.

Teaching and Methodology

This is a collaboration of Lee Asher and Aaron Fisher and it is a pretty easy and visual change. Most of this is well described although there was one move that wasn’t really covered. I managed, and I’m sure you will manage, to piece it together and get it to work. This one will require a good bit of practice to make it look good. The actual change happens with face down cards so it is incumbent upon the magician to use good patter to reinforce which packet is on the table and which one is in the hands,. Obviously the more you practice this, and the smoother you get, the less time the cards will spend in a face down position thus the less likely the spectator will forget which packet is which. Keys to make this successful; good patter and practice enough to where the trick can be executed with a minimal amount of face down time.

Overall Grade

Pretty darn good for a packet trick! B

BS Control: A

This is a essentially a multiple shift that brings cards to the top of the deck.

Teaching and Methodology

This shift owes it’s lineage from some ideas of Alan Hayden and Edward Victor. It will require a cut, or pass, to complete the shift but it has the advantage in that the shift occurs in the face down orientation. (Many multiple shifts are executed face up for controlling to the top and face down for controlling to the bottom) If you have a need for a multiple shift that controls to the top of the pack and is executed with face down cards then this will be worth the price of the booklet.

 

Overall Grade

Highly original take on the multiple shift…A

Various Ideas: C

A series of three ideas that he just kind of throws out there. I can’t really elaborate to much without actually giving them away so I’ll be brief. Idea 1: a neat way to produce a deck of cards if your at a 50s party or other venue in which smoking might be present. Idea 2: A way of getting people to ask to see some magic. Idea 3: A subtle tip to make a slip cut more deceptive.

 

 

Overall Grade Mehhh? C

Old Gambler vs The Young Card Punk: B

The magician recounts a tail of how he witnessed an old gambler challenge a young card punk. The Gambler quickly cut to all four aces. The young card punk sees the aces, counts them back on to the deck and walks away. As the old gambler, thinking himself victorious, recounts the tail to the next passer by and he goes to show the aces that he produced he discovers that the young card punk had switched them for a royal flush! He had been had!

Teaching and Methodology

This is a pretty standard, albeit good, gambling routine. It’s primary purpose is to teach the Frank 3-4-4 switch. The Frank 3-4-4 is a multiple card switch using a count action. It definitely could have some uses but I prefer the trusty(if a bit knacky) 4 for 4 switch by Chris Kenner. The 4 for 4 will work in this effect if you chose to use it. I think the Frank 3-4-4 has a lot of potential uses, especially if you have an effect that would benefit from a count action over a turnover action, but I think some of it’s potential is lost on this effect. In the end I liked the plot but I’ll use the Kenner 4 for 4 when I perform it.

Overall Grade

A good switch is taught and it is a solid gambling plot to the effect but the sleight and the methodology are not a perfect pair. B

Overall opinion of Sex Sells:

Solid B+. You get one fantastic multiple shift, a fairly good switch, a decent gambling plot, and a packet trick that is good enough that it impressed a guy who doesn’t like packet tricks. I’m willing to overlook a mediocre flourish and a few random ideas that didn’t really excite me. Besides, it has a few random pictures of Lee pulling cards out of porn stars bras and panties. Anyone who can find an excuse to include porn stars in a magic booklet deserves a few extra points…maybe I should have given it an A?

Lee Asher Booklet Deal (Review of Pulp Friction)

Price: $50.00 for all six or $12.00 Individually

Pulp Friction: ***** (Five Stars!!!)

[Asher Booklets Main Page]

New addition to the Thunderbird:

A way of altering the thunderbird so that the third ace is produced back to the audience.

Teaching and Methodology

The intention of this was to produce the last two aced at once. It is easy to do if you know the T-bird but whether it is a presentation you will like will depend on the performer.

Overall Grade

Meh?? First you need to know the T-bird(which I did but you may not) and second, I kinda like T-bird the way it is. I just don’t see a need to mess with the best ace production out there so I give this a …C

Pulp Friction:

This is a control to the bottom of the deck.

Teaching and Methodology

This is Asher’s version of a control under cover of a spread. He uses a method that might come naturally to lefties than to right-handers so if you are a lefty you might want to check this out. There is no perfect control under a spread IMO. Earick’s, Marlo’s, the DMB, it all comes down to personal choice because they all seem to be “knacky” in their own way.

Overall Grade

Good but not good enough to replace the controls I already have. I much preferred how he used similar ideas to accomplish his top card control the “Losing Control.” …B

Multi Peek Control With No Change in the Bottom Card:

A way to control several cards to the 2nd card from the bottom.

Teaching and Methodology

It is not a multi-peek control all in one action. The cards are peaked and spread, peaked and spread, ect. I can use a similar technique with most other controls as well.

Overall Grade

The fact that this technique can be done with most spread controls makes this pretty useful to know….B

Red Black Separation:

This is a way of showing the cards separated in reds and blacks, spreading the cards, shuffling, and showing that they are still in red black order.

Teaching and Methodology

This technique uses Pulp Friction for a red black separation. If you are into oil and water effects this Red Black Separation technique is worth learning Pulp friction. Imagine continually showing the deck in red black order, shuffling, and showing it still in red black order. It could be a nifty display of artifice if you get really good with it and, as we will see in “Not Impressive” in the Hand Jobs booklet, it has some pretty cool effect applications as well.

Overall Grade

If you are willing to put in the time to first make Pulp Friction look smooth and natural, and next practice the ins and outs of the Red Black Separation, you will have some very powerful tools for your magic….A

Touche’…is what you say!!:

Couldn’t find an exact video of this but here is Harry Loraine doing a very similar effect, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YwMoeOdGzE

The magician talks about how he has the ability to cut cards to any named number. To demonstrate how hard this is he asks the spectator to try. The spectator cuts off some numbers and gets fairly close. “Good job for a first try” He then decides to up the challenge by having a card selected and returned to the deck. The spectator then names a number and instantly the magician cuts out a packet of cards. The spectator then counts out the cards and they match the number called. Flipping over the last card we see that it is the selection as well.

Teaching and Methodology

The theme of this trick is to show how amazing you are with a deck of cards. Guess what? To show how amazing you are you actually have to be pretty darn good! This one will test your skills with crimps, breaks, psychological forces, and timing. In short, for people who really love card magic, this is a great one to test you mettle. I have practiced this one on and off for months now and have only performed it once because there is just so much to think about.

Overall Grade

Aaron Fisher has a comment in A.O.M. “Some trick you like because they are easy and some you like because they are hard.” This one is definitely hard and I definitely LOVE this trick. Probably my favorite trick found within all the Lee Asher Booklets. I give this one….A+!

Overall Impression of Pulp Friction: A

For a booklet supposedly dedicated to the Pulp Friction Control I was least impressed with that. I won’t be replacing my current spread control but for people who are left handed, or people who really love the oil and water plot, there is a lot of really valuable information in this booklet. What makes me rate this booklet so highly is the effect, “Touche’…is what you say!!” I love the plot and I love that challenge of this effect so much that I have to give Pulp Friction an A.

Lee Asher Booklet Deal (Review of Hand Jobs)

Price: $50.00 for all six or $12.00 Individually

Hand Jobs: ***** (Five Stars!!!)

[Asher Booklets Main Page]

The Third Fastest Card Trick in the World! “Betraying Braue”:

The magician says he is going to show the spectator the third fastest card trick in the world. (it would be the fastest but the two guys who can do it quicker are not available right now) He has a card selected and returned to the middle of the pack. Immediately he spreads the pack and flips over a card…The spectator says, “That’s not my card!” The magician flips over the packer in his left hand, “How ‘bout that?”… “No.” He then flips the packet in his right hand, “How ‘bout that?”… “No.” Frustrated the magician tosses both packets on the table uttering comedic lines of disgust. Appearing in between the two packets is the spectators card.

Teaching and Methodology

This is one of those perfect impromptu tricks for when someone is bugging you for some magic. Quick, funny, to the point, and allows you to get on with your day in less than a minute. The photographs accompanying the trick don’t go up to the final move but it is pretty self explanatory what needs to be done in the final phase. This is a super easy trick. If you can spread cards and hold a break you can do this trick.

Overall Grade

This is easy and fun. It will get a good laugh but won’t deliver that Oh My God! Reactions. I give it a solid B.

The Losing Control:

This is a control to the top of the pack. The magician spreads the pack and has a card selected and remembered. He closes the spread and the card has been controlled to the top.

Teaching and Methodology

The only difficult part of this control is the use of the reverse spread. Once you get used to using reverse spreads this will be no sweat. This is also less of a sleight and more of an “illusion”, making it one of the most clever controls I have come across. I personally don’t perform a lot of effects that use a top card control(most of the stuff I’m working with now controls to the bottom or second to the top) but for those occasions where I do need a top card control this will be a workhorse.

Overall Grade

Boy this one got me! Even if you don’t use a top card control that often I think this one will get you thinking ‘out of the box” with your card magic….A+!

Slap that Ace:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rd30ARmGts Magician riffles down the edge of the pack and the spectators calls stop. Magician then cuts the pack at this point. He continues this three more times so there are four packets. He then prompts the spectator into saying “wouldn’t it be cool if you cut to the four aces?” He deals off the top card of each packet to find that none of the cards are an ace. Looking frustrated the magician picks up the four cards, slaps them on the pack and they change into the Aces.

Teaching and Methodology

This trick requires some prep work however to anyone good with culling it could be done on the fly. Once the prep work is done it is close to self working except for the use of one card sleight. Though this is a fairly easy trick to learn, and pretty visual as well it suffers a bit by leaving the deck dirty in the end.

Overall Grade

Not bad but not as good as Resistance is Feudal(which will be discussed later in the review) but it is easier…B

FAN-see Meeting Both of You Here:

This is a stage piece that has a sort of mentalist theme to it. Magician brings two people up on stage, fans out the deck and has them each think of a card in the fan. The mentalist determines both thought of cards.

Teaching and Methodology

This one uses a card technique that people familiar with Asher’s work will be familiar with and also two techniques that most students of mentalism will be familiar with. Without giving too much away lets just say that one of the methods chosen for this effect doesn’t have enough “motivation” to be fool proof. You had best be real good with certain audience management skills for this one.

Overall Grade

I’m not completely opposed to blending Mentalism and cards but better techniques can be found in Practical Mental Magic and that is 60 years old. I give this one a… D! Sorry Lee.

Not Impressive:

 

A magician has a card selected and placed back into the deck. He says, “What I’m about to do is not impressive, what you are about to do that is!” The magician gives the cards to the spectator to shuffle. He then spreads through the cards and finds the selection, “No big deal, that’s my job. But look what you did!” As the cards are spread on the table you realize that the spectator shuffled the pack and separated all reds and all blacks.

Teaching and Methodology

An Oil and Water routine in which the spectator shuffles the deck? Pretty cool in my opinion! This trick is perhaps the best reason to learn Lee Asher’s Pulp friction control as it is about the easiest and most direct method for this. I think that this one can be “knacky” but mostly because Pulp Friction is kind of “knacky.” If you are good at that move this is a real powerful effect for you. It will take some set-up and the spectator you choose should be proficient with a standard riffle shuffle( think deck switch) but it has a lot of potential.

Overall Grade

This one is a killer effect. It makes me want to put some more time into a sleight that I have had difficulty with….A

Cheek to Cheek Asher Style:

Magician takes a deck of cards, cuts it, and hands 1/2 the deck to a spectator. He and the spectator take the cards behind their backs and reverse one card each. As the deck halves are brought back out in front they are spread to find that matching mates (ie. 3 of hearts and 3 of diamonds) have been selected.

Teaching and Methodology

This is a pretty easy trick with pretty clever methodology. There is a slight, and random, possibility for a mistake but good misdirection and patter can cover this. Also Asher offers a method to make this effect 100%. This is another effect that will require a deck switch but it is also strong enough to be worth having some good methods for that if you don’t already.

Overall Grade

While Fan-see Meeting Both of You Here may have been a poor blend of cards and mentalism I think this one is an outstanding blend of the two….A

Brute Force:

A tabled card force.

Teaching and Methodology

Like his Losing control this one is less sleight and more optical illusion. It is certainly not a bad force if done with the proper attitude. I would almost put it in the class of the crosscut force except no time misdirection will be required.

Overall Grade

There are so many good forces out there it is hard to say that this one really stands out but I would say it is an improvement over several other tabled forces….C+ maybe B-.

Overall Impressions of Hand Jobs: B

Brute Force was merely okay, “Fan-see Meeting Both of You Here” kinda sucked, and “Slap that Ace” appears in a better form in a later booklet but all in all I’d have to say this is probably the best of all the booklets. “Losing Control” is the most innovative control I have seen in a long time, “Not Impressive” allows you to do an oil and water effect in which the spectator does the shuffling, and “Cheek to Cheek Asher Style” is an incredible easy and powerful mentalism bit with cards. I give this booklet an A+!

Lee Asher Booklet Deal (Review of Le’ Asher French Tour ’99))

Price: $50.00 for all six or $12.00 Individually

Le Asher French Tour ’99 **** (Four Stars!!)

[Asher Booklets Main Page]

You Bet Your Asher:

The magician recounts a nightmare he had in which a dealer accidentally dealt him six cards at a poker game. Afraid of be called a cheat the magician took the extra and hid it in his pocket. When he counts again he realizes he has six cards, again he hides the extra card in his pocket. Every time he hides the card it seems to come back. He finally hands the cards to the spectator and even they count 6 cards. The magician takes the sixth card away saying the people would acuse him of being a card cheat(wink wink). The spectator turns the cards over and discovers that she/he is holding a royal flush.

 

Teaching and Methodology

This is another gambling themed magic trick. The magician keeps counting off six cards in a packet, putting one of the cards in his pocket, and counts again to find that another card has appeared. This one could play well especially if your character is that of an affable card swindler. It is well described but you will need to be familiar with the Vernon Stip out move(or other similar move.) Though a fairly easy trick to learn it may take a while to “master” and it does require some minor setup.

Overall Grade

Good trick but not “impromptu.” If you are good with counts and proficient with stacks (the stack is pretty small) this could be a real worker for you….B

Magic Finger Box of Death:

Make a box contraption out of a torn up card, stick your finger in it and contort your finger in all kinds of crazy ways.

Teaching and Methodology

Like “Joking Around” this is more of a gag than a magic trick. Think of it as an evolution of the “Thumb off the finger” gag. Easy to construct the gimmick(ie. Can be done on the fly) and fairly easy to perform.

Overall Grade

For some reason I liked this idea better than the “Joking Around” gag so I give it a B.

Diving Board Double:

This has been my workhorse DL for about a year now. IMO this is the easiest and most versatile of the one handed DLs.

Teaching and Methodology

Well It is hard for me to fully review how well it is taught in this booklet because I learned this move from Asher’s downloadable pdf file.(A review of that can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=156906) In this booklet Asher teaches only the basic DVB DL and gives only the most basic description of it. If you have difficulty learning from books I can imagine you having trouble with the brief description in this booklet.

Overall Grade

While the move itself is an A++ I think most people will have better luck learning from his PDF download that is dedicated to all the ins and outs of this move. Therefore I give the info in this booklet a B.

Making Ripples:

A card is selected and placed in the center of the pack. The spectator is told to watch the edge of the deck. As they watch they can see the card pushing it’s way to the top of the deck. It is basically a technique to add to an ambitious routine to give a visual of the card rising.

Teaching and Methodology

There are two methods taught. The first, “The Ripple” is by Tom Allen. This one holds the deck at the fingertips along the width of the deck. You will see the card rise from the back end of the deck. The other, “Riding the Ripple” is Lee’s variation. Essentially the same effect except that the deck is held at the fingertips along the length of the deck and the rise will be visible from viewing the side of the deck. Asher also adds a little finish by which the card pops into the finger tips once it reaches the top.

Overall Grade

It is a decent addition to an ambitious sequence. Not quite as visual as Danny Garcia’s Fallen but not as angle sensitive either. I give it a B.

Overall Impression of Le’ Asher French Tour ’99: B

I give this one a B. If you are good with figuring out mechanics of a trick with minimal instructions and pictures then the Diving Board Double might make this one an A for you and you could save yourself the cost of the Download PDF. For me, and many others who get interested in these booklets, the DVB DL was one of the first things I ever got from Asher’s website making this one a little less of a gem than some of his other booklets.

Lee Asher Booklet Deal (Review of Close Cover Before Striking)

Price: $50.00 for all six or $12.00 Individually

Close Cover Before Striking: **** (Four Stars!!)

[Asher Booklets Main Page]

Wipe Your Ace:

This is a ace production from the deck. It is a sort of flashy “cut to aces” routine. The magician shuffles, cuts, and turns the top card over on the deck. It’s an Ace. He makes another cut and suddenly there is a face up ace on each packet. He deals both on the deck and cuts again. An ace appears face up and outjogged in the middle of the deck. He deals that on the table cuts again and flips over a fourth card. It is NOT an Ace! The magician regards this error(lets say a 9 of spades) and wipes it across the deck. It transforms into an Ace!

Teaching and Methodology

The writing is fine but one of the reference photos (#5) was either reversed in the printing or originally shot for a left hander. It is not a big deal as the writing on this one was pretty clear. As for the effect? It is not a bad ace production. It kind of bridges the gap between some of the more recent ace productions, where all for aces seem to just appear at once, and some of the more old school “cutting to aces” routines. Even if this one is not for you (I don’t think I’ll be using it) it has a few really good ideas and techniques in it that can be applied to other ace productions or just your magic in general. The first is the way the final card is wiped on the deck to affect the change. It is a combination of a few clever principles that I have seen before but never seen put together quite like this. The other is a very nice pop-out move from Eddie Taytelbaum. It’s no better a pop-out move than many others but it’s always nice to see other ways of doing these.

Overall Grade

Pretty good stuff. I probably won’t use it purposely but I’ll definitely steal a few components and add them to the cutting to aces routine I am currently working with…B

Face Down Silver Surfer:

This is a face down version of the Silver Surfer move found on the 5 Card Stud DVD. That is one of the few Lee Asher products I don’t have so I can’t really comment on the differences. It is a control in which the top card is slid down a spread (thus the ‘surfer’) and into the middle of the pack, and can instantly appear on the top of the deck.

Teaching and Methodology

This is a very simple move and looks hind of cool. This could be very handy for an ACR sequence.

Overall Grade

Good move but not ground breaking….B

Put Your Treys in the Upright Position:

A four of a kind is found in the middle of the spread, flipped around between two packets and as the packets are pulled away the cards remain standing balanced on the table.

Teaching and Methodology

Well I have practiced the flip around move as the four of a kind is produced from the middle of the pack. That move is not too difficult. The balancing portion of the effect requires a close-up pad. I don’t use close-up pads so I really can’t comment.

Overall Grade

I will withhold judgment as I haven’t really practiced this….TBD

Rosie Palm:

This is basically a way to palm the card from the center and the palmed card will end up in the left hand/

Teaching and Methodology

This could be a valuable sleight for anyone proficient in a side steal. Palms and steals take a long time to master, this one will be no exception, so why not learn how to modify the actions of one to accomplish the same thing that another accomplishes? What I mean to say is that most people learn a side steal for a right handed palm and a Diagonal palm shift for the left. If you are good with a side steal this can get the card into the left palm without having to learn an entirely new technique. Making this look smooth will take some work but so to all palms from the center of the deck. I had already learned the diagonal palm shift before approaching this one so I don’t have much use for it, however, if you have yet to learn the DPS or have trouble with that move this might be a technique worth checking out. Also for fans of the Clip Shift, reading this will give you some good ideas for performing that move from the center of the deck.

Overall Grade

Not a move most of you will adopt in it’s entirety but I think there are elements in it that can be cannibalized by most intermediate card magicians….B

Resistance is Feudal:

This is the only performance vid I found on Youtube. The final production is quite different but the effect is essentially the same.

The magician, after some form of ace production, says that he will change an ace into a jack. At the last moment he decides to change all of the aces into jacks. He does some magic moves and deals the aces on to the table only to find that they have yet to change. He gives them a little shake and instantly the transform into the Jacks.

Teaching and Methodology

This is kind of the evolution of “Slap That Ace.” It is very similar in the overall nature of that effect and it even uses some of the same moves yet all in all it is just a “cleaner” handling. It does require some setup but the setup is not as complicated as S.T.A. It also leaves the deck a little dirty, though not as dirty as S.T.A.

Overall Grade

This is a much better way to achieve the same effect as S.T.A. ….A

That’s a Wrap:

You ask to borrow a bill, wrap the bill around a deck, and in the action of turning the deck over the bill vanishes and appears wrapped in the center of the deck around either a selected card or a packet of aces.

Teaching and Methodology

This is a pretty neat effect and I could see it playing well for a restaurant worker as a quick visual opener. The method will take some time to make it look good. I have practiced to the point where I can do the flip in about two seconds but that is not quite fast enough to make this both deceptive and visual. It is worth practicing as it is a very versatile tool. You can use it to find a selection, Find a four of a kind, or even find a packet it preparation for a packet trick. It can also be done impromptu so if you put the time into this one you should have a good worker.

Overall Grade

I personally like it a lot but I don’t think it justifies an A….maybe a B+.

Overall Impressions of Close Cover Before Striking: B

There is some real solid material in here but nothing that makes this booklet a standout among the others. I give it a B but a solid one at that. Next to “Touche’ is What You Say,” some of the most difficult material will be found in this book. That is not to say that all of it will find it’s way into your repertoire but I think a lot of his ideas in here can be adapted to other effects and moves.

TKO & 21st Century Toppit (Review)

TKO & 21st Century Toppit are two of the best topits available for magicians. If you are interested in a utility vanisher you can’t do much better than one of these two products. For a quick overview, magicians who want to vanish small items(about the size of anything you could finger palm) and do not wear Jackets, the TKO is the obvious choice. For magicians interested in vanishing larger objects (anything that can hide behind a full hand palm) and do wear a jacket when they perform, the 21st Century Toppit is the best choice.

As for overall DVD and Teaching quality the 21st Century Toppit edges out because of some outstanding routines taught by David Penn.

The 21st Century Toppit

DVD Production Quality: C There was no fancy musical score nor was it shot on high res. The sound seemed to get louder or quieter at times but not enough to make the teaching inaudible. The camera work was direct and to the point. Not a fancy DVD but good enough to teach the material (and that’s all we really need anyway.)

 

Teaching: David Penn is a fine teacher. He is humorous if sometimes cheesy. He reminded me a bit of Gregory Wilson’s teaching and performance style yet he is not quite in the same league as Greg(well who is!). There are a few card and coin moves that are used in the effects taught that he glosses over but most of those interested in Toppit work will already know these. His main focus is on teaching the installation, toppiting stances, proper routine construction and misdirection, three basic sleights, and the five routines he covers.

 

I won’t go into detail on each of the routines but I will add that the fact that these are included in the 21st century toppit really makes it a standout. Often when you get a toppit you are given enough information to do the main moves required to operate the device but you buy supplemental books and dvds that cover more in depth routines. The 21st Century Toppit gives you 5 full routines that have obviously been worked. Two routines in particular are worth a special mention.

 

“Black 8” is a routine in which a card is selected, in an attempt to find the card a pool ball is magically produced that matches the color and number of the selected card, then the pool ball is magically transformed into the actual selected card. This is a routine that can be done with either of the black 8s or the red 3s depending on your style and what pool ball you may have. I have used this routine as a go to closer for closeup sets for over 2 years. In my opinion this is the best overall pool ball production and the best pool ball vanish I have come across. If you are into pool ball magic you may want to consider getting this DVD and toppit just for this routine. If you already have another toppit you may want to consider getting David Penn’s China Lecture DVD as this routine is also taught there.

 

“Circle to the 4th Dimension” is a giant coin routine that also may be worth your examination. Essentially a coin is passed through a ring(he uses and old part that he tore out of a broken down washing machine but a ring that you get out of a 3” or 4” linking ring set should do just as well) and with every pass it vanishes, reappears, and finally transforms into a Giant Coin. This routine actually won him a competition at the Magic Circle. It is a great routine and while I haven’t worked it as much in the real world as I have “Black 8” I can say that every time I have performed CTT4D it has killed.

 

The other effects on the DVD were good but I saw them more as little filler routines. They are good for teaching you some of the different pitches used with toppits and I am sure than many of you will adopt some of these routine, yet, they were not in the same ballpark as the two I singled out.

 

Quality of Toppit: It is hard to rate a toppit. There are various different designs and each offers certain benefits. Michal Ammar’s design is generally regarded as the best overall but it suffers from the fact that it needs to be sewed into a jacket directly. This requires that you can sew, a kind family member can sew, or you pay a taylor to do the job for you. The primary advantage to the 21st century toppit is that you only need to sew a piece of Velcro in the jacket(provided in the kit) and you are good to go. In a pinch, you can use adhesive Velcro and you can install the toppit in any jacket within a few short minutes. This could be a real bonus if you are ever caught needing a new jacket, or borrowing a jacket, on a moments notice. The next bonus to the 21st CT is that he has designed it so that you have a nice “target” to aim for. The two obvious drawbacks to this design that Ammar’s design does better are that it is more likely that an “over Pitch” will fly out the back of the 21st CT and Ammar’s design includes plans so that an item can appear from a pocket later on.

Applications: This is primarily a toppit designed for jackets. It will vanish any hand sized, and below, object you can think of. I personally had converted my 21st CT to button up shirts long before the TKO ever hit the market and had plenty of success with it. So for those wondering how versatile it is just note that anything you can do with a TKO can be done with the 21st CT. That said, the TKO will still be a better choice for shirts as it is designed from the ground up for that type of work.

Overall Rating: Considering the pros and cons I would say that, while it probably isn’t the best overall Toppit design on the market, because of its ability to quickly swap from one jacket to the next, and it’s generous toppiting target, this is the best toppit design on the market for beginners. When you combine that with the in depth DVD that not only teaches installation and various toppiting pitches but also offers two outstanding and three good routines that you can go out and perform immediately, thyen I would say that dollar for dollar(pound for pound if you are in the UK) the 21st Century Toppit is the best Toppit deal for magicians new to toppit work.

TKO (The Kaylor Option)

DVD Production Quality: The DVD is well shot and edited. I wouldn’t say it reaches Paper Crane/Theory 11 standards yet it is in the upper range of quality you expect from DVDs these days.

Teaching: Not much talking in this DVD which is probably good for international buyers. Instead this DVD appeals to the visual learners. You will be taught how to rig any shirt with the TKO and then you are taught a few very basic vanishes and routines. The one vanish that really stands out in the DVD is a coin in cap vanish where it looks as if the coin is just tossed into a pen cap. This is a fantastic move and the highlight application of the DVD IMO. If I am a little lackluster about the other vanishes taught on the DVD bear in mind that I had been working independently with shirt topit techniques for two years before I broke down and got the TKO. So for that reason, after I got through the installation part of the DVD I not much else was new to me.

Quality of Topit: This is so hard to evaluate for me. On one level, it is small. You will likely be vanishing only items that could easily hide in a finger palm(not a full palm such as with the 21st CT.) A single card or small packet of cards can also be vanished, yet a full deck is pushing it. There is a feature on the TKO that is designed so that you can vanish a small object and then produce it from your pants pocket. It is great in theory but in practice it means that heavier coins(such as Morgan Dollars) are likely to fall right out of the toppit. It would have been nice if a small zipper or other fastener had been used to seal this off. Then you could use the feature when you want to but seal it off for heavier coins and objects. If you choose to seal this off yourself, as I did, then a 3” giant coin will just barely fit in the TKO.

 

So those are some of the downsides of the design but what are the upsides? The way Jeff Kaylor designed the entry to the toppit is just brilliant. As I said, I had been using a modified 21st CT for years in my shirts but as soon as I got the TKO I immediately shifted over to using this. I always had trouble opening the shirt when I needed it and closing it when I didn’t. Jeff has completely solved this problem and this is the reason TKO has become such a smash hit.

Applications: If you want to use a topit in your shirt then you need a TKO. It is that simple. There were a few other designs that hit the market and fizzeled over the years but this is the one that opened the world of topits to the modern, perhaps more casually dressed, performers. You still need a button up shirt, which for guys who want to perform in T-shirts is a bummer, but in truth, a button up shirt can adapt to a very wide range of fashion styles. You can go from a slacker hipster crowd to an upscale garden party with the right button up shirt. Sure you probably won’t use this at an evening club or a walk around gig at a toney restaurant, but guys who work those environments have had topits to choose from for years. This is for the rest of us. Guys who live in hot climates where even the bankers avoid sport coats, young guys or guys who work more casual college scenes, amateurs who perform mostly impromptu magic and rarely wear jackets, and even pros who want to have a toppit handy for those “off duty” performances. Pretty much anyone could find a use for the TKO.

 

Overall Rating: Well if you don’t factor price into this equation then this would get 5 stars just because of the impact it has had in the magic world. Bringing the power and utility of a topit to pretty much any magician is enough on its’ own to cement the TKO’s place in magic history. This has simply been a game changer in magic and there is no denying that. That said, I do try to consider price and ,while there is nothing better on the market, it is not a perfect design by any stretch of the imagination. First let’s hit up the price. My comparison on this is directly related to my experience with 21st CT. There is no more material and construction costs in the TKO than there is in the 21st CT. Also, the 21st CT DVD teaches some outstanding routines. In fact, from what I can tell, Penn teaches much of the material that is in his lecture DVD on the 21 CT DVD. So in a way, you are getting a lecture DVD thrown in with a toppit and the instructional DVD for the toppit. By comparison, the TKO teaches the installation, the basic moves, and just enough of some routines to get you started. Second, in regards to the improvements, there are several ways to modify the TKO that would allow it to vanish larger objects and eliminate the possibility of larger and heavier coins from falling out of the TKO. The fact that these little improvements were not included forces me to drop the rating a tad.

 

What is really great about the TKO is that it has about as clever a system for opening and closing the shirt when needed as I could imagine. I played around with this problem a bit when I had been modifying my 21st CT for shirts but none of the methods I came up with were half as clever or reliable as Kaylor’s design. I think this particular design, coupled with the fact that it is the first truly reliable shirt toppit is probably the justification for the price. But when you compare that with the 21st CT(similar quality gimmicks and better quality routines) that sells for about $20.00 cheaper, I would understand if someone felt a bit stung by the price tag. What can I say. I still love both of these toppits. I just feel that the extra price tag of the TKO is kind of like the extra price tag people paid when the I-phones first hit the market.

The news I heard was that Jeff Kaylor has redesigned the TKO. If he has addressed all its minor flaws and keeps it at the same price, then perhaps the price per value will reflect more of its overall utility and less the “Hype” that goes along with being the first of its kind.

Overall Recommendations for 21ts CT and TKO:

Well even though I did compare and contrast them in many ways you can’t compare and contrast them. Put quite simply, if you want to use a toppit in a jacket, get a 21st CT. If you want a toppit in a shirt, get a TKO. For general recommendations I would recommend the 21st CT over the TKO if you have never been exposed to toppiting before. Jacket toppiting is easier and David Penn gives you a better foundation in toppitting in general. If you already know toppit work I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the 21st CT. I see it as a better resource for people new to this utility device. If you are looking for some advanced work you should probably look into the work from Ammar. If you already have a foundation in toppiting and want to start tackling how to use one in a shirt, then skip the 21st CT and go straight to the TKO. Sure I figured out how to rig a 21st CT for a shirt but it took me a lot of hard work and headaches to get it to work properly. Skip the headache and head straight for the TKO. And finally, if you have never toppited before but you are absolutely positive you don’t want to start with a jacket, then go ahead and get a TKO. It is not my recommended way to go about it but Jeff does teach this so that a rank beginner will be able to learn how to use a TKO even if they have never toppited before.

Tip for all budding toppiters:

DON’T be afraid to whip out a needle and thread and modify any store bought toppit you get. When you buy a toppit you get the basic design and most the work has already been done. If you have a feature you want to add to your toppit you can usually add it on with less than a ½ hours worth of hand stitching. In the case of the 21st CT I obviously converted it to a shirt and in the case of the TKO I expanded the inside room so that I could safely vanish larger objects. Once you learn the basics customize your toppit to suit your needs. More than almost any other gimmick a toppit is something that can easily be altered to better match the performer using it. So don’t be afraid to expiriment!

Magic Wallet Guide

The Magic Wallet Guide is a one stop, compare and contrast, review of most of the magic wallets currently on the market.This is the most comprehensive guide to magic wallets on the internet. If you are looking for a card to wallet or a peek wallet, we review it!

Get your scrolling fingers ready…

…this is a long review!

It is really impossible to give meaningful grades to wallets. The reason there are so many magical wallets on the market is because there are so many different styles of wallet in the market. So the key to this guide is to first give you a clear look at what a wallet looks like on the inside. So the first thing you will see is a picture of the interior of the wallet. Then you will get a write up that includes the following headings.

Wallet Functions: What is this wallet designed to do? Card To Wallet, Peek, Index, Switching, all of the above?

Ease of use(Magic): How functional is it for each of its magical features.

Ease of use(everyday use): Is this a wallet that can be used as a day to day wallet or is it best reserved only for gigs and performances?

Overall thoughts: A summary of the Authors thoughts on the wallet.

 

This page is separated into three main sections based upon the basic type of wallet. Here is a list, in order, of the sections and which wallets are reviewed in each section. Next to each wallet on this list is the name of the reviewer. The section markers are outlined in Bold red so you can easily find them as you scroll down the page.

Secretary Wallets

BKM wallet reviewed by: Erik Ostresh (Custom-Playing-Card.com founder)

JOL (Jerry O’connel) Small Plus wallet reviewed by: SooWee Ong (Semi-Pro Magician from Australia)

Mullica wallet reviewed by: Erik Ostresh (Custom-Playing-Card.com founder)

Hip Pocket(Bill-Fold) Wallets

F1 Nitro wallet reviewed by: Roy Foust (semi-Pro magician from U.S.A.)& Erik Ostresh (Custom-Playing-Card.com founder)

Infinity wallet reviewed by: Erik Ostresh (Custom-Playing-Card.com founder)

Mirage wallet reviewed by: Josh Janousky (Semi-Pro Magician from U.S.A.)

Real Man’s wallet reviewed by: Dovie Kivman (Semi-Pro Magician from U.S.A.)

Triple Threat wallet reviewed by:Erik Ostresh (Custom-Playing-Card.com founder)

 

 

Business card & Miscellaneous Wallets

Stealth Assassin reviewed by: Yano (Semi-Pro Magician from Japan)

Comedy Mini Wallet reviewed by: Erik Ostresh (Custom-Playing-Card.com founder)

I want to thank all the reviewers who were kind enough to allow me to use their reviews to help flesh out this guide.

Special Thanks to Akirafist!!!

To those who don’t know Akirafist, he has become a standard by which other magic reviewers compare themselves to. He was one of the first to start doing really well written, well organized, and detailed text based reviews and he was also a pioneer in making video reviews that were both informative and fun to watch. I was learning from, and laughing along with Akirafist reviews long before the Wizard Product Review was even on the drawing board. We were fortunate that Akirafist was kind enough to let us edit together most of his video wallet reviews. In this video review he covers almost as many wallets single-handedly as the rest of the reviewers covered as a group!

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Secretary Wallets

Secretary (Breast Pocket) wallets are wallets that are designed long enough so that a bank note does not need to be folded to fit in the wallet. They often come with a smaller checkbook wallet that fits inside them. These wallets are generally carried in a breast pocket of a suit jacket and rarely fit easily inside pants pockets. These wallets are still popular among business people and in the Western United States but for some performers with a more casual style they may look a bit out of place. However, the size of Secretary wallets generally make them easier for both palm and no palm loads and are therefore generally recommended to beginner magicians.

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BKM (Balduchi/Kaps/Mullica) Wallet

Going Rate: $45.00 – $60.00

BKM stands for Baldicci/Kaps and Mullica whick pretty much tells you what functions it has. It’s biggest disadvantage is its size…it’s biggest advantage is its size!

 

 

Wallet Functions:

Just like the Mullica it has an inner checkbook wallet with a Mullica insert in it. They did make a modification to the original design that allows you to hold the checkbook a little more freely. I actually didn’t like their “modification” as it traded a subtlety that I did like about the original with a subtlety that I wasn’t to thrilled about. I can’t really go into detail on these subtleties without exposier…sorry you’ll have to take my word for it. As stated in the previous review the Mullica insert can be done either from the palm or no palm. The Balducci/Kaps insert is really slick. This will allow you to get a card into a zippered compartment. You must be able to palm to take advantage of this feature but I think the zippered compartment is a little more exciting than the Mullica.

Ease of use(Magic):

As above the Mullica is pretty easy. The Balducci/Kaps is pretty easy if you can palm. Again the secretary wallet style means you will have plenty of cover if using the Mullica function. The best overall aspect of this wallet is it’s overall use as a “Magicians toolbox.” This thing has tons of room to carry around extra gaffs and such. If you will look at the photo you will see some Ouija cards sticking out of a small zippered compartment on the side. This is a non gaffed coin compartment that I made great use of. Let me just add up all the stuff I have carried around in this wallet to give you an idea. 1. My ID, membership cards, credit cards ect. (total of 7). 2. Greed Gimmick. 3. Three Ring Circus gimmick. 4. Fan 2.C. gimmick. 5. Extra Joker in a ziplock bag for Witness(Deuce Bag.) 6. Cards for Juke Jermay’s Emotional Intellegence effect. 7. Up to $400 in $10 denomonations. …so about 40 bills. So as you can see this thing is a warehouse for “pack small play big” effects.

Ease of use(everyday use):

Well this is the big tradeoff. It has the same size requirements as the Mullica and more. This thing is 19 cm X 11 cm…about an extra 1.5 cm in length and width as the Mullica.

Overall thoughts:

If you are willing to lug this thing around it is a heck of a nice tool. You will really love the cleverness of the BK part of the equation and you can pack a ton of magic in here. I’d recommend this one to anyone who is willing to deal with a secretary. Even if you can’t palm yet you still get the no palm features of the Mullica and if you can palm you can do “multiple card to pocket “ routines. Unless you really want the high quality leather the Mullica offers this is a much better buy overall.

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The JOL small plus wallet; Jerry O’connell

Going Rate: $85.00 – $125.00

Wallet Functions:

The wallet is constructed beautifully with excellent quality leather. It can perform the following effects: signed card to ID case in zippered compartment (palm) ring or other small object to sealed envelope in zippered compartment (palm) signed card to zippered compartment (no palm) ring or other small object to zippered compartment (no palm) Confabulation routine (using wonder unit, that’s provided) Peek wallet Holdout to load cards into deck.

It also has space for 2-3 of your favourite packet tricks. I have 3 card monte in the outer pocket of the wallet. shown here.

 

The wallet comes in a bundle that includes a DVD that includes instructions on all the features. It also has files to make your own envelopes, letters for the confab routine. It comes with a booklet detailing all the instructions. and it also comes with the ID case and the wonder unit.

 

Ease of use(Magic):

I won’t consider myself a pro at all when it comes to wallets. My previous experiences has been the jardonnet wallet and the hip pocket bombshell. Both purchased because I wanted a small wallet. But the JOL always popped up as a great wallet. and I HAVE to say that I can’t get over how good and easy this wallet is to use. I predominantly use this wallet for ring to sealed enveloped in zippered compartment. the load is extremely easy and very very fast. this also applies to the card to id case in compartment. the load is fast and can be done in the action of taking the wallet out of the breast pocket. I was e mailing Jerry himself and he was the one that suggested that I can even do the ring to zippered compartment using the no palm feature. although it can’t come out of an envelop, the spectator can be holding your wallet the whole time which makes the effect just as strong. the no-palm feature is equally fast to load. I think Akirafist has a vid of him doing a really quick review of it and it shows him loading it. don’t have the link…sorry. but, easy to load, and very deceptive. The DVD that comes with the wallet shows all the features and how to use it with all the subtleties. I personally haven’t tried the confab routine with the wonder unit or the peek function. but, the peek function is VERY easy, and as eotresh mentioned earlier, your patter and routining has to justify putting the card in the wallet in the first place. The holdout feature is ok. I don’t use it at all as I’m using the wallet for the other functions. Its just easier for me to load using other methods.

Ease of use(everyday use):

this is probably the biggest downfall. it is large. 6×4 inches. I have tried carrying all my stuff in it for everyday use. It does have a few slots for notes, 4 CC slots (the large plus has 6CC I think). but because this was the small plus, my notes had a difficult time fitting in the slots and had to be folded which defeats the purpose really. I think the large plus would go better here in terms of storing notes and CC. I tried to use it everyday, but it just got silly and I reverted back to my wallet.

Overall thoughts:

FINALLY! I have a CTW that I’m happy enough to use in my act and strolling. The ID case is perfect for strolling as it resets almost straight away. Its constructed beautifully and smells of high quality leather. it has multiple features and have something for everyone here. Some people will not like the size, and some will also hate the outside pocket. I’ve heard people commenting that it doesn’t look “real”. I know the JOL billfold has a similar design and some are not too keen on it. But, when I go into an act, they dont’ know what wallet I carry anyway, and when I open the zip, and then take out the envelope/ID case, they don’t really give a damm what type of wallet it is!!! The last disadvantage is the cost. yes….its probably one of the most expensive wallets out there, But it is worth every penny and heck, you do get what you pay for!!!

Jerry O’Connell London, Plus wallet – By Jerry O’Connell.

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Mullica Wallet

Going Rate: $45.00

Well this is the tried and true secretary style wallet with one of the most common loading gaffs, the Mullica Insert. The card comes from inside a checkbook wallet that is inside the secretary wallet.

 

Wallet Functions:

There is pretty much one function, pulling a card out from inside the inner wallet. Obviously the Mullica insert is the gimmick used. Mullica inserts, in general , can be used as “no palm” or “palm” wallets depending on your preference.

Ease of use(Magic):

This is probably the easiest CTW method. The large secretary style wallet will give you plenty of cover whether you choose to perform your CTW with or without a palm.

 

Ease of use(everyday use):

Hrmmm…It is a secretary wallet. That should give you an idea of how it fits your style. Obviously for a formal performance(wearing a sport coat) you should have no trouble with this wallet but for casual day to day use it depends on your clothing choices. Where I grew up (the mountain west) it was quite popular for western style dresser(rednecks) to wear Levi 501s with a western style secretary wallet hanging ½ way out their back pocket. (Everyone has guns in Wyoming so we don’t worry about pickpockets to much) If that is your style you will have no trouble with this wallet once you find some tassels to put on it, for the rest of us blue jeans are out. Personally I wear a lot of cargo pants and I find that many of those pants also have deep front pockets that will fit a Mullica. Total size: 17.8 cm X 9.5 cm

Overall thoughts:

This is a very easy wallet to use and a good place to start if you are looking for a good CTW. If you wear sport coats or pants with deep front pockets this can also be a a practical every day wallet. This doesn’t have all the features of a lot of wallets so I would only recommend it for beginners who fit the clothing requirements previously stated. One last thing to note-my Mullica came with the best quality leather of the three wallets I own. It is genuine leather not the nagahide (sp) imitation leather of the Triple Threat and the BKM….of course if you are a vegan that would be a reason not to buy this.

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Hip Pocket(Billfold) Wallets

These wallets are the most common style of wallet you are likely to see. These wallets are usually bi-fold or tri-fold and are designed to fit easily in your pants pockets. Magicians tend to prefer them since they fit a wider variety of clothing, and thus character, styles. The disadvantage is that they are usually harder to load than secretary styles, especially for the no-palm types.

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F1 Nitro Wallet

Going Rate: $115.00 – $145.00

Another amazing wallet by alakazam! This is the wallet that I carry all day. It just fits my style. I however do not feel that It would be fair to consider this an every day wallet as the Bill compartment has been partitioned off but there are plenty of places to carry my ID and credit cards.

Wallet Functions:

This is a palm and no palm card to wallet that has the card emerge from a zippered compartment in the wallet. This also has 2 peek functions, Out To Lunch, and many other uses.

Ease of use(Magic):

This wallet can load from two different places. One would be best for palmed card to wallet and the other for no palmed card to wallet. You can do a Kaps style insert and a Mullica style insertion with this wallet. This is probably one of the easier loading wallets I have seen. As you can see in the photo, it is a little larger than the Triple threat witch will make it easier to avoid flashing during a no-palm load.

In addition to the basic structure of the wallet itself, the F-1 Nitro comes with another gimmick that makes the Card to Wallet feature even faster and easier. The gimmick does all of the work! I am finally able to load right under the spectators nose and the load is so fast that I do not believe any spectator would even remember the deck being anywhere close to the wallet.

Ease of use(everyday use):

This should be okay for a day to day wallet but the main compartment of the wallet is partitioned so that you would have to fold your bills in half to use. There are 4 credit card/ Id card slots on the left side of the wallet and 3 slits on the right side that are a bit tight for credit cards but should hold business cards just fine.

Overall thoughts:

In my opinion it is a great wallet that fits my style, however I must mention that it comes with a little something that has to be added to the deck. This may be a turn off for some, but for me, I am loving this wallet. In 20+ years I have never used anything this easy and clean.

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Infinity Wallet

Going Rate: $100.00 – $140.00

The Infinity is close to about as perfect a wallet you can get if you are a generalist magician who does a little crossover into mentalism or mental magic. It is really a Swiss Army knife of magic wallets that is intended to not only for use in magic but also to be a fully functioning magic wallet as well.

Wallet Functions:

This wallet has three main features. It is a palm only card to wallet with a reveal inside a snapped shut ID case, it is a peek wallet for mentalism, and it has shogun feature which serves as both a switching device and an index.

Ease of use(Magic): The CTW feature is essentially the same style as used in the “Real Man’s wallet.” It is a palm only load and it helps, though is not mandatory, to do a minor set up prior to performance. This set up can be done pretty easy and takes just a moment of fishing around in your pocket. Perhaps not something you want to do in the middle of a set but something you could do as you walk from table to table in a walk-around set. The load itself is one of the easier and faster on the market.

The peek feature is a nice one but to be totally “burnable” it will require that your wallet is set up in a certain way. One possible complaint is that the peek feature does not double as a double writing/ nail writing feature. Overall an “OKay” peek but certainly not the best among magic wallets.

The Showgun opens up a ton of possibilities for magicians and mentalists. It acts as a switching device and an index. For the mentalist/mental magician it can index effects like Kolossal Killer and Heirloom, and for the magician it can be used to store a lot of small flat items such as packet tricks, loops, flash paper, etc.

Ease of use(everyday use):

One of the best parts of this wallet is that it is a fully functioning every day wallet. It is not giant, like the secretary wallets, and the billfold compartment is not partitioned like some hip pocket wallets(F1 & Triple Threat). The irony is that I have found that the snap shut ID compartment(originally intended to serve as the CTW reveal) is actually a handy feature on an every day wallet. When I need to show my driver’s licence for any reason I just pop it open and I am good to go.

Overall thoughts:

While I am sure professionals will love this wallet, I think that, in some ways, the demands of what amateurs and semi-professional magicians is actually more stringent where magic wallets are concerned. Semi-pros and dedicated amateurs need a wallet to be fully functioning as both a magic wallet and an every day wallet. They rarely have the luxury of having a wallet dedicated only for performances and then a separate one for every day use. The need an all in one package and the Infinity comes closer than any wallet on the market to provide this. Perhaps a full time mentalist may want to opt for a Stealth Assassin, and a full time magician may want to opt for a JOL, but if you are looking for a wallet that will do a good job for both and function as an everyday wallet that fits in your back pocket, the Infinity is the best you can get.

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The Mirage Wallet by Mark Mason:

Going Rate: $38.00 – $55.00

Wallet Functions:

The Mirage Wallet is an amazing gimmick that will allow you to perform a no palm, signed card to wallet. The signed card ends up paper clipped inside a pocket in the wallet. One note about this is that the gimmick comes in either Red or Blue backed bicycle card so if you use a specific deck this may limit you. However, the instructions do include a note on modifying the gimmick if needed.

Ease of use(Magic):

This wallet is EXTREMELY easy to use. Like mentioned above it requires no palming, and as long as you can control a card this will be insanely easy to use. One feature that is really nice is the fact that it is paper clipped inside the wallet. Because of this, you can do a variation of Sankey’s “Paperclipped”. This is perfect for someone like me because I love that effect, yet my mercury fold kinda sucks. One slight note about this is that you kind of have to “break in” the gimmick. It took me about a week or so after I got to figure out how to make it work perfectly every time. As a side note their are two versions of this available; one comes with the wallet and written instructions, the other comes with the wallet and a DVD. I didn’t get the DVD so I can’t attest to how helpful it may be.

Ease of use(everyday use):

I chose this wallet because it was of the “billfold” style. It is about 10cm x 21cm (4in x 8 1/2in) which makes it SLIGHTLY bigger than your standard wallet (not enough that it would make a difference). I use this as my everyday wallet, however it is lacking a few things. Because of the gimmick it only has 3 credit card slots and no pockets which may be a problem for a lot of people. One solution I have come up with is to use the plastic insert that comes in most wallets. I just took the one from my old wallet and transfered it over which gave me a little bit more room. It is made of real English Leather and is of a high quality.

Overall thoughts:

For my first ever ctw I think this is perfect. It fits my style, its easy to use, and I can use it as an everyday wallet. Priced at around 15 bucks (for the wallet only) you can’t go wrong!

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The Real Man’s Wallet

Going Rate: $25.00 – $55.00

Wallet Functions:

This is a billfold-style wallet used for the Card to Wallet effect.This is a palming wallet so you need to be able to palm cards, guys. The loading function is unique so that the card is loaded directly into the pocket it comes out of. The card appears behind a plastic ID window which is behind a flap which is held by a clasp. There is one ID pocket, two inside pockets, three credit card slots and a nice bill pocket.

Ease of use(Magic):

I’ve had this for only over a week so I can’t really give a true and honest opinion until I’ve used this for a while. The loading takes about five seconds. I’m sure after lots more practice, I’ll be able to do it 2-3 seconds. The ease of loading depends a lot on the amount of space in your pocket, so I don’t think it’s easy to do in tight jeans.

Ease of use(everyday use):

This is like they took a wallet and decided to gaff it, not the other way around. It’s a bit bigger than your standard wallet but that’s okay. It looks completely like a wallet and not a prop or gaff. Currently, I have in my wallet: Some money, CTW (duh ), a Metrocard and Paul Harris’ Reality Twister.

Overall thoughts:

I really enjoy this wallet. It’s fun to use and it looks like an ordinary wallet. Plus, it’s real leather. I highly recommend this.

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Triple Threat Wallet

Going Rate: $40.00 – $70.00

Well this is my first “billfold” wallet, at least as far as magic is concerned. Right now I’m in the process of getting used to this wallet but I am beginning to see that this wallet could be a real worker.

 

Wallet Functions:

As the name implies this wallet has three functions in total. First it has two slightly modified Mullica inserts, one to a buttoned flap in the main wallet, and one inside a buttoned compartment that is in a small business card wallet that tucks inside the main wallet. Second, in the business card wallet, in the same compartment as the card production, there is a peek function that can be used for mentalism routines.

Ease of use(Magic):

This is a trickier wallet than either of the two secretary styles I’ve reviewed(Mullica or BKM). Both Mullica features can be used palm or no palm though I would recommend palming for the card to main wallet and not palming for the card to interior wallet. Either way the smaller size of this wallet will give you less room for error. It has actually proved quite tricky loading this wallet in small sized pockets as it’s best load direction is along its length not its width. You can make a modification to the wallet that will make this a bit easier but expect some fumbling around when you first get this. PRACTICE! As for the peek function, it should work pretty easily. The only real trick is having a good excuse to have something written down and then placed in “your” wallet. If you can find the motivation for this in your patter the mechanics will be pretty easy. What this function is likely better suited for is in conjunction with a swami gimmick. Ie. Make a prediction, slip it in your wallet, ask for a bunch of numbers, add them up, and low and behold you got the number! Making this feature work will depend on your patter and presentation.

Ease of use(everyday use):

Well the wallet will fold to billfold size which should be familiar to most of you. The one and only beef I have is the fact that the “coin pocket” that cards appear from in the main wallet actually folds over ½ the billfold area. This gives you two options, fold the bills in half and keep them to the open side of the wallet or unsnap the coin pocket cover each time you pull out some cash. It is a minor inconvenience but still worth mentioning. Other than that this wallet should work fine for every day use for anyone regardless of clothing style.

Overall thoughts:

As stated I’m still getting used to this and would not recommend this as a first time wallet but for those who know what’s up this can be a very powerful wallet. When you see the design you will realize that this is not just a “loading” wallet but an “unloading” wallet as well. Where does that come in handy? Imagine this…Earnest Earicks’ Bureau D’E’change. A card is selected and placed in the pocket. Four kings are shown on the bottom of the deck. With a magical gesture the selected card appears on the bottom of the deck and the kings are in the pocket. Now that’s a pretty good trick. How much cooler will it be if you replace “pocket” with “buttoned compartment inside a wallet?” Reputation maker right there! That is the reason that, even with its shortcomings I have high hopes for this wallet.

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Business Card & Miscellaneous Wallets

Business card wallets are usually only large enough to carry a stack of business cards. Some of these have been adapted with the magician in mind. Generally when gaffed for magicians these wallets are used a peek wallets.

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Stealth Assassin (SAW)

Going Rate: $125.00 – $175.00

Wallet Functions:

I believe that, on the whole, the SAW has everything a mentalism wallet needs. Peeks: It has two peeks. The Sight Unseen Comparison (SUC) and the peek used in the original stealth (sorry, not sure on the name of that one.) Both the peeks work great. Out To Lunch (OTL): The SAW OTL is not so well made as a standard OTL. It doesn’t use the same band as other OTLs but, by all means, it works. However, it doesn’t compare to the “Stockholder.” You will also need some sticky stuff to use the SAW’s OTL. Billet Index: I don’t really use the indexing much however, depending on the size of the billet, I’m sure it could fit 8-10. Load/Steal/Switch: Perhaps my memory serves me wrong but, I don’t recall the DVD teaching much about switching business cards. It only teaches switching with billets/coins. The switches taught with business cards can be done with any wallet. Loading isn’t anything special, nor are the steals, it is just the basic SUC really. Swami: You can easily use the SUC for swami writing. New Features: The newer produced SAW are alittle different to the old ones, the SUC section now has a pocket and there is a place that is glued shut so you can’t use it quite like in the video. The m****** are glued to the wallet.

 

Ease of use(Magic):

Everything is easy to use, (the secret compartment, SUC, OTL, index, peeking, swami, and the stealing), however, I think it requires quite a bit of skill to use it properly. To be more clear, I feel that in a presentational sense the SAW can difficult, however, I don’t believe any of the mechanics are hard to use at all.

Ease of use(everyday use):

Wallet Size: The wallet size is average, nothing too big nothing too small. It will fit in you front or back pockets easily. You can carry plenty of business cards and credit cards but, you can not carry coins in this wallet.

Not really a wallet!: To me this isn’t an everyday wallet. It’s design is really a business card wallet. It could be used as an everyday wallet but, the way the bills are carried isn’t the most normal thing I’ve seen. I have another wallet that carry bills in unique a way but it has a clip. The clip has a purpose compared to the SAW which carries bills in a way that most people wouldn’t carry bills.

 

 

 

Overall thoughts:

 

 

Material of the wallet:

I would say it’s Okay. The leather is nothing like my other wallets that I use. The leather doesn’t feel very high quality however, it does look like a normal wallet to the spectators.

The Construction:

The wallet is well designed. It has quite alot of pockets for credit/business cards. The pockets are all around a average business card size. That is not so good for me since my purikura pictures are much bigger. The m****** are strong enough and work well for the secret compartment.

 

 

Instructions (DVDs)

The SAW comes with two quality dvd’s with over 2hrs of teaching that teach you how to use SAW throughly. The material provided is definitely strong material that you can, and will, use.

My Opinion:

I feel the SAW isn’t really an everyday wallet. To me it the design feels more like a business/credit card holder. So if you need an every day “cash carrying” wallet, and you only need a wallet for 1 or 2 functions, then I would suggest you buy a cheaper alternative. However, if your a mentalist and if you have plan to use, or think you might use, more of the features then, I’d say theres no other better “mentalism wallet” on the market. It really has everything, and does everything, a mentalist would need.

In summary here are some of the drawbacks of the wallet that made me downrate it

1. The OTL doesn’t allow for a fast reset cause it needs “sticky stuff.”

2. Its not really a wallet wallet to me.

3. The pocket sizes are only business card size

4. The new SAW has a part glued shut.

5. The material isn’t the greatest, but it works.

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Comedy Mini Wallet

Going Rate: $11.00 – $20.00

This is pretty much just a gag but a creative magician should be able to figure out a few more magical uses for this other than just as a gag.

Wallet Functions:

It is tiny. That is it! It is about 1/3rd the size of a standard wallet. It is a tri-fold style which is too bad since most hip-pocket style magic wallets are bi-fold. That isn’t a huge deal because if you use it for a magical switch(shrinking or growing wallet) whether it is an exact miniature match to your standard wallet will probably be forgotten by the audience. They will just be shocked to see the miniature wallet.

Ease of use(Magic):

There are no gaffs, slides, peeks, or other magical gimmickry on this wallet. It is just small. That said it would be fairly easy to cut yourself a little slide of some sort so you could load small coins or torn card corners into the ting button coin purse. The billfold section is divided in two but if they were going to go through this trouble I wish they had made it a switch feature instead.

The most obvious use for this, other than just as a gag, is in a shrinking/growing wallet routine. I have found that if you start with the mini wallet, a growing routine isn’t to difficult in conjunction with a Toppit. The mini wallet will fit in Jeff Kaylor’s TKO. What I do is show the mini-wallet it my right hand while I secure my regular wallet in my left while it is behind my back. I then slap both hands together. The mini-wallet is small enough to be completely covered by my right hand. You can then turn the wallet open and open it. While showing the open wallet you have enough cover to slide the mini-wallet in the TKO. You can then show the other side of the wallet and you are clean.

Ease of use(everyday use):

This would be a fine wallet if you could get by on toy money. It is actually pretty high quality leather. But obviously there is NO practical every day use for this wallet.

Overall thoughts:

All you get with this is the wallet. you will have to get a scanner, scan your IDs and credit cards in order to miniaturize them for the wallet. You can then laminate these for the mini-wallet. So once you get this you will need to put a little work in to get the full effect of this gag. From there, you routines are entirely up to you.

The routine I am using now is basically Angle Zero. So the torn corner appears in the mini-wallet inside the little coin pocket. I then to the growing wallet move described above to finish off the routine.

This is a fun little item with a lot of potential if you are into comedy magic. Taking it from merely a gag to a gag with magic will take some clever thinking and I wouldn’t recommend this unless you do Toppit work. However, this thing sells for between $10.00 and $15.00. That is a great price considering the potential of the item and the quality of the material.