Archer's Essential Magic Classics

Touting “real magic for real people,” this new two DVD set offers Danny Archer's take on magic classics that he relies on in his professional gigs. This worker material - 11 effects - for strolling and walkaround employ a variety of mostly well known props, and there are some card tricks as well.

This DVD is great for those who are developing routines for their professional sets and the difficulty ranges from easy to advanced. In addition to teaching the effects, Archer offers lots of insights into the psychology and performance of each. Some of the effects are already marketed by Archer but you do learn insights into performing them through this DVD.

Something of a “vision test” with four playing cards, Eye Exam is actually a twisting routine with a clever theme that includes a color change of the backs of the cards - an excellent, high-impact kicker at the routine’s end. This packet strong effect is easy to learn and perform and only requires the traditional Elmsley sleight. At the end, you’re clean and the cards can be examined. And Archer even has a complete reset so you’re ready to perform at the next table. You can make your own set from the instructions here, but the gimmickedcards are available commercially.

As the title implies Pick a Coin... Any Coin... is a “pick a coin” routine in the vein of the traditional card trick. A handful of change is placed inside a change bag (a small canvas bag that simply holds the change, it’s not what you think). A spectator freely chooses one coin at random and signs it and tosses it back into the bag. Without looking, the magician then finds the coin by reaching in the bag and finding the coin. This is another winner with a great method. This is a routine that Archer uses to perform for large audiences in theaters, and it works splendidly for close-up.

Promising a trick with wild animals, in Animental, spectators choose animals from cards and the magician reads the minds of spectators - telling them the animals that they mentally selected. This effect offers lots of great interaction with up to four spectators and is lots of fun. Another plus, it’s great for kids. This one is based on a classic principle and can be applied to any topic. Archer teaches the trick and also shows you how to make your own. I’ve been using this one in my strolling sets and it’s been getting great reactions. This one is also available commercially.

Eight the Hard Way is a multiple card control effect. Eight cards are selected and mixed back into the deck, and then found and revealed in entertaining ways. The basic method is a classic one for accomplished magicians. While Archer incorporates some challenging revelations, it’s easy to adapt easier ones. While my description of this effect is short, the explanation of this routine takes up the bulk of the first disc.

There it is Again offers another card effect. Here a spectator mixes the cards and a card is selected and peeked at. At the end is a hilarious revelation that all magicians will be familiar with. It’s commercial and fun.

Illegitimate Sponge Bunnies is a routine with sponge bunnies that offers some Archer enhancements. I agree with Archer that sponge bunnies is a strong routine - among the strongest that a close-up performers can perform. Even if you already have a routine with these props, you may learn some new bits from Archer’s work.

Perhaps one of the strongest tricks for couples, Archer offers his take on “anniversary waltz” in Anniversary Waltz My Way. Two cards are selected and signed by two spectators. At the end, the cards meld into one - a single card with signatures on both sides.

InPurseFly, the magician brings out a purse frame and pulls out three coins and performs a three-fly-style, coins across routine. At the end, the coins vanish and in the optional ending, Archer is left with a wad of paper money. No knuckle busters here, Archer only requires the use of a finger palm along with a variety of moves that will require a good amount of practice.

Ballz offers a good routine with a single ball. The routine features several vanishes, productions and color changes. At the end, the small ball changes into a larger golf ball. For this one, you’ll need sleeves and it requires quite a bit of pocket space. I like the routine and think that audiences will enjoy it. But find that it demands too much pocket space to devote to one effect when strolling.

Dye and Dye Again is Archer’s two-phased color-changing or chameleon hanks. It’s another great routine that is commercial and strong. By the way, Archer doesn’t employ the normal gimmick but has altered one that most magicians will already own.

The Archer Shuffle is a false riffle shuffle and bridge that may be performed in the hands or on the table. It’s convincing and will be useful in any card routine where you need to maintain a stacked deck.

With “mem” in the title, MemDeck Trifecta offers an effect with a memorized deck. Here, spectators offer inputs and the magician is able to create three different revelations. Since this one employs a memorized deck, there’s that initial fundamental skill that forms the basis for this advanced routine. To me, this one seems out of place in this collection.

With “Archer's Essential Magic Classics,” there’s lots to like. If you’re looking for commercial walk around material, you’ll find it here. I recommend this one.