Measuring Up
Heightened Senses is a bit of mentalism with a standard tape measure that is examined by spectators. A spectator is freely chosen and states his height in inches. When the tape measure is extended, the spectator’s height is clearly marked on the tape measure. This one is strong and I like it better than Jason Palter's " Space Between," a similar prediction effect with a tape measure that uses a different method, because I find Jay's version to be cleaner and flexible.I Dream of Mindreading is an offbeat effect that is more for magicians than lay audiences. It's also more practical for formal close-up shows or parties than in traditional walk around or strolling. The premise is that Jay is performing for a spectator who can't see.
As you look away, you ask a spectator to deal cards onto a table to reveal a freely thought of cards to others in the audience. When you take the deck back, you are able to identify the card. Even more impressive, you show that all of the cards are blank.
Coins, Numbers and a Cool Move
Jay gets into coins with his Three Coin Vanish. You show three coins and one by one, they vanish. At the end, your hands are empty. The emphasis in this routine is the slick holdout and the means to get there.A.C.A.A.P.N, stands for "any card at any page number." As the name implies, a selected card appears at a freely named page number in a closed book. Jay takes a prediction/coincidence effect, "card at any number," and turns it into a great vanish and production. Another plus, the routine removes the tedious counting. Brilliant work.
Jay teaches his slick Discrete Displacement, a powerful move that works as a force, control or switch. He then teaches a strong collectors style effect where three selected cards appear between the four aces. It's a slick use of the "Discrete Displacement." He also teaches a great card switch as well as a routine where you can make anyone guess right or wrong about selected cards.
Five Card "Vegas"
I like Jay's Vegas Visit, but this seems to be more of an advertisement than a trick that Jay is teaching. The first rate effect is something of a "Sam The Bellhop" that's been combined with classic "Six Card Repeat." You count five cards and tell the story of your recent visit to Las Vegas. In the process, you deal cards onto the table but always end up with five cards and continue to tell the tale.With "Vegas Visit," Jay offers an excellent, clever and entertaining routine. While he teaches you what you need to know to make your own cards and perform the trick, the version that he sells is superior to any set of cards you can make on your own. I'm sure that Jay sells a lot of these at his lectures. I question its inclusion on this DVD.
In Split Decision, two cards are freely selected by two spectators. You search for the first card and find a joker, which turns into the first card. The second card is found, but the spectators can't agree on the value of the card. The card is torn in half and each half is shown to contain one of the two values that spectators named.
Triumph
Back in Time combines Jay Sankey’s plot of "going back in time" with a powerful "triumph." In classic "triumph" fashion, a spectator selects a card that is mixed back into a deck that is shuffled face up and face down. At the end, the deck rights itself so all of the cards are facing in the same direction, with the exception of the spectator’s selected card.This one requires no table and occurs in a spectator's hand. A second version of triumph that Jay teaches is Totally Triumph, a table-based "triumph" that straightens the entire deck and produces the four aces. Throughout, Jay does an excellent and thorough job of explaining the techniques and routines.
Spending time with Joshua Jay is always a valuable experience. His Methods In Magic: Live in the UK probably has something for everyone.
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