I like Geof Williams’ Ready 2 Link, which was explained in his Miracles for Mortals Vol. 2 DVD. It’s a rubberband effect that is something of a cross between the “handcuffs” and “bill ladder” effects. It requires two rubberbands of different colors, but I worked this one up and use it as an add-on to my close-up rubberband routine.

Eric Evan’s The Secret Art of Coin Manipulation DVD featured an excellent coin routine. While I haven’t performed this one in its entirety, I’ve used elements in my existing coin routine. I’ve also gleaned some excellent coin work from Cellini’s Art of Street Performing, New Orleans, Volume II DVD.

Two more effects that I use come from Geoff Williams’ Miracles for Mortals Vol. 1. Based on a Larry Jennings effect, Williams’ “The I Hate David Copperfield Trick” offers an astounding pass-through effect where one card visually melts through another one. This is another one that I use to entertain people in lines. Another effect that I use from this DVD is “4-Way Coincidence.” In this card trick, you pull four-of-a-kind from a thoroughly shuffled deck. It’s fantastic “jazz” magic that is easy to perform.

I always carry Peter Eggink’s Heatwave, a trick where a chosen card appears to “melt” in front of spectators’ eyes. This one resets immediately and requires no table.

Another great effect for lines or in situations where everyone is standing is Bob Sheet’s The Killer Kitson Miracle. Using Patrick Page’s “Three-Card Monte” gimmick, Bob Sheets offers a powerful and entertaining routine. It’s a visual three-card monte that doesn’t require a table. I’ve used this one a lot.

I was inspired by Tim Ellis in his wonderful Ellis in Wonderland DVD. While there are lots of effects on this DVD that I want to go back and study, his Deckstress inspired me to create an effect that I regularly perform. After meeting Ellis through his excellent DVDs (see also 24 Years of Living Next Door to Ellis), I consider him a role model for all professional magicians with his technical knowledge, ability to make magic thoroughly entertaining and superb business and marketing skills.

From Nathan Gibson The Pasteboard Player DVD, I learned and now perform “N.F.G.” A spectator calls out a card and the magician pulls out another set of cards, say the kings. The kings turn over, one at a time in various ways, and at the end, the four kings turn into the thought of card and its three brethren of different suits. It’s Gibson’s version of NFW, but with no gimmicks. I also learned his “Captain Crunch Cut,” a flashy three-way,one-handed cut that retains the entire order of the deck. I can’t perform it as fast as Gibson and I haven’t formally placed it into any of my routines, but I love the move.

From Paul Gallagher’s Miracles from the Sock Drawer, I’ve been performing a change bag and silk routine that I use if I’m working for very young children. The effect is colorful and offers lots of interaction with a couple of kids.

There are, of course, routines that I plan to learn, I just haven’t had the time to work them up:

The World-Famous Bowl Routine will work great in my restaurants gigs when a large table is celebrating a special event.

In Devious Deceptions, Steve Skomp explains a clever gimmick that makes an entire deck of normal cards appear to shrink into a miniature playing card. I’m planning to create a gimmick so I can pull out and show a spectator that I’ve found their card, it’s simply one of many in this “deck.” and then shrink the pack into a single card, the chosen one.

-Wayne N. Kawamoto