For close-up magicians, Daryl’s impressive and visual Presto Printo is lots of fun. Several poker-sized cards are shown to be blank. A card is selected from an ordinary deck and by simply touching the selected card to the blanks, the blanks transform, taking on the image of the selected card.
For those who want to levitate objects, Yigal Mesika's Spider Pen offers an innovative IT reel that offers new options for experienced workers and functions as a good general reel for novices.
The impressive Stampede System allows magicians to perform a variation of the classic “Ash Trick.” In Rocco’s version, a stamped image mysteriously appears on a spectator’s palm. Five different images offer lots of performance possibilities and presentations.
Michael Mode’s NUN! is a short, funny bit that may be used in-between tricks. The magician takes a coin from the palm of one hand and asks "How many coins are left in my hand - one or none?" When the spectators says "none," the formerly empty hand is opened to display a two-inch tall plastic nun.
Diamond Jim Tyler’s Pockets Full of Miracles is a first rate DVD that offers lots of professional close-up material. And two DVDs from Tim Ellis are among the best that we looked at this year. Both 24 Years of Living Next Door to Ellis and Ellis in Wonderland offer excellent effects and are entertaining to watch. Any magic enthusiast will be kept busy for some time with these DVDs.
If someone on your list wants to learn flashy card flourishes to dress up a magic routine or establish a foundation in xtreme card manipulation (XCM), there’s Ellusionist’s outstanding Xtreme Beginnerz DVD. This two-DVD set offers hours of first rate instruction and expert tips. It’s a great DVD for youngsters who wants to learn and show off flashy card moves.
Another excellent product from Daryl, his Ultra-Monte offers a relatively easy, gimmicked-based version of the famous three card monte. And in addition to being a great trick, Daryl provides excellent instruction with both a DVD and written text.
For die hard card workers, Larry Jenning’s Up in Smoke offers a treasure trove of powerful card effects. Author Bill Goodwin effectively resurrected Jennings’ earlier book of the same name by rewriting the publication’s 12 excellent effects, adding photos where none existed before and offering two new effects that were derived from Jennings’ notes.
More good card material for finger flingers, Nathan Gibson The Pasteboard Player DVD offers four strong card effects and two flashy flourishes. Intermediate to semi-advanced card workers should find lots to like on this DVD. Gibson is a teenage wonder worker who has won some 17 close-up magic contests, including that of the 2004 World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas.
Perfect stocking stuffers, Ellusionist’s Ghost Deck and Black Tiger Deck are great for any magician. The Ghost Deck is a black & white Bicycle-style deck with a mysterious look. And like a photo negative, the Black Tiger Deck reverses the colors on a card-the white areas are black and the colors are white-which results in an edgy, attractive deck. Another fun, relatively low cost item are D’Lites, which now come in blue and color changing versions.
Since magic can be hard to purchase for another magician, the major internet vendors such Magic Warehouse, Hocus Pocus, Hank Lee and Stevens Magic offer gift certificates.
Magic Warehouse’s gift certificates can be purchased on-line and printed as gifts or e-mailed to recipients, and redeemed on-line. Hocus-Pocus has a “wish list” service that allows you to list the products that you want to receive for the holidays so others may check them. When we asked, Tony Blanco of Hocus Pocus recommended Mona Lisa McComb for stage performers and Wonder Pet for close-up performers as hot items for this holiday season.
