From Wayne Kawamoto,
Your Guide to Magic & Illusion.
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“Snap Back Card” is perhaps the best effect on this DVD set that embodies Norsigian’s premise of taking close-up effects and making them play big. Here, a chosen card continually finds its way back to the hand. It’s like “ambitious card,” but instead of rising in the deck, the card somehow seems to end up in the free hand that’s not holding the deck.

In “Invisible Palm Meets Phoenix Aces,” the magician shows how cards can be palmed invisibly, effectively making the cards in a packet disappear and then reappear. This is another visual trick that can work in close-up as well as stand-up.

Norsigian offers his “Chop Cup Routine” that includes the requisite Charlie Miller move and large loads at the routine’s end. There’s also Norsigian’s version of “Coins Through The Table,” the classic effect where coins go, one by one, through the table. Norsigian performs this one standing so it can work in restaurants.

Aces

“Revised Evapor-Ace-Tion” offers a trick with the four aces where the cards disappear one-by-one as they’re held in the hands and return. It’s visual magic, but I always wonder if this one fools lay audiences. Adapting a coin trick with a different theme, Norsigian’s “The Gun Trick” is a multi-phase routine that features a vanishing and reappearing toy gun. The humor, which involves getting past airport security, is not funny. Norsigian offers several “Four-Ace-Productions.” The main version involves springing cards to find the aces, a flashy method. However, I prefer traditional methods where the magician cuts to aces after the deck has been mixed.

“Not My Fault” is a mentalism effect that uses playing cards. It’s something of a multi-phase card to pocket with a spectator’s choice of card that the magician predicts.

A stand-up effect that can be performed to music, “Uncle Gary's Virus” is a card manipulation routine that plays well to medium to large audiences. As in many card manipulation routines, Norsigian continually produces cards, but doesn’t rely on the usual back-palming and split fans that are normally used in these types of routines. On other parts of the DVD, Norsigian also offers advice on making cold calls and other topics.

Throughout, Norsigian teaches key techniques that he feels should be in every worker's arsenal. I agree with his choices. On this DVD set, he explains multiple card controls and peeks; a convincing card control that keeps the top stock intact; sleeving, a technique that he uses to strong effect and other key moves.

Norsigian also explains Daryl’s “Hot Shot Cut,” although you’d be hard pressed to learn it based on his lesson. Daryl himself gives a much better lesson on performing his “Hot Shot” on the XCM DVD (click here to read our review).

Production Values

Throughout, the lighting is rather dark which makes it hard to differentiate copper from silver coins and even make out cards. It would have been preferable for Norsigian to present his effects to a real audience as most DVDs do in their performance segments. As a result, the performances don't allow us to see a crowd respond to his effects, and Norsigian has a tendency to infuse his performance segments with explanations and information.

Some may dislike Norsigian's broad performing style. While he is obviously an accomplished technician, he tends to make broad motions in some of his work. Perhaps he’s one of those performers who is best watched live. Or it’s the direction of this video production that is at fault for not presenting Norsigian at his best. And even if you don’t like Norsigian’s style on this DVD, you can always adapt his solid advice to your own way of working.

Despite the DVD's premise, not all of the effects will play to bigger crowds, but this two-disc DVD set offers lots of good magic and explains many useful moves. And at $29.95, it’s a bargain. You’ll definitely want a foundation in sleight-of-hand, particularly with cards, before purchasing this one.

-Wayne N. Kawamoto

MSRP: $29.95

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