My Review - Dresscode

As you may aware that in my blog, my passion and interest would always be card magic. What I am about to review is something beyond my comfort zone all this while. I should say that I am quite lucky to get  Dresscode by Calen Morelli out of my curiosity and with a special price that I got from a dealer. This is one of the DVDs that I really enjoyed, if not one of the most practical and unique magic that can be done nothing more than an ordinary shirt. The concept behind of the magic is simply brilliant! 

The reason I enjoyed this DVD is because the flow of the learning process is organised very well. Just click "play" and you will be directed to an A to Z workshop. Calen explains in great details such as the materials needed on how to construct the shirt as well as tips on perfoming the Dresscode. 

Surprisingly, the construction of the shirt is not difficult at all as Calen explains step by step on how to make one for yourself. If you are like me who always like to put on a coat or a blazer while performing close-up magic for walkaround situation, this is a great opportunity not to miss the magic. It is worth to add this into your act as it has many applications. You will be excited to play around with ideas as you move along with the tutorial. 

I also like Calen includes some nice subtleties as well as troubleshooting on the process of making the gimmick. Thus, making this DVD an excellent and complete tutorial. Most of my questions in terms of making and performing Dresscode were all addressed by Calen. 

All in all, this is an excellent effect and it is well worth to add this into your repertoire. I really like to use this as revelation and I can attest that it garners huge reaction from layman. I am glad I did! 

ALSH

My Review - 21

New review - coming soon...

New Mystery Item

A new item to be added soon.

ALSH

Travelling Stickmen

Packet Fantasy

Flushback

Card revelation is one of the most magical ways in revealing a spectator's selection. It is one of my favourite plots in card magic. "Flushback" is my take on card revelation plot with a magical twist. This routine does not involve any gaffs or special cards. A spectator is asked to involve in cutting the deck in an attempt to cut to her selection. However, her attempts fail in the process.

The performer has not other choice but to use the Jacks as a resort to locate her selection. The Jacks conduct some impressive feats and in the end, all the Jacks magically transform into impressive cards that have connection with the spectators' selection. Imagine Mr Elmsley meets with the Professor, Dai Vernon!

This is one of my closely guarded secrets that I release for this year and I can attest the effect would be able to garner huge reaction from lay audience. I always believe that it is how well the magic effect plays but not on the methods. 

In addition, I also provide a bonus handling that enhances the revelation on revealing the spectator's selection in a much dramatic manner. Make sure you do not miss this wonderful card routine that is highly practical, usable and the most important of all, it is highly entertaining. Let your audience experience the magic that is enjoyable to watch and memorable. 

Available at: http://www.cardicianden.com

ALSH

Mystery eBook

An exciting new eBook is on the way... Stay tuned...

Thoughts that Count

“Thoughts that Count” is based on my work on card mentalist effect where a spectator is asked to remember a card and you reveal her thought selection without asking any single question.

This is a cool little routine that you can do without the need to set up the packet and it is impromptu. There is a bonus routine that deals with two thought selections.

The routine is very flexible as it can be done for table-hopping situation or to be surrounded by a group of spectators and the like. There is no gimmick or special card involved. In fact, you can let you spectators to remove whatever cards randomly from the pack and it does not limit to certain cards in the process.

Do not miss this wonderful thought-of-cards routine and I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Here's what a few of them say:

"I really enjoyed your routine. Very nice ebook."

-- Peter Duffie

"Andrew Loh Shang Hai is a very clever magician! His effect, Thoughts That Count combines his brilliant handling of a couple of well-known magic principles to produce a routine that smoothly combines mentalism with magic! Your spectators get the 'best of both worlds' in this routine and it is easy to do. This is one of those routines that will leave your spectators with their mouths wide open! Better yet, Andrew provides you with a bonus routine - Thoughts That Count - Plus which allows the performer to read the thoughts of two spectators!"

-- Paul Lelekis

Available at: http://www.cardicianden.com

ALSH

My Review - Showcase Magic

Recently I had a great time in going through Paul Lelekis' "Showcase Magic!" that contains 7 excellent routines along with a bonus item. This is my first time to post my review on Paul's latest eBook. For those of you who may not familiar who Paul is, well, he is a regular contributor of The Linking Ring. If you would like to know more about the author, read the pdf at the prologue section and I think you will find something useful. In addition, this section also covers some golden advice as a performer that I find it invaluable as Paul is a professional magician and I am sure his advice would benefit to fellow readers. 

The eBook is divided into three sections; the "Prologue" section as mentioned earlier is worth of your time to go through as it provides you very useful insights and advice, the second part is "Gambling" routines and the final section is "Magic for Children and Adults" that I really enjoyed very much in terms of the routines. It's a 33-page eBook and most of the routines are fantastic and highly practical. 

I really enjoyed reading each of the routine as Paul provides you the patter as well as the psychology behind of the particular routine. In other words, what you purchase is well worth of your money. You will gain lots of insights from Paul as well. Perhaps the word "addicted" would be best described throughout my journey while exploring the effects in the eBook. However, having said that, this eBook is not recommended for beginners.

The material ranges from intermediate to advance card handling skills. If you were to ask me what are my favourites. I would say it's well worth of your time to check out Paul's version on "Out of this World" featuring his "Lelekis Full Deck False Shuffle" that can be found in the bonus section. Perhaps you may think that you have to go through the hard way to learn this particular shuffle by reading and following photos or illustrations. Well, worry not, you will be given a password to access the performance and explanation on the particular false shuffle that can be found at Mike Powers' website.

I also strongly urge you to check out the "Spectator Deals a Royal Flush!" and I really like the construction of the routine. It's just excellent and in fact, I did try to perform it yesterday and my circle of friends just enjoyed it very much! "Stickman" is a novel way of making a hand-drawn stickman to transfer from one card to another. It's very clever and I really like the mechanics involved as it's not very difficult to do. Other routines that attract my attention are "Location, Location, Location", and "1, #2, 3 Coin Routine". I don't have the chance to try out the "Card Under Glass" as when the occasion is right, I will give this a shot.  

All in all, "Showcase Magic" is an outstanding eBook that you would not want to miss. I am not going to disclose the rests of the items as I think it's well worth of your time to check them out. I am sure you will find many usable routines in this eBook if not, will actually attempt some of the routines for your own enjoyment. Most of the eBooks that Paul released are worth of your investment and his passion in card magic really shines throughout in his writings.

Highly recommended!

ALSH