Summer is in full swing right now and we’ve been dealing with a bit of a heat wave in the north east. The temperatures have been hot and I’ve heard many of my fellow western New Yorkers complaining. I’ll make sure to remind them of such gripes in January. Personally, I’m loving the weather and trying to take advantage of it as much as possible. Wherever you are...I hope you’re enjoying the season as well.

Now on to my current picks...

• Rise & Shine: As a creator and producer of magic, I have a certain soft spot for clever methods. I love when an “outside the box” idea is used to create some moment of wonder and Dan Hauss has definitely succeeded in doing that. This is an ingenious idea that allows you to make a wide variety of objects (playing card, gum, business card, id card, pocket comb, etc) appear to rise from your pocket. It requires a bit of set up but it’s nothing terribly difficult. All in all, a clever method with many real world applications.
• Laws of Attraction: I’m at a point in my magic learning that I’m often less excited about a new trick than I am about a new bit of business or “touch” that I can add to my existing magic. Finding these ideas can be hard and I tend to hoard them waiting for the right moment to spring them on unsuspecting audiences. Shoot Ogawa’s Laws of Attraction is one such idea. This is not so much a single method, but a collection of techniques that allows you to make objects appear to become magnetic. Shoot has an entire set that he does with them…that’s a bit much for me but I could easily envision adding a few of these moves to my close up. If such ideas inspire you, this could be a perfect selection.
• CupWow: This is without a doubt one of the most diabolical chop cups I have EVER seen. This plastic cup looks like the kind of cup you might find in a board game...but man oh man is it so much more. Inside this ordinary cup is a heaping batch of electronic gadgetry that makes for some truly remarkable effects. Check out the video demo here. Go ahead...I’ll wait. Pretty cool, huh? Some might ask, “Is this really necessary in a chop cup?” Maybe not, but it is darned cool and if necessary was the only factor in creation the world would be a pretty boring place! I like CupWow and if you’re intrigued by what you saw on the video…I think you’ll be pleased with the purchase.
• Audio: Eric Jones is one smooth operator. His coin work is graceful, fluid, and amazing. He also thinks through his magic, cleaning up the unnecessary and squeezing every last bit of work out of every action. His latest release, Audio, is a perfect example of his thoughtfulness in creation. This is a powerful routine that can be done on a moments notice with just four coins. It deceives not only the eyes but the ears as well! It’s not self working but is well within the reach of the average coin worker. Put the time in and you’ll have a great routine that I suspect will quickly become a favorite.
• Incredible Suit Jacket Escape: Finding strong stand up material that packs small, plays big, and works for a wide range of audiences is no easy task. Finding such material that does not also have a price tag equal to a mortgage payment is even harder. Bill Abbott seems determined to deliver such goods. I’ve been a big fan of Bill’s stand up releases and this new one is no exception. In truth, this is a Bill Abbott production...not creation. The creator here is one of Canada’s premier corporate magicians, Anthony Lindan. Anthony has developed a solid reaction filled routine that is naturally funny and will play well for almost any audience. This is a DVD set and you’ll need to assemble the necessary items…but there’s nothing terribly difficult or expensive being used. Once you’re done, you’ll have a spectacular routine that fits in a briefcase and could play on virtually any stage…but is practical enough to do at a house party. If you do ANY kind of stand up presentation…this is definitely worth your attention.
• Bank Night Board: Confucius said, “Study the past, if you would divine the future.” It seems that the crew at Neo-Elegance Effects has done just that. This device was the creation of Harlan Tarbell and it allows for the clean and direct switch of a small envelope or similar sized object. The board is simple in method and elegantly crafted in hand selected Red Oak and cabinet grade Oak plywood. It allows for a very clean version of bank night but can also be used to switch a playing card, photograph, business card, small index card, etc. Lots of possible uses with this board, just add you and a little imagination.
• Instant Everything: There is some similarity between this and Rise & Shine from Dan Hauss, but I think there are enough differences to justify recommending both. I like Kranzo’s thinking here and the productions are startling. You can perform his routine as is, but with a little thought you’ll come up with loads of other applications for the gimmick. The device being used is inexpensive and commonly found in any hardware or automotive store, but you’re also likely to find it at any Target or Wal-Mart. I already owned one…so you may have one sitting somewhere in your house as well. Long story short, it’s easily obtained. If you’re looking for a fun and offbeat addition to your strolling magic, this is a great choice.