APPROACHING MAGIC by David Regal
I know some of you think books are scary.
They're long and boring. They feel like school. They don't have fast edits or shaky camera shots to hold your attention. There's no music to heighten the effect.
I sympathize. I really do.
I also dislike saying the words "all" or "never" or "every" in regards to magic and magicians. Each performer is unique with different skills and strengths.
I say all of this in preface because I want you to understand how rare it is for me to say the following:
BUY THIS BOOK. ALL OF YOU. BUY IT.
Do it now. Make it your next major purchase.
You do card work? Buy this book.
You do mentalism? Buy this book.
You do coin work? Buy this book.
You do kids shows? Buy this book.
You do stage magic? Buy this book.
You do magic for blind and diabetic research monkeys? Buy this book.
I'll tell you a secret: David Regal is a genius. A quiet little jewish genius peering curiously over his spectacles and seeing magic effects in ordinary objects everywhere. The type of genius that goes out to buy dog food and comes back from PetSmart with props for a killer mentalism/card routine. The type of genius who looks at the advertising cards in a deck and, instead of throwing them away, develops a stunner of a trick around them.
"But this book is $80!" you say. I know. Buy it.
"But this book has 505 pages!" you say. I know. Buy it.
"But I don't know who this guy is!" you say. I know. Buy it.
There isn't a bad idea in the book. Everything might not be your cup of tea exactly, but there will be three or four things you will use. And some of the ideas are AMAZING and I can't believe David didn't market these individually.
The first section gives you a dozen effects using only a deck of cards. The next section focuses on magic with currency or coins. Next, several effects using cards plus gimmicks or duplicates. Then, another dozen effects revolving around mentalism. A few effects follow using liquid or bottles, and then a handful of random routines for close up or parlour. He rounds out the book with 15 or so card moves. On top of all that you get several essays on philosophy and practicalities in magic from David's perspective. That is a LOT for $80.
Here are some of my favorites. I would have bought the book for these alone:
OFF BEAT ACES: A spectator cuts to the aces. All of the moves occur on well thought out "off" beats in the pace of the routine.
COCOA: A chop cup routine with a mug and marshmallow with a surprise load at the end. If one of you under 17 performs this competently at a convention close up contest you will probably win.
A QUIET GOODBYE: A stack of coins vanishes from your hands silently.
RESTORED CREDIT: You snap your credit/debit card in two, then visibly restore it.
AD SPACE: You know those annoying advertising cards you have when you open a new deck? After a short lesson in being ad-savvy, your spectator picks the only card out of the deck that is NOT an advertising card. (Some of you with mentalism chops will see the appeal in this routine immediately. I have already combined this plot and props with some Andy Nyman ideas and used it last night to make a girl cry.)
SATAN'S SANDWICH: People will swear you are the devil or have little demons running around helping you do card tricks. Basically a sandwich effect. You openly lay the jokers down. Spec picks a card and returns it. You vanish the card. Without you going NEAR the jokers the specs selection is now VISIBLY resting between them on the table. You might get burned at the stake.
WILL THE SOCKS MATCH: Yes. They will. In an amazing way. You could block this for the stage easily.
PORN IN YOUR PANTS: Awesome. Ballsy method. If you're under 18 you could easily change the XXX dvd for another.
OIL SLICK: Oil and water, but very clean and well thought out. Easily up there with Rene Levand's version.
AMSTEL HEAVY: A large glass of beer appears from behind a menu. Easy to do, and a killer. This went into my bar performances immediately. It's my new opener for large tables.
A DRINKING PROBLEM: A production of a large wine bottle. Simple, and very effective.
THE PUPPY TRICK: A great take on the ACR. Spec draws a puppy on a card. It comes when she calls. Keep your own routine and use some of these presentation ideas, especially on the gals.
THE POWER OF LOVE: A spectators ring reappears in an impossible place. This is really really really good. Really good. I wish that this one, Ad Space, and Satan's Sandwich weren't in this book so only I would have them.
In conclusion, buy this book. The material is top notch. The price is a bargain. It has my highest recommendation.
It is available only from David Regal at www.davidregal.com
$75 + $7.50 shipping.
I know some of you think books are scary.
They're long and boring. They feel like school. They don't have fast edits or shaky camera shots to hold your attention. There's no music to heighten the effect.
I sympathize. I really do.
I also dislike saying the words "all" or "never" or "every" in regards to magic and magicians. Each performer is unique with different skills and strengths.
I say all of this in preface because I want you to understand how rare it is for me to say the following:
BUY THIS BOOK. ALL OF YOU. BUY IT.
Do it now. Make it your next major purchase.
You do card work? Buy this book.
You do mentalism? Buy this book.
You do coin work? Buy this book.
You do kids shows? Buy this book.
You do stage magic? Buy this book.
You do magic for blind and diabetic research monkeys? Buy this book.
I'll tell you a secret: David Regal is a genius. A quiet little jewish genius peering curiously over his spectacles and seeing magic effects in ordinary objects everywhere. The type of genius that goes out to buy dog food and comes back from PetSmart with props for a killer mentalism/card routine. The type of genius who looks at the advertising cards in a deck and, instead of throwing them away, develops a stunner of a trick around them.
"But this book is $80!" you say. I know. Buy it.
"But this book has 505 pages!" you say. I know. Buy it.
"But I don't know who this guy is!" you say. I know. Buy it.
There isn't a bad idea in the book. Everything might not be your cup of tea exactly, but there will be three or four things you will use. And some of the ideas are AMAZING and I can't believe David didn't market these individually.
The first section gives you a dozen effects using only a deck of cards. The next section focuses on magic with currency or coins. Next, several effects using cards plus gimmicks or duplicates. Then, another dozen effects revolving around mentalism. A few effects follow using liquid or bottles, and then a handful of random routines for close up or parlour. He rounds out the book with 15 or so card moves. On top of all that you get several essays on philosophy and practicalities in magic from David's perspective. That is a LOT for $80.
Here are some of my favorites. I would have bought the book for these alone:
OFF BEAT ACES: A spectator cuts to the aces. All of the moves occur on well thought out "off" beats in the pace of the routine.
COCOA: A chop cup routine with a mug and marshmallow with a surprise load at the end. If one of you under 17 performs this competently at a convention close up contest you will probably win.
A QUIET GOODBYE: A stack of coins vanishes from your hands silently.
RESTORED CREDIT: You snap your credit/debit card in two, then visibly restore it.
AD SPACE: You know those annoying advertising cards you have when you open a new deck? After a short lesson in being ad-savvy, your spectator picks the only card out of the deck that is NOT an advertising card. (Some of you with mentalism chops will see the appeal in this routine immediately. I have already combined this plot and props with some Andy Nyman ideas and used it last night to make a girl cry.)
SATAN'S SANDWICH: People will swear you are the devil or have little demons running around helping you do card tricks. Basically a sandwich effect. You openly lay the jokers down. Spec picks a card and returns it. You vanish the card. Without you going NEAR the jokers the specs selection is now VISIBLY resting between them on the table. You might get burned at the stake.
WILL THE SOCKS MATCH: Yes. They will. In an amazing way. You could block this for the stage easily.
PORN IN YOUR PANTS: Awesome. Ballsy method. If you're under 18 you could easily change the XXX dvd for another.
OIL SLICK: Oil and water, but very clean and well thought out. Easily up there with Rene Levand's version.
AMSTEL HEAVY: A large glass of beer appears from behind a menu. Easy to do, and a killer. This went into my bar performances immediately. It's my new opener for large tables.
A DRINKING PROBLEM: A production of a large wine bottle. Simple, and very effective.
THE PUPPY TRICK: A great take on the ACR. Spec draws a puppy on a card. It comes when she calls. Keep your own routine and use some of these presentation ideas, especially on the gals.
THE POWER OF LOVE: A spectators ring reappears in an impossible place. This is really really really good. Really good. I wish that this one, Ad Space, and Satan's Sandwich weren't in this book so only I would have them.
In conclusion, buy this book. The material is top notch. The price is a bargain. It has my highest recommendation.
It is available only from David Regal at www.davidregal.com
$75 + $7.50 shipping.
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