Greetings from all of us here at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. Well, the ball dropped in Times Square, the old year ended and the new year began. Just like it does every year. I really tried to stay up until midnight, but I kept nodding off. I did manage to summon the strength to see the cable box roll over to 12:00, I wished everyone a Happy New Year and I conked out. I’m just not the party animal that I used to be. Oh, well.
You may recall that last week I mentioned that I would have a list of the ten best tricks of 2007. Turns out to be much harder to make the list that I thought. We are still working on it. But, we all agree that Masuda’s WOW was far and away the best tricks of the year, both in terms of magical effect and in terms of sales (both important around here.) How about this? Give us some help making the list. Let me know what your favorite news tricks were in 2007. Just send me an email with your favorites. We’ll use your input to create the definitive list!
I know you have been wondering about the Conclave. Well, let me tell you that it is really shaping up to be a wiz-bang weekend. I spoke with Nick Lewin today and he has agreed to do an extra-special event on the magic and life of Billy McComb. Should be wonderful. Plus, we have just booked Sonny Fontana. His shadow act is one of the best in the biz. You will really enjoy it! So, the question is, what are you waiting for? The dates for this year’s Conclave are April 4th – 6th. You can call us toll free at 800 874 7400 and register, or you can just click on the Conclave Button at www.magicfact.com to register. Either way, we would really like for you to join us.
Last week’s private sale was a lot of fun. But, some folks were not happy (isn’t that always the way?) because they were out of town between Christmas and New Year’s and could not partake of our generosity. So, I decided to be as nice as nice can be and offer those of you who were away a chance to start the New Year right by saving some serious money!
SECOND CHANCE SALES EVENT: This is a shorter than usual sales event, so you might want to act fast! For the next five days, from the very moment you receive this email until Tuesday, January 8th at midnight, everything (well, almost everything) is on sale at 20% off the retail price. All you need to do is enter the special code SECONDCHANCE in the Discount Coupon Box of the online checkout at www.magicfact.com and we will automatically deduct 20% from your order total. If you are calling your order in to the Toll Free Order Line at 800 874 7400, FAXing your order to us at 781 395 2034 or emailing us your order to magicfact@aol.com make sure to mention the special code so you can save a huge 20%!
There are a few rules that apply, as with all things in life.
• The minimum order to use the 20% off discount is $25.00.
• The 20% is deducted from the retail price of the item. No intermediate discounts (such as HankoGram pricing) may be applied. In the case of sets, such as DVDs and Videos, the 20% is deducted from the retail price of each item and not from the set price.
• Certain items, due to contractual restrictions, are not included in this sale. All Joe Porper items, Paul Harris Prime Time Magic items, Viking/CW items, Kennedy Enterprises items, Colin Rose items, Mike Caveney Books, JB Magic, Martin Breese, Mikame Craft items, Greater Magic Teach-In DVDs, One Of A Kind Collectors' Items and a few other items are not included in the sale.
• If you place an order for an item that is not on this list or not noted in our online catalog, but is excluded from the sale, we will let you know before processing your order.
• Coupons will be deducted from the order total before the discount is applied.
• As the discount is automatically generated, you must put the special code SECONDCHANCE in the Discount Coupon Box. You may have to scroll to the bottom of the page to find the box, but it is there. If you are not sure how to do this, please phone your order in to our toll-free order ine at 800 874 7400, and we will take care of you. We cannot offer discounts retroactively.
And that's it. It could not be easier. So, get your order together and save yourself some serious money! But, act quickly. The sale ends Tuesday at midnight!
Now, let’s take a look at the first Hotlist of the New Year!
Beyond Deception - Tobias Beckwith
Tobias Beckwith offers ideas and techniques which performers at all levels can use to create truly original and personalized magic. Drawing on long experience directing and observing world class performers of all kinds, Beckwith has drawn together not only fascinating theories about how a performer creates, but a series of sure-fire techniques and exercises guaranteed to jumpstart each magician's creative process.
From the Foreword by Bob Fitch –
If you are desperate to create your own special brand of magic, then this book is a must read! It can change your mind about your own abilities. It can motivate you to try harder; to be more freely creative without risking fear of failure; to never say, “I can't!” and to have fun doing it. The efforts you put forth following the concepts and exercises in this book will create win-win results for you. So if inspiration and discovery of new ideas are what you're looking for. Look no further!
$32.95 BK01556)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9209&cat=0&page=1)
"There are hundreds of books out there with thousands of tricks - but precious few on how to turn those tricks into meaningful and original entertainment. This book is one of the few, based in Tobias' twenty years of experience directing and nurturing the careers of some of the most innovative acts in magic. If you're serious about taking your magic to the next level, read it and start doing the exercises now!"
-Eugene Burger
"Inside these pages are practical tools for magicians at all levels. Tobias teaches you how to give more impact to material you already perform. Light your creative bonfire now - read the book!"
-Jeff McBride
Color Explosion Blendo: When David Ginn was a teenager in magic, he always loved the Blendo concept: two or more items, usually silks, change or blend into one thing, combining the elements of the parts. But, he didn’t like the old type of silk Blendo, in which the three separate silks went inside the big double one. Then he discovered John Booth’s version in his book Marvels of Mystery, and that changed everything. His “unprepared blendo” and instant hand- kerchief fold worked wonders in David’s act, and he’s used that method ever since.
Color Explosion Blendo is an extension of all that, mixed in with the Neil Foster/ Karl Wagner flag blendo method. In effect, you simply wave a string of tied silks around - red, yellow, green, orange, blue - then bunch them up and pop them open, creating a beautiful 36-inch silk! There is no steal involved because you pick up the 36-inch rolled silk with the string of five little silks. And, it’s so easy to perform!
You can also use the big Color Explosion Blendo silk in a change bag routine. Have children put the five little silks inside, wave magic wands
and shout magic words, then produce the 36-inch Color Explosion Blendo silk. $35.00 (60.1498)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9207&cat=0&page=1)
Box of Destiny: An amazing box is displayed. The four Aces are beautifully carved into the sides of the box. One Ace per side.
A spectator is asked to pick a side of the Box of Destiny, representing a symbolic area of their life.
They are also given the opportunity to choose a color. Red or Blue.
The box is now opened to reveal a single box of playing cards that matches the spectator’s chosen color.
The cards are removed from the box and fanned out to reveal one face down card. The card is flipped face up. It is a perfect match to the spectator's destiny card (their chosen Ace).
But wait, there's more. Snap your fingers and change the entire deck of cards to a different back color, leaving only one card with the original back color, the spectator's chosen destiny card!
Effect comes with special box, cards, and instruction booklet with an amazing script. $89.95 (30.1293)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9204&cat=0&page=1)
Fusion - Michael Rubinstein:
A quarter and penny are shown and placed together. With a push, the penny melts into the quarter - the coins are fused! After examination, the fused coins are given a slight shake, and the penny visibly drops out of the quarter. Both are immediately handed out for examination. Comes complete with coins and DVD. $45.00 (20.377)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9197&cat=0&page=1)
Flat Cannon Ball: A comedy routine that can be performed anywhere, anytime. Carry in your pocket for a quick & funny miracle!
Explain that you are a world-famous daredevil who catches cannon balls in a circus. Offer to demonstrate.
Unfortunately, due to airline restrictions, you could not bring your real cannon with you today.
But you do have the next best thing: a piece of paper with a picture of a cannon.
The ‘flat’ cannon requires special ammunition: a flat cannon ball. Show the cannon card and the flat cannon ball. Have both examined, front and back.
Fold the card into a flat tube, then slide the flat cannon ball inside.
Mimic lighting the fuse as a spectator provides a drum roll and a “boom” sound effect.
The cannon ball shoots from the cannon and the ‘daredevil’ catches it without injury. Again, the flat cannon and flat cannon ball are examined.
Comes with glossy, heavy stock cannon cards for both left and right handed performers, 2 cannon balls and photo illustrated instructions. $17.50 (10.1436)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9206&cat=0&page=1)
Echo – Wayne Dobson: Echo is an alternative version of Wayne’s ‘Teach A Card Trick’.
You teach a spectator a card trick, at the finish neither he nor the audience is aware of how it was accomplished!
Explain that you’re feeling lazy and want the spectator to become the magician while you assume the role of the spectator.
Following your instructions, the spectator offers the deck of cards for you to take a card. Take a card, show it to the audience and replace it into the deck, all while the spectator's head is turned. The spectator himself then causes the selected card to completely disappear from the deck! When the card box is opened by the spectator, the selected card is found inside! You can even use a signed card if you wish!
Echo has been used extensively by Wayne on theatre and TV shows.
Echo is ten minutes of commercial and very funny magic.
Echo is 100% self working and instantly resets.
The booklet includes the complete script and routine. $20.00 (30.1288)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9198&cat=0&page=1)
Double Down – Bryn Reynolds: Double Down is a perfect dual divination using real casino cards!
A very straightforward effect that involves very little work in proportion to the impact on the audience. It is very clean with, all actions justified and at the end there is nothing for the spectators to retrace. No sleights, nothing written down, no marked cards, and everything is examinable. Just a lot of fun with cool props and some powerful mentalism.
Show your "card collection" of some souvenir playing cards from various casinos. Each card is from a different casino and each face has a different value. A spectator is invited to cut off some of the cards for himself (no force) and the remainder is given to a second spectator. Each freely shuffles their respective packets, even turning cards face up or face down as they wish, and each spectator thinks of a secret number. Nothing is ever said or written down. The packet is reassembled and again shuffled by each spectator if they wish; again some cards face up and some face down if they desire.
You now show the cards to the spectators and they only think of either the particular casino or playing card value that falls on their secret l number as the cards are shown. Since the cards are in such a mess either the back with the casino’s name or the face could be showing. You not only tell each spectator whether they thought of a casino or a playing card but continue to name the exact casino names or the values of the playing cards! $29.95 (30.1292)
"Double Down is exceedingly clever. The more I work with it, the more I appreciate its subtle and sophisticated construction. Bryn's use of individual casino cards is inspired and very commercial. One of the best, most interesting tricks I've come across in a long time; double (thumbs) up for Double Down."
- John Bannon, author of Smoke & Mirrors and Impossibilia
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9202&cat=0&page=1)
The Prestige: From Jim Pace, a fabulous new twist on an already amazing trick!
A dollar bill is placed flat on your palm.
Suddenly, under its own power, the bill visibly folds itself into a tiny packet!
Rub the bill on your pant leg or sleeve and it visibly changes into a coin!
It looks like real magic! Can be done with any bill or coin.
Self contained. Comes with real $1.00 bill, special gimmick and DVD instructions. $24.95 (10.1435)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9200&cat=0&page=1)
Disbanded: Having performed Disbanded in live shows for over 20 years, David Ginn is finally releasing this exclusive professional version for your performances.
The complete kit includes six hand-knitted necklaces, two dozen small loops for
the close-up version and a 27-minute instructional DVD showing 3 live performances.
Here’s how it looks:
Show two knitted necklaces, one RED, one YELLOW, each about a foot in diameter. Carefully, you loop one through the other, then hook the first one onto a child’s arm. Suddenly the two loops visibly change places, much to the kid’s surprise.
Repeat this magical change several times.
Next you place both necklaces on the child’s arm and cause one to penetrate the arm while the other remains.
Finally, you add a third GREEN necklace to the other two. The kid holds all three in her hands. When she tosses them to you, the three loops magically join into a linked chain of necklaces right before the eyes of the audience! $45.00 (60.1497)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9201&cat=0&page=1)
Revelations Shirt: The Revelations Shirt looks just like a very cool black t-shirt with a few hip, understated designs, but hidden in the graphics of the shirt are seven incredible revelations including three different selected cards, the date on a borrowed coin, a classic mathematical force and two different ESP symbols! Perfect for both magicians and mentalists, the Revelations Shirt is the ultimate secret weapon!
Fold #1: A card is selected and the spectator shows it to her friends. (It's the Ace of Diamonds! Shhh!) The magician draws attention to the intricate pattern on his hip black t-shirt and mentions that the pattern is "a combination of a Rorschach inkblot and a crystal ball." The audience is skeptical, but the magician asks everyone to stare at the pattern and concentrate on the image of the selected card. "Do you see it on my shirt?" he asks. When everyone admits they don't, the magician offers to "make it a little easier to see" and with a single fold of the shirt the image of a single large diamond suddenly appears!
Fold #2: Everyone is still freaking out over the appearance of the Ace of Diamonds shape when the magician suggests, "Let's try it again." This time someone only peeks at a card (it’s the Two of Hearts) and holds the pack in their own hands. Once again the performer asks the spectator to concentrate on the card they have in mind and focus on the front of the black t-shirt. And again, with just a single quick fold of the shirt two large hearts appear!
The Tag: A card is selected and the magician says, "If I don't find your card, I'll give you the shirt off my back, okay?" But when the magician executes a fancy flourish and turns over the top card, it's not the selected card. He tries again, but again fails to find the card the spectator has in mind. "Well, I did say if I failed to find your card I'd give you the shirt off my back. And like I said, it's 100% cotton. Just take a look at the label." The performer rolls back the collar of the shirt and pulls out the tag and everyone sees a large image of the selected card printed on the label!
The Date: The date of a borrowed coin magically appears on the front of the shirt!
The Number Prediction: The wonder worker admits to having "some psychic abilities" and suggests a test. He asks a spectator to think of any 3-digit number and write it down on a business card or cocktail napkin. (And it really is a free choice!) The performer turns his back on the audience to make sure he can't 'get a peek' and instructs the spectator to carry out a few simple calculations with the freely selected number. When the spectator arrives at a final total everybody suddenly notices that the exact same number is printed on the back of the magician’s T-shirt!
ESP Force #1: Using a collection of ESP symbol cards printed on the back of the Revelations Shirt, Max Maven's classic 'Finger Chart Force' is taken to a whole new level of amazement!
ESP Force #2: Jay experimented for a long time trying to figure out a way to repeat the "Finger Chart Force" and arrive at a different symbol - and Jay figured it out! This repeat demonstration is the ultimate psychic convincer!
The Shirt: Inspired by the Diesel™ brand of hip, high-end casual clothing, each Revelations Shirt is manufactured from 100% pure ultra cotton and the graphics are printed with a "soft white" ink to give the shirt a hip, pre-washed and 'worn-in' look. And the intricate design on the front of the shirt features a very subtle combination of arrows, snakes, stars and hieroglyphics for a very cool design that is both universal and timeless.
The DVD: Along with the complete details on all 7 mind-blowing revelations, the full-length DVD also explores such questions as, "Is it better to reveal the hidden symbols slowly or quickly?" And, "With mathematical forces is it better to involve a calculator or just use pen and paper?"
Jay also shares a ton of subtle psychological pointers learned over countless performances with the Revelations Shirt in the real world.
The DVD also includes valuable information on:
5 coin switches including the Bobo Switch, Thumb Palm Switch, Palm-to-Palm Switch, Shuttle Pass Switch and Jay's own "Perfect Coin Switch."
5 Multiple Card Forces including the Crimped Pack force, Vernon Substitute Transfer, Riffle Force, Henry Christ Force plus Jay's clever work on the classic Criss-Cross Force that makes it even more deceptive!
11 Single Card Forces including the Second Deal Force, Wichita Slip, Spread Force, Buckle Force, Double Lift Force, Topper Peek Force, Topper Pull-Out Force, Classic Force, Dribble Force, Mentalist's Equivoque and Jay's handling tips with half a Forcing pack.
Order The Right Size For You!
The Revelations Shirt is available only in black and in small, medium, large and X-large sizes. To make sure you have enough room to easily fold the front of the shirt, please order a size that is 1 size larger than the size you usually wear.
Wear your act on your back! $40.00 (30.1294)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9208&cat=0&page=1)
Bonesaw: There is a certain universally recognizable instant when the mind knows reality has slipped. Paul Harris called it the moment of astonishment. It happens when a levitation first leaves the ground. It happens when daylight shows between two halves of a girl. And it happens just as the spectator realizes she is pulling her card straight through your finger.
This is Bonesaw.
A spectator chooses a card and signs her name on the face. You tear a hole just large enough for your finger and put your initial on the card as well. Two more cards, stapled together, have corresponding holes. The spectator watches as you slide her card between the others. She sees the holes aligned and you slide your finger through. With your finger in place, you show the spectator that her signed card is still trapped inside the stapled pair. You show her that the card is trapped on both the outer and inner ends ― both sides. Her card is clearly stuck between the cards and pinned by your finger. Then you have her pull on her card. There is only one direction it can go. It cuts smoothly through your finger and finally emerges. No tears. No switches. Everything is in view. The card with her signature, and yours, is hers to keep.
30 minute DVD teaches you everything you need to know, with tips and variations, to stun your audiences. Includes all the materials needed to make the gimmick, custom-sized for your hands, and perform the effect again and again.
$19.99 (30.1290)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9203&cat=0&page=1)
Stealing Pips – Oz Pearlman - It's time to get visual. Your spectators will not believe their eyes. This DVD contains a wealth of powerful card magic. The material is extremely visual and stunning. The routines are practical, and designed for real-world performance. There are no pipe dreams or outrageous sleights. The moves and routines will generate huge reactions from audiences, and do so with the least amount of work, allowing you to focus more on presentation. This is material you will use.
Contents:
Perfecto - A prediction effect so clean and unbelievable, they'll think you are actually psychic.
Impossible Transpo - The most visual two-card transposition ever!
Card Vanishes - The ultimate anytime, anywhere routine using a playing card, credit card, or any card you have on hand.
I C 3 - Devastating 3-card prediction effect utilizing only one invisible move. Maximum spectator impact with minimal work!
Twist & Shake - Dynamite card revelation using the four Queens and a little shake.
Shot Caller - Streamlined approach to the Red Hot Mama effect with an eye-popping double color change and a dazzling climax!
Thought Force - Classic force for the spectator's eyes. Looks like pure mind reading.
Lord of the Twist - A two-phase stunner that delivers punch after punch!
Once Upon a Time - Magician vs. Gambler effect with astonishing revelations and transformations!
Bertram Change - Richly detailed explanation of this breathtaking color change.
SAC Move - Revolutionary move that is easy to learn, invisible, and has endless applications. It will raise your card magic to the next level!
Dirty Deck Principle - Indicator card that blows other methods out of the water. You will use this one all the time.
Also Includes - Zenneth Alignment Move and the Oz Alignment Refinement
$29.95 (DVD00810)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9199&cat=0&page=1)
And, that my friends, is the hottest new magic since the end of 2007. And, it’s mighty darn hot, if I do say so myself!
All of us here at Hank Lee’s hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and we hope that 2008 will be a happy and healthy year for you and yours. As always, we hope you will find some time in your busy schedule to visit us, either online at www.magicfact.com or in person at 102 North Street in Medford. Either way, we do love the company!
Hank Lee
