Friday, October 03, 2008

Hold Onto Your Hats!

Greetings from all of us at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. Well, this has certainly been an exciting week. Especially if you like roller coaster rides. On a serious note, we really do understand that these are not easy financial times. Everyone has felt the pinch. It’s hard sometimes to find money to buy magic when you are paying almost $4.00 a gallon for gas. We really do understand. Which is why we try and offer as many creative sales events as possible so that we can give you the best possible “bang for your buck” when you buy magic. But, as in all things, there is a limit to what we can do. We need to stay in business so that you can continue to buy your magic from us. So, we can’t sell you magic at prices that are lower than what we pay for the goods. No one can do that and expect to remain in business. We will continue to do our best to give you every break possible and still maintain a level of customer service that will make you feel that Hank Lee’s Magic Factory is “home.” Especially in these times, we appreciate every single order, and want you to know just how important your business is to us.

This week was Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. In celebration, Bonnie made an incredible family dinner on Wednesday. We had 15 people at our dining room table, and it was fun and loud and a really nice time. The food was outrageous. Bonnie always pulls out all the stops, researching new recipes for months prior to the dinner. She works really hard, but it is worth the effort! This is the first year that neither of the boys were with us for the holiday. I have to say it was a little bit odd not having the kids at the table. I’m getting a little fahklempt just writing this. I couldn’t wait to talk to the boys after dinner and tell them how much they were missed.

Halloween is coming up faster than fast. And, we know that it’s a big season for magic shows. I hope you have booked a ton of shows, and I also hope that you need some new magic for the season. We have a special Halloween area, designed to show you a lot of the items that are perfect for those holiday shows. Just go to www.magicfact.com and click on the Halloween Button. You will be whisked right to the Halloween shop. Watch out for ghosts!

Last week’s David Blaine special was, I think, one of his best. A lot of magic, for sure. Since there is so much interest in David Blaine and the magic he performs, we have created a David Blaine category in the Online Catalog. You will find it on the left side of the front page of the Online Catalog. Click on David’s face and off you go.

And, now to this week’s excitement.

15 Days Of Savings Sales Event Continues. It is now October, and the sales event continues. With one small change. We have turned the clock back to last Friday! So, for the next 4 days, you will save 25%.
Here’s how it works: No matter what day, from right now until Friday, the 10th of October at midnight, when you purchase from us at Hank Lee’s, you will save money. But, as you may have heard, the early bird gets the worm! For the first four days, from today, Friday, until Monday the 6th, you will save 25% on your entire order, subject to the rules below. On Tuesday you will save 24%. On Wednesday you will save 23%. And on it goes. We will reduce the discount by 1% each day until the 10th of October. All you need to do is enter the special code FIFTEENDAYS in the Discount Coupon Box of the online checkout at www.magicfact.com and we will automatically deduct the correct amount 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!
There are a few rules that apply, as with all things in life.
• The minimum order to use this discount is $25.00.
• The discount 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 discount 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, MagicSmith, 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 and Reward Points will be deducted from the order total before the discount is applied.
• As the discount is automatically generated, you must put the special code FIFTEENDAYS 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 line 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 sooner you act, the more you save!

Now, let’s take a look at this week’s Hotlist!

eXile- Mathieu Bich: From the award-winning performer Mathieu Bich comes eXile, the effect that kick started the latest David Blaine special with a bang. eXile takes place entirely on the spectator's own hand. Three small X's are drawn on someone's open palm. A quarter is placed in the center of their hand.
Slowly, you slide your finger over each X and it vanishes. No residue. No sign of ink to be seen. Nothing. When the quarter is lifted, there are three perfect X's directly in the center of the spectator’s palm.
The effect is taught in depth by Dan White, senior magic producer for David Blaine. Shot on location in the office of David Blaine in New York City. Comes with everything you need to learn it - and perform it. $29.95 (20.400)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9636&cat=0&page=1)

Lit - Dan White and Dan Hauss:
As seen on the most recent David Blaine television special!
The reactions with Lit are explosive.
A spectator is asked to take a match out of a matchbook, and ignite the match to verify that it’s real. The matchbook is then held tightly in the spectator’s closed fist.
A card is selected from the deck, then visually vanished under impossible conditions. The spectator slowly opens their hand to find the matchbook has visually transformed into a twisted hybrid of playing card and match pack.
* Easy to do.
* Perfect for all close up situations.
* Used regularly by David Blaine
Comes complete with cards and instructional DVD. Includes Bonus routines (Dan White's Floating Match on Hand and Andrew Gerard's Self Lighting Match Pack) $34.95 (30.1374)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9633&cat=0&page=1)

FREAK - Will Houstoun:
No camera tricks: Will Houstoun really can teach you how to manipulate and bend your fingers in ways that just shouldn’t be possible!
On this DVD, you will learn Will’s complete two minute impromptu body magic miracle where he bends and snaps his fingers in completely inhuman ways.
FREAK really is impromptu and can be performed by anyone, anywhere. You do not need to be double-jointed or prepared in any way, yet we guarantee that you’ll get screams and gasps every single time!
The DVD contains 15 minutes of intensive instruction by FREAK creator Will Houstoun and was filmed in a studio from multiple camera angles. $24.95 (DVD00929)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9635&cat=0&page=1)

Trinity Coin Set: From Johnny Wong, whose Dream Coin Set was such a spectacular hit, comes one of the most deceptive and practical coin sets ever.
Trinity Coin is made of three Half Dollars. It looks just like a regular Half Dollar, and it is examinable. You can easily do effects like appearing, vanishing, transposing, penetrating, and more!
Imagine your audience's surprise when one half dollar coin suddenly turns into four and vice versa!
Includes effects like:
* The Combination Trick
* Coin Through the Glass
* Two Coins Through the Glass
* Turning Silver Into Copper
* Six Coin Production
* Three Coin Disappearance
Comes complete with the precision-made Trinity Coin Set, detailed instructions and instructional DVD. $119.95 (20.401)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9642&cat=0&page=1)

Two-Faced - Richard Osterlind: An audience-tested utility prop that is perfect for magicians and mentalists alike. What could be better than an ordinary-looking object that can perform a multitude of magical changes?
Two-Faced is an innocent-looking folio-style photo frame, similar to what a professional photography studio would give you with your 8x10 portrait, with a heavy-duty construction that will last for years. The beauty of this time-tested idea is that the routines are endless and you will certainly be personalizing the prop the moment you receive it. Those who have had a preview marveled at how such a great idea has been left untapped all this time.
You can use Two-Faced for serious mentalism, comedy magic or anything in between. You will find ways to enhance present effects as well as invent totally new ones. The included booklet has been designed to show you as much versatility as possible and yet leave open the door to an endless stream of new thoughts, limited only by your imagination. Two-Faced can switch pictures, large sheets of paper, jumbo playing cards or anything else that will fit inside.
It’s extremely hard to come up with "new simplicity," but Two-Faced is just such a prop. You'll love it! $30.00 (60.1548)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9637&cat=0&page=1)

Compression - Doug McKenzie and Dan White:
As seen on the David Blaine national television special!
A card is freely selected, signed, and returned to the deck. The spectator is asked to name one of the card suits. Suddenly the deck visually begins to shrink down to a quarter of its original thickness leaving only the cards of the named suit remaining-and of course, their selected signed card. This is only one of the many ideas taught using this visually stunning principle. $34.95 (30.1375)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9634&cat=0&page=1)

666 Mentalism - Howard Adams:
Howard Adams has been around for a long time, and his specialty is self working and mathematical magic and mentalism effects.
Howard's books and booklets have been released in series (Such as OICUFESP and MINDESPA) and in books by a variety of publishers. Look at any list of creators of easy to do, self-working card effects and Howard's name will be high on the list. Howard's contributions can be seen in Simply Impromp2 by Aldo Colombini and Howard's book Mathcasts Aspellonu, often quoted as a resource for this kind of material.
In this book, Howard has created 66 self-working mentalism effects using 6 cards each. Each effect is explained in Howard's straight forward, no-nonsense fashion and we have left them as he wrote them word for word. You can read a sample here.
Often, people poo-poo self-working magic because they don't understand it. It is true that you will find no sleight of hand, no finger flinging and no hard to do gaffs in this book. Instead you get 66 (plus a few extra bonuses) simple effects and plot outlines that can be done 100% in the spectator's hands! Many of these do not require the performer to touch the cards at all. Some could be done over the phone or through the mail.
The material in this book is great stuff for brainstorming and workshops. You can do it as-is, or with a little thought and personalization, you can take a solid effect and turn it into a publicity-making miracle!
Pages 132. Softcover. $35.00
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9639&cat=0&page=1)

Animal Sense - Richard Mo and Alan Wong:
A visual and unique twist rubber-band magic. Close-up Magic with a celebration of colors!
You, the magician, show various cards with colorful cartoon-like pictures of various animals (Pig, Cat, Dog, Duck, Rabbit, and Turtle) An audience member selects a card at random. You then magically reveal their selection in the most creative way!
Balloon-Band
Using a rubber band, you magically sculpt and transform the rubber-band into the shape of the chosen animal card.
Animal Choice
You invite the audience member to freely select any rubber-band that you have. The rubber band then transforms into the shape of the chosen animal card.
Animal Hopping
Replace the selected animal card into the pack. Next, take a rubber-band and wrap it around the pack. Upon your command, a card hops out of the pack, and is revealed to the spectator's animal card. The rubber-band is removed from the pack and it has transformed into the chosen animal card.
Custom props all included! Perform immediately!
You are supplied complete with custom printed and gimmicked animal picture cards and an ample supply of special Animal Rubber-bands. There is also an instructional video explaining all the above effects.
Suitable for walk-around, table hopping or any close-up presentation. Perform it as a stand-alone piece or combine it with your other favorite rubber band effects.
$15.00 (10.1473)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9640&cat=0&page=1)

Impossible Card Flight – Chuck Smith:
As seen on the latest David Blaine television special.
Ten cards are counted into a volunteer’s hand.
Ten more cards are displayed and the volunteer is asked to remember one.
Now for the magic.
Upon counting the ten card pile, the volunteer finds he has eleven cards.
Looking through the second packet of ten the second volunteer discovers that one has disappeared. The thought of card has vanished.
Going back to the eleven card pack the volunteer finds the extra thought of card.
• The two packets are never placed near each other.
• Two different volunteers hold the packets to keep things on the up and up.
• You can use any brand of cards along with the gimmicks.
Many professionals use this effect as the final trick in their close up show. Simple sleight of hand plus our gimmicked cards do the trick. $20.00 (30.1376)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9641&cat=0&page=1)

Quick Change Transformation - Sos and Victoria Petrosyan:
World famous Quick Change artists Sos & Victoria Petrosyan are performing their renowned International Quick Change Show of lightning-fast changes and hip dance moves. Sos and Victoria have appeared in acclaimed international shows and their performance is nothing short of breathtaking. Their modern interpretation of the traditional art has won them many prizes at international magic competitions.
It sounds like a model's dream come true: being able to slip effortlessly into one glamorous outfit after another in seconds. Quick Change artists Sos & Victoria Petrosyan have updated the traditional performance art of Transformation by combining fashion, stage-craft and sleight of hand in a display that has dazzled audiences the world over. Europe's best designers have created for them a literal "Fashion Line" of divine costumes.
The Petrosyans mastery of the craft is as much in their wardrobe techniques as their agility and timing. The pair spends hundreds of hours adjusting their costumes to ensure the switches are super smooth. The Petrosyans have become proficient designers and tailors. Sos and Victoria have designed and manufactured Quick Change outfits for special corporate clients to suit their individual needs. To be sure, there is only one thing about Sos and Victoria Petrosyan that does not change quickly, and that is their ability to be the absolute best at what they do!
Now, you have the opportunity to learn the Quick Change secrets of Sos and Victoria!
Pages 96. Hardbound. $159.00 (BK01610)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9643&cat=0&page=1)

The Keeper Card Book – Tom Craven and Paul Gordon: - The Keeper is an extremely versatile, useful, exciting and fairly easy to do utilitarian card sleight. It's the brainchild of John Quine and was introduced to the magic fraternity by Tom Craven. Readers of popular magic magazines will know it from various routines in Harry Lorayne's Apocalypse where it caused - rightly - a buzz and a stir in the magic world.
Tom Craven wrote two booklets on The Keeper (both updated, edited etc in this book) and also contributed keeper effects to The Minotaur and Precursor. This book details nearly all those routines plus a whole bunch of exciting new and previously unpublished material by both Tom Craven and Paul Gordon.
The magic in this book is not pie in the sky stuff. It's all doable, practical, magical, entertaining and mystifying. In other words, you'll use it! The Keeper Card Book features "Beam's Favorite"; so titled because it is a favorite of Steve Beam!
Tom Craven & Paul Gordon fooled a bunch of "the boys" with this material at the 2008 4 F's (FFFF) convention in New York. They were totally bamboozled!
Perfect bound, paperback, full-color cover - 80 pages and 30 exciting card tricks from Tom Craven & Paul Gordon. $26.00 (BK01608)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9632&cat=0&page=1)

And that’s this week’s Hold Onto Your Hats, It’s Going To Be A Rough Ride Hotlist. I sincerely hope you will find some items in this week’s offering that will truly tickle your fancy! And, with the big Fifteen Days of Savings Sales Event still going strong, you can buy a bunch and your wallet will hardly notice it!
As always, we hope you will find some time to spend with us either online at www.magicfact.com or in person at 102 North Street in Medford. Either way, we love the company.
Hank