Friday, March 27, 2009

Six Days Of Savings!

Greetings from all of us at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. Another week closer to the Conclave, and the excitement is building. The program book is finished and on the way to the printer. The poster is finished, and will be a nice surprise for all the Conclavers. All systems appear to be “Go,” but that could change in a moment’s notice. Hopefully not!

Lucas has been home all week, and it has been opera central around our house. When he arrived home last Saturday, we all went to the Metropolitan Opera Simulcast at the Cineplex. Absolutely amazing! Highly recommended for you culture hounds. On Wednesday Lucas and Bonnie went to the opera in Boston. I stayed at home to watch baseball. Sometimes a person’s gotta do what a person’s gotta do. Baseball. Opera. Tough choice. The best part is that the house is just constantly filled with music. Mostly Lucas singing. Just beautiful.

If you are in the Boston area, we just want to let you know that Ricky Jay will be performing at the Somerville Theater on the 10th of April. We have all the information at the shop, which coincidentally is a stone’s throw from the Somerville Theater. If you’re in the area, stop by and pick up a flyer, and perhaps, just perhaps, some new magic!

From our “Check This Out” Department, here’s something you should really check out!
The Platinum Plan: If you are one of our ever-growing band of “regulars,” the Hank Lee Platinum Plan may just be for you. The plan is designed for those who buy from us on a regular basis and want a way to get the best possible savings on all of the magic they buy. Serious savings. All the time. Without having to look around to see who’s selling what item at what price. The plan is not for everyone. But, it might be for you. As far as I can tell, it is a new and original idea in the magic business. And, honestly, since I don’t want the idea “appropriated” by one of the shadow magic dealers, I will not go into details in this email. But, if you think of yourself as a “Platinum Customer,” drop me an email to magicfact@aol.com and request the information on the Platinum Plan.

Last week, we announced a progressively decreasing sale starting at 29% and decreasing by one percent each day until the end of the month. We have made a change in that sales event, and I think it will make you all very happy! Check out this week’s excitement.

6 Days Of Savings Sales Event. There are 6 days left in March (give or take). In light of this, we present, for your entertainment pleasure: The 6 Days Of Savings!
Until Wednesday, the 1st of April at midnight, when you purchase from us at Hank Lee’s, you will save like crazy. Starting on Friday the 27th of March, you will save 29% on your entire order, subject to the rules below. All you need to do is enter the special code SIXDAYS in the Discount Coupon Box of the online checkout at www.magicfact.com and we will automatically deduct 29% 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 29% 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.
• Offers cannot be combined.
• 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, Johnson Products 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, Reward Points and Promotional Gift Certificates will be deducted from the order total before the discount is applied.
• As the discount is automatically generated, you must put the special code 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. It all ends on the 1st of April at midnight!

And now to this week’s Hotlist!

Pressure – Daniel Garcia and Dan White: From our friends at theory11. A borrowed cell phone is held in one hand. A balloon is inflated. The cell phone visually penetrates into the inflated balloon. It is shown, then given back to the spectator with the cell phone still inside.
The result is a twisted hybrid of visual craziness: the borrowed cell phone is inside the balloon. The spectator removes it herself. There are no crazy gimmicks. Any cell phone. Any balloon. Nothing but magic. $19.95 (10.1508)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=1008&cat=0&page=1)

Approaching Magic – David Regal: It’s all here. Magic with bills, beer, socks, envelopes, DVD's, coffee cups, baskets, boxes, borrowed rings, pieces of paper, paperback books, a bulletin board, a glass canister, a wand, a pencil and a marshmallow. Plus cards & coins, magic for stand up, sit down, near and far. How it works and how to perform it! Over 500 pages with over 1000 photographs. $75.00 (BK01644)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=1621&cat=0&page=1)

"David Regal's magic is just sensational, and the presentations are equally ingenious. He's fooled me, surprised me, made me laugh, and made me wonder. Most of all, he made me wonder where all these great ideas come from. Now every magician will know. They come from this book.” - Jim Steinmeyer

“Brilliance in action. David gives you his real world – real work!” - Jeff McBride

Dice Illusion: Take out a die with all blank spots, and a mirror. Let the audience examine both. Everything is normal. Explain how people make dice and explain that you can make a die with a mirror.
When you place the die next to the mirror, the die itself doesn't show any color, but the die in the mirror does! Next, make the die full of color, but this time, the die in the mirror is blank!
Finally, you remove the die from the mirror; you now have two dice!
Props include:
• Normal die
• Specially gimmicked die
• Small mirror and instructions.
• Self-working
$24.95 (10.1509)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=1021&cat=0&page=1)

BFF Secret Writing Technique – Alvo Stockman: A secret writing technique for close-up performers. Learn this crazy skill and you'll be able to read minds and create stunning prediction effects under fire. This is next level.
From the unconventional mind of Alvo Stockman comes a revolutionary technique for group level mentalism. BFF isn't just one trick, it's an entire system for prediction. You can use it to create a limitless number of miracles.
Here are some examples:
At a restaurant, with three friends, you offer a demonstration.
"You guys know me so well... you're three of my best friends. I want to try something interesting. Whenever we talk, a lot of times, I feel like I know what one of you is going to say before you even say it. For example, John, if I said the word 'barn' to you, what's the first word that pops into your mind?"
"Horse"
"'Horse', right. Well if I predicted that, it wouldn't be so impressive. A lot of people would probably say 'horse.' What I'd like to try is something a little more difficult. I'm going to try to predict a chain of associations that the three of you will have. For example, if I said 'barn,' John said 'horse,' Luke said 'jockey,' and Michael said 'helmet,' predicting the final word 'helmet' would be considerably harder!
I'm going to write down a word here, and I'm going to try to start a chain of events that will end with Michael saying this word. I'm going to cover it with my hand for now. Now to start off, John, what's the first word you think of, when I say 'blue?'" At the end of the chain of events, your prediction is 100% correct.
Includes 29 page saddle stitched manuscript and props. $20.00 (40.673)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=7259&cat=0&page=1)

"This is the best thing I've seen in a couple years."
- Bob Cassidy

"No matter where you are, who you're sitting with, you'll have this. Predict their thoughts, read their minds. It's whatever you want it to be, the potential is overwhelming."
- Alvo Stockman

Vanni Bossi DVD - The Greater Magic Video Library: If there were a list of creative artists in our world of magic, Vanni Bossi would be on that list, and probably near the top!
A thinker. A creator. A performer. This Italian is truly an artist, as you will see on the DVD. You will enjoy the effects that he performs and teaches and notice that he uses just common objects and makes a miracle out of them. Stand-up and close-up effects are his specialty.
On this DVD you will enjoy and learn the following:
• Invisible Coin & Vanishes
• Fertile Coins
• Coins Across/Through Table
• Coin Clip
• Mysterious Photo Frame
• It’s So Simple
• Cigarette Matrix
• Hofzinser’s Last Problem
• Any Coin In Bottle
$30.00 (DVD00993)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8249&cat=0&page=1)

Ultimate Thumb Cuffs: One of the best escape routines around! Two volunteers from the audience lock you into the thumb cuffs. You proceed to escape and re-enter the cuffs as quick as a flash. The audience has no clue how you are doing it.
Very little skill is needed, allowing you to concentrate on performance. Once you are locked in, one hand is removed and replaced like magic!
The bowtie shape on the Ultimate Thumb Cuffs makes them optically deceptive. The square shape of every other thumb cuff is now obsolete. This advancement in optical principles truly make these the ultimate in thumb cuff escapes!
You can do far more than just escapes! With these cuffs you can do a Ring Release Routine, remove your own watch, quick escape comedy bits, and more.
• Always ready to perform.
• Fully examinable.
• Can be placed on spectator’s thumbs.
• Made from clear Acrylic
• Hand sanded "chamfered" edges.
• No skill required.
Comes with the cuffs, a star washer, extra washers and great instructions. One size fits all! $32.50 (60.1583)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=7889&cat=0&page=1)

Last Monte – Harry Anderson: An outstanding routine which simulates the classic Three Card Monte routine played on the streets. Even though the routine looks and feels like the real thing, the special cards supplied are used to create impossible looking sequences. But the impossible and memorable ending is what kills.
While educating the spectators about how not to get ripped-off with the con game you demonstrate a basic routine where the money card is never found. You then give them the ultimate chance to win by tearing the corner off the elusive money card. Believe it or not when the card with the missing corner is turned over it is not the winning Ace. Everything can be handed out for immediate examination and can be given out as a souvenir.
Comes complete with illustrated instructions and all necessary cards, including a dozen special Monte cards. The cards supplied are Poker-size, blue-back Gemaco Casino Pro cards as used in many casinos. $15.00 (10.533)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=1967&cat=0&page=1)

Mix Tape – Alvo Stockman: Next time you meet a friend for coffee, as a gesture of friendship, bring along a CD you made for them of some music you thought they'd enjoy. As you give them the CD, explain that listening to someone's music is a great way to get to know them. There's something deep and emotional about music that exists on a different level from plain conversation. Ask them what some of their favorite songs are, in an attempt to learn more about them. "If you like those songs, you're going to love this CD," you say, pointing to the disc they're now holding. The rest of the afternoon coffee is no different from any other. When they arrive home and play the CD, however, they realize that they will indeed love the songs on it. They're the exact same songs they mentioned to you earlier during coffee.
Do you remember the scene in the film Ocean's 11 when Andy Garcia's character realizes that he's been watching a tape of his vault, and that his money is long gone? That moment, the moment you realize that something really big just happened under your nose, is a very special, juicy moment that you want to savor. You want to watch it over and over again.
As memorable and powerful as that type of experience is, it's sadly absent from the world of instant-gratification-style modern magic. It takes a level of quiet confidence and patience that doesn't translate well to television, stage or walk-around magic. This style fits into the category of lifestyle magic. You do it when you're having coffee, at dinner, at a meeting. You do it casually. You do it to bring magic into someone's life. You're giving them a first-hand experience of that Mission Impossible feeling they've only seen in the movies. And it's the seeds of your myth and legend as a performer of magic.
Pages 20 - Saddle Stitched, 8 1/2" x 11", Photo-illustrated. $20.00 (40.674)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=6924&cat=0&page=1)

La Magie des Cartes – Etienne Pradier: French born Etienne Pradier is one of the UK's most successful professional magicians. In fact, from London to Los Angeles people's jaws have literally dropped after witnessing him perform.
This is Etienne's first major book publication and contains many of the effects that have helped him achieve his success as a magician, plus a wealth of information and advice for working magicians, be they professionals or new starters.
All of the effects are from Etienne's professional repertoire and all the tips hints and pieces of advice are from his experience of performing in the 'real world.' You get lots of great professional and highly commercial routines as well as some very sage advice and hilarious stories from the life of a very busy working magician.
Included are effects such as a stunning take on the torn and restored card, a wonderful finale for the Cavorting Aces, a delightfully simple change effect of Kings to Aces, an amazing Four Ace routine and so much more.
148 pages. Hardcover. Photo illustrated. $38.00 (BK01643)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=5706&cat=0&page=1)

Catch That Tiger: A card trick that can be performed for children. It’s cute, magical and examinable.
Three blank cards are shown on both sides. One of the cards is used to catch a Tiger. A spectator traps the Tiger card under their hand but the Tiger disappears. It also left a clue -- a footprint. Following the footprints leads you to the Tiger’s new hideout.
Comes complete with casino quality poker-size cards and photo-illustrated instructions.
$10.00 (30.1417)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=7838&cat=0&page=1)

And that’s this week’s closer and closer to the Conclave Hotlist. Great stuff at great prices, that’s us! Don’t forget to ask about the Platinum Club!
As always, we are ever-thankful that you find time in your busy schedules to spend with us either online at www.magicfact.com or in person at 102 North Street in Medford, Mass. Either way, we love the company.
Hank