Greetings from all of us at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. We are deep in Conclave excitement right now. The big event is only two weeks away. The talent is all set, and what a fine talent lineup it is! Despite the recessionary economy outside the window, we have a really big group coming to this year’s Conclave. It makes me feel good that, in a time when choices must be made about where and how to spend your money, so many have chosen to join us at the Conclave. I can only assume that we are doing something right.
Speaking of doing something right, our new Platinum Club is taking off with a bang! It was only announced last week, but already we have over thirty members, which, frankly, both amazes and please me. The Platinum Club is a way for “regular customers” to get the best prices on everything they buy here at Hank Lee’s every day. No need to search around for who’s offering what deals. You will already have the best deal possible! If you missed the announcement last week, here is the link to check it out.
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=9859&cat=0&page=1)
Just a reminder, if you are in the Boston area, we 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!
Honestly, I would love to stay and chat, but there is a ton of Conclave work to be done. A ton. And, did I mention this earlier, the Conclave is only two weeks away! I will check back with you next week!
Now, for this week’s excitement.
QUADRUPLE POINTS: The Hank Lee Rewards Program has been up and running for some time now, and people are collecting some serious points and getting all kinds of free stuff using those points. As a reminder, for every retail dollar you spend with us at Hank Lee’s, you will get one Reward Point. Twenty Reward Points can be redeemed for one dollar in merchandise. Two hundred Reward Points gets you $10.00 in free merchandise. And on and on. The points are automatically added, and your point balance will appear on the invoice that comes with your order. There is no limit to the number of points you can collect. The points will not expire, so you can use them any time. All you need to do is tell us how many points you want to redeem when you place your next order (if you are ordering online, just put the number of points you would like to redeem in the Customer Notes Box and we will deduct the proper number of dollars from your order total). We think it’s a great idea. The perfect way to save for future orders! What could be better?
BETTER! I’ll tell you what’s better. Quadruple Points! That’s right, from the minute you get this email Newsletter until Thursday the 9th of April at midnight, we are giving you Quadruple Points! So, for every retail dollar you spend, you will get four points. The points will add up so fast that you won’t believe it! And you can use them with your very next order or with an order you place a year from now. The points never expire. So, buy some magic and watch those points accumulate!
Now, let’s take a gander at this week’s Hotlist.
Jumper DVD – Joe Rindfleisch: The heart of this incredible routine with borrowed rubber bands is a sequence where the knot in a legitimately broken band is made to jump, vanish, appear and disappear. You will now have a routine to use every time a rubber band is accidentally broken.
But the Jumper phase is only the heart of a four-phase routine which shocks and amazes.
The routine begins with Insta-Link where two rubber bands are linked and unlinked. It is followed by Rockband which is an unbelievable new method for apparently ripping a rubber band and then visually restoring it.
Then comes Jumper where a spectator legitimately tears a rubber band in half. You then tie the two ends together and magically and repeatedly remove the knot off the band and throw it back on. The finale is Rubber Restoration where the torn and knotted rubber band is really restored and given out as a souvenir.
Whether you use it in an informal situation or a professional performance you will love adding Jumper to your repertoire. Everything is impromptu and can be performed with borrowed rubber bands. Once mastered you will always be prepared to shock and amaze any audience. $29.95 (DVD00994)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=2721&cat=0&page=1)
Hypno Glass: Fill an empty transparent glass with water, beer or any other beverage and then drink it.
Place the glass on a tray (or a book, a wooden plate or a glass plate) and place a silk over it.
Ask the audience if the glass is heavy or light. Ask a spectator to lift the glass a little bit, which is no problem. The glass seems to be light, as the spectator (it could even be a child) can easily lift it up. The glass is then placed onto the tray again.
Look into the spectator's eyes while saying "The glass is heavy. It's really heavy. It's so heavy that you cannot even pick it up." The spectator tries to lift the glass but with no success! It's simply too heavy for him to pick up! It seems to be heavier than lead, heavier than gold, heavier than any known material!
Breath against the glass and it becomes light again, so that even a two year old child can pick it up! It's nothing more than an ordinary drinking glass. But, if you wish, even the strongest man can't lift it up. Just a simple breath and the glass is light as a feather again.
There are no gimmicks used. No hooks, no thread loops, no mechanism. The silk and tray are unprepared. No sleight of hand required, the item is ready to go! No assistants or helpers from the audience are needed. Unexplainable, spooky and funny at the same time. Can be performed surrounded!
Comes with a special glass in a very attractive box and detailed instructions. Use your own silk and tray/plate. $15.00 (60.1585)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=6874&cat=0&page=1)
Black I's – Matthew Johnson: Set to become an instant classic of close-up magic. It has everything you could want in a close up routine: Magic, comedy, it's commercial and it instantly resets!
Matthew Johnson takes the classic sponge ball plot and turns it on its head with the aid of four very funny sponge letter I's. You can only imagine the jokes that ensue in this fully scripted routine. The routine ends with the spectator catching, what else, Pink-I!
You receive the five sponge letter I's along with an instructional DVD that explains the routine in detail. You’ll also see the routine performed both in studio & live.
As an added bonus you receive the cards for Matthew's best selling effect "Drinks On Me"
For the first time on DVD you will learn the routine the way that Matthew performs it. Every line every joke! $35.00 (10.1511)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=7004&cat=0&page=1)
"I, I, I, I like it very much!" - Stephen Tucker
Time For A Change – Lee Alex: British born illusionist Lee Alex, the creator of the "Color Change Waistcoat", "Snow Leopard Vest" and "Happy Birthday Waistcoat," translator and co-author of the book "QuickChange" asks "Time for a Change?"
Jeff McBride described these lecture notes as "gorgeous!"
The all new bumper notes which accompany the lecture of the same name are presented in an easy to read, practical to follow, step by step description. Lee shares a complete set of no less than five costume changes for men, which have been designed with the working magician in mind. Innovative, refreshing techniques from Lee's own repertoire:
And so to Bed: Pajamas, bathrobe and slippers change to a full tuxedo.
One Piece Suit: A full tuxedo, complete with light-up jacket changes to a casual suit of the same coloor.
Two Piece Suit: A casual suit changes almost visually into the magician wearing cargo shorts, and a Bermuda shirt.
Surf the Wave: The magician is wearing a short sleeved shirt and cargo shorts, complete with leis! In a flash the magician changes into a white long sleeved shirt and black trousers.
The Long and the short of it: How to prepare long sleeved garments and long trousers to change from short sleeved shirts and short trousers.
Lee introduces a new quick change gimmick and shares his routines to accompany his best-selling Colour Change Waistcoat.
In addition, a brand new illusion based on Lee's extensive knowledge of quick change. Plus two essays, one providing a formula to bring your close up magic to the stage, the other a magician’s guide to shopping and how to prevent filling that over flowing bottom drawer!
190 pages fully illustrated and accompanied by explicative photographs – hardbound $60.00 (BK01645)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=2257&cat=0&page=1)
How To Create Kids’ Magic And Triple Your Income – John Breeds: With introductions by Terry Herbert and David Kaye. Terry regards this as one of the best books published on entertaining children. Here you’ll find approximately 200 pages, crammed with all you need to know on children’s entertaining. Sure, there are routines – and some outstanding ones at that! – but this book is also full of the business of entertaining children, a subject which many books have omitted. There are sections on:
* Advertising
* Non-elimination Games
* Bits of Business
* Sound Systems and Microphones
* Backdrops
* Lighting
* Magic Tables
* Plus loads more and the original routines.
Profusely illustrated throughout. Soft cover.
This is a superb book for anyone who entertains children. $45.00 (BK01646)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=1801&cat=0&page=1)
Silver Wonder: After showing his hands empty, the magician produces a large silk from the air. From the silk a gleaming 10" silver bowl is produced. Now the magician reaches into the air and plucks cards from nowhere, dropping them into the empty bowl! Finally, the magician takes the filled bowl into his hands and within the blink of an eye it is transformed into a large card fan!
Use the bowl with cards, silks, flowers & more! $99.95 (60.1584)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=8376&cat=0&page=1)
Backwards Butterfly – Tony Clark: Tear a paper butterfly into pieces and magically transform it into a 70" long paper caterpillar!
Very easy to do.
Comes with 15 butterflies and detailed instructions.
$15.00 (60.1586)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=2267&cat=0&page=1)
Dead Angle: Borrow a bill and slide it into the paper frame. Take a needle with a ribbon tied to the end, and pierce through the center of the bill and frame. Show both sides of the frame openly and they can see the ribbon passing through the bill. Pulling the ribbon completely out the other side, you take the bill out of the frame and show it. Amazingly the bill has not been damaged!
Comes complete with photo-illustrated instruction sheet, frame, needle and ribbon. $14.00 (10.1510)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=3649&cat=0&page=1)
Reel Magic Quarterly Episode 10 – Mike Caveney
Caught on Tape: Mike Caveney
John Lovick talks with Mike about the Long Beach Mystics, old magic books and takes us on a tour of the Egyptian Hall collection!
Columns:
Jon Armstrong, Small Things, Big Difference
Everyone should have a trick they can do in thirty seconds.
Garrett Thomas, Try This At Home
Give your pinky a workout with the pinky coin palm.
David Kaye/Silly Billy, Kid Show FUNdamentals
Why “What’s Next!” is still a great trick.
Simon Lovell, Simon Said It!
Cheap ?#@?! business cards.
Wayne Kawamoto, Choice Cuts
School for Scoundrels’ Whit Haydn on street scams.
David Regal, Tricks of the Trade
A voice in the wilderness on how to count the cards.
Bonus Tricks:
Prince “Card Over/Under and In Matchbox"
Mark Mason “Foot & Mouth”
Alexander de Cova “Chinese Money Mystery”
Move Monkeys:
Alex Giser “The Reno Change”
Mark Tams “Slice with a Twist”
Geoff Williams “Jackie Chan Backhand Catch”
$9.95 (DVD00995)
(http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=5787&cat=0&page=1)
And that’s this week’s Only Two Weeks To Go Until The Conclave Hotlist. Some mighty fine items this week, well worth your perusal!
As always, we very much appreciate your taking time out of your busy schedule to spend with us either online at www.magicfact.com or in person at 102 North Street in Medford. You already know how much we love your company!
Hank
