Friday, March 02, 2012

Hank Lee's Buy More Get More Event!

Greetings from all of us at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. Well, it finally snowed. Not a blizzard, but a few inches. The snow plow drivers are thrilled!


This has been a very tough week. Sometimes, I need to make decisions that are difficult. But, none has ever been as difficult as the one I made this week. For 23 years in succession we produced the annual Cape Cod Magic Conclave. Described as a “hidden jewel” of magic conventions, it was my personal pride and joy. This week, I cancelled the 24th edition. I know, I feel the same way. So many disappointed people. When folks began to find out earlier this week, they expressed their sadness over the cancellation.  If you have already registered for this year’s event, you will be getting a letter in the mail in the next few days with more information.


Just to make it clear, the cancellation was not a financial decision. We are here and we are in business, and business is good. The decision was primarily a personal one. There are some things going on in my other, non magical life that must take precedence over the Conclave. I know it seems hard to believe, but it’s the truth.


We are planning to produce a Conclave next year. I hope you will think about attending, and I will give you more information as time goes by.


And, that’s all the news from here.


We have a very fine Excitement for you this week. And, some great new items in the Hotlist. Please take some time to check them out.


BUY MORE GET MORE: Starting right now and running through Tuesday, March 6th at midnight, we are having our famous Buy More Get More event.
Here is how it works:
For each order you place during the event, you will get a Promotional Gift Certificate which you can use towards a future purchase here at Hank Lee’s. The value of the coupon depends entirely on the size of your order. Here is the breakdown:
* Order between $25.00 and $100.00: Coupon is for 20% of the merchandise total. (Orders less than $25.00 get our sincere thanks, but sadly no coupon)
* Order between $100.00 and $300.00: Coupon is for 25% of the merchandise total.
* Order over $300.00: Coupon is for 30% of the merchandise total.
When you place your order online at www.magicfact.com, please put the secret phrase BUY MORE GET MORE in the Customer Notes Box of the online checkout. If you place your order by email or FAX, just include the secret phrase with your order. And, if you place your order by phone, toll free at 800 874 7400, please mention the secret phrase to get your coupon. The coupon will be sent along with your order and can be used whenever you wish, no expiration date. You will get a coupon for every order you place during the event. Just don’t lose the coupons, please. The Buy More Get More event includes every item we carry!


And now, this week’s Hotlist!

(1) Evolution Chop Cup: Evolution will change your image of Chop Cups.
Evolution enables you to show the cup empty. Then without loading, the final productions take place.
Spectators actually see the cup empty. This makes the effect of the Chop Cup even stronger.
The gimmick is so clever, and functions almost automatically. You do not need to practice any new moves other than ordinary Chop Cup moves. Very easy to handle.
The product includes two dice made for this routine, but you can use balls for Chop Cups as well
$195.00 (10.1686)


(2) Illusionary Departures 2012 – J C Sum: A treasury of original illusion designs and presentation plots from J C Sum, one of Asia's most successful illusionists & illusion designers
This is the latest edition of the book that was first released in 2004. Over the last 8 years, the book has been revised, updated, expanded and is now J C's biggest illusion book to date! It contains 35 illusions & stage routines with carefully thought out designs, methodologies and presentation plots that take into consideration motivation, logic and credibility in the performance of illusion
Illusions detailed inside the book cover multiple genres including penetrations, appearances, vanishes, transpositions and escapes. Also shared are a variety of original stage routines such as a logical time travel act, motivated torn & restored effect and a silent theatrical piece with plot and progressive structure
In one of the most valuable chapters in the book, J C shares his original approach to designing and building a modern illusion base. His base is highly deceptive and sturdy but is very lightweight compared to traditionally built bases. J C and his onstage partner, 'Magic Babe' Ning, utilize this cutting edge base design in several of their illusions
All the illusions were created for the working performer (from new workers to seasoned professionals) and have been prototyped, built and audience-tested in professional shows staged over the years since 1998
All props are designed to pack down effectively for transport and most of the illusions can be performed surrounded or with audiences on three sides. Many of the illusions can be built inexpensively and are suitable even for beginners looking to get started in the field of grand illusions
The book features 145 pages of detailed illusion construction plans as well as full illusion presentations, including
A Walk Through The Winery - An original penetration illusion.
Visual Displacement - The passing of a person through four vertical solid steel bars
The Time Machine - A 'cerebral' stage routine performed to a time-travel plot
Reinvent the Sub-Trunk - Eight different variations & presentation ideas for the Substitution Trunk
Creation Of Life - A paradigm of powerful illusion presentation
Ultimate Victory Cartons - An inexpensive appearance illusion for stage
Black Art Case Table - A practical transport solution for a B.A. utility
Fourth Dimensional Exit - The magical vanishing of a company of dancers/ performers using a new illusion utility
Deceptive Base Work - Original thoughts, philosophy, design and fabrication process for a modern base
Crystal Striptease - The magical vanish & reappearance of a girl while being stripped of her clothes
New-Age Spirit Cabinet - The manifestation of inanimate objects with a kicker ending
Sweepstakes - When motivation and combination collide
Back Door Appearance - The magical appearance of a person(s) in a special event setting
Graffiti Girl - An audience participation illusion with a girl from graffiti appearance
Motion Delayed Vanish/ Appearance - An original application of an illusion utility
Modern Flight Case Table - An ATA case-table for working performers
Branded - A corporate logo magically appears in a flash of fire
Chain Reaction - An instant escape with a costume change kicker
Hiding In Plain Sight - A sucker comedy teleportation
Ghost Cabinet - Multiple presentations for a versatile prop for a multi-cast illusion production number
12-Girl Cabinet - A simplified and modern Jarrett 21-Person Cabinet
BONUS: Purchasing this book will entitle you access to J C's secret 'Backstage' section that contains free illusion ideas and four illusion methods for car appearances! Many have said that these ideas alone are worth the price of the book!
$95.00 (BK01844)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
Coming in stock very soon. Pre-order now and we’ll pay the shipping!


(3) Practical Magic – Harry Anderson: This one is so great, that we are listing it again this week. I didn’t want anyone to miss out! Harry Anderson’s presentation of the Magic Square takes the original effect into a whole new realm of entertainment. It’s fast and funny and incredibly amazing.
It all starts with a book aptly titled, Practical Magic. The book purportedly contains page references to the famous Tarbell Course in Magic. You explain to the audience that the Tarbell Course is where generations of magicians learned their stuff. Just so they know.
Display the book and explain that you will use it as a way to choose your final effect!
Ask for any random number between 50 and 150. An audience member shouts out a number. Really random. Honest. You open the book to the page that matches the randomly selected number. If their number was, say, 75, you turn to page 75.
The trick on that page turns out to be the Magic Square!
Close the book and bring out a giant sheet of paper which has been pre-folded into sixteenths.
As you patter about the Magic Square, you fill in all sixteen squares with seemingly random numbers. One number per square.
In the end, you reveal all the wonders of the Magic Square. You add the numbers in every way possible. Horizontally, vertically, diagonally. No matter which way you add them, the total comes out to the spectator’s chosen number. In this case 75.
Simple, yet stunning.
The method requires no memorization of any kind. The two number crib sheet is built right into the book. A two second glance at the page gives you all the information you need to fill out the Magic Square. So, you can concentrate on the presentation!
$45.00. (60.1823)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.


We want to thank Harry Anderson for giving us the exclusive on this fine effect.


What the pros are saying:
Max Maven: "Delightfully dishonest. The only difficulty is keeping the wide grin off your face as you do it."


Eugene Burger: "I was completely taken in. Really wonderful."


Michael Weber: "A criminally good idea. Too smart."


Rich Bloch: "A lustrous  jewel none of us can be without."


Mac King: "Entertaining all the way through."


Jon Racherbaumer: "To die for."


Stephen Minch:  "Brilliant! Harry Anderson is a f**king genius!"


(4) Keymaster Reloaded – Craig Petty: Craig Petty, creator of Chop, presents Keymaster Reloaded: the most organic moving hole routine you will ever see.
Slide holes up and down keys, move holes on to the stem of a key and even visibly move holes from one key to another, all with the 6 custom designed keys supplied.
Your audiences will love the routines that take place right in their hands - with the 7 routines on this DVD you will soon become a 'Keymaster'.
$70.00 (10.1688)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.


(5) The Treachery Of TricksFrancis Menotti:
For the first time ever Francis Menotti has released some of his most coveted secrets on DVD. On this DVD set you will be taken on a journey into the world of meaningful, powerful, and artistic presentations of magic effects. Not only does Francis teach how to perform some of the routines that have made him a feature performer at the Magic Castle, he gives great advice on how to take your own presentations to the next level. You will see Francis perform for a live audience, then Francis takes you behind the scenes with a very informative audio commentary. If you’re looking for effects, you will be pleased. All the effects are extremely commercial and will fool magicians and laypeople alike. If you looking for more than just the standard magic DVD, this is it.
Show
This 35 minute performance includes many signature presentations that have never appeared anywhere else. While some of the effects are taught in the tutorial section, this is much more than just a series of tricks; it is a full experience, included to demonstrate how to create a memorable show.
Audio Commentary
Francis reveals the nuances and motivation of his show.
Interviews
Menotti shares his thinking on magic theory- call backs, foreshadowing, theatrical anchor points, scripting, & character development.
Taught Tricks
Effects with unique presentations that Menotti uses in his professional working repertoire.
* vivid- the audience accurately “predicts” the type of coin and its date
* wyrd- turn predictions on their head, anytime, anywhere
* pieces of nothing- a completely new premise for coin magic
* two sides of every coin- a quirky 3 coin routine for any situation
* imaginary coins- a clean 3 coin vanish with devious new moves
* sync- cards find their mates, in increasingly more amazing ways
$39.95 (DVD01324)


“Francis Menotti is a clever, clever man and I will eagerly devour anything that he is willing to share.” - Kevin James


"Francis always has the knack to twist my brain… A pure joy to any creative lover of our Art.” - Gaetan Bloom


(6) Secret Weapon – Aaron Fisher: Magicians who understand pacing within a routine of card effects know that the classic 52-on-1 card can be a highly effective "change of pace" after a series of heavyweight card miracles. It's light, it relieves tension in the audience, and it gives people a chance to catch their breath before even more serious astonishments to come. But what if the magician doesn't allow the audience to catch its breath? What if the gag turns out to be more than a gag?
The Secret Weapon. The magician has a card selected from the pack and "reveals" it via the standard 52-on-1 gaff: a special card with the images of all 52 cards printed on it. After the laughter (and groans) subside, the spectator inserts his selection anywhere into the pack. The magician then displays the 52-on-1 card once again, which now reveals the image of the selected card in exactly the same position as that of the real card in the real deck!
The Secret Weapon is a remarkably deceptive - and easy-to-do - piece of magic that will leave your spectators in a state of complete bewilderment, far beyond what they were expecting from a lighthearted little joke. And you can't ask for more than that, in terms of preparing your audience for the next round of miracles.
Virtually self working; allows you to concentrate on learning the touches and nuances that turn this trick into a miracle
Practical - designed for real-world performance.
Easy - uses only a double turnover and a simple force.
Funny - a gag on top of a gag.
Powerful - guaranteed stunner and crowd-pleaser!
$15.00 (30.1672)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.


(7) Mix DVD – Limin: Limin is a most creative magical artist and one of the best effect designers in Taiwan. For the first time he shares his ideas to you. In this DVD, you will learn 5 visual effects, and every DVD comes with all props you need
You will learn:
Mix
Two cards. One penetrates through the other, without any suspicious cover!
Phantom Bill
Uses one normal bill and one business card, both borrowed from the audience. Without any cover, the business card penetrates the folded bill to the middle, and then passes through the bill completely!
Wormhole
Take out two cards, and borrow one coin from the audience. Put the coin between the cards. The coin disappears immediately. Cover the coin with the card again; the coin reappears.
Immortal
One normal toothpick, broken into two halves by the audience. With the wave of your hand, the broken toothpick restores instantly.
Blockade
Borrow one bill and one coin from the audience, and wrap the coin with the bill step by step. The wrapping sequence is done very clearly. At the last step, use a clip to prevent the coin from escaping. Yet, with one simple gesture, the coin escapes from the blockade and appears outside the bill.
$28.00 (DVD01325)


 (8) Shot Can – G Sparks: A double shot of Magic from the little can that can.
Place a shot glass on top an empty 8oz Little Can.
Your open hand simply draws down upon the glass.
The shot glass vanishes!
Nothing in your hands.
Nothing up your sleeves.
Pick up the can and give it a shake.
The shot glass is heard and then seen inside the Little Can!
The shot glass has penetrated the can.
An amazing vanish and a magical penetration .
The shot glass can be signed.
ShotCan plays big and packs small.
Includes gimmicked soda can, plastic shot glass, additional gimmicks and instruction sheet.
$29.95 (10.1687)


And that’s this week’s fabulous Hotlist! Some really great new items. Just for you.
I can’t tell you how good it makes me feel that you all take time out from your busy schedules to visit us. Whether it’s online at www.magicfact.com or in person at 102 North Street in Medford, we love your company!