Greetings from your friends at Hank Lee’s, where the sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day.
This week, in fact even as I write this, we have been fighting with the Compu-Beast over the online catalog. For some reason, registered customers could not log in. It was one of those wonderful push-me pull-you problems. The bummer is that we had paid the software engineers to fix a different problem (we could not see the Customer Notes Box so were not getting notes left by you folks). They fixed that, and created this new problem. I am hoping that by the time you read this, all systems will once again be “go.” Update: Problem has been solved, so you can log in as usual!
Other than this minor glitch, the week has been a good one. Lots of orders. Lots of shipping. Lots of fun in the office, they tell me. I know that Aron has been coming home tired. From my perspective that’s a good thing.
For me, I have finished up the new “This Stuff Is Hot” list, which goes out with every order you place. It’s got some pretty, pretty, pretty good items in it. Well worth a look-see
We have an excellent Excitement for you this week. Just read on!
BUY ONE GET ONE AT 60% OFF SALES EVENT: We have juiced up our Buy One Get One event by offering a gigantic 60% off the second item. That’s right, 60% off! Here's how it works. For the next 5 days, from right now, until Tuesday, June 12th at midnight, you can save like crazy.
How does it work? Simple, really. For every item you buy, you get the second item at 60% off. That's right, a full 60% off. So, if you buy a Flying Box for $1300.00 and a Super Chameleon Power for $105.00, you will get the Super Chameleon Power for $42.00! What a deal! It even works with non-discountable items. Just make sure the non-discountable item is the higher priced of the pair. If you buy more than two items (and, we thank you), we will pair them up so you get the best deal!
The rules are also simple. We deduct the 60% from the lower priced of the two items. You can buy as many items as you want; we will do the math so you save the most! There are a few items that are not included in this promotion. Very few. If you order one of those items, we will let you know before we process your order.
Note: Since this is a somewhat complicated sale, the online system will not do the math. Aron, a genuine college graduate elf, will do it here before we process your order. Your email confirmation will show the full price for each item, but we will figure the discounts before you are charged, and reimburse your credit card.
In order to take advantage of this outrageous sale, you must put the words BUY ONE GET ONE in the Customer Notes Box of the online checkout at www.magicfact.com. If you are calling your order in to our toll free number at 800 874 7400, give the order person the special code. If you are FAXing your order to 781 395 2034 or emailing it to magicfact@aol.com, just remember to include the special code, BUY ONE GET ONE and you will get the biggest discount ever! So, hop to it and save some serious dough!
Now, let’s take a look at this week’s Hotlist!
(1) Lopsided Cyclops: Tommy James’ new Lopsided Cyclops is designed for the working performer. Perform it in your birthday act or on a large stage.
Begin by telling the story of a monster that lived long ago in a faraway land. This monster was a Cyclops, a creature with only one eye. He also had one leg that was shorter than the other, so the townspeople named him the Lopsided Cyclops. His favorite food: children! But, don’t worry! The monster doesn’t exist anymore. The only thing that remains is the monster’s eyeball. Ask the children if they would like to see it. Would they? Would eye?
Bring out a velour drawstring bag and remove a decorative wooden box with warning signs all over it. Of course you ignore the signs, remove the eyeball and rest it on a pedestal on top of the box. Explain that when the eyeball is exposed to light, it will remain asleep. But in total darkness, it will live again! Yea right! Lets see what happens!
Cover the eyeball with a cloth and, all of a sudden, it begins to rise underneath the cloth. It keeps rising and floating eerily, then all of a sudden it rises to the top of the cloth and looks at you. Yikes!
Then it darts back under the cloth and goes out of control, pulling you all over the stage! The kids love it! It pulls you to the left! It pulls you to the right! Totally out of control!
Then it peeks over the cloth and looks at the audience. Once again it darts back under the cloth and shoots towards the audience! You desperately try to overcome its power with tug of war motions!
You finally get it under control and it floats back to your table.
Remove the cloth and place the eyeball back into the box.
Slowly, the lid on the box begins to rise up and the kids can see the eyeball trying to escape. This is a great look-no-see moment and the kids go absolutely wild trying to tell you! You finally see it and slam the top back down, but it keeps try to peek out!
You place the box back into the bag and tie it really tight, but the kids can still hear a knocking sound coming from the bag. Yikes!
Put the bag back into your case and vow to never take it out again! (Until your next show)
Packs small/plays big. Instant reset. The box is three inches square and takes up little room in your case. Pedestal is mounted on top of the box so you do not have to worry about an extra piece of equipment. The entire unit with gimmick weighs less than 6 ounces, making it very easy to transport. You receive special wooden box, eyeball, cloth, gimmick, velour drawstring bag and written instructions with routine. A winning routine for any act!
$75.00 (60.1855)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
(2) Super Chameleon Power: The latest product from Johnny Wong 2012.
It is a multifunctional coin gimmick which you can use to create some eye-popping effects.
This gimmick set comes with a card, a specially crafted US Half Dollar and a regular Chinese coin.
Using this set of precision gimmicked coins will allow you to perform some amazing effects, with ease!
The DVD comes with a variety of demos that will guide you through the following routines:
Coin thru the bottom of glass cup
Three coins disappear and reappear
Unique three coins fly into glass cup
Three coins with a card illusion routine
Amazing coin finding cards
Coin quick penetration glass cup illusion
Coin Penetration: From back of glass table into glass cup
Unique quick change
Every routine is made more powerful and easier through the use of these precisely made US Half Dollar Coins & Chinese Coins.
$105.00 (20.479)
(3) The System - Dan & Dave Buck:
CONTENTS:
The DVD is broken up into three categories; selecting one activates the gears to a "system" that will own you for hours:
ARCHIVE:
Multi-angle views
Secret rooms
Interactive menus
TV SPOTS:
Trailers
Testimonials
EXTRAS:
Short films
Out takes
Pasteboard animations (underground home video)
Easter eggs (hidden videos)
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
Over 18 insane card flourishes; Genesis, Kryptonite, West Coast Chaos, Madonna 1-3, False Sybil, Mary Jane, Ferrari 360 Spider, The Werm, TCTCSA, 00.327.0000, 00.327.0002, Revolution Erdnase, Molecule 1-3
As a bonus you will also see and/or learn; The Leno Cut, Jackson Five, Railslide, Deck Flip, Revolution Cut, Sybil Variations
BONUS:
On purchasing the DVD you gain exclusive access to the The Vault now with over 18 new flourishes.
$35.00 (DVD01348)
(4) Silken Sands - Devin Knight: A novel and flashy effect that your audience hasn't seen before. This was a limited release a few years ago. Now you can make it up yourself in less than an hour, using items found in most hardware stores. No tools of any kind required to assemble!
Effect: The performer shows a metal bowl to be empty. He then puts in three large handfuls of different colored sands, red, blue, and yellow. He explains that from these base colors, all colors can be made. Magician then pours a quart of water into the bowl and mixes the sand and water with a wooden chopstick. He takes the stick and begins to fling water into the air. Suddenly, the flung water visibly turns into dry silks in mid-air! After a large production of silks is made, the water is poured back into the pitcher. The water is clear, the sand has vanished and the bowl is seen to be empty.
This effect has proven to be a real audience pleaser. Suitable for both adults and children. The novel appearance of the dry silks in the air, as water is apparently being flicked will get applause from your audience. This manual will teach you how to easily make it up for a fraction of the original cost. This is one of the most visual productions you can make and requires no skill. Flashy and visual magic that audiences love to see.
Once made up, you use the same sand over and over. There are no replacements to buy, making this effect very cost effective.
Complete manual with photos showing you how to make it up and perform the routine, with additional ideas.
$20.00 (60.1856)
(5) Sniper - Red Tsai & Horret Wu: Red Tsai, with his original "Mah-Jong" routine, earned several trophies worldwide. Not only did he win the championships in Taiwan, Korea, and Thailand, Red was also awarded the 1st prize in the competitive 2011 Hong Kong FISM Asia Close-up Magic Competition. Crowned as the "2012 Best Close-Up Magician of Merlin Award", his impact is storming the whole magic community!
Horret Wu, an underground sleight master from Taiwan, wowed the crowd first in 2010 TMA Close-up Competition. Since then, he's one of the rising stars of Taiwan's magic society. He revives various classic sleights with creative performances. Besides the championship of TMA Close-up Magic Competition, Horret was also the winner of Italy Special Award and Japan UGM Special Award In TMA Convention 2010.
Hand in hand, these two magic talents brainstormed and brought you eight absolutely wonderful routines, including "Sniper" and "Assassin.”
Contents Include:
Sniper - One card is selected by the audience randomly and then put back into the deck. The magician places that deck on the table, and puts another card behind the deck. The magician shoots that card into the deck and it slides into the exact place where the audience's card is.
Assassin - The audience selects a card and puts it back into the deck. The magician spreads the deck on the table, and takes out a random card. The card is then shot into the spread deck, and accurately hits the chosen card.
Random Change - The magician divides the whole deck into 4 piles casually, and reveals 4 Kings on the top of each pile. The magician carries on with these 4 Kings and transforms them into 4 Aces in the blink of an eye.
Machine Gun - The magician finds out 4 Aces as the assistants, and then asks 4 spectators to select a card individually. After putting 4 selected cards back into the deck, the magician divides the deck into 4 piles, and sets each Ace behind each pile. Then the Aces are shot one by one into the piles to find out the spectators' cards.
Mind Freak - The magician asks the audience to remember one card when riffling the deck. Without extra moves, the magician immediately puts the whole deck onto the spectator's hand, and asks him/her to repeat that card silently in the mind. The magician then senses the correct answer and reveals it with a mental style. Furthermore, the selected card is reversed in the deck for a second surprise.
I hate Lu Chen's ACAAN - The audience and the magician exchange their roles, and proceed with the classic "A.C.A.A.N" routine to find out the named card at the designated position.
ITH Alone In A Crowd - One card is selected by the audience and put back into the middle of the deck. The magician turns over this middle part and it's sandwiched between the other two piles. The magician then shows off with the acrobatic-like move to reverse the middle part. Nothing done seems helpful for finding the card. However, the magician succeeds when the audience's card is found out the only one left face-up.
Marked Deck of Poor Quality - The magician asks the audience to select a card and put it back into the deck. Following that, the magician reveals the secret that a marked deck is employed. However, due to the poor quality, the marks are so hard to recognize. Seemingly having an awkward condition, the magician gives a jaw-dropping finale to reveal the audience's card.
English & Japanese Subtitles Available
$30.00 (DVD01349)
Reviews & Quotes:
"Sniper just changed the game!" - Eric Ross
"Sniper surprised me. There are some killer applications for close-up workers and I'm happy to say it fooled me badly. I truly recommend this!" - Hanson
(6) Compressed: Bob Solari has done it again. This one is a real fooler!
Performer is seen holding an ordinary face down deck of cards.
With an empty hand, the performer covers the deck.
After a few seconds, the performer removes his empty hand from the deck.
The deck has shrunk to half its size!
This mini deck is now spread both face down and face up showing it to be quite ordinary.
The mini deck can be used in your next effect if you desire.
Completely mechanical, no sleight of hand, no magnets, no elastics, perform in short sleeves, resets in seconds, great opener, complete with mini Bicycle® deck, gimmick, photo illustrated instructions. Learn in 5 minutes.
$14.95 (30.1699)
(7) Americana Deck: This deck is more than just a retooling of regular cards!
Custom Face Cards - Kings are now sheriff lawmen, Queens are serving beer at the saloons, and Jacks have become outlaw bandits!
Period Accurate Back - After studying old decks, photos, and a bit of inspiration, Russell has come up with a classy and faithful back. The final design is a two-way back with edges that fade to 'white'.
Gaff Cards - Shot-through Ace of Hearts and blood splatter 4 of Spades
Weathered Look - Not just satisfied with adding a filter to existing cards, Russell went all out! Cracks, tears, faded colors, and stains make it look like you found this deck buried in a mineshaft.
Features of the Deck:
Standard 52 Poker Playing Cards
Two Joker Cards (One with Gaff Reveal)
Custom Designed Tuck-Box
Bicycle's "Magic Finish"
Perfect for upcoming 4th of July celebrations!
$7.95 (30.1700)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
"Jack McCall shot and killed Wild Bill Hickok over these cards!"
I saw it happen, call me a liar and you’re next. It was such a problem (people getting shot over cards) that bartenders and lawmen alike were burying and hiding these exact cards from everyone. While panning for gold in Utah, I came across an old wooden box that had the legendary cards in it! Unfortunately, as soon as I opened the box the cards had started falling apart in my hands due to decay and rotting. Luckily, I have perfectly redesigned them from scratch and the good people at Bicycle have agreed to reprint them on casino grade paper! Yee-haw!" - Russell Kercheval, Americana Deck Designer
(8) Making The Cut - Ryan Schultz:
Chock full of close up magic that will entertain and baffle laymen, as well as tricks that will make the magicians you know shake their heads. Ryan does a great job explaining the effects in the book and the illustrations make every move clear. In between the tricks, you will find Ryan's thoughts on performance, magic and some useful information for those who perform 'in the trenches.'
Contents include:
The Pivotal Peek -This is the move for which Ryan is best known. This is a great peek done while holding the deck in a modified peek position. The move is invisible and is well described. Ryan goes on to describe two effects using the Peek.
When In Doubt, Read a Palm - A great opener using a palm reading demonstration and a deck of cards
A Lesson in Gravity - A sandwich plot using specially printed cards that Ryan describes how to make.
Fraternal Bond - From a shuffled deck, a magician miraculously predicts the outcome of future events
Sense-sational - An impossible location done with three spectators. The presentation is commercial and the multiple methods used, combine to form an effect even magicians will have a hard time backtracking.
Fing-jit-su - A presentation for Pit Hartling's Finger Flicker routine, described in full with permission.
Sprung & Dagger - A card stab routine done with cards and a rubber band. A great take on the classic plot.
Misfit Queens - A take on a Jon Racherbaumer version of a Hofzinser plot.
Foregone Conclusion -A take on the invisible card plot. Teaches a great control by Jon Racherbaumer (described with permission).
And many more. Effects with name tags, 4 of a kind productions, Frixion pens and more.
113 pages - 8.5" x 11" - Hardcover - Black and white illustrations
$45.00 (BK01853)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
(9) Reel Magic Episode 28 - Josh Jay:
Feature Interview - Josh Jay:
Josh Jay talks with Adam Ruben about creativity, selling magic and working with HBO.
Columns:
Jon Armstrong - Sessions, Las Vegas Pt. 4
The last Las Vegas Sessions is a double feature with both Hank Miller and Carl Hein.
Garrett Thomas - Try This at Home
Garrett and Mathieu Bich discuss how to take criticism!
Simon Lovell - Ask Simey!
Simon answers your question, "In what order should I put my tricks?"
Reviews:
David Regal - Tricks of the Trade
Dang! That's Cool! David reviews some cool tricks.
Wayne Kawamoto - Choice Cuts
Reviews David Acer's book More Power To You! and John Carey's 24 Seven DVD.
Tricks:
Josh Jay "Salt and Pepper"
David Acer "Fan Card Find"
Jim Loscutoff "Rising Card"
Move Monkeys:
Steve Bargatze "B.P."
Kenny Shelton "KLS cut"
Lou Carreon "Fancy B.P."
Including the .pdf file, Magicseen, a European publication.
$10.00 (DVD01350)
And that’s this week’s Just One week Until Father’s Day Hotlist. Honestly, what dad would not be thrilled with any of the items from this week’s list? If he loves magic and is not such a big fan of neckties, you should really look this week’s offerings over very carefully! Then, place a nice order for your favorite dad!
As always, we thank you so very much for taking the time to visit us. Whether it’s online at www.magicfact.com or in person at 102 North Street in Medford, we do love the company.
Aron, Bonnie and the Elves.
