The last time I was allowed to sit in this seat, Hank was out for Passover. Good times.
Hello there folks, Steve here, and with the help of my trusty sidekick, “Spell Check”, I shall attempt this latest installment of “The Newsletter”. Wish me luck.
September 11th has come and gone again. Always a tough day. On that day in 2001 I was working at our downtown Boston showroom, and we were huddled around a tiny radio as the news of the attacks was emerging. The planes had departed from an airport not ten miles from where I stood. A chilling memory.
Each year I find myself reflecting on the lost, the injured, and the brave efforts of the first responders. And as before, the memories come flooding back, the wounds reopen and it seems as fresh and raw as it did eleven years ago. There was a time when I thought each anniversary would get a little easier. This has not been the case, and I think perhaps, this is a good thing.
On a different note, it’s been a strange week at the Magic Factory to say the least, but both the dust, and the team, are settling, as we ready The USS Magic Factory for its next voyage. We shall navigate around the very large, very white, elephant in the harbor and set out.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank all of you for your continued support and patronage. Our staff consists of hardworking, honest individuals. I can’t pretend that the Magic Factory hasn’t taken a hit in the “integrity department,” but I assure you, as its staff, we will do everything in our power to gain your trust once again. I’m proud of the work that I, and my fellow Elves, have put in over the last 25 years, and know that with more hard work, and time, we can right the ship and continue to serve your magic needs for years to come.
Well, I’ve exhausted every nautical reference in my quiver, so let’s take a look at this week’s excitement.
BUY ONE GET ONE AT 65% OFF SALES EVENT: We have juiced up our Buy One Get One event by offering a gigantic 65% off the second item. That’s right, 65% off! Here's how it works. For the next 5 days, from right now, until Tuesday, September 18th at midnight, you can save like crazy.
How does it work? Simple, really. For every item you buy, you get the second item at 65% off. That's right, a full 65% 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 $36.75! 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 65% 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 your order is shipped, 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) Perfect Time – CW/Viking: Long unavailable, Perfect Time is quite possibly the most remarkable prediction watch ever invented.
Beautifully made by the folks at CW/Viking Magic, this is an improved version of the original offering. The watch-works and entire system have been improved to eliminate the problems experienced in some of the earlier versions.
The performer removes his wristwatch and asks a spectator to examine it. It is a fully functioning, quality quartz watch. The performer states that he will make an impossible prediction.
Retrieving the watch, the performer sets the hands to a particular time. He holds the watch by the band, away from his body as asks the spectator to call out any time she wishes, both the hour and the minutes. Let’s say she says 10:22.
The performer hands the watch to the spectator and she reads the time. It is set for the exact time she named!
There is absolutely no force. Any time can be predicted. The effect can be immediately repeated. You can absolutely predict the exact time with no fumbling, no tipping of the watch, no funny moves, etc. This system allows you to arrive at the chosen time with complete confidence and speed.
You receive a beautiful functioning timepiece with a genuine leather strap that can be worn and used daily. The watch keeps accurate time, yet is at your disposal to create instant miracles.
An incredible icebreaker; it can be used in walk-around situations; trade-show work, you name it! As a matter of fact, when Orson Welles needed that one, incredible effect to perform on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, he chose Perfect Time.
Now you can too.
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
$349.00 (40.852)
(2) Babel Book Test: Years in the making, Babel is packed with features that allow you to present miraculous book test effects. Each of the special books in Babel has been carefully designed with one simple goal: to create super direct, super strong mentalism.
You don't touch anything, you don't even look, and yet you can read the spectator's mind and reveal his thoughts in impossible ways.
Multiple divinations, prediction, memory feats: all of these, and more, are described in the detailed manual, along with Vincent Hedan's tips and ideas to perform these impressive effects.
Comes complete with 50 page instruction manual and 3 special books.
Note: This is a non-discountable item
$300.00 (40.851)
"Babel book test by Vincent Hedan is another in a long line of amazing magic effects from one of my all time favorite performers of miracles." - Shawn Farquhar
"Babel has all the right moves. It's easy to do. It's awesome. You will use it." - Dan Garrett
"The most versatile book test I've seen. I'm awestruck at the power of Babel. - Raj Madhok - member of the Psychic Entertainers Association
"After The Mother of All Book Tests, here is the Father, and the rest of the family, in one devilish book! Babel will allow you to perform one of the cleanest book tests ever. Vincent has worked many years on this project and the result speaks for itself. All the details have been carefully thought of, so you can multiply the revelations every time in a more impossible way. It is top-class mentalism that will blow your audience away." - Boris Wild - FISM winner
(3) Multiple Revelation Project - Two DVD Set and Booklet: The Multiple Revelation may well be the ultimate card trick. The magician has ten to fifteen spectators each select a card and then finds them in a dazzling array of increasingly impressive ways. It involves the entire audience, uses just an ordinary deck of cards, can be performed in any environment and looks incredibly skillful (even though it need not be difficult to perform). It's the kind of trick that people remember for years afterwards.
Consisting of two DVDs and a book, The Multiple Revelation Project is a unique way of learning this reputation-making routine. The first DVD focuses on everything you need to know to perform this unique effect, including six of the best ways to control cards. The second DVD teaches over 65 different ways to reveal the spectator's selection. Together, the set teaches you how to add improvisation to your magic and use the best controls, revelations and gags for your particular audience. No performance will ever be the same again.
Whether you are an amateur performing at a party, a professional doing walk-around or a hobbyist at a dinner party, this DVD set will be an incredible addition to your arsenal of moves.
Between them, professional close-up magicians Andi Gladwin and Rob James have been closing their performances with this routine for over fifteen years. There are no better people to teach you how to close your act with it too.
Included: 2 DVDs, a full-color book and a beautiful slipcase.
$40.00 (DVD01369)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
(4) Spectrum Deck: The Spectrum Deck is the world's first and only true rainbow Bicycle deck. Magicians can now perform "rainbow deck" routines which truly change the color of the cards, not simply the back design.
The Spectrum Deck includes the standard 54 playing cards one would expect in a brand new Bicycle deck, along with two gaff cards. The major difference is the rainbow spectrum of colors exhibited over the backs of all the cards, resulting in a beautiful visual effect.
The cards are manufactured by U.S. Playing Card Company, on their highest quality stock with the standard air-cushioned finish. Custom Jokers and a custom Ace of Spades have been designed for this deck as well. The rest of the faces will be the classic 808 Bicycle design, and includes a reveal card.
From the extra cool department:
There is something very unique about the way the cards are packaged at the factory: in an effort to make a beautiful deck of cards that also serves a great magic prop, the designer realized that the color gradient should not increase in normal ace through king order. So he made sure that the gradient only works when the deck appears to be mixed. The cards were printed in color graded order, rather than numerical order, so that when the supposedly mixed faces are spread and reversed, it reveals a perfect color spectrum!
The deck also includes two other handy gaffs that will add even more value to your magic collection.
$14.95 (30.1724)
(5) Volcano Dice: A jumbo die is removed from a shiny cube and placed on the table.
The die is covered with the cube and, with snap of the fingers, out pour eight small dice.
The jumbo die is gone and everything is examinable.
Imported from Europe.
$75.00 (10.1728)
(6) David Penn’s Bottle Production: When you're in a close-up or parlor setting, this has to be one of the strongest effects you can perform. You will leave them speechless when a full bottle of wine appears right in front of them.
This was David Penn's opening routine when he won The Magic Circle Close Up Magician of the Year and The IBM Close Up Competition and the reactions are guaranteed. David Penn's Bottle Production gimmick allows you to produce a bottle in the most impossible of conditions. You don't even need to wear a jacket! If your style is shirt over T-shirt, this will work too. If you are wearing a jacket you could open it up fully right before the production. There is nothing to see!
The instructional DVD supplied also teaches you how to produce two bottles using the same gimmick and David also teaches his full commercial routine. This includes the production of the spectator's very own drink!
David Penn's Bottle Production is a great stand-alone piece of high impact magic or the perfect finale to one of your existing routines.
$40.00 (60.1871)
Note: This is a non-discountable item.
(7) Inspiration DVD Vol. 2 – Bebel and Vallarino: If you enjoyed Volume 1, you will love the Volume 2!
Bebel and Vallarino's take on some classic tricks from Ed Marlo. First, they show the original version described by Marlo. Then, they discuss and brainstorm on how to improve the original trick to come out with a newer version.
This is also one of the unique opportunity to watch two of the best card magicians in the world perform.
Beyond the tricks and techniques explained, it is a philosophy of doing card magic described for the first time.
Four routines are performed, brainstormed and improved:
Mexican 3 Card Monte:
Bebel shows and fully explains his version of the 3 Card Monte. This routine is explained in full detail.
Jean-Pierre Vallarino describes a move from Marlo that is fairly unknown, yet that can be integrated into a 3 Card Monte routine.
Card Control and Switches:
This chapter is dedicated to a technique that was originally used to control a card, and that has been transformed to become a visual card switch. Jean-Pierre Vallarino used this technique in his FISM act. Ultimately, you will be able to transform 4 random cards into 4 Aces.
Then, Bebel shows his card switch on the table, allowing you to place any card on the table and transform it into any other card, either face up or face down.
Bluff Pass:
Both Jean-Pierre Vallarino and Bebel use the bluff pass to perform a sandwich effect: Place two jokers on the table. A spectator selects a card, and with no moves of any kind, the selected card is sandwiched between the Jokers. In his version, Bebel uses a deck with a different back to perform a similar effect.
Ace Leader:
Bebel and Vallarino's take on the McDonald Aces routine, in order to make it simple and direct. Once again, this is very visual and as clean as this routine can be. Performance only, however the brainstorm session is amazing, and the performance is worth a look.
DVD includes both French and English audio. You select the language of your choice at the opening of the DVD.
$25.00 (DVD01368)
(8) Las Vegas Girls: The only Las Vegas girls I know are Lupe Nielsen and Lynetta Welch. And, I don’t think you will find their photos in this effect. In fact, I am sure you won’t.
Ten double sided photos of Las Vegas Escorts instantly change to dollar bills.
Easy to perform; based on the "Flash Cash" effect.
Not appropriate for kids’ shows, but I’ll bet you already knew that.
This is an adult effect. $20.00 (10.1727)
And that’s this week’s Hotlist. Eight of the best items to come through the door this week!
We thank you, as always, for finding 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 your company.
Aron, Bonnie and The Elves
