Ghost Deck from Ellusionist

So I have always liked the way the Ellusionist Ghost deck looked online and at $4.99 its not too bad a price. They handle well and the faces look as nice as they did in the pictures. I could see myself using this deck a lot especially if I had the gaff deck. This would be my deck of choice if not for the Artifice decks. I do have some complaints I don't like how on the Ace of Spades the A is on pip. I do not like the jokers or the reveal on them. I'm pretty sure its a ring master riding a horse that someone photoshopped the horse out of. You can see hints of stirrups and what look like a horse neck. I do like that it has "mundus vult decipi" on it. I do not like that the backs the design fades at the edges and then theres some sort of shadow. They don't hide well if I put them into another deck because of that shadow. My biggest issue is I had them open for maybe an hour and the tuck box broke. The glue on the bottom just quit holding. Its fixable but I shouldn't have to need to fix it. The tuck box also contains two reveals. I have no use for them but they are there.

So to sum up; I like the deck over all, its a good price. There is another deck I like more and if not for that this would be my full time deck.

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Pea can

Not a lot to say about this it is the clasic pea can effect repuropsed to hold peas for the shell game. It's well made and adds a touch of class. And the price can't be beat for $25 I got the pea can which I've been wanting for my collection before I found its three shell game use plus you get ten (5working/5non) perfect peas. The can alone costs 25 bucks elsewhere so the peas are like free in actuality. Ten perfect peas should cost ~$21 so this is just a good deal all around.
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Building a tip by Don Driver

Well this DVD I have a feeling is worth its price in an under the surface sort of way. Its a strait forward DVD not a lot of menus or fancy camera work. Don Driver shows you his Bally (its like patter) to draw a tip (crowed of people) Then there is some video of him doing it on the street (he draws a huge tip in just a few minutes), and some video of another fellow using it and talking about how to use it was and what insights he's taken away. I will be doing the bally as taught but I think that learning the principles behind it is more important. I feel that once I internalize those I can apply it to something more my style. The actual patter and act don't seem to be the important part to me. I can't help but think that it was just what the original person tried applying the principles to and it worked so why mess with it, then pass it along when the time comes. But its not me and its not my character and I think that slipping from it into my character will be incongruousness in the eyes of the audience. I'll just have to try it out and see how it works. I think this will be worth my $35.

If you found this review to helpful or you thought it sucked let me know in the comments section.

http://www.chefanton.com/scoundrelsstore/street_magic.htm

Inspire Friday

Black Fox Master Shells

So for quite some time I have been in a small hell known as cheap props. My set up for the shell game was from MagicMakersInc. These shells had some problems starting with couldn't be used without a mat. The second problem was that unless I hit the sweet spot they failed to work. One performance for a friend they failed 5 times in a row. Its the way they are designed, the design has major flaw. The also were a little rough and would catch the mat sometime. Well today I received my Master Shells by Black Fox. The difference is so huge its actually unfair to compare them to the MagicMakersInc shells. They glide across what ever surface I use them on. No more need to be bound to a mat. The mat is still the best place but that's not always possible. And this freedom to perform where ever is what I've been waiting for. I'm going to do the shell game till people are sick of it. They look like real shells until you pick them up their weight and feel plus the way they look on the bottom lets you know it not real but it looks it. These shells are on the bigger side of the spectrum but they fit my hands really well. They were not cheap. $65, but for that price I got 4 shells, 5 peas, velveteen bag, and basic instructions. I don't really need the instructions and the bags too small for me. Two of the peas are big and tree are smaller. I don't know what the peas are made from but they are harder than a perfect pea and not as easy to use for me. The only downside is finding something the right size for a shot glass ending.

If you found this review to helpful or you thought it sucked let me know in the comments section.

http://blackfoxtradingandmagic.com/magic.html

Diversions for the Shell and Pea game by Dusty Johnson

So I recently spent $209.50 at the School for scoundrels store. I'm calling it the 'getting me out and performing the shell game purchase.' Shells, Pea can, Scoundrels Touch DVD, Two Books, and Don Driver's DVD on Building a tip. If you're wondering what the next few months worth of posts are going to be about. It's gonna be reviews of this stuff, mostly first impressions type stuff but still. So first up is the "book" Diversions for the Shell and Pea game by Dusty Johnson. I put book in quotes because it is hand-bound affair 19 pages long. As the website claims it contains two routines for the shell game and that's pretty much it. First impression is not a happy one. I was looking forward to adding two routines to my repertoire but... well the first one in the book claims to be magical routine that won't ruffle any feathers. I just can't see my self presenting a routine that ends with a sponge ball climax. So that's one routine down. The other claims to be baffling I haven't given it the hard look yet but nothing jumped out at me as not gonna happen. So I've paid $15 for one routine, it better be good. At least there's nothing in the book limiting my performance rights. I'll probably post again after I've read the whole thing and see what I can take away from it.

On of the good things about writing the posts weeks in advance is that it give me the chance to update them before they go live. I'm here to add I regret spending $15 on this book. It teaches you nothing about working the shells beyond the basic move. The instructions were unclear and confusing, the "real talk" patter was atrocious and unless you perform as children's clown you had better stay the hell away from the first routine in the book or you will have no credibility. For the first routine in addition to the set up for the shells you need a fourth solid shell and a gimmick-ed $5 bill and two green sponge balls. There is switch of one of the shells for the solid one which is unnecessary and suspicions. The whole act requires you to go to your pockets way too much. I can't help but think it at least creates the the door for that as a way to explain the "Magic" If you want a solid shell in the act have it in from the beginning and just never show the bottom until you are ready. No ones gonna think, "Hey, I bet one of the shells are solid". I'd have to see this routine done before a live non-studio audience before I'd believe it could work. I could not finish the the second one it actively confronts and insults the spectator and all the advice the author gives is, keep it up beat so not to upset the spectator.

Here's the only thing you could possibly take away from this book and I've learned it before. If you want the spectator engaged but not actively participating then tell a story. There I just saved you $15.

If you found this review to helpful or you thought it sucked let me know in the comments section.

Inspire Friday

I picked this image because its inspiring and its a message the magicians should take to heart. Teller said "Magic is the unwilling suspense of disbelief." As Magicians we reach into peoples minds past reality to a place where anything is possible. Its important that we pay attention to what we leave there.