Upper most in a magician’s mind are these two questions:

• Is this just a comedy routine or is there a subtle magic trick incorporated in it?

• What about Devin’s previous product also regarding baby gag entitled “Comedy Card Babies”? If I already own this product, does it make practical sense to purchase this “improved” model?

If you have purchased a Devin Knight’s product, you know what you will receive a comprehensively written set of  instructions. Devin has looked at all possibilities and come out with the most effective presentation for any trick.

This is the case with this Improved/Super Deluxe Baby Gag trick. Devin has taken the popular baby gag and come out with a comedy routine for it, incorporating many new spoken and visual tag-lines. In fact, depending on the performing situation, you can get over six tag-lines involving babies.

It starts with a comedy prediction of a number. This continues with the popular baby prediction of a celebrity. In this effect, you follow up with a series of interesting tag-lines concerning babies. Devin does not stop here. He has made it possible to end with a magical effect. You can end up with an actual photograph of a celebrity freely chosen by

the audience. However, this possibility is easier to realize when performing in USA than elsewhere in the world. This answers the first of our two questions that we stated at the beginning.

Now, for the answer to the second question. Devin’s previous effect of the baby-gag has a different presentation slant. “Comedy Card Babies” is a comedy revelation of a chosen card with the baby-gag thrown in. His latest improved version, “Improved/Super Deluxe Baby-Gag Routine” is all about the comedy prediction of a celebrity with a lot of other gags on babies. I would gladly purchase the two tricks and use them on separate occasions. However, with some careful planning, the “Improved Baby-Gag” effect can be incorporated into the “Comedy Card Babies” trick. You will end up with

the revelation of the chosen card, and where appropriate, can also end with the actual photograph of a celebrity.

Devin has also made many improvements on the baby gag:

• The cards are large so that they are visual on stage.

• The cards are plastic photo-cards and are durable and can be easily cleaned if they are dirty through constant use.

• The cards are actual photographs of babies, not drawings of them – there are four of them for the various gags.

• Devin has devised a way out if an Asian or a native American celebrity is named.

A must-have if you incorporate comedy into your magical act.

4.5/5 stars rating

My first reaction is: What? Another packet trick! Another 4 aces trick! Another color changing back packet trick! But this one is different! It is different because it has a delightful presentation.

In effect, you say that you never lose in any gambling game. To illustrate, you take out the 4 aces and have one chosen. This

chosen ace is shown to be the only odd colour back (say blue) because the backs of the other 3 aces are of a different colour (say, red).

What happens if one of the red back aces is chosen instead? You take out one red back ace, and you show that you still win because the other 3 aces are now shown to be of blue backs!

Actually, you quickly add, it does not matter even if any of the other 2 aces are chosen. You then turn each of them around to show a yellow and a green back respectively! This is a quick trick and is very colourful!

The handlings are quite simple. You get both a printed manuscript as well as a DVD with Daryl performing and explaining the effect. Daryl also includes a more advanced handling which makes the colour change even more mystifying. All the necessary cards are supplied.

A quick, fun and colourful packet trick with triple climaxes!

(5/5 stars rating)

This is a switching device similar in operation to the double envelope described in Tarbell Course In Magic Volume 5 as well as Ted Lesley’s Teleport Envelope described in his book “Paramiracles”.

Instead of paper, it is made of durable poly plastic material and is similar to the shipment carrier envelope used by courier companies to transport A4 sized documents. The thick plastic material makes whatever item that is loaded in the secret

compartment difficult to see and feel. A major advantage is the perforated tear strip. When the envelope is sealed, the most convenient way to open it is to pull off the tear strip. Due to the special construction, this leads directly to the secret compartment. The operation of this envelope is so safe that you can leave it entirely to a spectator – hence the name “remote

control” change pack. The spectator can personally place a prediction (unseen) into the envelope and seal it. Later on, she can open the envelope and the prediction is changed without her being aware that she is taking out a different piece of paper from a different compartment. This puts it way ahead of the traditional switching envelope made of paper. The Remote Control Change Pack was mentioned in the originator’s books “Messing With Minds” and “Mind Blowing”. You receive 20 Remote Control Change Packs already gimmicked and ready to go straight into your shows.

You also receive a 14-page written instruction booklet. In it, the originator, James Bliss, describes two effects for use with the change pack. “Taking Pictures” is a drawing duplication routine while “The Big Newspaper Prediction” is a headline prediction effect. Both of them are from the professional performing repertoire of James Bliss. This is evident from the many tips and ideas given in the manuscript, such as:

• How to dramatically reveal a drawing

• How to ensure you do not forget what you secretly see in the pieces of paper

• Why using the Remote Control Change Pack makes a fitting ending to the drawing duplication routine

• Why it is better to draw a newspaper headline than to write it out in words

• An ingenious method of using a mini tape-recorder to reveal a newspaper headline

You get practical professional advice plus a revolutionary product.

5/5 stars rating

This is a handcrafted hollow light bulb with a hole at the screw end. Also supplied is a rubber stopper that fits well in the hole to prevent anything (especially liquid) placed inside the hollow bulb from coming out prematurely.

Two routines for use with this prop are provided in a 2-pages written instructions sheet. Actually, this prop can be used as a replacement bulb for Mak Magic’s “Milk In Light Bulb”. If you do not possess this equipment, the first routine in the instructions sheet describes a poor man’s version of this trick.

An ungimmicked bulb is unscrewed from a lamp, and placed inside a paper bag. Milk (or salt) is vanished and when the bulb is taken from the bag, it is now full of milk (or salt) and can be poured out onto another container. The bag is turned upside down and shown to be empty. The clear bulb can now be examined.

In the second routine, a transparent light bulb is placed inside a paper bag. Milk is vanished, and when the bulb is taken out of the bag, it is seen to be full of milk, which can be poured out. This appears to be of the same effect as the first trick. However, the method differs In this case, both the bulb and the paper bag can be examined at the end.

Handling tips and other ideas are also given.

This is a small light bulb that can hold 5 oz of liquid. A larger size light bulb is also available that can hold up to 7 oz of liquid. (4.5/5 stars rating).

As the title indicates, “The Blindfolded Car” is a manuscript describing not only how you can drive a car blindfolded, but how to “blindfold” the car as well – ie, how you can drive in a car that has its windscreen covered with newspapers or other non see-through materials. You can imagine what attraction such a car would bring in the open road. This makes for very good publicity stunt!

However, this is not a trick where you can do it 5 minutes after reading the instructions. As the author puts it, “it takes nerves of steel to pull this off”. You need a lot of practice. The author warns time and again throughout the manuscript that it is better you read this for the knowledge of how psychics pull off this stunt than to perform the actual feat. There are inherent dangers involved. You run the risk of having your car insurance premium

increased, getting arrested by the police, losing your driving licence, or even damaging your car or someone else’s car, or getting someone killed. You should perform this stunt on closed roads only, not in the open traffic.

Devin Knight, the author and inventor, has performed this as a professional psychic under the name of Jason Michaels. He was arrested for this act, and this went into front page

publicity which eventually got him worldwide fame. This interesting story is covered in the booklet and is a lesson on how to make the best use of the situation at hand.

Everything about driving blindfolded in a blindfolded car is covered in this over 40 pages comb-bound booklet. Devin gives the various methods of covering the windscreen of the car: with newspapers, black paint, and sunshade. He also discusses the different types of blindfold to use. Devin shows how you can best make use of a reporter seating inside the car with you while you drive blindfolded. Devin also reveals an improved method of driving blindfolded in a newspaper covered car.

Since this stunt is likely to get the police involved, Devin shares what to do when you get arrested. As a bonus effect, Devin shows you how you can stop a car with just your mind!

This manuscript is written by an experienced performer, and every little detail is covered. It makes for interesting reading. If you intend to use it for TV publicity, you need to contact Devin Knight concerning TV rights.

4.5/5 stars rating!

The three card monte has become a classic in magic. The trick involves three cards where spectators continually fail to find the odd card among them which is usually a queen or an ace.

Many variations have been put up in the market by famous names in magic. They all involve different presentations and handlings. Diamond Jim Tyler’s “Dia-Monte” is the best among them.

In effect, the performer displays a queen and two jokers. A spectator continually fails to locate the queen. Performer confesses that he uses a special card with a joker on one side and a queen on the other side. Magically, the queen vanishes and all three cards are jokers. In the end the three cards can be examined.

Dia-Monte has the following advantages over other versions:

• No palming, switches or multiple push-offs; minimal sleight-of-hand is required

• It can be performed without any table and is ideal for walk about magic

• Although the three cards are prepared, there are no specially printed cards used

• The visual vanish of the queen and instant appearance of the third joker is what set this version apart from the others

You receive an instructional DVD and all the necessary cards. Diamond Jim Tyler teaches an interesting disposal of the special gimmick so that all three cards can be examined by the spectators.

5/5 stars rating!

As stated on the DVD cover, this is Paul Romhany’s Multiplying Bottles routine. You will receive an instructional DVD teaching you how to perform this effect Paul Romhany’s way. The Multiplying Bottles set is not supplied.

So what is so special about Paul’s routine anyway? Paul performs a Charlie Chaplin silent magic act in which he dresses exactly like the famed character. Because he does not patter, he conceives this clever idea of performing this trick by listening to a recorded set of instructions. As the instructions are played out audibly to the spectators, he performs the trick. This is an interesting and creative slant to the usual way of performing this effect. An audio CD with both a male and a female voice-over is included with the DVD. The routine is basically the Ken Brooke routine, and uses the standard 9 bottles set.

The product may seem overpriced considering the fact that it does not come with the Multiplying Bottles set. However, Paul shows you step by step in the DVD how to perform the entire routine. He gives you two different angles of performance: one from the audience’s point of view, and the other from the performer’s point of view. If you posses the Multiplying Bottles set and have difficulty following the written instructions, you will find this DVD to be of great help. Even if you do not want to use the voice-over, you can use this DVD to learn the complete routine with you providing the patter.

An important part of the DVD is Paul’s tips on the Multiplying Bottles. You will learn how to make your bottles as well as the tumblers look better on stage, how to make your own tubes, and how you can pour a drink out of a bottle into the tumbler at the end of the effect.

(4/5 stars rating)

The bending of metal cutleries has become a classic in magic. Coin bending is fast following on its footsteps. There are now diverse methods of accomplishing the bending of metal coins. This is yet another method.

The benefits of this method are:

• The coin can be seen to bend visually without any cover
• The bending can be accomplished one handed
• The bending can take place at the finger tips
• No expensive equipment is required

You will receive just a DVD of instructions – there are no devices or gimmicks included. A gimmick is needed and you are taught how to construct it in the DVD. Properly performed, this is a very visual coin bend. A coin can be borrowed and the bent coin can be fully examined. Eric teaches you a basic and then an advanced method of handling. Brandon Williams teaches you another advanced method of handling the coin and gimmick.

As an added bonus, Eric shows you how to gimmick the coins to perform the classic coin matrix on a hard surface.

(4/5 stars rating)

This is a trick using a Sharpie permanent marker.

In effect, you show a permanent Sharpie marker with the brand name “Sharpie” permanently printed on both sides of the pen. A spectator tries but cannot rub off the ink of the brand name. You can: you first rub off the Sharpie name on one side of the pen, then on both sides. You then magically restore the brand name on one side of the marker and hand it out for examination.

A bonus effect is taught in which you can magically “pull” the printed “e” at the end of “Sharpie” to one end of the marker. The pen can also be handed out for examination.

You are supplied with the instructional DVD and the necessary gimmicks. Strictly speaking, these are the tools for you to make up the gimmick, not the gimmick itself. One of the gimmicks is actually a transportation device for the marker.

The instructions are clear and the video is of good quality. However, there is nothing revolutionary new with the effect. It makes use of a standard sleight with pen or pencil which most of us would probably already know. Two other variations of the sleight are also taught.

Two other bonus effects are included. One is a basic ambitious card routine and another one is a signed coin inside a ball of yarn. Strictly speaking, these tricks are not part of Permanent. The marker is simply used to sign the chosen card and the borrowed coin respectively. The instructions advocate that when you bring out the marker to mark the card or the coin, you then start to perform “Permanent”. After this, you go right back to the original effect and continue from there. I feel that the disruption caused by performing “Permanent” does not do justice to the continuation of the original routine. I prefer to perform “Permanent” as a trick by itself, leave the pen for examination by the spectator, and then go to the ambitious card or the coin routine. In this case, the spectators get to see two different effects instead of seeing one trick and another one “by-the-way” sort of trick. The spectator can use the marker to mark the card or coin.

Properly performed, this can have a good effect on the spectators.



(3.5/5 stars rating.)