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From Dan Watkins's coinvanish.com: The first place where the Retention Vanish was published was in THE ART OF MAGIC. It's origins are unknown, however the earliest magicians in print to have used it are the late Harry Stork and T.J. Crawford. Dai Vernon also published this vanish in GREATER...

Rev: Nice work and clean handling. I liked Cheap Suit. There is something devilish about doing everything right in front of the spectators. However, I think it woud be great to build into a larger routine -- maybe finding the aces first, doing Cheap Suit and then figuring out a way to find...

With Card College, I'd recommend starting by reading through the entire explanation, paying attention to the pictures and imagining what you need to do. Then walk through it step by step with a deck in your hands, doing each step slowly.. Then try to do it a couple of time all the way through...

Books are the way to go for your situation. Buying downloads of single effects or props for single effects isn't going to be cost effective. Each effect runs $8 to $25 or more. Getting a book you reduce the cost per effect to $1 or less. In your situation, you will want to have a number of...

What age children are you looking to perform for? There is a difference in material among various age groups. My recommendation is to start with two inexpensive books rather than spend lots of money on single trick DVDs. The first book is Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. It has a...

I guess in that context, a utility item has more than one use. The best example is a thumb tip. Other examples would be invisible thread, a toppit or pull, a devil's handkerchief, a change bag and a sanada gimmick.

By lowest common denominator, I am talking about he spectators with the lowest congnative abilities and attention span. In a group of 4 to 10 year olds, that would be the 4 year olds. In an assisted living facility, that would be those people with severe demensia or alzheimers. Perform...

Cody: Your girlfriend is your best resource. Go through what you want to perform with her and get her feedback. In situations where there are a range of spectators -- whether it be a kids show with 5 year olds and 13 year olds, performing in a nursing home or performing for special needs...

I wish there was a "REALLY LIKE" button to click for Rev's post. He nailed the answer. I don't understand the current emphasis on "creating" something new. Your spectators don't know if what you are performing is something new that you've come up with or something from Royal Road to Card...

On a more serious note, I like Jim Steinmeyer's Your Act in Review that was in the October 2012 issue of Genii Magazine. Another good one is Max Maven's Horse Sense in the April 2011 Genii. Wayne Dobson has a great Tossed Out Deck in his book WD-40. Also, you could use an invisible deck as a...

But if you could only let me look at it BEFORE you put it in the envelope.;)

How about tomorrow's lottery number?:cool:

In Copperfield's you could see both halves at the same time, but he chose not to. I think this has been done using a plexyglass box also. Why is it so important that it is original? Nothing in magic is original -- its just a variation of something that has come before it.

The easiest and least expensive way to get an image onto a card is to use ink jet iron-on paper. I think I've got some lying around in my magic room. Send me a PM with a link to the image you want and your address and I'll send you the card.

Yes. He even opened each half and had her waive. There is video of that illusion on YouTube. The earliest vertical sawing in print that I can find is Joseph Ovette's "Miss Boots" which was published in 1974 in "The Conjurors' Book of Stage Illusions." I think the illusions in that book were...

Saying "my purpose is to entertain" is too vague. Just like saying "my purpose is to astonish." The real question is HOW do YOU entertain or astonish your spectators? My purpose is to entertain my spectators by weaving stories, humor and magic together in a way that evokes a range of...

Being good has nothing to do with developing your own tricks. It is making the effects you know fit your style and presenting them in a way so that you entertain your audience.

As a start, check this out: http://www.geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Hofzinser_Ace_Problem and then check this: http://www.conjuringarchive.com/show.php?cat=958 My vote is for Bannon's Viscious Rumors in Smoke and Mirrors which is a variation of Elmsley's Bare Aced Hofzinser.

Bryant: I was thinking the same thing. Brett: What purpose would you use this kit for? As a give away at shows? As a back of the room type sale? As something used to teach magic to kids in a class? That sort of dictates what is included as well as the price / cost of the kit. There are...

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with the costume... otherwise I'd be all over it.