Full Review of Shin Lim At The Table Live Lecture

[BlindDeception]

This is by far one of my favorite lectures it may be my favorite! Its between Patrick Kun's and his! Im going to start off by saying this is mainly for card and close up magicians. There is some move monkey stuff. Also if you like gimmicked visual card magic, this is amazing. I love it, so here is an in-depth review!

52 Shades (FISM ACT)- Shin teaches his 52 shades of red act the fism version. If you own 52 shades of red, he goes over the stuff he did not teach such as all the card vanishes. This is the ultimate companion to 52 shades as it will put the finishing touches on the act. NOTE: YOU DO NOT NEED 52 SHADES OF RED DECK OR DVD to perform all of the stuff he teaches on here. This is great!!!!

How to make Flap Cards- I have been in long search for this, I have tried many methods, the best for me was flap cards by Alexis Delafuente, until... I saw this. Shin teaches his methods and touches on how to make flap cards, it is very very easy to do and will last you a while! His is by far the best flap cards as he teaches how to do a 4 card flap change with one card and his doesn't have a gap like most, as he uses something that I can not say due to exposure that fills the gap, and it works beautiful and makes the cards last longer.

Vanish Handlings- This is amazing!!!! He teaches the most visual card vanishes you will ever see! He has updated handlings on it. This is truly astonishing to the point words cant explain, you need to see it for yourself!

Deck Care- Shin has a quick little talk that teaches you how to take care of your cards and not let humidity affect it or warp the cards! It is an awesome little device. This is pretty cool, I just ordered one!

Tic-tac- My favorite effect on the entire Lecture. I bought this mainly for this along with the FISM updated handlings. This is a killer! I performed it and people bug out! This has unlimited possibilities. You are able to vanish a folded card in a tic-tac box! I like this better than his product "The Switch" because I feel like this is more impossible and it just looks cleaner to me. You can switch a mystery card etc. The possibilities are really endless! Gimmick is very easy to make takes maybe 10 mins at the most.

Card and Coin Matrix Routine- This is some cool stuff right here! It is so clean its ridiculous! You very cleanly are able to conceal a coin under a card at the finger tips! This is something to add to your matrix routine! Shin briefly teaches a routine where you show a coin, vanish it, and its under the spectators hand! Crazy! He does not however, go into the construction of the gimmick but explains how it works and tells you how to make it, but doesn't show how. Good stuff here!

Shin Split 2.0- do not be misleaded by this as I was. The only difference between the shin split and "shin split 2.0" as said in the description is one phase where he flicks a card instead. There is really no difference at all. I would just buy shin split from ellusionist, I already knew this routine. But It is amazingly visual, really its shocking! Impromptu!

White Whine ( 4x4 color change)- Shin teaches a color change where you show 4 aces, you wave over and they change to 4 kings! Or vice versa, this is so visual! This is how I get into shin split, its so cool! Completely Impromptu!

Control- Shin teaches a little control he came up with that brings a selected card to the top, the spectator can even push it in. I can see myself using this, this is pretty much angle proof and invisible, its great and "move-less."

Snap Change- Shin goes over some snap change variations very briefly, nothing too in depth, but he has some amazing variations mainly for the move monkeys!

Mercury Card Fold- Shin Lim has the best mercury card fold I have ever seen! He finally briefly goes over how he does his. It is so clean and fair! I use this alot!

Other- Shin performs his other FISM act which was a true delight to watch. I loved it and it is so inspirational! He also goes over theory and timing with music. It's not really a lesson, but rather ideas and thoughts on it. Lastly, he answers questions asked by the audience.

Overall- If you are a move monkey or not even, if your a card guy looking to elevate his magic, do not hesitate to buy this, I can guarantee you will not regret it.

 

[Josh Burch]

Here's another review from a different perspective. Great review by the way Blind Deception!

Shin Lim is a young guy that has really drummed up a name for himself among the competition circuit or young magicians he has already made a name for himself. During this lecture you learn some of Lim’s classic magic as well as a handful of new ideas.

FISM Act #1: I believe this is Lim’s act titled 52 shades of Red. Later in the lecture he explains most of the act, not play by play but you get the main idea. This act looks nice on camera, which is what it was designed for, but it may have some difficulties when performed close up or live. At one point he uses his SSS smoke gimmick, he does not explain it. Most of the deck is gimmicked in some way and you learn most of the various techniques Lim uses to gimmick it up.

F*** Cards: Shin’s version of this classic gimmick is solid and deceptive on stage. He warns against using this in a close up situation but after you put the work into making the gimmick you have an almost self working color changing card that could be used on stage.

Tips and Tricks on Silent Acts: Lim covers various tips and the theory behind his competition acts. He explains some of the history behind his competition acts as well.

Twirl Change Variation: This is a variation inspired by Kevin Ho on the classic change. It cleans up and fixes some problems with the actual classic version of the change.

Thoughts on B**** A**: This concept has been used on stage by many but Shil Lim has applied this to a closeup performance. He covers a handful of vanishes and appearances using this concept. Some of the moves used here could be applied to an act with a normal deck of cards.

Gimmicked Vanish: Using some very cool technology you are able to make a card vanish cleanly or perform an impossible tabled color change. You will need to perform some heavy duty arts and crafts to make the gimmicks but Lim has some great applications throughout the lecture using this item.

Tic Tac Box: This is a very cool prediction trick, similar in effect to David Regal’s clarity box. A card is folded up in a Tic Tac box from the beginning, a card is chosen signed and vanished. It is then found to be the card in the Tic Tac box. This requires a lot of prep and is similar in method to Shin Lim’s Switch.

Coin Matrix: This is similar to the gimmicked vanish mentioned above. Shin uses the same method to vanish a coin. Personally I’m not a huge fan of this, on video it may work but I feel like a coin is too much to conceal using this method.

Ace Production: This is an easy, flourishy 4 ace production. There’s nothing outstanding here but it is a fine production. It works well routined with the 4 for 4 change and Shin Splint.

4 for 4 Change: The 4 aces are placed face up on the deck and with a wave of the hand they visually change into the 4 kings. This is a tough move with some angle sensitivity but when performed well it looks really nice. With a snap you can make the cards turn back into the aces if you’d like.

Shin Splint: This is a very visual, one handed twisting the aces routine that happens at the fingertips. It isn’t as easy as the classic routine but the tradeoff is worth it in many conditions. You can’t be completely surrounded but it is a great update to the classic.

Card Shintrol: This move was based on a color change, it has been changed to be used as a top control. This isn’t groundbreaking but it is a nice simple control that definitely gets the job done.

Reverse Snap Change: Shin has taken this to the next step. A card changes and changes back repeatedly. It is crazy difficult. I’m not sure how real world this change is but it looks really cool. He also uses it as a sandwich vanish.

Multiple Snap Change: Shin has become well known for his handling of the multiple snap change. He touches on a couple things and jams for a bit on the Snap Change but does not go into depth on the move.

Fism Act #2- The Dream Act (Performance Only): This is may be released at some point but he does not explain the routine in its entirety. Basically a card is selected and signed, and teleports to the magicians mouth. It is then placed in a bag and changes in the bag to another signed card. There is a fun bit with a Sharpie Marker as well as a card and deck transpo. It is all performed with a bunch of smoke effects and many magical, impossible moments.

To close up he covers a few pieces of theory as well as his tips on the mercury card fold.

Overall, you will get 2 basic types of magic here, very difficult magic and very gimmicked magic. I found a handful of things that got my mind going, but over all I was not a huge fan of the lecture. It seemed kind of unorganized and in a few spots I feel like he breezed through an explanation so quickly that it will be extra difficult to learn. I found that Lim’s style is very niche oriented and does not necessarily help out my style of magic. His teaching also left something to be desired.