My photography teacher, Bryan Petersen once told me, “every image you create is a self portrait”. This simple statement landed on me powerfully. I thought about it and realised my images represented an opportunity for the viewer to see, feel and experience my view of the world. This process also revealed to me that my …
The Karl Le Fong Gathering celebrated its fourth year last weekend in Glasgow City Centre. Picture the scene; the United Kingdom’s most enthusiastic, obsessed and passionate lovers of all things related to Card Magic, Sleight of Hand, Theory, Performance Artistry and good old fashioned late night conversations. This is a weekend Convention thatknew how to …
Cy Endfield was my hero. As my very first mentor in card magic. Every Saturday after closing his shop, Alan Alan would take me to visit Cy at Valerie’s Patisserie in Old Compton Street. I got his book Entertaining Card Magic when I was 14 years Old – this book is full of great ideas, …
Roy Walton is a GENIUS. I often wonder if someone like Roy gives any thought to the impact his creative out put generates. Having met him, he comes across as such a down to earth and humble man. I struggled to put this man together with the individual who created this wonderful routine. Let’s take …
In my opinion, this routine is the Zen of Sleight of Hand Card Magic. Like a Master Samurai Swords Man, this routine will test every fibre of your being; psychological and emotional resolve to execute with exacting precision and finesse. The hard part will be to execute this routine without even caring. If you understand …
Earlier this week, I met up with my friend Thomas Dixon. He is a very talented magician from Chile. We have been friends for about two years. I suggested to Thomas that we both leave home for our respective shows tonight with nothing more than a few decks of cards. He accepted the challenge and …
This Post is Dedicated to my friend and mentor Darwin Ortiz. When I first read this routine as a fourteen years old, I could hardly hold a deck of cards in my hand. Just so that I could visualise the effect, I placed each of the four aces in my jacket pocket and stood in …
The next routine I would like to feature is Triumph. This is another stellar routine from Stars of Magic. It should come as no surprise to you that all the routines I have discussed so far, I learnt in my teens from this book. Now, before we go any further, take a look at this …
My post yesterday generated a lot of positive feedback. Big thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts. In reading through my notes, I realised this particular conversation is incomplete. Rightly so because Cutting The Aces is a big subject. The routine by Dai Vernon is a presentation masterpiece. The handling described in Stars …
Welcome to a new series of blog post dedicated to classic routines. I would like to start off with this wonderful premise of Cutting The Aces. I was first exposed to this plot from reading Dai Vernon’s brilliant interpretation from Stars of Magic. Once again, I am referencing a book that has had a profound …
