Category: Meeting Minutes

John Cameron was working on a very funny routine called “In the Bag” where he used a helper doll inside a paper bag to help him retrieve cards chosen by the spectators.  John had some nice jokes to go with the magic which really pulled the piece together.

Michael Jacobs presented more of his great homemade props.  This routine featured a very nice clock face stand that held cards around the various numbers.  Mike was able to divine a spectator’s favorite hour as well as predict what card would be located at the selected hour.

Roger Sylwester performed a wonderful egg bag routine.  Roger had a lot of originality in the routine and it was quite funny and enjoyed by the entire club.

Chris Carlisle presented a very nice card color changing effect.  Chris showed the chosen card to be red while all the other cards were blue, however once a different card was chosen it turned out to be the only blue one.   It was a great visual effect.

Ben Eskinasi performed a very nice prediction effect with an oversized remote control device and a deck of cards.  The selected card was signed and turned out to be the only non-blank card in the deck. Ben used the device to “rewind” to show how the trick was done, however there were no batteries, only a prediction showing the chosen card.

Danny Dragon gave a great demonstration of his amazing sleight of hand.  He presented an effect showing how he develops his hand speed in which he was able to flip over multiple aces in the deck as well as half the cards in one quick motion.  Danny combined a twisting aces with a triumph type routine into a very nice combination.

Bill Murray continued to work on a routine involving his ability to detect if people are telling the truth or a lie about a selected card.  Bill has developed some great dialog to go along with his presentation.

Larry Dimmitt presented a great story line involving an old police case.  Larry had numerous props to go with the prediction effect and he was able to immerse the club with his story telling.

Mark Paulson continued with the theme of the evening (packet tricks) and presented a quick B’wave effect that was new to a few of the members.

Jim Earnshaw presented an Out of This World effect that was well received by the club.

The theme of the evening was magical effects using the Gilbreath principle. The club likes to allow people to present “workshop items” that are longer works in progress that the
club can then offers suggestions to improve a performance.

Hugh “Danny Dragon” Castell presented a workshop item that involved a card magically disappearing from a deck and reappearing inside a bottle. Hugh had a solid performance of the routine and the club members were able to offer some great suggestions.

Roger Sylwester presented a nice poker hand challenge that has a spectator deal out hands of poker and reassembles them at random to then deal out a winning hand.

Reymarx Gereda had two spectators each take five random cards. They mixed their cards and traded one with each other. Reymarx was able to divine what cards had been traded by both spectators just by looking at one of the hands.

Chris Carlisle introduced the club to the “Carlisle Riffle Cut” which was very well received. Chris also performed a great chaos to order routine where the sequence of cards returned to order after numerous shuffles. Chris had a very nice presentation to go with the magic based on his personal job experience.

Ben Eskenazi presented a very nice “do as I do” effect in which two piles of random cards were shown to be of directly opposite colors of each other, matching perfectly through the entire sequence.

J.R. Russell finally showed off some of his super powers that he had been keeping a secret all this time by correctly divining a sequence of cards that a spectator had hidden
under the table.

Bill Murray presented a very cute routine around Jamie Grant’s Industrial Revelation, involving a “Swiss Army Knife” and the reason Switzerland was never invaded.

Larry Dimmitt presented a funny card revelation in which the spectator selected a card from a deck and Larry placed a camera lens on the card box turning the box into a “camera,” which provided a very funny visual. Larry then took a picture of the card with it held against the spectator’s head revealing an x-ray photo of the spectator as well as
the card.

Mark Paulson presented a very nice hands-off card revelation in which a spectator freely selects a card and the cards are then placed back into the card box. Mark was able to divine the card that was chosen.

Michael Jacobs performed a very nicestraw penetration, a great impromptu effect. Michael also presented a great prediction effect in which a random dice role turned out to be an indicator of where a predicted card was located.

Fred Turner presented a very visual card transformation in which fire was held over an indifferent card and it visually melted into the spectator’s selected card.

Bill Murray did a multiple card revelation effect revolving around a very detailed story line he has been working up for a while. Bill incorporated some ideas the group talked about from a previous meeting.

Chuck Kleiner did a very nice “zombie spoon” routine for the dinner magic theme. The effect was very visual and would be a great impromptu effect for around the table.

Larry Dimmit performed another great mentalist routine involving remote viewing in which he was able to tell what type of scene a spectator was visualizing.

John Cameron performed a very nice prediction routine involving a very special deck of cards with various wines printed on them. After a mixing up the deck the spectator selected card was found to match the actual bottle of wine that John had with him.

George Zuk did a nice quick effect using three packets of sugar with different food items written on them. George was able to divine which packet had been selected after a spectator had mixed them up.

Mark Paulson performed a very nice mind reading effect in which he had a person choose a card and turn it face down in the deck and place the deck back in the box. Without pening the box, Mark was able to tell what card had been selected.

J.R. Russell led the group in a mind mapping exercise; everyone brainstormed various magical ideas for “dinner magic.” The group came up with various types of dinner magic as well as specific effects for each grouping. The club plans to continue to expand on the
ideas presented.

The club had a light turnout at January’s meeting, however there was ample opportunity for everyone to present some great magic.

Bill Murray presented a work in progress for the club to offer comments and reviews.  Bill told the club about his attempt at becoming an FBI forensic psychologist and the three things you could look for to tell if people were lying.  Bill had nice funny presentation as he attempted to discover if his spectator Mark was telling the truth about the cards in his hands.  The routine was well thought out and the club offered some valuable insight.

Mark Paulson performed a comical version of the bowling ball from pad of paper where he made a bunch of sponge balls appear instead.  Mark has since refined this trick to make it quite funny.  Mark also let the group in on how he practices mentalism by correctly remembering a large sequence of numbers the group called out.

Larry Dimmitt presented a very nice routine where a dice was placed under a shot glass as well as a glass top and a number was thought of by a spectator.  When the group counted to three and called out the number, the dice flipped directly to the number called.

J.R. Russell presented some of his great card work with the “Shanghai Shuffle” showing that no matter how many times he shuffled the cards the spectator’s card would be the 7^th.  J.R. could also guarantee what pile your card would be in by using the guarantee card from a deck of cards.  J.R.’s magic is always fun to watch.

Jim Earnshaw presented a couple of coin pieces.  A version of winged silver as well as a hanging coins routine.

Mike Jacobs presented his work in progress, a lovely vertical tabletop card holder used to hold ten individual cards. Mike had a spectator think of one of the cards and wrote a prediction down. When he showed the card that was selected, it matched his prediction. Mike always brings great handmade magic props to the meetings; they are enjoyed by all.

Hugh “Danny Dragon” Castell presented a nice holiday-themed close-up routine with a Christmas light that lit up unexpectedly as well as pictures of gifts appearing under Christmas trees. Hugh’s routine was nicely constructed for the season.

Ken Marsh showed a couple of new items he was working with, including a book titled Street Magic and Aaron Fisher’s Panic.

Roger Sylwester presented a nice little ball and vase routine with a Christmas kicker ending in which the ball turned into a jingle bell. It was a very cute close-up bit.

John Cameron presented a very nice longer card and prediction effect from Larry Becker called Ghost Image. John has really put together a nice collection of card and prediction effects in his repertoire; they are always well received by the club.

Fred Turner performed a new torn and restored card trick called Slide that was very visual. Fred always puts a nice story around his effects that really enhances the magic.

J.R. Russell presented a very neat quick card trick from Jim Steinmeyer in which a chosen “password” is revealed by counting through a small packet of cards. This was a great little card mystery.

Before the magic started for the evening Larry Dimmit put an envelope on the table and told the group at any point in the evening someone could call out “it is time..” The group was very curious about this envelope.

Jim Earnshaw started the evening out with a quick “pointless” trick from Greg Wilson and a nice three card monte trick from Mark Mason

Michael Jacobs showed off a very nice rope box he had made as well as a great trick where various objects are tied to the ropes which are placed through holes in the box and then with a pull from spectators the ropes penetrate the box and all objects are left inside.

The group couldn’t wait any longer to find out what was in the envelope and “it is time” was called out. The envelope was opened and a watch with the predicted time of opening was inside along with a written prediction of the time. It was a wonderfully baffling prediction.

Dan Kennedy performed his “first card trick” where a card is thought of from a picture of various cards. The card is then revealed to be the only card turned over in a picture of another deck.

Ralph Huntzinger brought in some custom cards he was in the process of making and discussed some of the methods he had been using to print and make the cards. This information was very helpful for anyone who might be making their own playing cards.

Mark Paulson presented a nice Halloween themed trick where there were 6 bags and a dice was rolled to figure out which bag a spectator would get. Each person got a nice treat, and the final bag magically had the prop Mark needed to continue with his story. Mark went on to demonstrate his psychic connection with what was left of his ventriloquist dummy by placing the dummy’s eye into a bag with three cards. Using his connection with the eye Mark was able to determine all three cards inside the bag.

Bill Murray demonstrated his x-ray vision ability when he was able to determine not only the number of face up cards, but the number of hearts and the value of each card left in a deck that was mixed face up and face down numerous times by a spectator.

Roger Sylwester demonstrated some very good card handling while performing a nice four card transposition routine followed by an ace assembly using the “invisible palm”.

John Cameron used a dictionary and a deck of cards to prove that there is magic when the card that was chosen by a spectator turned out to be written on the page of the dictionary that the word “magic” was as well as that card being the only one in the deck with “magic” written on it.

 

J.R. Russell started the evening off with a nice dollar bill production from a blank piece of paper. J.R. also provided each member with a photocopy to perform the effect.

George Zuk performed a very nice coin paradox where he kept adding a coin to a set of coins, after which the number of coins remained the same.

John Cameron presented a routine that can only be described as “further”. A simple pick a card trick turned into one magical effect after another, after another, after another. . .

Roger Sylwester performed a nice version of Michael Close’s “Erma” card trick built around a story about Martin Luther and the Lutheran church.

Hugh Castell performed “the trick that is pretty darn hard to explain” in which a selected card is lost in the deck, a hole in punched in an indifferent card and a tag is placed through the hole and the card is inserted back in the deck. When the person pulls back out the tag the chosen card is connected to it instead of the indifferent card.

Dan Kennedy presented a nice oil and water card routine where cards were mixed and when dealt out on the table they were back in original order.

Chuck Kleiner performed a very clean matrix effect and taught the group the workings behind the effect.

Bruce Meyers performed a great multiple silver dollar production from a folded bill, ending with a giant coin production.

Jim Earnshaw presented a quick coin through hand trick using a spectator’s hand.

Reymarx Gerda finished the evening with a multi-card revelation where he was able to divine the color of a dozen cards from a shuffled deck.

 

J.R. Russell started the evening off with a nice dollar bill production from a blank piece of paper. J.R. also provided each member with a photocopy to perform the effect.

George Zuk performed a very nice coin paradox where he kept adding a coin to a set of coins, after which the number of coins remained the same.

John Cameron presented a routine that can only be described as “further”. A simple pick a card trick turned into one magical effect after another, after another, after another. . .

Roger Sylwester performed a nice version of Michael Close’s “Erma” card trick built around a story about Martin Luther and the Lutheran church.

Hugh Castell performed “the trick that is pretty darn hard to explain” in which a selected card is lost in the deck, a hole in punched in an indifferent card and a tag is placed through the hole and the card is inserted back in the deck. When the person pulls back out the tag the chosen card is connected to it instead of the indifferent card.

Dan Kennedy presented a nice oil and water card routine where cards were mixed and when dealt out on the table they were back in original order.

Chuck Kleiner performed a very clean matrix effect and taught the group the workings behind the effect.

Bruce Meyers performed a great multiple silver dollar production from a folded bill, ending with a giant coin production.

Jim Earnshaw presented a quick coin through hand trick using a spectator’s hand.

Reymarx Gerda finished the evening with a multi-card revelation where he was able to divine the color of a dozen cards from a shuffled deck.

The theme for the July club meeting was “cup and ball” magic. The club also welcomed three new visitors, who shared some great magic and friendship.

The club had two workshop performances where the performer asks for critiques on a piece he or she is getting ready to perform for a public function, or for a piece he or she is developing.  The first workshop performance was Chuck Kleiner.  Chuck was preparing for a business / staff meeting and had ideas involving “anticipating customer’s needs” using a couple of nice prediction effects with the invisible deck as well as a nifty iPhone application.  Chuck’s magic is always polished and clever.

Hugh Castell was the next workshop performer. Hugh was preparing for an upcoming magic contest. His presentation involved the memory and magic of his good friend “Quincy Quamquat”.  Was Quincy a genius, or just a guy with a funny name?  Hugh’s time travel trick certainly made you wonder.

There were some nice show and tell items from the members as well.   Roger Sylwester showed off some Indian cups that had knobs on the top of them and another member showed some beautifully engraved silver cups.

Mike Jacobs presented a nice chop cup routine with a variety of colored balls and a colored silk where the balls passed through the silk.

Fred Turner presented a very visual torn and restored card based on the stage illusion of sawing a woman in half.

Mark Paulson brought out his dead mouse Jerry.  For a dead mouse Jerry certainly like to show up under his cup of a house.   Mark presented a nice quick chop cup routine with Jerry as his helper.

Terry Burlison, one of our visitors, presented a nice packet trick that told a quick overview of a magician themed novel he had just finished writing.  Terry also gave the group a first look at the cover art.  Look for Terry’s book soon.

The theme for the July club meeting was “cup and ball” magic. The club also welcomed three new visitors, who shared some great magic and friendship.

The club had two workshop performances where the performer asks for critiques on a piece he or she is getting ready to perform for a public function, or for a piece he or she is developing. The first workshop performance was Chuck Kleiner. Chuck was preparing for a business / staff meeting and had ideas involving “anticipating customer’s needs” using a couple of nice prediction effects with the invisible deck as well as a nifty iPhone application. Chuck’s magic is always polished and clever.

Hugh Castell was the next workshop performer. Hugh was preparing for an upcoming magic contest. His presentation involved the memory and magic of his good friend “Quincy Quamquat”. Was Quincy a genius, or just a guy with a funny name? Hugh’s time travel trick certainly made you wonder.

There were some nice show and tell items from the members as well. Roger Sylwester showed off some Indian cups that had knobs on the top of them and another member showed some beautifully engraved silver cups.

Mike Jacobs presented a nice chop cup routine with a variety of colored balls and a colored silk where the balls passed through the silk.

Fred Turner presented a very visual torn and restored card based on the stage illusion of sawing a woman in half. Mark Paulson brought out his dead mouse Jerry. For a dead mouse Jerry certainly like to show up under his cup of a house. Mark presented a nice quick chop cup routine with Jerry as his helper.

Terry Burlison, one of our visitors, presented a nice packet trick that told a quick overview of a magician themed novel he had just finished writing. Terry also gave the group a first look at the cover art. Look for Terry’s book soon.