This video features four effects, which might be more accurately described as "two variations of two different effects."

While I picked up some tips I may be able to incorporate elsewhere, I don't expect to be using any of these in my act. Two of the presentations were character-driven (one with a doofus, and one with the pervy magician convincing the female volunteer to put her hand in his pocket,) neither of which fit my style.

Even Dan himself admitted that the last effect wasn't much of a trick, but that he was doing it "because it was there," in the Tarbell text. I understand the mission of faithfully updating and reteaching ALL of Tarbell. But there should be some room for expurgation, too.

After reading this lesson I thought it would have been Impossible for Dan to make magic out of these tricks. Somehow in only a way Dan can he did so and with style. I’ll be going through effect by effect to give you a feel for the lesson.

The Wondering Handkerchief (4/5)

Effect: A handkerchief jumps from pocket to pocket and Dan’s routine ends with a comical climax bound to knock your socks off.

Notes: This was my favorite ideas/effect of the lesson as it has great potential to be a funny routine. Dan reworks this odd ball effect and turned it into a great bit of funny business with a spectator.

The Silk and the Flame (4/5)

Effect: A silk is produced in a flash of fire (not taught) and is vanished. A lit candle is transformed into the missing silk only to reappear lit.

Notes: For the right performer this effect could be dynamite. Dan teach you the ins and outs of this effect and teaches you how to make the special something you will need to make this effect happen. If this effect isn't you style its ok as it was very enjoyable to see Dan’s thinking behind this classic. It’s one cool routine.

The Candle, the Silk and The Paper Tube (3/5)

Effect: A lit match transforms into a large silk handkerchief. The handkerchief is vanished. A candle is taken from a stand and is made to transforming into the silk gone just moments ago. The as a bit of final magic the candle reappears on its stand.

Notes: This is a variation on the Silk and candle theme. It’s a nice visual bit, and Dan teaches how to light a match with one hand and a clever in the hands vanish of a large handkerchief. Both are very interesting ideas and I loved the vanish. Dan also goes over several other ways to achieve the vanish.

Elusive Silk (1/5)

Effect: A silk jumps and changes color in this odd routine. Two silks then change color and a surprise ends this interesting routine.

Notes: This trick is in Dan’s Words is “Pretty Stupid” and I agree. In reading the original in Tarbell it is a poor attempt at comedy. In Dan’s quest to perform and teach every trick in the book, he makes this effect as good as it can be by creating a character for it. Dan gives a few tips on spring loads to make up for this less than stellar effect. He also shares a gag that may work for some characters. On this journey we will encounter some less than stellar effects but Dan makes it easy for us to enjoy.

Overall magic with Handkerchiefs was a challenging lesson to update but Dan did so with style and performance charm. If you like the sound of this lesson and liked the demo video, I urge you to buy it and give it a try.

~The Magic Of Conrad

The thing to remember here is that Dan has taken on a monumental task of going through "every trick in the book". That stands to reason that some of it will be better than others, and some of them just won't be relevant. I like to think of this lesson more as a historical reference.

Dan does his best to try to make the material as relevant and modern as possible. I appreciate his DIY builds of some of the props needed for the routines. He does a a good job explaining most things, but some things could use a bit more attention to detail.

What I didn't like was that the only redeeming part of the last effect (which Dan himself admits is stupid) being the untying knot, Dan leaves presumably for the next lecture. Given the underwhelming effects in this lesson, I highly doubt I will purchase the next lecture. It would have been nice to have at least come away with that little effect.

Not a whole lot to get from this lesson, but still worth the watch. There are some little nuggets, but you really have to dig deep to find them.

Really nice. I like the series and am always looking for the "quick and easy" to carry with me. Being able to do multiple effects with very little prep is great.

My first purchase to the Harlan/Tarbell course. It was well worth it. Silks are visual and easy to use. Although you may not use all of the material, it is good to see the Tarbell material and Harlan's approach to making them relevant to the present. This is a good supplement to the Tarbell books. Yes, the books are a tough/boring read, BUT 99.999% of all magic effects have their origins in those books.

Dan Harlen has quite a few DIY tips for various things and here is no exception! He has a great variation on a vanishing candle. This is gold. Can be either vanishing and/or a nice production item. This alone is worth the price of this lesson.

Wonderful introduction to the world of handkerchief magic along with some candle magic.

I subscribed to all of these when they first came out and anytime I’m in a rut I return to these lessons. I’m not sure why I didn’t pay more attention to this lesson the previous times. There is so many great ideas here that you can just focus on the presentation. Dan is a genius in magic, and I can’t recommend these lessons enough.

There is so much material and learning in these videos! I wish Dan would do this for all the classic books! Even if that particular lesson is not your style there is still so much to glean from it and Dan Harlan presents it beautifully!
Important to note that some of Tarbell's material is quite dated or un-usable, but then Dan ALWAYS comes up with a fresh way to present it to make it work.
No, Dan is not paying me, I pay him, and gladly!

The first third revolved around a trivial method Thayer is well known from books available in book stores and libraries. Perhaps mor importantly, the presentation to being able to use this in a routine is inappropriate for a contemporary audience (woman/audience member putting hand into magician’s pants pockets. repeatedly.).

The last ⅓ even Dan said he had to include eve though it was just a bad trick.

The middle ⅓ (two lessons), however, was useful. There methods for vanishing a silk, and cost effective approaches for vanishing and reappearing a candle, e.g., not using Fantasio. Some good ideas in this section.