Magic Tricks

This book is just what you're looking for regardless of whether you're a professional magician or just an enthusiast looking to cheer up friends and family via a phone call or zoom call.

The only skill you need is to entertainingly present these tricks by talking them out to your remote audience!

When I first got the book - for a few minutes I was worried I got ripped off because it's simply filled with well written transcripts of Juan Tamariz's radio performances where he's doing magic with the in-studio DJs/hosts that he encourages his audience listening in to do in their own homes with their own cards.

The first trick in the book is a 10 card Oil & Water trick (5 red/ 5 black) and he talks the DJs through what he wants them to do with their own 10 cards that they shuffle and cut repeatedly and (seemingly randomly) and is encouraging the folks at home to do the same thing and then sure enough by the end of the trick magic happens in their own hands as the reds/blacks separate.

So, I'm excited thinking 'Wow, here's how to do Oil & Water remotely! I can't wait to see what the secret is.'

Then I turn the page looking for detailed instructions on how to do it and the next page is simply the next trick in the book! I was disappointed and re-read it to see if I missed something and couldn't figure out why they'd sell a whole book like this for a high price that doesn't even teach you how to do the tricks - and then it hit me:

***There's absolutely nothing to teach!***

If you follow & repeat Juan's patter - *THAT IS THE TRICK.*

He's already worked it out for you and it's a remote trick anyhow - so there's nothing for him to really teach!

I grabbed 10 cards and did the trick per his instructions in my own hands and it worked perfectly!

Then I took five minutes and wrote down each individual step of what he tells his audience to do and basically can now invent my own patter around his instructions.

If you can give clear instructions (like he did) - you can do this!

It's worth every single cent!

One other fun thing I forgot to mention: Gemma Navarro, who co-wrote the book (she did all the transcribing & worked with Juan on it) she made sure to at the end of each trick put in a paragraph detailing the historical path Juan traveled down to invent each trick. So if you'd like to search out the elements of previous tricks he sourced to combined into the trick you're doing, you can - which I thought was really cool.

And those basically are your explanations. While I admit it would be fun to read or even see a video of Juan talking through and explaining in detail how each of these tricks works based on previous tricks - it's simply not necessary. Again - it would be cool because he's taking elements from the 1930s/40s & beyond that aren't always easily available - but the trick works, and it's really just anecdotal.

Truly the only recommendation I have is make sure you brush up on how to talk to your audience. I've noticed things that we magicians understand sometimes could confuse kids / other audience members.

Example: The concept of cutting and completing a cut is sometimes lost on people that think you're telling them to cut the cards and put them down into a separate pile (something the audience is asked to do in this trick actually). So being clear on the actions you want them to take - even tho we know what this means is really important.

If you're doing this as a Zoom/Facetime/Skype trick - they can see what you're doing so it's easier - but remember - you can technically do this as a phone call, because Juan did it on the radio.

It's smart, easy and fun to do! I haven't done every trick in the book - but - it sure seems like I'll have time to now.

One last thing, I originally got this from a magic shop when Penguin was sold out. I love Penguin and will always support them, but if they do sell out again - make sure to search this out from a local magic shop to help them stay in business, it'll mean a lot to them!

Stay healthy & enjoy~