Magic Tricks

This lecture has some good information and effects in it, but it's quite a bit shorter than most of the other Penguin lectures (a little over an hour). My favorite section of the lecture was on the mirage deck. David and Dan offer some great thoughts and ideas here. There's also several fantastic suggestions for producing social media content, just as mentioned in the description. If you want to do that, you should definitely get this lecture. If you're just interested in learning some new routines, however, that's where some of the other Penguin lectures might be a better value for you.

Now, here's my biggest beef with this lecture: One section is devoted entirely to a great utility item designed by Bonfadini's friend Magic Trick Mike called the gum tool. With this device, you can create some miraculous-looking visual effects either live or on video. The problem, however, is that the gum tool is impossible to find commercially. Some of you could probably make one, but its construction isn't covered on the lecture and would require skills and tools many people don't have. I find it very annoying when a lecture includes ideas with a prop that is virtually impossible for me to buy or make. After all, I think most people who buy and watch these lectures do so because they'd like to actually perform the routines!

Ultimately, the mirage deck material is probably all I'll ever actually perform from this lecture, but there are already tons of ideas for that deck in Hugard's Encyclopedia of Card Tricks, which is much less expensive. Perhaps a lot of people will get a lot out of this lecture. I'm not saying it isn't worthwhile; I'm just saying it wasn't quite my cup of tea. Hopefully, someone can use this review to make a more informed buying decision.