Magic Tricks

The trick costs a dollar--and this is the most bang for the buck I have ever gotten in a magic download.

Just to clear the air: I don't think that I am giving anything away in saying that if you have just a little bit of magical knowledge, you'll probably be able to figure out the basic method. And no, that doesn't take away a bit from this very creative twist on a new plot and the excellent, excellent tutorial. Sure, you could reverse engineer it in some way, but Irwin has already put in all the hard work here and will give you a polished presentation that just works.

For this little gem, you will need to make the simplest of gaffs and have a piece of equipment that--even if you just have a beginners magic kit--you probably already have in your possession. And you will have to make your own gimmick, which will cost you--at most--one dollar.

The instruction is simply superb. Carl Irwin gives you over 40 minutes of crystal clear, perfectly paced instruction that is just the right pace. He demonstrates the trick, walks you through constructing the gaff, and not only teaches the trick but walks you through the carefully crafted choreography that really sells this trick. He also gives you some bonus ideas on handling and tearing and restoring other items.

At first blush, you might think that this is not so different from the $100 bill switch. I think that this is wrong thinking. You could do it after (or before) the $100 bill switch, but the effect on your audience will be very different.

To really appreciate this trick, you need to take yourself out of the magician mind set and think like a lay person. Just sit back and enjoy the performance rather than thinking about methods. Then try it out on family or friends and watch their eyes pop out.

The trick is excellent as it stands, but you will instantly start to think of variations or different applications for the presented technique. (I'm thinking that this would work well or a two phase presentation--first you tear the bill and it comes back as a mis-made dollar bill, then you re-tear and transform it back to a regular dollar bill.)

I think keeping this trick at a $1 price point is brilliant. First of all, it's a trick with a $1 bill. Second of all, it's a great introduction to Carl Irwin's magic. He simply excels in teaching and presenting straightforward magic with methods that are made for the real world. And once you see this, you will certainly want more...

Highly recommended.