As I get older I tend to spend less on new, current magic. Maybe I’m getting more discriminating are maybe I’m just cheaper. I think people my age tend to denigrate all new stuff and that’s not fair. Actually, there’s some very find material being released which is, unfortunately, drowning in a sea of rancid manure. These are some items that I have either seen are acquired over the past year or so and I think are worth your money:
Confidences by Roberto Giobbi –
I like the scholarly work of Roberto Giobbi. He is an author that takes his work very seriously. I hope that anyone reading this that has the slightest interest in card magic has the entire Card College series on his shelf. It certainly is on mine. His Daily Agenda is one of my all-time favorite books. I can’t say that there are 366 gems in it, but I guarantee you that over half of the entries are well worth your consideration. A ratio we seldom see anymore.
This is his most recent effort. The book is physically small, approximately 5″ x 7″. There are approximately 265 pages. There are only 11 items, that they are covered in depth. I have particular fondness for his chapter on Tally-Ho and his Thoughts on Controls. The latter running over 75 pages.
To me, this book is more valuable than any DVD I have seen recently. Do yourself a favor and grab this small volume. It’s some of his best work.
Tiny Plunger–
I didn’t plan on liking this. This screams of the kind of cutesy pie crap that gives i/m gas. One reason this works is because the prop, in itself, is very interesting and unusual. As I understand it these were originally devised as sort of an easel for a cell phone. You can find them everywhere – eBay, your local magic shop, your local cell phone shop and of course China. Jon Armstrong’s routine is clever and amusing. It will play well far a reasonably intelligent adult grouping. This is not a trick for the kiddies. One reason I like Armstrong’s routine is he doesn’t play it as a great mystery but still makes it a fuller without insulting the intelligence of his audience. It’s one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. Unfortunately, this trick requires a table. Something that is seldom available in many venues that we work. I didn’t care for Blich’s Material on the DVD, but that is a personal preference. I didn’t care for his presentation are some of the material that he used. That’s just me, you may find it terrific.
Do yourself a favor and grab this. I think it’s going to be a near classic.
