Conscious Magic – Episode One
$35.00
http://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=58556

The Hype:

With more than TWO DECADES of creating and performing magic, and producing magic on TV, Ran and Andrew sit down for the FIRST TIME and openly discuss and reveal their approach to performing magic and mentalism in EVERYDAY environments.

In this series Ran and Andrew reveal their GO-TO routines that they perform in real life casual situations such as bars, house parties, and on the street. "Our mission with conscious magic is to elevate the art of magic by empowering the performer to have a deeper insight into the process of creating, performing and even thinking about magic on a new level."

Not only do they teach NEW effects but they also break them down, discussing their creative process and give insight that will help make the magic you create even better.

RUNTIME: Sixty-five minutes

Conscious Magic Episode 1 includes:

REAL WORLD
Ever since Paul Curry released "Out of This World" there have been many versions, but none are like Gerard's "Real World". Using a NORMAL deck of playing cards the SPECTATOR creates their own reality by mentally separating them into two piles by color. There are NO moves and NO difficult sleights. This creative and simple method happens in the spectator's mind while exploring the concept of the law of attraction.

T-REX
Learn Ran Pink's ripping technique and create the illusion of REAL mind-reading in the most direct, personal, casual and powerful way; AND be able to do it ANYTIME with nothing more than a pen and piece of paper. Never look at your hands as you rip the paper and there's NO FUMBLING with too many pieces. It's classic and simple, yet SO STRONG that it can bring people to tears. For the FIRST TIME Ran also explains his technique for using post-it notes which are readily available everywhere and easy to come by so you'll always be ready to "read minds". See why so many professionals around the world have chosen T-Rex as their secret weapon to get into someone's mind.

Bonus: OPTIKA
Optika is the perfect opener for any social situation. Captivate audiences and make yourself known as a magical performer by utilizing a simple gimmick that is in most magician's arsenals. Andrew Gerard will teach you the "optikal" illusion that will cause debate amongst your spectators.

My Take:

I recently reviewed “Episode Two” and loved it. So, I was anxious to get my hands on Episode One. My copy was the Limited Edition, which included a set of Loops made by Yigal Mesika. As these normally sell for around ten dollars, this makes the purchase a better value.

Ran and Andrew both know their material well and have developed a style of teaching that lets you feel you are just sitting down and having a session with them. At no time do you feel that they are talking down to you. Their sheer enthusiasm shines through.

The filming is well done except for a couple of things I will cover. Angles and sound are both good.

Let’s take a look at the routines.

Real World – Andrew Gerard. This is Andrew’s take on Paul Curry’s Out Of This World. I have avoid OOTW in the past. I know, I know. It is one of the greatest tricks of all time. It just always bothered my that you had to keep track of how many cards have been dealt. Jim Critchlow came up with a clever solution in “White Star’, a trick about the casualties and survivors on the Titanic.  So I was glad to see that only an estimate is needed in Andrew’s version. I went back to check the solution in Josh Jay’s “Magic –The Complete Course” and unfortunately found it uncomfortably similar to Andrew’s. However, what Andrew had added here is the premise of the trick, in that the color of the card is not decided until it is dealt. Sort of like Schrodinger’s cat with cards. The card is both black and red until a pile is chosen. He also adds a nice little prover at the beginning of the routine. If you are looking for a good story for your OOTW routine, this could be just what you need. If you are looking for a new method of the trick, this is probably not it.

T-Rex – Ran Pink. This is absolutely superb work and his tear is deadly. I did find the trailer a bit deceptive. It showed Ran going up to people and naming the person they were just thinking of. It did not show them writing the name down first. But after watching this video of him using T-Rex, who cares? Ran covers the material well and shows you just how devastating it can be. With his teaching, you will be able to add this to your set and once mastered will be a reputation maker. Take a look at what a mentalist gets per gig as opposed to the average magician. This has the potential of making you a lot of cash. Basically I fell in love with T-Rex and will be taking the time to master this one. I advise you to do the same.

Optika – Andrew Gerard. I was not knocked out by this the first time I watched it. It seemed like an average levitation of a borrowed bill. The performance was shot in black and white and the bills kept gong in and out of focus. I didn’t feel that enough effort was taken in showing the use of the loop. Then I watched it again. True, the black and white is overdone and there could have been some close-ups on the loop technique. But the info is there and a second viewing got me to where I needed to be. I also realized that Andrew’s work is not really about the bill levitation but altering his audience’s perception of what is taking place. As in Real World, Andrew’s magic is in creating a mood and in making his spectators believe. This routine is nice in that not everyone will be able to see the bill levitate and some lively discussion could ensue. I ended up liking this and will be using it.

Conclusion: Episode Two teaches you five effects and Episode One only three. Now this might make it seem that Episode Two is a better value but T-Rex alone makes this disk a killer value. Plus, you will be doing Andrew’s two effects “right out of the box”. The chit chat back and forth between Ran and Andrew discussing the genesis of the effects and suggestions on other things to do reminds me of a lot of sessions I have been privileged to sit in on. And the fact that the included loops are made by Mesika instead of some cheap off brand tells me that these guys care not only about their magic but the image they project. Despite the reservations listed, this is well worth your money and should make you look forward to future releases. We already know that Episode Two is worth your time. Recommended.

Back