Piff - The Magic Book - Volume 1
$69.95
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-books/piff-the-magic-book/

A hilarious and intimate look at the life and secrets of the hardest-working dragon in magic. You’ve never read anything quite like Piff the Magic Book - Vol.1. It’s rare for a magician to give up such strong material, especially a working pro that still uses some of it in their act. But it’s even more rare when that magician is a Las Vegas superstar like Piff the Magic Dragon.

Who is Piff the Magic Dragon?

Following the massive popularity of his viral appearances on Fool Us and memorable run to the finals on America’s Got Talent, Piff has been hosting his own show in the Piff the Magic Dragon Theater at the famous Flamingo Hotel since 2015. (The same showroom that has also been home to Ella Fitzgerald, Gladys Knight, Tom Jones, Ray Charles, Wayne Newton, James Brown, and countless other icons).

The enviable career Piff has created from his on-screen appearances is no accident though. He’s the epitome of a true pro and has been endlessly committed to perfecting his craft since long before his mainstream fame. Piff is the only magic-dragon member of the prestigious Magic Circle in England and one of the youngest magicians to ever lecture there. He’s also one of the first people Penn & Teller call when they need help creating new routines.

What is Piff the Magic Book?

Piff the Magic Book gives you a first-hand look at Piff’s entire life in magic from how he became a magic dragon to how he landed a show in Las Vegas—including the most valuable routines that got him there. In total, Piff explains 10 of his favorite tricks in complete detail with help from one of magic’s premier authors John Lovick.

You’ll learn amazing routines like the Ring in Egg he did on America’s Got Talent: The Champions, as well as the famous signed card in dog food effect that earned him a Golden Buzzer from Neil Patrick Harris. The highlight for many magicians though will likely be “VDP”, the gradual transformation of one signed card into another that he credits for catapulting his career after performances on Fool Us and AGT.

This book is so much more valuable than just the magic secrets though. Even if you never perform any of the tricks taught, you will still walk away with a wealth of knowledge on how to be a better performer. Piff doesn’t just share the method but also the fascinating and outlandish stories and thought processes that brought them to life. Everything is perfectly captured in a more than 430-page gorgeous hardcover book accompanied by a profuse amount of stunning full-color photographs.

My Take:

This book is an unbelievable bargain (and also the only book I've ever seen that took 156 pages just to teach a card trick. But what a card trick this is. More on this later.)

When I first received my copy it had a red sticker on the cover warning me that this book is for 18+ Only and contains adult language. They weren't lying. Piff can be quite the pottymouth but it is nothing worse than hanging out with your friends and each time an invective is used, it is usually hilarious. It is not used for shock value but it does humanize this lizard.

The book begins with Piff telling his history, where the first dragon suit came from and how he transitioned from human to dragon. He is no overnight success. He has had setbacks along the way (just like many famous people today). It takes hard work to become an overnight success. He did all kinds of parties (except kids parties). Plus, his house was hit by a hurricane. (No wait, that was mine. Never mind. Sorry).

It took many years and heartbreaks to get the big break. Magicians probably got their first taste of Piff on Penn and Teller Fool Us but the mainstream was introduced on America's Got Talent.

Howard Stern had taken Simon's seat this season. Piff killed. Piff did his stuff and stole the hearts of the judges. Then he did something absolutely brilliant. While the judges made their comments, he pulled out a banana, peeled it and ate it. Then he tried borrowing $8.00 from the judges so he could get home. This is not your ordinary dragon. By the way, the routine he did was the one that required 156 pages (and not one page was wasted.) Of course, he got four yeses and moved on to round 2.

AGT is famous for having judges with no knowledge of magic so a simple Invisible Deck could absolutely destroy them. However Round 2 was a bit different. They had a judge who was knowledgeable.  Neil Patrick Harris, who, besides being a very famous actor, served as president of the Board of Directors of the Magic Castle for a year..So, this was to be no walk in the park. It didn't hurt that Mr. Piffles made his debut on this episode. (I have a strong suspicion that Mr. Piffles in not all he seems. I have heard rumors that he sets up Piff's card stacks before each performance.) Also, these performances can all be viewed on Youtube. These were great for his career and he no longer performs for scale.

I am going to give you one link because I feel that it is important to this book. Piff keeps mentioning his TV Special “Reptile Dysfunction”. Turns out that the entire special can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBBYBiAKQ3U. Why is this so important? Almost every routine in his special is taught in this new book.

You also get to see his gorgeous girlfriend, Jade Simone, prove that she is not just eye candy but a talented comedic performer.

The tricks (he has been known to turn a few)

Piff’s Triple-Reveal Dog Food.- I guarantee this is one routine you will not use but it is so much fun reading how he does it, you will absolutely love it. He created a special gimmick to load the card that seems almost to have been designed by a graduate from MIT. It has to be seen to be believed.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Piffles - his version of Koran’s Gold Medallion but this is much better. The audience randomly chooses four letters as the name for Mr. Piffles. Then his collar is removed where the freely selected name is shown to be actually engraved on a metal tag which can be given out to your spectator. Once again, a complicated gimmick which you will loved to read about.

Ring in Egg - Mr. Piffles eats a borrowed ring. Piff has him excrete into a plastic bag (actually an egg bag which you are taught how to make.) Your spectator reaches in (if you can convince him or her to do so) and pulls out an egg. Obviously, when the egg is cracked the ring is inside. Of course, Piff has it a little better than you would being that his volunteer is Heidi Klum (in your dreams).

Bill in Banana - We all seen the bill in orange trick but Piff goes it one better when the signed bill is found inside an unpeeled banana.

The Great Chicago Fire - The classic chosen card is burned plot complete with smoke. If you can do a dribble force, this should be no problem. To do it just like Piff, you will need to buy a couple of small gadgets but I think you could get a nice routine out of this without them.

David Copperfish - Now, this is interesting. A book test where a fish in a fishbowl reveals the selected word. If you do a strong book test, this, too, can be added to your repertoire. The full script for this routine is included,

Card is Straw - Prediction is in an envelope. Card is chosen. When the envelope is opened, a straw is found inside. Then the straw in his drink is revealed to be the selection rolled up.

Thing in a Thing in a Thing in a (ad infinitum)

His method for Fortune Cookie in a nest of boxes Which he will allow you to perform but only if you do not use fortune cookies.

Flap Cards - a clever routine inspired by Chris Philpott’s 100th Monkey in which your volunteer sees one thing and your audience another. Entirely different method from Chris’s and gives a huge free plug to Blake Vogt’s Acro Index.

The Greatest Motherfluffin’ Card Trick of All time - He absolutely killed with this on AGT and I think Heiki Klum fell in love with him. This is his closer and really what else could he do to follow this one? A card is selected and lost. He finds a card but it is not the right one. So he changes the card to the selection one fourth of the card at a time. Stunning. A brilliant piece of work. This is also the trick that takes 156 pages to teach. But not to panic. Over 130 of them are full page color high quality photos that show you each step of the way in depth from different angles. This should not be a difficult task to accomplish (considering the level of details in the instructions.) The one downside is that a product is needed that is not available in the states. However, there is a thread on the Magic Cafe which offers alternatives.

The book is edited by John Lovick (Handsome Jack) who peppers the entire book with footnotes. Piff also adds to the footnotes and when he doesn’t agree with John is not shy about voicing his disagreement. Some of these discussions become quite heated (and hilarious).

This is the first magic book I can remember since Penn and Teller’s “How to Play with your Food” (which by the way also features extensive funny footnotes.) which made me laugh out loud. This is a great book to have even if you don’t perform anything out of it. You will enjoy just reading it (and laughing, of course),

Reading this book convinced me that not only is Piff a comedy superstar, he is also brilliant in putting his routines together and designing the equipment he uses. The level of detail that is included in virtually every item in the book is awesome. When I receive a book to review, I make a point of reading it cover to cover before I write. At 430 pages, I was a little concerned at the time it would take. However, it was so amusing that I zoomed through it in a couple of days and wished there were even more pages.

This book is a must have if you have ever watched Piff perform and wondered just how he accomplished these miracles. Great, great book. BUY IT!

One last thing. The name of the book says that this is Volume One, I, for one, can hardly wait to see Volume Two..

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