Cardsexchange by Chris Mayhew

Hello everyone in interwebzland, I recently watched Chris Mayhew’s Cardsexchange instant download from Vanishing Inc., Josh Jay and Andi Gladwin’s online magic shop that is full of pure awesomeness. Cardsexchange is more than a move with a great name that has inspired me to name a coin move of mine “Coin…sex change”, it’s a useful sleight with numerous applications. On another note, I hear Chris Mayhew is a friend of Tyler Wilson’s… which automatically makes him partially awesome (I shall reveal the details if necessary). Let me start to do a semi-serious review of the download NOW:

The sleight: At first, I thought this was highly similar to the Bow-to-Stern control created by Earnest Earick in his book By Forces Unseen… but I was wrong. The concept of Cardsexchange is similar to Bow-to-Stern, but there are several key differences in each move that accomplish different things. For example, Bow-to-Stern controls a card to the top of the deck and Cardsexchange is a visual color change… two highly different results. 

The Color Change: This is a very clever application for the move, the change is very smooth, visual and ends clean. Unlike many color changes recently published, this is visual but there is a second of “mystery” as the card changes… I believe this factor makes the color change more magical since there is a moment of magic. 

The Ambitious Card: Although this isn’t my favorite application for Cardsexchange, it is useful and can be applied to any Ambitious Card routine.

The Force: Again, my favorite application for the move is the color change, but the force using Cardsexchange is clever. The nice thing about is is that after the card is forced, you have complete control of it.

Tranny: This transposition is great; it’s quick, visual and ends clean… the way I like my cranberry muffins. I also see some kind of potential in the switch Chris uses in the beginning of the routine. Good job with the Tranny, Mr. Mayhew.

The Teaching: Cardsexchange isn’t a simple move, but Chris does a great job teaching everything you need to know to do the move. 

Final Thoughts: I really liked this download, I wouldn’t be writing this review if I didn’t.  Cardsexchange gets my recommendation, even though nobody cares about that. On a last note, Chris is rather entertaining… he made me LOL (laugh out loud).

RECOMMENDED

Spencer Peterson

Two Reviews

Howdy y’all,

Spencer here, I haven’t posted in some time and I thought that now would be the appropriate time to do so. I recently purchased two products and thought I could say what I think about them, here they are:

• Dear Mr. Fantasy by John Bannon, the Chicago lawyer/magician. This book was originally published in 2004 and went out of print until now. I almost bought the book for about 60$ a few months ago but didn’t, so I am extremely pleased that it was reprinted. The book is based on nothing but card magic, but the magic in it is nothing but GREAT. Everything is direct, simple and cleverly thought out. He has 3 different ace assemblies, each one of them has a very strange, offbeat timing, you will understand what I mean by this when you read the book. Bannon speaks about the effects and how/why he performs them for lay audiences, all I can say is that he is a very clever man. The material in the book isn’t extremely technically demanding, but the effects are strong and clear. Bannon streamlined ever trick making sure that there are no unnecessary moves involved. I HIGHLY recommend this book to the intermediate/advanced magician, I believe everyone will get something out of reading it.
• Bebel, enfin le DVD is a brand new DVD by Bebel, it is produced by Fabrice Delauré. As you all might know, I am a huge fan of Bebel’s card magic. This DVD has 6 of his original routines on it, each routine is smooth, magical and well thought out. First, you get to see Bebel perform a routine for audiences in the streets of Paris, where he sets a table up and does magic for tips (how ghetto is he?). He then explains the routine in detail, going over all the little touches and subtleties he has added. After the explanation, he does another performance of the same routine for a different audience. It is very interesting to watch the legendary French magician perform in tough situations in the street because you get to see how he handles hecklers and interacts with his audiences. My favorite routine on the DVD has to be Repro Rétro, but there are two other effects I might start using. The effects are very technically demanding, but once you have them perfected you will have a piece of art in your hands. There is one problem about the DVD, I kept this for last knowing it might be a turn off. This may not be bad for everyone including me, but the DVD is completely in French. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get it, for the explanations are so clear that you do not need to hear what is being said. Also HIGHLY recommended for the advanced card magician. I don’t want to see crappy YouTube videos of Bebel’s magic being done by bad magicians. If you do get this, PLEASE put the time into perfecting the routines.

I hope you enjoyed these two reviews, and that they may help you make a decision for a Christmas gift to yourself.

Spencer Peterson