Amazing Louis Jutras' Magic review page

The concept for this blog is quite simple. I will review as many books, videos and illusions available to the magic community. I will give my opinion on what they are like, if I found usefull or not. This is not a site made to reveal secrets.

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Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

I have been working as a Magician in Montreal for the better part of the last 25 years. I specialise in magic shows for children, which include birthday parties and school shows. I also do quite a bit of close up magic for adults (the ideal type of magic for cocktails, dinner parties, etc...). Generally known as "The Montreal Magician / Le Magicien de Montreal"

Friday, January 05, 2007

Close up Illusions, By Gary Ouellet

This book is published by Camirand accademy of magic Inc. It is quite an interesting piece of work. As the title implies, it's focus is on close up illusions.

First, a word about Gary Ouellet. He was chosen as one of the century's 100 most influential magicians by MAGIC Magazine. He has produced many magic shows, including World's Greatest Magic, Champions of Magic to name just a few... Obviously a man who not only loved the art, but also brought a lot to it. This book is a very good example.

In it, you will find quite a few close up tricks, ranging from coins to cards, to dice stacking, to sponge balls, etc...

But the most useful things in it, in my opinion, are the various close up hints at the end of some chapters. One of them gives the recipe for a hand lotion that you can make yourself, and is great if you have dry hands like me.

There is also a lot of information on presentation. For anyone wanting to know how to improve his/her performance, there is some very useful wisdom in these pages.

Here is the listing of the chapters:
1- Close up Theater ( presentation ideas..)
2- Greatest effect in magic (Finger palm, vanish, eye movement...)
3- Flashy Wonders (Flash deck, deck vanish,..)
4- Double Trouble (Break system, DL, Crook Concept, ...)
5- Secret of the Three ( Toss transfer vanish...)
6- Sponge ball miracles
7- Magic Lecture
8- Classic Force
9- Eureka! ( essay on piracy and theft of ideas...)
10- Paradise count
11- Final coin Flight
12- The infidel Change
13- Coin drops
14- Silverdust Routine
15- Paste Board Pageant
16- Touch Force
17- Ambitious Card
18- The silver sequel
19- After dinner speech
20- The slider ( Top change..)
21- Challenge factor
22- Finger on card revisited
23- Showcase
24- Rock and roll dice stacking
25- Miracle signed card to purse
26- Words to a beginner
27- Japanese jewels
28- For Ascanio
29- Hint Heaven ( series of hints...)
30- Netherworld
31- Anxiety factor
32- Northern sleights
33- Enigmas for posterity
Special bonus: The angle Pivot system ( an other DL...)

As I previously stated, this book is more than just tricks. There is some definite inspiration and wisdom in these pages to help you build a better presentation. These hints come from a man who has worked with magicians like David Coperfield and Lance Burton. It is not just theory from someone who has never performed. It is help from a person who "has been there, done that". All in all, I very much enjoyed this book, and I believe you will too.

Have a nice day!

Louis Jutras
Magicien montreal / Montreal Magician
fete enfants

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1 Comments:

Anonymous Ken said...

Nice review. I always say a good magic book is worth so much more than buying tricks as you get the theory behind the technique. I work as a childrens magician in the UK. do you have any reviews on stuff related to childrens magicians

2:56 a.m.  

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