Jeff Stone starts off his jammed packed lecture with two tricks. First, the vanishing thumb tip and Visa 2.0. He explains the method to vanish the thumb tip and applies it to other uses including switching and ditching since you likely will not be revealing a thumb tip so you can vanish it. He suggests several other ideas and the method has tremendous potential as long as you dress in a certain way (no T-shirts allowed).
Jeff then explains Visa 2.0 where he has 6 cards, each with a different product and number (one through six) written on it. The spectator picks any single number from Stone’s Visa card account number and then it turn out that the product that the number corresponds to is the item that Stone bought. He then shows proof i.e. like a receipt to prove that the spectator was accurate. Included with the purchase is a download to customize your own receipt. He performed this trick with a homemade set of cards which can easily be made at home. This trick could be marketed and sold with professionally made cards… hint, hint. He properly credits Joe Diamond and Dan Harlan with inspiration and predecessor versions of this good trick.
Stone then performs and teaches tricks that use a FriXion pen. If you have not seen it, Stone has a masterclass DVD on tricks with the FriXion pen called Stone FriXion Fire. He first performs Bacteria, which is an impressive way to reveal a chosen card with a lighter. Basically, a card is selected from a “contaminated” deck of cards and then a picture of a petri dish, with hundreds of dots in it is heated up with a lighter and the selected card appears in the midst of the “bacteria.” For those who have not seen tricks with the FriXion pen, it is truly impressive. He then teaches a secret about laminating the paper that contains the card reveal. He teaches CSI to demonstrate another FriXion effect and shows his forcing envelope. Jeff teaches some cool FriXion ideas using flash paper, a clock prediction effect and others. He has a discussion about the multitude of options that you can come up with which will no doubt inspire you to buy a FriXion pen!
Jeff then busts into a few stunning and worthwhile card tricks; Jacked Up, The Coolest Ace Trick in the World, Ace Bandage, The Target Card, Triptych and Headache. Each trick is explained in detail, with the various choice moves, and there is no doubt that something in the set will be something you will use. Stone also teaches how to construct and use his utility device, the Prometheus box, to vanish a torn card that is fairly placed inside a card box. It is a do it yourself killer.
Then, Dan Harlan plays Stone’s show to a packed audience from the prior evening. Stone starts off with a few magic-light tricks which is really his own blend of Stone humor. Jeff then displays his ninja quick Rubik cube skills and solves a cube that is mixed by the audience in 41 seconds. Although that it is not a magic trick it is amazing to watch.
He explains his philosophy about performing, use of self-deprecating humor, being goofy and the message that he wants to send to his audience… have fun!
The lecture then cuts to Stone’s performance of I Need A Hero from his live performance. I Need a Hero is a funny routine in which 7 spectators are called up on stage and each holds a random envelope with the name of a super hero inside after a spectator shuffled the envelopes. After a series of eliminations, two spectators are left standing. After the final elimination takes place, one spectator is standing, her super hero is revealed and it matches a prediction with laughs.
Stone moves onto a book test and performs the Mother of All Book Tests (MOABT) for demonstration only. He does not teach it, but then discusses and tips a book test that he performs with a dictionary that requires simple do it yourself preparation and is very strong.
Then Stone cuts to his live performance and shows his act closer, John Bannon’s 10 card poker game and discusses what happens when you choose the wrong volunteers. It is a demonstration of patience and discipline with semi intoxicated participants that were a bit to chatty whose alcohol induced dementia convinced them that were funny… not. Stone explains the method and then has a chat with Dan Harlan.
Stone discussed some of his memorable moments from past performances, his focus on astonishment and how he started in magic and how he creates. For me, as a magic reviewer on Jeff’s www.mylovelyassistant.com, I enjoyed the portion of his interview with Dan Harlan when he discusses reviewing magic!
This is a great lecture that gives you a solid three and a half hours of magic by a funny entertainer and creative thinker. Jeff teaches a ton of cool magic and shares insight he has acquired after years of practicing our art. Highly recommended.