David Walsh - Little White Lies
PDF
First part covers David’s creativity with cards; the second part contains Mr. Walsh’s coin magic.
Hardcore and clever is how I will describe this e-book. If you are looking for easy to master, “microwave magic” (a term I use for simple, automatic magic: just like using a microwave: push the button, and you have yourself a cooked meal.), this is not the right place. Mr. Walsh’s card magic are primarily high-intermediate to advanced. Imagine palming the second card from the top in a split second, a bottom card cover pass, etc.
Of course, there are also a few easy effects one can master within five minutes. And those are also some of my favourites in his book, for instance, “color inversion” – a simple, direct, color-changing deck routine that will drop your audiences’ jaws all the way down to Antarctica (and I live in North America ).
The goods: This is not a ‘pipe-dream’, ‘experiment’ kinda book. The materials here are top notch and workable. David is a working magician, he knows his stuff, and this e-book reflects just that.
I believe David’s works are influenced most deeply by Roy Walton, Peter Duffie, and Jerry Sadowitz as he has referred to some of their works as his inspiration numerous times. So it might make the learning process easier if one has studied the works from the aforementioned masters. If not, this book definitely motivates you to do so.
For sleights, there’s a really nice way to obtain an in-jog, that works particularly nice for control. Strike-second-palm is one of my favourite’s in the book. Imagine being able to palm out the second card from the top directly. David also included his version for multiple top palm. With enough practice, that can be worked into a “one-handed multiple top palm”. The beautiful thing about this is it is easier than you think.
For card effects, triumphant inversion is a sweet little thing that will devastate your audiences. It is triumph combined with an “inversion” ending. It has a very nice idea to display an apparently face down deck in a fanned position.
“Travel Brag, collectors edition” is a hybrid between the collectors and interchange plots. Mr. Walsh also included two effects that employ gimmicks. One of them allows you to do a card to ceiling effect while the deck is kept inside the card case. To put the icing on the cake, Mr. Walsh also included his most asked for effect in the book – “Pick Pocket Bra” - a cards across routine that employs the most personal belonging of your female spectator.
It is easy yet impactful. This is a humorous effect that is best suited for bar/pub situations. Of course, something as unique might not be suitable for everyone.
As for the coin works, I particularly like “coin thru cigarette”. (There’s a demo of it on http://www.cheaterscheater.com) It is the classic cigarette through coin effect without using the traditional gimmick. Everything is examinable from the beginning to the end.
The other coin works are all about copper/silver. I’m sure you will find something you like there.
Overall, this is a very good book. The only complaint is that there’s not enough impromptu coin effects.
But I think the unique card works in this book are worth every single dollar of it already."
