I did the Dollar Bill Fold. I have tried the Ping Pong Ball thing, but not putting a hole deck inside.

I am not that good at the PMCM, but I can do it for atleast 30 seconds on the first try.

I would make a video, but my clips are INCREDIBLY low in quality and you probably couldn't tell what was going on.

Jakks

I completely agree, this is a fantastic effect - the switch at the end is great!

Hey, I forgot to say. I loved "Backlash."

Andrew

Galaxy... mmm... easy, STRONG and pretty much self-working... what more can I ask for!! And yes, solid deception is a GEM as well!!

regards,
Jonathan

Yes, I like that switch too! And I love the patter that is Rising the Invisible card! ^_^~

Michael Lam

I don't have my books on me, but I could have sworn flip-flop-plop was a control not a force. Am I mistaken?

I'm pretty sure the flip flop plop is a control for the selected card to the top of the deck as well. Also, Bill Malone references this control in his on the loose set. It really is a pretty deceptive control if you have convincing patter to follow it up. If not most specs catch you.

Wow, lots of responses! Awesome!

For some reason, I hate Re-Set. It's probably because it took me 4 nights of reading the routine before bed until I memorized all the actions. Then the first few people I tried it on saw the same cards multiple times as I tried to pass them off as new. I don't know, maybe I need to practice more and do it faster before I show anyone else.

I recently started practicing Re-Cap and Uncanny. Uncanny was pretty easy for me to learn and it got a great reaction on my first spectator I tried it on.

Pepetual Motion Coin? Oh man, I would love to see this being done, I really thought it was just something Harris threw in the book to keep us busy trying the impossible. Speaking of which, is Pain a real effect?!?! I can't tell if it's a joke or just a dangerous effect?! I knw it's one that I will skip.

Has anyone done Creation?! I would love some feedback on that effect. The whole idea sounds really interesting and with the flower and coccoon creation first, the ending sounds like it would blow people away! Any feedback?!

I tried PAIN....the pin wont hurt you (as long as the sharp side is down and you are hitting the blunt side). I actually tried it last night for the first time. I didn't get the full effect because I was too worried about not maiming myself.

I love these books - especially GALAXY and BACKLASH !! - been trying the one with the orange but just end up with sticky fingers !! althouh a tip is to draw the cut lines on first with a marker pen ...... makes it easier to see where they go & join up !!

I did post a question in the I want to see the Manager Section about a AOA forum as the tricks in these books cover cards, coins etc etc - never got a response though !

I enjoy backlash as well. Does anyone else try Guts. I don't think it is as good as Backlash.

What a marvelous idea; having users choose their favourites from a specific book. I just wrote one famous and generous author saying in essence, that without a Video tape, I could not judge which of the effects in his book might most appeaal to audiences. I asked which were his favourites, meaning which obtained best audience response.

We can, none of us, any longer go through every trick in a book, learn it, try it, and then discover that audience reaction may be "ho-hum". Nice guy though he is (and he really is) his answer, "they are all my favorites", was not totally helpful.
Marty K

I've done creation, but don't try to do it in the cheesy manner that is outlined. I happen to really like the tongue in cheek style of the books and I perform pretty much in the same vein, but the first time I did Creation I got screams. Real life screams, as opposed to the kind magicians normally tell other magicians they get.

Ever since then I make it a really special thing. I read that Nate Leipzig used to do the same thing. Be careful not to rip the wings. Try to touch the moths as little as possible. I look forward to every spring and summer because it's a seasonal trick.

Also, I read about Pain in a routine by (I'm almost positive) Anneman. My all time favorite from AOA is Limo service. I always have an extra jack so I'm clean at the end.

I finished Book One last night and tonight I rip open the plastic wrap on Book Two and begin to learn more Art of Astonishment. How does Book Two compare to One?

By the way, Las Vegas Leaper floored another victim for me last night, leading to the nervous giggles at the end!! I love that trick!!!

I have a question about Las Vegas Leaper. I am very comfortable with the false counts involved, but there is one part which I got caught on last night while performing this trick. It was a fellow magician who I was performing for, so it's not a huge deal to me. But the part he said he saw is the backs of the 3 cards on the bottom when I handed him the packet of his 10 cards. Now, I handed them to him all squared up as tight as I could, and explained the count to him and told him to count out loud. But immediately after I handed him the packet, he started to spread them out a bit, thus leading to him spotting the packet on the bottom. This was the first time this happened, usually they just hold the packet tightly and start the count when I tell them. Is this something that I can control? How can I get my spectator not to fan the cards at all without making it look suspiscious?

You say: "Hold the pack just like this..." and demonstrate the grip you want. Then when you hand them the cards, adjust their grip for them.. (when I do spongeballs, I always close their fist for them and then turn their wrist so it points down. This keeps them from opening their hand early.)

One trick I enjoy, and always gets geat reactions is 'Juke'. This effect is so under-rated it doesn't read great but try it out. It is pretty easy as well.

Headache is another overlooked trick. It takes seconds to do and it's not much, but everyone I've done it one has been quite impressed.

Pain is a very scary trick the first time you do it. The first time I did it I was with a couple of magician friends and we were all hesitant to do it. However, it doesn't hurt at all and it does look really neat!
Solid deception rocks as does Limo service!

This has turned out to be a great Forum, collecting exactly the type of info I was looking for! Who is the genius that thought of this topic??!!

But seriously, there are a lot of effects that I kind of read once, and then sorta moved on if I was short on time or didn't understand something totally. I can't wait to go back now and try some more effects that I may have passed over earlier on. I can't believe that at first I was a bit disappointed with my books, I have done a 180º after only Book One. I can't recommend the set enough!

If you don't use sufficiently pliable pins for "pain" you can get a nice hole in your hand as the pin snaps in half. Yes, I'm speaking from experience.