I really enjoyed the book and DVD. I was curious to hear what others thought about it.

It's one of my best purchases this year. All the effects are great. I especially like his thinking on ACAAN.

I really like a lot of Asi's work. Went to his lecture in Toronto a few months back and got pretty much all he was selling. Switcher is great too.

Though I am pretty certain similar work has been done on ACAAN, I think Juan mentions a specific example of someone using the idea in his book, Asi's work on it is much more than that one idea. And his work on just that one idea is actually great, and he uses it for far more than just the ACAAN.

He does a great odd backed prediction with it as well.

One of my favourite things about his ACAAN is the humour he adds with how he handles the spectator dealing. It not only adds great humour and entertainment, but actually emphasizes the fact that the magician does not touch the cards, both with the humour, and with the physical activities going on. It is a great way to present the effect. Though I strongly advise learning from it, not borrowing from it.

Funny story, when a bunch of us went out with Asi for food after the lecture and workshop (sadly I didn't attend the actual workshop portion.)
We were at a a nice, but low light restaurant sometime after midnight (took us until they were almost all places were closed to find one we all agreed on, but that's another story) and the server asked what we all were doing together.

Of course, the desire to see something came up, and Asi asked the server to name any card, and said each of us would find it. Taking the cue, many had already set to cull the card.
The server names the QH, which I'm sure some already had set to go given the commonness of the card. I had cut it to the top of the deck, and Asi pointed to me first.

Well, lot of pressure, but we are professionals and should be ready for this. I proceed to reveal the card, and turns out I culled the wrong one. It was dark, as I mentioned, and I had controlled the QD by mistake.

Well, that kinda killed everything, and I was the fool. Oh well, we had a great time, and we all edned up entertaining another table that was there, as well as the servers later in the night/morning. Good times.

I just got Chapter one in the mail, I watched the dvd, are the methods only in the booklet? because I would have liked to see the methods done on the tape, which I couldn't find.

Mike

This new book and DVD set from Asi Wind; a fabulous New York based magician and one of our favorite performers.

The DVD runs for 1 hour, 36 minutes and features performances of the magic from the book.



The book contains a mixture of Asi's tricks and theories on magic:

I liked pretty much all of what was on Chapter One. Just like others, I was particularly intrigued by his ACAAN. I like this version a lot although there have benn similar ideas!

I particulary like the "color sensing" effect. I think it is called Red & Black (imagine that). I have used it many times with reliably good impact. Doesn't require much technical skill either....it is nice to start out with a good false shuffle that retains the starting configuration of the deck. That is about it.

Juggernaut wrote:
I like this version [ACAAN] a lot although there have been similar ideas!

Which ACAAN method or ideas in the literature is Asi's similar to -out of interest?

E. g. John Born's ideas and of course Ken Krenzel's "Open and Shut Case". Jan

Thanks Jan, that is most helpful.
The Krenzel connection is interesting. [As ever Mr Krenzel has good ideas].
Has anyone an opinion as to whether the handling of the 'case' is more convincing in Asi's routine?
Has he added any new ideas to this part of the method?
I'd welcome any veiled or encrypted responses, in the interests of avoiding exposure-
but allowing me enough info to know whether it is something I might want to investigate further.

Yes, of course I've an opinion. But it is really a matter of taste and context. IMHO Born's method looks the most natural. Jan

Jan, have you seen Asi do it live??

No, but I've read and seen "Chapter One"; it is very good, but I wouldn't take cards like that. As I said, a matter of taste and context. Jan

There are so many interesting methods out there now- too many perhaps!
Indeed all the best thinking is available I suspect.
I'm not expecting the imminent NEW book to put anything remarkable on the table in terms of ACAAN-
[although I could be wrong & in any event it will be a very interesting read no doubt].
It's a question for each of us to decide the best route for ourselves.
I wonder what the particular strength of Asi's presentation is?

Does anyone have any idea how difficult it is to riffle count ANY number of cards while they are still in the box? SHEESH! This is a terrific method but it is downright impossible unless you employ a way to easily and quickly riffle to the right number of cards without looking. Even Matthew Johnson's version is difficult. Anyone know of a method where the deck can be out on the table before the card and number are named that doesn't involve Asi Wind's method in regards to uncasing the deck?

Not really, but face it: The system is always cut, glimpse and adjust if necessary. The case and uncasing the deck are always a method to cover a (secret) cut. Jan

Asi Wind's version does not require a "riffle count" but as this is not a protected forum it wouldn't be prudent to get into methods, etc. I love this version and on the RARE occasion I do an ACAAN, this is one of the two that I perform.

Jan is right... cut, glimpse and adjust... nothing else to do... all the other methods are complicating the basic procedure... what amazes me is the effect, though strong, is not the strongest thing you can do with a MD...

Don't you mean glimpse , adjust then cut. Once the cut is done you Hand the deck out to be counted too. No adjustment is needed after the deck is cut.

Estimated cut/shift,glimps.
Adjust if needed.

Using the box(how I do it anyway)estimate,glimps,thumb count if needed,remove stepped,cut/shift.