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emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
Nicholas Night launched a fantastic monthly box of magic subscription service through Kickstarter. I just got the first installment for my 10 yr old daughter and it is fantastic. Unlike every other crappy magic kit on the market, this is pro quality magic. Every month you get a box with 3-5 props and a plastic notebook that links you to instructional videos of all the tricks. Top notch all around. I initially ordered the 6 month subscription for my 7 yr old son, but because of the sleight of hand involved, I’m giving it to my daughter who is already got some great chops. In the first box, the tricks require the following sleights: Hamman count, flustration count, sponge ball vanishes, coin palms, Han Ping Chen (sp?) move and some basic card technique. So as you can see, this ain’t the magic kit we all started out with.
Everything is well demoed and taught and the props are exceptional. For about $30 per month, this is unbeatable if you have someone starting out. The tricks are pro caliber and will fool adults. Bravo to Nicholas. I hope word gets out about this because it deserves to succeed. www.myboxofmagic.com |
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Mb217 Inner circle 9520 Posts |
Thanks for posting about this Eric...This is absolutely wonderful!
What a nice and thoughtful offering. This is just what kids interested (or if you want to interest them) in magic need. Man, I wish I had something available like this when I was a kid, heck, I wish I had someone that thought enough to give it to me as a present...Me and my old buddy Doc were out there all by ourselves, but that's another story. Maybe you know of a kid that would appreciate a fine gift like this...they are usually special kids, as special as the lasting gift of magic. Please check out what magician, Nicholas Night and 9yr. old son, Jackson are doing here, it's a winner of an idea. *I highly recommend it. www.myboxofmagic.com
*Check out my latest: Gifts From The Old Country: A Mini-Magic Book, MBs Mini-Lecture on Coin Magic, The MB Tanspo PLUS, MB's Morgan, Copper Silver INC, Double Trouble, FlySki, Crimp Change - REDUX!, and other fine magic at gumroad.com/mb217magic
"Believe in YOU, and you will see the greatest magic that ever was." -Mb |
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John C Eternal Order I THINK therefore I wrote 12945 Posts |
I'd say I may even get one for myself!! Looks fantastic. I hope it's a success.
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emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
I agree John. I’m having a blast and playing with box one! Hoping subsequent months keep up the standard.
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emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
We are now up to box five and I can’t overstate how great this project is. The quality of the props AND the effects is exceptional. From Caveney teaching his impromptu linking coat hangers to the best/funniest version of the McCombical deck i’ve seen in 30 yrs, this really is the absolute best magic kit/subscription project ever produced. These are not cheesy effects. There are some really creative/modern takes on some classics but also some original effects, some of which have fooled even me. The amount of thought and effort Nicholas puts into the props is truly impressive. Every month I think, “he could have easily left X out and made the props more easily/cheaply”, but he goes the extra mile every month. For $30 a month, this is an unbeatable value and I look forward to it even more than my daughter. I hope he continues this project into the foreseeable future.
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baobow Special user 510 Posts |
Wondering what the shipping coat to Australia would be. Most likely the samr cost as the box sadly
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Morganjj Regular user 168 Posts |
Seems only to be offered in Canada/US/Mexico atm, sadly. Although I'm sure Aus shipping would be killer. Might be worth asking one of the local sellers if they'd be keen on stocking?
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BCE Loyal user 280 Posts |
I'm very underwhelmed (and confused) with what appears to be a different magic-box subscription I've got - the video instructions never match the box that comes in the mail, and the video (once I do locate the correct one) averages 15-20 minutes - is this the same one as AKM? If it's entirely different and there's no relation to AKM - and the video instructions match what I would be receiving, with no searching for the instructions - I may considering cancelling that one and going with this one instead. Thanks for any clarification.
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emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
I have no idea what AKM is but myboxofmagic has none of those issues. This is top notch from start to finish.
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videoman Inner circle 6732 Posts |
I totally trust Eric’s opinion and if he is that impressed with this then it must really be something special.
Thanks for the heads up on this. |
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emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
Thanks videoman. I’ll just reiterate what I said in my first post. This isn’t a kit designed for pros. It’s geared towards someone starting out or someone with only a few yrs experience. All the more reason I’ve been so pleasantly surprised. For example, this month’s mccombical deck variation is so naturally funny, I will be adding it to my kid’s show for sure. So even though not designed for pros, even pros will find a gem or two every month.
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nnight New user 8 Posts |
Hey all! Thanks for this thread - sorry I am so late to the game! Big, enormous THANK YOU to Eric Myers for the kind words and the support from day one
Here are a couple of things I can add to the conversation about My Box Of Magic and The Night Academy: The course is designed to be a 12-month journey, covering all aspects of magic (except, perhaps, grand illusions - kinda hard to fit in the box!). My criteria is simple - professional level magic (defined as something I would perform myself, not "kid magic") and yet easy enough for anyone to perform with very little practice. So, while it's great for kids (and even comes with our exclusive kid-size deck to learn sleights more easily), this is also for the enthusiast looking for some fun, new tricks to enjoy each month. We've also been fortunate to have some amazing "guest professors" at The Night Academy, including Jim Steinmeyer, Mike Caveney, Jonathan Levit, and many more pros to be announced in upcoming months! You can also watch all of the tricks, and even purchase many individually if you like, at https://thenightacademy.com As for international orders, I'm happy to make special arrangements. We have shipped to the UK, Japan and France so far and because the postage and, in some cases, customs and duties are quite high, we stopped promoting outside of North America. However, if you are interested in getting a shipping quote, just email me directly with your address and I will work out the price for you. You can reach me at director@thenightacademy.com Again - thanks for all the kind words and wishes! My son and I are enjoying this project and hope to get the word out to the magic community and beyond! |
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emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
Box 8 is now out and again, I am thrilled with the quality of both the props and the material. I should be posting a box by box review because of how great the boxes have all been but luckily you can search The Night Academy on youtube and you can now see performances for all of the tricks to date. Spend 30 min when you get bored and go watch the effects. I can’t speak highly enough about how impressive this project has been. There are twists on classics but also some really great original effect plots. This month features a version of fast and loose, a great signed coin inside ball of silly putty and a fantastic out to lunch idea that I will be using with either DFB or svenpads.
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nnight New user 8 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 20, 2019, BCE wrote: Hey BCE, I know about the "other" subscription box you're referring to. It is produced by Justin Flom and is tied to a book series called AKM (Adventures of a Kid Magician). My Box Of Magic is not associated with that at all - ours is designed for any age magicians with the concept that the material is professional level, yet easy enough to perform for beginners. The criteria we use for the effects in our boxes is: "Would I, as a pro, actually perform this?" If that is a "yes", the next question is, "Could my 10 yr. old son Jackson perform it without too much difficulty?" My Box Of Magic is for now intended to be a 12-month academy. We sell some of the tricks as breakout effects also. You can watch all of the tricks performed on our website at https://TheNightAcademy.com Hope that helps clarify!! |
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jlevit Regular user 141 Posts |
Jonathan Levit here. I'm just seeing this thread and I second, third, fourth these comments! Honestly, I find myself telling pretty much everyone I know about this series. Nick has managed to create something that is truly special. These boxes of magic are carefully considered and thought out. The packaging is beautiful. The magic is stunning (so much so that I have used some of the pieces in my professional act) and the creativity is overflowing. These boxes are for kids. These boxes are for adults. The magic is STRONG. The ideas are brilliant. Full disclosure: I have contributed a small amount to the instructional videos and a trick coming in the next box, but I have done this out of my sheer love and support of what Nick has done. This is not a paid endorsement. I just love, love, love these boxes! They are perfect as a gift for someone that is interested in magic or for the pro that wants to have a shot of creativity injected into their arsenal of magic. Thanks, Nick for bringing it all to life!
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emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
Box 9 has arrived and it is yet another solid winner. 4 effects are taught this month: Mostly Ghostly (spirit slate); exactamundo (prediction); Nuked (version of Chicago Opener; and the jumping straw. As with every box thus far, the packaging is superb as are the included props and the teaching is top notch. Mike Caveney teaches the jumping straw where you remove a straw from its wrapper, set both on your napkin, fold and unfold the napkin and the straw is now back inside the wrapper. J. Levit teaches Nuked, a version of chicago opener with a radioactivity theme where the target card, instead of turning red, ends up with a radioactivity symbol on its back that glows when a small black light is passed over it. A nice variation but I wish they used a radioactive fingerprint instead of the radioactivity symbol as I think that would have made more sense with the routine. Exactamundo is a nice prediction effect where you write down six objects, a spectator eliminates 5 (no force) and you show that the object they end up with has a big X drawn on it on the pad. Not really my style but the thought and effort that was put into the gimmicks for this routine is impressive.
The highlight for me is by far Mostly Ghostly which is a spirit slate effect. I'll be honest, it fooled me badly because the slates are ungimmicked, you clearly show and number all 4 sides, the bag the slates go into is ungimmicked and the spectator freely removes the slates to show the writing. Everything is examinable. The fact that you can clearly show 4 blank sides as you number them is what blew me away. I expected a gimmick...and there is none. A classic example of how much thought and effort Nicholas puts into these effects. I will definitely be using this one. So this is now 9 boxes in a row where I will actually use at least one of the effects in my professional set. Impressive. I truly cannot speak highly enough of this project and I so look forward to a new box every month. I really hope there is a season 2 of boxes! ps. If I have one minor complaint it's the videos are all password protected (fine) and the passwords have gotten out of control. Nicholas even puts effort into the passwords because they always spell (with a combo of letters and numbers) a word that relates to the given effect, but they've gotten too long (password for mostly ghostly has 12 characters) and there are too many times I can't tell if something is a zero or an O. So I vote for shorter/easier passwords. That nitpick aside, the exceptionally high standard of this project continues to amaze every month. |
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nnight New user 8 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 23, 2019, emyers99 wrote: Haha! Thanks, Eric! You're right, I may be having too much fun with the nutty passwords. Still, they are way easier than any Google "suggested passwords! :-D For the record, I never use the letter "o", ALWAYS a zero. And never a capital I, only the number 1. I should send that in an email to new subscribers... |
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nnight New user 8 Posts |
ICYMI - we had a wonderful review in Genii Magazine by David Regal for MBOM boxes 1 & 2!
Here is the review, used with permission from Richard Kaufman: My Box of Magic Nicholas Night has created a monthly subscription series of magic kits designed for the young magician (and adults new to magic). The sets, entitled My Box of Magic, are sold via the mail individually or as pre-paid subscriptions. I have two of the sets in front of me. They are each packaged a bit differently, with extraordinary thought, care, and attention to detail. They are, simply, beautiful. And how good are the tricks? The effects included and taught are, in many cases, in the repertoires of professional performers. A case in point is the sponge ball routine included in Box One. It is a custom-made sponge ball set, with balls designed to look like alien creatures, complete with a clear “containment chamber.” The (very strong) routine that is taught includes valuable lessons in magic that are an important part of any core instruction, including finger palming, a false transfer, add-ons, getting ahead, etc. The instruction is done by Mr. Night, and is both concise and articulate. Using his young son as a participant in the demonstrations is an excellent way of bringing a young magic enthusiast into the material. Another effect utilizes round cardboard emojis, some happy, some frowning, and a Wild Card-style routine ensues in which all become happy. Within the routine the Hamman Count is taught—a skill that takes a young student incrementally up the ladder of sleight of hand—married to the style of gaffs typically associated with the plot, another form of deep education. In addition, the Flushtration Count is taught as well as a Double Turnover and the deceptive two-card switch often put to use in Wild Card. This is good magic. And it gets better. The video instruction gets right into teaching introductory palming techniques and some basic vanishes… then the student is taught Chink-a-Chink with supplied bottle caps … one of the best coin effects there is. An additional coin-type effect is taught, incorporating the work of Slydini. Again, a classic worthy of inclusion in any professional’s act yet within the grasp of a student … young or simply new to magic. The set also includes a deck of cards sized for a young magician, so that moves typically suitable only for an adult performer can be studied and practiced by someone with smaller hands. Box Two contains a nice close-up pad and some rocksolid effects, again designed to be kid-friendly, but teaching principles in current use by magicians. There’s a book test done with real comic books, a moving/disappearing hole routine that incorporates a bill as well as a playing card, an effect that involves a utility clear forcing bag, and the classic two-card transposition. In addition, some basic card handling is taught. The included props are of excellent quality and a cut above in every way. I really cannot overstate the bang-for-the-buck (the price is surprisingly low) of this offering. If I was a kid this would the best present anyone could give me, and my heart would race every time a new box arrived at my door. Nicholas Night has done something wonderful here. Considerations: The tutorial videos contain passwords that will take you a couple of tries. Is it the letter “O” or the number zero? Also, the tutorials are streaming only and not downloadable. “My Box of Magic” • One box for $42; Varying discounts for three ($120), six ($222), and 12-month ($420) subscriptions • The Night Academy • https://myboxofmagic.com Copyright by The Genii Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Used With Permission. |
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TStone V.I.P. Stockholm, Sweden 769 Posts |
I'm not too fond of the practice of renaming other people's material. Don't like it when Ellusionist do it, nor when Magic Makers do it.
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EvilClown New user Richmond, VA 74 Posts |
Having subscribed to the kits, I would not say it is renaming other people's material so much as it is rescripting and resetting some classics. Nuked, for example, uses cards that are not normal playing cards and, while using the principles of the Chicago Opener, presents it entirely differently. It's a great theming for the effect.
One of the real assets to these boxes is the effort that is placed in building entertaining presentations and stories for the effects. If you are experienced in magic, you may recognize the effect, but the prop used and the script used give it a different look and feel. This is really good stuff. |
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