Search found 243 matches

by Jon Allen
July 11th, 2016, 8:18 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Smash & Stab Goes Wrong
Replies: 31
Views: 11327

Re: Smash & Stab Goes Wrong

As should be obvious by now, there does not appear to be any way to guarantee that this trick will NEVER go wrong. It has gone wrong too many times to too many different people. NO ONE should be doing this. This can be applied to other effects too: Ring Flight comes to mind. In fact, any effect usi...
by Jon Allen
July 17th, 2011, 1:46 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Penn & Teller 'Fool Us'
Replies: 197
Views: 52890

Re: Penn & Teller 'Fool Us'

Well, a couple of people have already been cut because they went too far in trying to stand their position despite P&T getting the method. I'm pretty sure I know someone else who will get cut for the same reason. I was one of those who had their method exposed rather than written, drawn or crypt...
by Jon Allen
July 17th, 2011, 6:24 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Who Cares About Magic - The Lecture
Replies: 2
Views: 1197

Re: Who Cares About Magic - The Lecture

Hi Guys, Just a reminder for my lecture. I haven't been over to CA for around 15 years so really looking forward to it. I'll have a couple of exclusives with me that are only available at my lectures. Also, I'll have pre-release versions of my new effect 'Rule of Three'. Forget anything else that mi...
by Jon Allen
July 12th, 2011, 12:40 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Penn & Teller 'Fool Us'
Replies: 197
Views: 52890

Re: Penn & Teller 'Fool Us'

He wasn't polite to everyone...
by Jon Allen
March 17th, 2011, 2:32 pm
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Calculator Cards credit
Replies: 13
Views: 3615

Re: Calculator Cards credit

Thanks guys. I had a feeling it was really old but wasn't sure if it was traceable to someone in particular. I'll still be making enquiries around...
by Jon Allen
March 16th, 2011, 4:55 pm
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Calculator Cards credit
Replies: 13
Views: 3615

Calculator Cards credit

Can someone please help me by knowing who is credited with coming up with the 'Calculator Cards' trick? This is the one with 6 cards and whichever ones have the thought of number on them, the numbers in the top corner add up to it.

Thanks for any help or pointers.
by Jon Allen
January 28th, 2011, 3:15 am
Forum: Marketing & Magic Business
Topic: QR codes
Replies: 30
Views: 11031

Re: QR codes

Joe, with a thin enough rubber band, the OTL principle will be harder to employ. It will also look strange to people that you have placed something over the qr code. To see how similar the codes can be I generated 'Diamond' and 'Diamonds' and the code was totally different so I don't think the OTL p...
by Jon Allen
January 25th, 2011, 1:36 pm
Forum: Marketing & Magic Business
Topic: QR codes
Replies: 30
Views: 11031

Re: QR codes

These really are useful for marketing purposes as well! LOL. Richard, you can't have a rubber band going across the QR code. It requires all the squares to read the code. If you have a lot of information (a Paypal payment) the generated code willl have lots of small squares. If you have very little ...
by Jon Allen
January 23rd, 2011, 4:36 pm
Forum: Marketing & Magic Business
Topic: QR codes
Replies: 30
Views: 11031

Re: QR codes

Talking of purchasing merchandise, here's something very useful. You can geenrate QR codes to link directly to a Paypal payment. Simply give the item a title, an amount and add your Paypal address. The code generated then links to Paypal where everything is set up to pay the money. I'm lecturing tom...
by Jon Allen
January 20th, 2011, 3:49 pm
Forum: Marketing & Magic Business
Topic: QR codes
Replies: 30
Views: 11031

Re: QR codes

Generating the codes is easy as well. The best place I have found is at <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.qrstuff.com">www.qrstuff.com</a><!-- w --> where you can generate them for free or, if you want to do more with them, or create hi-res codes, pay a small fee for daily, monthly or y...
by Jon Allen
January 20th, 2011, 10:59 am
Forum: Marketing & Magic Business
Topic: QR codes
Replies: 30
Views: 11031

Re: QR codes

i-nigma should be free; it is over here. There are others as well that are free to download.

At least this format is beginning to take off over in the USA. Enough magicians have iphones and other smartphones that adding the codes to text, products and adverts makes them worthwhile.
by Jon Allen
January 19th, 2011, 6:46 pm
Forum: Marketing & Magic Business
Topic: QR codes
Replies: 30
Views: 11031

Re: QR codes

Richard, many phones come with a scanner app that will read it but I don't know about needing any other special software to read them. It simply reads the code and, if it's a link to a wesbite, the URL will either be displayed for you to connect to or it will connect automatically. Someone I showed ...
by Jon Allen
January 19th, 2011, 3:32 pm
Forum: Marketing & Magic Business
Topic: QR codes
Replies: 30
Views: 11031

QR codes

In the February issue of Genii, I have advertised using a couple of QR codes. For those that don't know, these are barcodes that allow you to go from paper media to electronic when you scan them. They are prevalent around the world and in a variety of businesses but I have never seen them used for m...
by Jon Allen
September 17th, 2010, 1:54 pm
Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
Topic: Hand Spiker
Replies: 27
Views: 8597

Re: Hand Spiker

Does the analysis of the 'r-r-i-y-h-o-a-s' trick extend to *any* magician in danger tricks? Mention has been made of the bullet catch. What about Copperfield's Niagara Falls or collapsing building escapes? Lance Burton's Rollercoaster escape? Even Luis de Matos has done a 'burning rope' straightjack...
by Jon Allen
August 2nd, 2010, 7:12 pm
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Looking for material on Jack Kodell
Replies: 14
Views: 2868

Re: Looking for material on Jack Kodell

During my first trip to an IBM convention back in 1994, I stayed with Mark Fitzgerald and his wife in Florida. One evening, they had guests over for dinner and it was Jack Kodell and his wife. I don't know if Mark is on here but you could contact him to see if he has access to any of the items you a...
by Jon Allen
August 1st, 2010, 9:07 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Credit required
Replies: 10
Views: 2384

Re: Credit required

Thanks Tom. I went to the website and found the article. Unless any further contradictory information comes to light before Wednesday, Maro will be given credit "as far as I am aware".
by Jon Allen
July 30th, 2010, 4:27 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Credit required
Replies: 10
Views: 2384

Re: Credit required

Thanks Richard. Will do.
by Jon Allen
July 30th, 2010, 3:53 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Credit required
Replies: 10
Views: 2384

Re: Credit required

Thanks guys. Can you please let me have a link to the 'Alexander' website? Does it say what the routine was called that contained the move?
by Jon Allen
July 30th, 2010, 12:36 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Credit required
Replies: 10
Views: 2384

Credit required

I hope here is the right section to post this. I'm looking to see if anyone knows the origins of this move: You have two similar objects (packets of cards, nails, coins, spoons, ropes etc.) You hand one out to be examined. As you take it back in your left hand, your hands come together and you switc...
by Jon Allen
July 27th, 2010, 5:26 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Is Magic A "Red Flag" When You're Dating?
Replies: 26
Views: 4713

Re: Is Magic A "Red Flag" When You're Dating?

This is a link to a classic moment in British TV. The topic-related question comes at about 50 seconds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj-9lSEBBm0
by Jon Allen
July 6th, 2010, 2:22 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Do you sue?
Replies: 9
Views: 2308

Re: Do you sue?

In the original post, the magician was booked for a Saturday night and on the day before, the client cancelled without any explanation. There was no written contract but it was judged that a verbal contract was in place and the magician won the case. The topic has moved on to "do you take a dep...
by Jon Allen
May 13th, 2010, 5:16 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Blank Night.... New bank Night Routine
Replies: 28
Views: 12842

Re: Blank Night.... New bank Night Routine

I've seen John perform this in front of a paying audience (they paid to see someone else but they had still paid) and it is a brilliant routine. The method is really, really clever and makes this probably the cleanest version of Bank Night around. It's also a big advantage to take out several unfold...
by Jon Allen
March 16th, 2010, 5:59 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Eric Mead's TED talk
Replies: 10
Views: 3946

Re: Eric Mead's TED talk

JJ Abrams' talk was incredible. The person who created Lost talking about presentation, mystery and storytelling. There was also an issue of the magazine 'Wired' he edited that was all about mystery On a personal note, if anyone has a copy of that issue (it was only sold in the USA) that they would ...
by Jon Allen
March 1st, 2010, 6:51 am
Forum: Light From the Lamp
Topic: Easy Money + Variations
Replies: 27
Views: 11722

Re: Easy Money + Variations

I may be a little late with the response time here... but the question arose of whether you can do any of these with different size notes. It may not be possible to change 5 x 5 notes to 5 x 50 notes here in the UK as one is much larger than the other. However, it is possible to change a variety of ...
by Jon Allen
February 23rd, 2010, 4:14 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Lemonstration, by Phil Goldstein
Replies: 10
Views: 3199

Re: Lemonstration, by Phil Goldstein

Melon and Lemon work so well because both are fruits.

SPACE & SCAPE
BAGEL & GABEL
NOTED & TONED
BORES & ROBES
by Jon Allen
February 17th, 2010, 6:48 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: It Turns Out that Criss Angel is distantly Related to Dai Vernon
Replies: 44
Views: 9267

Re: It Turns Out that Criss Angel is distantly Related to Dai Vernon

I'm so used to people putting an unwanted 'h' in my name...
by Jon Allen
February 17th, 2010, 2:24 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: It Turns Out that Criss Angel is distantly Related to Dai Vernon
Replies: 44
Views: 9267

Re: It Turns Out that Criss Angel is distantly Related to Dai Vernon

If we swap 'Dai Vernon' for Chriss Angel' that's going to stop a load of people geting into the "Magicians Only" section of people's websites.
by Jon Allen
February 15th, 2010, 3:34 pm
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: The Magic Menu
Replies: 185
Views: 45742

Re: The Magic Menu

My favourite magic photo of all time is of three magicians at a black tie event. They were posing for a photo *after* entertaining The Queen. No sign of her or any sign of her being there but, hey, the caption says it so it must be true!
by Jon Allen
February 1st, 2010, 4:11 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: It Turns Out that Criss Angel is distantly Related to Dai Vernon
Replies: 44
Views: 9267

Re: It Turns Out that Criss Angel is distantly Related to Dai Vernon

Does this now mean David Blaine is related to Ed Marlo?
by Jon Allen
January 30th, 2010, 7:52 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Workers are IN!!
Replies: 114
Views: 23291

Re: The Workers are IN!!

All this talk of food and drink reminds me that I did once visit the USPCC factory. I looked up at the ceiling and there were plates of food there.
by Jon Allen
January 30th, 2010, 4:52 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Workers are IN!!
Replies: 114
Views: 23291

Re: The Workers are IN!!

Over at www.confectionary.com they're debating the merits of Coins Across vs 3 Fly.
by Jon Allen
January 28th, 2010, 4:45 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Workers are IN!!
Replies: 114
Views: 23291

Re: The Workers are IN!!

But it's easy to spend 10 seconds on a search engine: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.google.com/search?q=infinity+deck+magic&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLJ_en-GB">http://www.google.com/search?q=infinity ... GGLJ_en-...
by Jon Allen
January 28th, 2010, 4:01 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Workers are IN!!
Replies: 114
Views: 23291

Re: The Workers are IN!!

Linked to this, I've only just found out there is a new effect called 'The Infinity Deck' which has NOTHING to do with the deck of cards I sold called...yep... 'The Infinity Deck'. The deck is mentioned in my book relating to my IBM act in 1995 and I have always been looking to get it manufactured a...
by Jon Allen
January 25th, 2010, 7:49 am
Forum: Close-Up Magic
Topic: Magic for Deaf People ?
Replies: 12
Views: 5268

Re: Magic for Deaf People ?

I don't see why The Silent Treatment needs to be modified. It works perfectly for deaf people as is. One modification you may wish to make from the standard routine is to insert the additional cards that are provided. They offer the person thinking of a card to visually let you know which card they ...
by Jon Allen
January 22nd, 2010, 5:52 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Workers are IN!!
Replies: 114
Views: 23291

Re: The Workers are IN!!

When a barman gives you Pepsi instead of Coke saying "It's all the same thing", offer to pay in Monopoly money telling him "Its all the same thing" I'd like to take this opportunity to take issue with Mr Acer's "Whammybammers" as it is way too close to my upcoming relea...
by Jon Allen
January 21st, 2010, 5:08 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: The Workers are IN!!
Replies: 114
Views: 23291

Re: The Workers are IN!!

Having clicked on the link, the DVDs are not titled "Workers" but the word is used as a sub heading.

Having said that, when I saw the title of the thread, I instantly thought it was to do with Michael Close and his 'Workers' series. I think everyone would do the same.
by Jon Allen
January 20th, 2010, 10:03 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen
Replies: 186
Views: 43327

Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Mark.Lewis wrote:When I have an audience in front of me I can assure you that I cannot be equalled.


I think every single person will agree on that.
by Jon Allen
January 19th, 2010, 2:35 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen
Replies: 186
Views: 43327

Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Magicians need to sell themselves whenever they perform. Whether it's in a restaurant, cocktail party, TV or trade show, the personality of the magician will register with people and they will make decisions (Do we want him to interrupt us; do I switch channels; do I want to buy from this company) b...
by Jon Allen
January 19th, 2010, 1:53 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen
Replies: 186
Views: 43327

Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

How awful. A magic performance is not a television script. You have to have the human element. And using a written script that you learn off by heart makes me shudder. It is actually the wrong way to go about things. And I don't care what the standard wisdom on this is. That is not to say you can't...

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