Price$24.95
Media TypeVideo Download
CategoryClose Up, Gambling
Date AddedAug 23, 2014
At the Table Live Lecture - Darwin Ortiz 9/3/2014 - video DOWNLOAD
Ortiz, Darwin
Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.
(Based on 2 reviews)
This lecture will leave you wanting more, as he dives deeply into presentation, sleights and theory.
Let's take a look at some of the effects that Darwin will be bringing AT THE TABLE:
Fast Company -
One of the most convincing versions of Triumph you'll ever perform. Thanks to a great new presentational angle, it may also be the most entertaining.
Jacks Or Better -
Darwin's latest handling of this highly commercial gambling routine from Darwin Ortiz at the Card Table.
Hard Target -
A two-phase sandwich effect that seems to present an uncanny demonstration of skill.
The New Back Off -
Start with four double-backed cards and 'magicially' print faces on each. If you are a fan of packet tricks, this is one of THE most convincing packet tricks that you will ever perform.
Card Sense -
A baffling triple card divination. A multiple selection routine that is sure to stun and fool!
Appointment in Samarra -
A unique effect and a powerful presentation that will create a memorable experience for your audience.
PLUS! Darwin will present an effect from his latest book, Lessons in Card Mastery. Sorry folks, this is a performance only.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Darwin Ortiz is a master at cards. I was especially excited for this lecture as I love gambling premises and difficult card moves. This lecture is full of tough stuff.
Fast Company: This is a triumph effect. All of the cards are shuffled into each other face up into face down. The spectator is given half of the deck and the magician takes the other half. The magician immediately turns all of the cards face down before the spectator gets a chance.
He then has a card selected, he shuffles the cards face down to face up and magically turns all of the cards in the same suit as the spectator face up in numerical order. I like this effect but I’m not crazy for the presentation. I think a more engaging performer could make this a real gem, in Ortiz’s hands it is very puzzling but doesn’t feel magical to me. There is some preparation involved but you have the luxury of performing 2 effects with one set up. The psychology he adds is interesting as well.
Jacks are Better: Here he gives a clever way to deal thirds fourths and fifths, as well as teaching the spread cull very well. You need to deal 2 second deals in this but it gives the idea that you are dealing 3rds 4ths and fifths. It culminates with the magician in trouble and fixing the problem magically.
Hard Target: This is a repeat sandwich effect using 2 selections. The method is very clever but I feel like it is overly complex. The presentation on the other hand is very nice. I’m not a fan of sandwiches in general and while I love how clever the method is, there are a lot more concise ways to achieve this.
Faro Notes: Darwin covers the faro shuffle here, that is a perfect one to one interwoven shuffle. If you are new to this technique this may be helpful to you.
The New Back Offs: This is a packet version of an all backs routine. All the cards are shown as double backers and are then changed into regular cards. As Mike points out it stands out from other all backs routines because the spectator handles the double backers seconds before they are printed. There is a clever clean up as well that allows you to give away all of the cards in the packet.
Zen Master: This is a nice routine where Darwin impossibly divines multiple selections as they are placed face down on the table or in the spectators hand, or in the middle of a pile. This really seems impossible and the effect and method really get me going, I like both. This is one of my favorite effects on the lecture.
The Appointment of Samaro: This completely fooled me. A card is placed in an envelope. It is sealed, the envelope is signed and placed in a wallet that never leaves view. The spectator selects a card and it is shown to be the ace. The envelope is shown to be completely empty. What a great effect!
Strip-out Shuffle Master Class: For those who are familiar with the push through or the strip out shuffle Ortiz gives great advice concerning these moves so that you can master them. He does not teach the moves from the ground up.
Doppelganger(Performance Only): A spectator and the magician each sign four cards. The spectator puts the magician’s cards in 4 places and it is revealed that the magician has magically made the spectators cards appear in corresponding pockets.
I don’t mean to be harsh at all but I didn’t much like this lecture. I understand that Darwin is a master with cards and a top class magical theorist. I felt like this lecture was boring and involved complex methods for no reason. In more than one spot I was confused as to what the overall effect was supposed to be in any given trick. It was confusing for me as a magician, I can’t imagine what it would be like for a laymen.
If you want to learn card magic with a gambling theme check out either the Jason England, Jon Armstrong or John Guastaferro lectures. You will find stronger magic, with more entertaining premises.
Fast Company: This is a triumph effect. All of the cards are shuffled into each other face up into face down. The spectator is given half of the deck and the magician takes the other half. The magician immediately turns all of the cards face down before the spectator gets a chance.
He then has a card selected, he shuffles the cards face down to face up and magically turns all of the cards in the same suit as the spectator face up in numerical order. I like this effect but I’m not crazy for the presentation. I think a more engaging performer could make this a real gem, in Ortiz’s hands it is very puzzling but doesn’t feel magical to me. There is some preparation involved but you have the luxury of performing 2 effects with one set up. The psychology he adds is interesting as well.
Jacks are Better: Here he gives a clever way to deal thirds fourths and fifths, as well as teaching the spread cull very well. You need to deal 2 second deals in this but it gives the idea that you are dealing 3rds 4ths and fifths. It culminates with the magician in trouble and fixing the problem magically.
Hard Target: This is a repeat sandwich effect using 2 selections. The method is very clever but I feel like it is overly complex. The presentation on the other hand is very nice. I’m not a fan of sandwiches in general and while I love how clever the method is, there are a lot more concise ways to achieve this.
Faro Notes: Darwin covers the faro shuffle here, that is a perfect one to one interwoven shuffle. If you are new to this technique this may be helpful to you.
The New Back Offs: This is a packet version of an all backs routine. All the cards are shown as double backers and are then changed into regular cards. As Mike points out it stands out from other all backs routines because the spectator handles the double backers seconds before they are printed. There is a clever clean up as well that allows you to give away all of the cards in the packet.
Zen Master: This is a nice routine where Darwin impossibly divines multiple selections as they are placed face down on the table or in the spectators hand, or in the middle of a pile. This really seems impossible and the effect and method really get me going, I like both. This is one of my favorite effects on the lecture.
The Appointment of Samaro: This completely fooled me. A card is placed in an envelope. It is sealed, the envelope is signed and placed in a wallet that never leaves view. The spectator selects a card and it is shown to be the ace. The envelope is shown to be completely empty. What a great effect!
Strip-out Shuffle Master Class: For those who are familiar with the push through or the strip out shuffle Ortiz gives great advice concerning these moves so that you can master them. He does not teach the moves from the ground up.
Doppelganger(Performance Only): A spectator and the magician each sign four cards. The spectator puts the magician’s cards in 4 places and it is revealed that the magician has magically made the spectators cards appear in corresponding pockets.
I don’t mean to be harsh at all but I didn’t much like this lecture. I understand that Darwin is a master with cards and a top class magical theorist. I felt like this lecture was boring and involved complex methods for no reason. In more than one spot I was confused as to what the overall effect was supposed to be in any given trick. It was confusing for me as a magician, I can’t imagine what it would be like for a laymen.
If you want to learn card magic with a gambling theme check out either the Jason England, Jon Armstrong or John Guastaferro lectures. You will find stronger magic, with more entertaining premises.
(Top ▲)
I am a huge fan of Darwin Ortiz and his work and I own almost every book he has written. There is a reason he is well-respected in the magic community and this lecture will show you exactly why if you have never read or seen his work.
The ad copy for this lecture is 100% accurate but it is only a partial list of what is covered in the lecture. There are the effects but also lots of tips on performing certain sleights, he delves into theory and presentation as well as creation/routining.
There was one thing in this lecture that really shocked me and it is where he messed up an effect during the performance portion. It was not the messing up that shocked me though - that stuff happens to the best of us. Rather than 'recovering to cover' the flub, he apologized, stopped the effect and moved on to the next thing. This is not typical of Darwin and I would love to have seen how he would have recovered in a live setting (which it was, to a degree). In the explanations, he did explain exactly what went wrong and what should have happened, which was great in retrospect but it still would have been nice to see it during the performance.
Darwin is an excellent teacher and leaves nothing to be desired -he answers the audience questions very well and presents his ideas and theories with clarity. Mike Hankins as usual was an excellent host. He did a great job interacting with Darwin, the guests and the streaming audience.
Whether you are a new fan of Darwin Ortiz, a long-time fan or have never seen/read his work, you should check this lecture out because it is a perfect example of why he is so well respected (and even revered among magicians). Lots of great effects, sleights, ideas, theories and much more is covered so there is something here for everyone!
Very highly recommended!
The ad copy for this lecture is 100% accurate but it is only a partial list of what is covered in the lecture. There are the effects but also lots of tips on performing certain sleights, he delves into theory and presentation as well as creation/routining.
There was one thing in this lecture that really shocked me and it is where he messed up an effect during the performance portion. It was not the messing up that shocked me though - that stuff happens to the best of us. Rather than 'recovering to cover' the flub, he apologized, stopped the effect and moved on to the next thing. This is not typical of Darwin and I would love to have seen how he would have recovered in a live setting (which it was, to a degree). In the explanations, he did explain exactly what went wrong and what should have happened, which was great in retrospect but it still would have been nice to see it during the performance.
Darwin is an excellent teacher and leaves nothing to be desired -he answers the audience questions very well and presents his ideas and theories with clarity. Mike Hankins as usual was an excellent host. He did a great job interacting with Darwin, the guests and the streaming audience.
Whether you are a new fan of Darwin Ortiz, a long-time fan or have never seen/read his work, you should check this lecture out because it is a perfect example of why he is so well respected (and even revered among magicians). Lots of great effects, sleights, ideas, theories and much more is covered so there is something here for everyone!
Very highly recommended!