Magic Tricks

In this nearly 3-hour lecture, Harlan performs the following:

The Nose Knows – A yellow silk is produced from a burning match and candle is shoved up his nose. Using props common to the stage performer, Harlan presents two “quickies” as an opener. Explains how to pack the silk and offers tips on how to gimmick vanishing candle so you don’t need lighter fluid.

Censored – This is a barehanded “bird” production gag. Reminiscent of the bird gag that Amazing Jonathan uses, this is much less crude and includes a magical element.

Knitting a Yarn – The classic Gypsy Thread designed for stage or stand-up, with a Greek mythology presentation.

Pistachio – Bill to impossible location, based on Joshua Jay’s method, stand-up routine.

Lead to Gold – A packet trick where letter-cards rearrange to form different words, before transforming into different letters (the word “Lead” turns to the word “Gold.”). The backs are revealed to have changed as well—from red to gold. Finally, a “spectator’s” gold watch is produced from the cards. Harlan offers two presentations for the watch production: one as a pseudo watch-steal; one as a gag.

Crayon-Eating Monster – A drawn monster eats crayons, then the “colors” are torn from the monster’s belly. This kids’ routine is interactive, fun and colorful. Teaches DIY vanishing crayons.

Guess the Sucker – 4 lollipops in paper-bag are used for this stand-up guessing game. 1 is removed, the remaining 3 transform into giant multi-colored spiral lollipop. Bag is destroyed to prove empty, only to be restored, full of candy. In this updated version (Harlan demonstrated this on his kids’ show DVD), he uses the spherical shaped suckers, with a new method. The technique for the torn and restored ending doesn’t use much misdirection and isn’t very clever. Still, it probably works—at least for young kids.

Dirty Doodles – In this stand-up mind-reading routine, the performer examines a spectator’s scribbles to determine his chosen design. This was interesting to watch, since it didn’t work in performance. However, it was due to (avoidable) user-error and not a technical malfunction. Harlan structures this to include 3 revelations: a “freely chosen” simple design; a friend of the spectator; and a chosen location.

Ballet – A collection of classic tricks bookending a gag with a clown nose. As follows: A cut and restored lady routine, using a ballerina made from a handkerchief. A clown nose is produced (on nose) from restored handkerchief. Finally, the clown nose is used in (endless) multiplying balls display. Not much new here, except for the gag. Still, it’s a good interlude, worth learning the tricks, if you don’t know them, already.

Evil Math Trick – A page number prediction using Uno cards and the Bible. This is a stand-up routine with a comedy presentation.

Toast – Water is openly transformed into wine, which spectators can drink. This is how this should look: A brand new bottle of water is opened and sampled. At the performer’s command, the water begins to turn red. The spectator samples a second time and confirms it is now wine. Finally, the remaining water in the bottle is shook and instantly turns to wine. The wine can be distributed, immediately. Although this was a little rocky in performance (it’ll take some practice getting the color just right), this could be a reputation-maker. Perform this “impromptu,” and it will be something your audience will never forget.

Liquid Transfer – A bottle of Coke is placed in a paper bag. An empty cup is placed in another bag. The contents of the bottle are instantly transferred to the cup. This will take some tweaking to get right, but the effect is simple and direct and the technique very clever.

During the Q&A section, Harlan teaches how to make your necktie play pre-recorded songs (like in a singing greeting card), reviews his 1-handed Bra Removal-in-less-than-15-seconds stunt and tips current favorite “bar-bet.”
I enjoyed his lively, humorous teaching style, as well as the variety of the material presented. Since these are ideas from his “Brain Box,” not everything has been thoroughly “field-tested;” this may explain some of the “hiccups” along the way. Still, the material was entertaining and educational, as is Harlan, himself. There was a moment or two, when I felt his self-referential humor was perhaps in poor taste, but it’s of little consequence. Production value was good. Overall, money well-spent.