Watch and learn from a true working class performer. Paul shares great tips and routines to take your magic to the next level.

Paul takes classical pieces of magic and gives them fantastic plot twists, handling tips or presentational ideas (sometimes all three!) to create beautiful pieces of Magic that easily fit inside your pockets.

Paul shows great variety in this performance act and the tips and ideas that he shares are priceless. Paul’s book was called Classic Fantastic hence my title above. The newer book Doors of Deception contains the Phantom Pin routine. All books sadly out of print, this is the next best learning resource.

This lecture was simply outstanding!! Paul tips close-up routines he has done for years at his show in Las Vegas and private parties. Every trick is not only a miracle but Paul explains all the patter and nuances that make this lecture a MUST SEE. Whenever a working pro with Paul’s reputation teaches his pet routines you know the quality is simply outstanding. The routines are technically easy...... but the real value here is learning how Paul presents them in such a polished and confident manner. Great stuff!,

After seeing Paul perform Free Will at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, I was able to see just how powerful the effect plays first hand. I can tell you from that experience this effect will fry any audience!
Paul’s three card monte is the best I’ve ever seen with probably the most magical endings to the effect there is. This is a wonderful presentation of the classic effect that is sure to leave them scratching their heads in disbelief.
The Phantom Pin routine is worth the price of the lecture in my opinion. This is known as one of Paul’s favorite and most requested routines. It is absolutely amazing to witness in person and the video shows it best. It looks so effortless and there is no evidence the pin was torn through the cloth. It’s truly amazing to see.
Perhaps my favorite piece is Thou Shalt Not Steal. This is a new take on the classic two bill transpo that is as clean as possible. Both sides of both bills are shown before and after the effect with no switch! There is nothing to hide and the gimmick does all the work. Nothing to ditch either if you can believe that. Truly the best.
The Fast and Loose is so clean and effortless looking there can be no way to control the outcome of the game but Paul does it perfectly each time. I had never tried the endless chain before seeing this but ordered a chain from Penguin as soon as I watched the lecture. The secret is so smooth you will never get caught. Learn this routine if nothing else. It truly is amazing.
This is a wonderful selection of some of Paul’s most powerful effects that will leave your spectators thinking you’re a real wizard with uncanny abilities. Namely the ability to actually get inside their heads and control their actions. Which is scary. But from Paul, I wouldn’t expect anything less. Bwahahahaha!!!!

This is a really wonderful act from Paul Vigil. I really enjoyed the structure of the act and also how he tweaked many classic routines.

The Phantom Pin... This is an amazing routine and Paul changing the effect to be a torn and restored style effect is brilliant.

Fast and Loose... The reason I never did the effect was the throws. They needed a lot of space and Paul made them practical and put them together in a well structured routine.

Mind Melding Magician... This is just brilliant and it's already changed the way I do the brainwave effect.

Can't be happier with the purchase. The show is worth the price tag alone.

A great mix of magic,con games and mentalism.And not that
really tedious type of mentalism that some mentalists give. A sharp and witty script with Paul obviously enjoying himself.Eugene Burger would have loved it!

Any single routine in this act is worth the price of the download. His fast and loose routine is so well thought out and I've loved the bit with the pin and napkin since I first saw it. Wonderful lecture. And of course it's taped at the Magic Circle because why wouldn't it be?

Paul Vigil, without question, is one of the finest magicians living today. His brand of magic is charming, intelligent, and mystifying. The Great Tomsoni, Johnny Thompson, regarded Mr. Vigil very highly. Watch this lecture and you will understand why.

This video isn’t for hobbyists or move collectors—it’s for working performers who want to add proven, commercial material to their repertoire and understand *why* it works. Paul’s handling of *Free Will* is a masterclass in timing and structure. While the principle is well known, his refined presentation shows how to elevate a familiar idea into something genuinely engaging. His tabled take on *Chicago Opener/Red Hot Mama* is interesting, though less suited for table-free work. The *3-Card Monte* and *Fast & Loose* segments are standouts—each updated with subtle touches that make them play stronger and feel more like interactive theater than “gotcha” puzzles. Paul teaches a Fast & Loose set up that requires just a small corner of a table ... makes it much more practical to do a cocktail parties where table space is limited.

What ties the whole project together is Paul’s cohesive theme of deception, scams, and the psychology of influence. Every routine—whether it’s *Thou Shalt Not Steal*, *The Mind-Melding Magician*, or his take on Tarbell’s classic safety-pin restoration (*The Phantom Returns*)—supports that narrative. His persona is quirky, mischievous, and completely his own, and the lessons here are about performance, not imitation. Even if you know the mechanics, you’ll learn how to turn tricks into theater. Five stars from a full-time working magician.

What an elegant and Masterful set by a most elegant and Masterful magician! I can't wait to learn and perform each and every one of these effects! The Chain effect is worth the price of the download all by itself.

This is my first introduction to Paul Vigil and I’m so happy that I bought his lecture.

Two things that I love:
1. How he takes classic and simple effects and adapts them to his unique performing style. It shows you how with a little bit of thinking and routining you can transform a simple trick into a full entertaining presentation.
2. I like how each trick helps transitioning into the second one. A great demonstration of how you can have 4-5 simple trick yet create a full act that flows from beginning to end.

One think that is lacking a bit:
1. His teaching assumes context and knowledge that may not be in every person watching the lecture library of knowledge. Many times if it wasn’t for Dan’s interventions a lot of important information would go unexplained.

Yet even with Dan’s help, there are several effects and gimmicks that are not fully explained and no resources are provided to help give a full understanding of the craft and/or performance.

This is a missing opportunity from an education and learning perspective.

That said, this is a MUST watch lecture!