In this 3 hrs, 15 mins long lecture, Van Der Put performs the following:
1. Visual Deck Producer. This is an appearing deck effect in which an unfolded card box is shown on both sides before being folded into box form. After a shake, the box is opened to reveal full deck of cards which can immediately be withdrawn for use.
2. VDP. As seen on Penn and Teller’s “Fool Us.” A card effect in which a signed selection changes, piece by piece into a predicted card, while keeping the spec’s signature intact.
3. Out of the Box. A card under box effect with an “in the spectator’s hands” ending.
4. Smoked. A marked (signed) cigarette replaced in a box of cigarettes—held by a spectator—first rises, then jumps out of the box.
5. Everything to Envelope (E.T.E.) A multi-phase routine, using 2 spectators, in which a signed bill and a signed card disappear, and end up in an apparently sealed envelope that also contains the performer’s business card.
6. Double Revelation “Think of a Card” Routine Using Two Spectators.
7. Dr. Daley’s Last Trick. This is a technically harder version, which is less clean than the original. I don’t see any practical advantage to this, and it doesn’t look particularly good in Van Der Put’s hands.
8. Flypaper. A card selection is quartered, leaving 1 piece with spectator. The remaining three pieces are used for an “at the fingertips” hand-to-hand translocation (a la 3-Fly). At the conclusion, the three pieces are restored; spec’s 4th piece fits the restored card.
9. 4 Cards’ Transposition. 4 of a kind, divided by color, are placed at the outer ends of the deck and the middle, respectively. Colors change places two times, before the 4 cards transform into the aces.

Most of these routines have been previously released. They can be found on Van Der Put’s Out of the Routine, DVD and VDP is sold separately. With the exception of VDP, most of the routines are based on common plots and well-known and recognizable techniques. There’s not much new, here; you’re simply getting a look at the repertoire of a professional close-up performer.

Van Der Put rambles a bit in the beginning; although he only demos 2 tricks to start, it isn’t until the 55 minute mark that he begins the first explanation. The tricks are decent. Some are strong, as indicated on previous reviews of this material (GENII, July, 2012). Items #7 and #9, not so much, in my opinion. His presentations are nil: “Now I do this, now I put this here.” You’re not getting more than just the workings of the tricks.

He discusses his development of a performer from clown and juggler to close-up magician to character-driven stage persona. This is interesting, but is more the type of thing I am used to hearing in a free podcast, rather than a (not free) DVD-style lecture. The tricks themselves are likely taught better on his DVD (although I haven’t seen it). Also, his previously released DVD has more material included.

His performance style is comedic (dry and sardonic-nearly obnoxiously so, when it comes to dealing with his spectators) and his presentations are barebones. At the same time, his performing personality is natural and he’s generally pleasant to watch.

Overall, not a huge “bang for your buck” on this one, due to the emphasis on anecdotes over magic; but if you’re dying to hear about the development of his Piff character, perhaps it’s for you.

Just to preface I rarely dislike anything. Some lectures are better than others, but they all have some good to tons of great!

I am a huge fan of Piff the Magic Dragon, but after this lecture I find that I do not share the same feeling for John VDP!

Every lecture I have seen had one thing in common, the performer CLEARLY loved what he was doing. Not only was it clear that from John's body language that he really had no interest in being there, he actually says it. As he teaches each trick he shoots it "putting it to rest" because he never wants to do it again.

While I disagree with him (some of the material is very good) his distain for what he is doing left a bad taste in my mouth.

This lecture was poorly structured (if he structured it at all). He spent more time fumbling through papers on on his words and talking about himself than anything else. My recommendation is that there are so many other lectures on penguin that are great....skip this one!! Unless you are like me and have to see them all! lol

The educational draw to those familiar with the "Piff" character would seem to be character development; but the heavier focus ended up being workers from his time doing close-up in restaurants. He covers many effects that are not revolutionary, but which went over well with lay audiences and earned him tips.

These include VDP (the card trick from his Penn & Teller appearance) and an updated E.T.E. (or "Everything to Envelope")-- both of which are covered in more detail in DVDs also available at Penguin, but are taught thoroughly enough to learn and perform in the lecture.

The lecture ran quite long (about 3.5 hours) and included a bit of joking around and several anecdotes that were both educational and entertaining. The breadth and length of the lecture means it will probably drag a bit when he's covering a topic you aren't interested in, but it also means that at some point he will cover topics of interest. You will be disappointed if you hoped for a couple hours of a guy in a funny costume joking around with a little dog; but he will also entertain and amuse. Beneath the bravado of his stage persona is a humble, thoughtful, hard-working magician who deserves the lucky break of his Penn & Teller exposure.

It was evident that John van der Put didn't promote much his lecture and his attitute was not very enthusiastic - but his tricks, expecially e.t.e. and VDP are v e r y impressive and his insights thoughtful.

However: John's attitude does not give an excuse for the behaviour of many of the spectators: Hardly applause not even at the beginning. John had given the right comment for this not only at the very beginning of his lecture. And also little respect for the performer was seen. By the way: this behaviour was also found in the lecture of Shawn Farquhar.
It's a great pity and gives the impression of a crowd of trick junkies waiting just for the trick's explanation but unable to appreciate the finer points not just in the magic but also in the attitude.

Sorry for my harsh words. But I find that Penguin Lectures should not be something to be trivialized. Honor, etiquette, style... These are fundamentals for celebrating something special.

I get the fact that this was a LIVE event that is now being sold as a whole piece after the event, but there's something to be said about judicious editing to cut through the viscera and anything that distracts from a watchable "how to" or getting to the meat of the show. A good twenty minutes of unwatchable bits could be cut that are totally wincingly bad TV. If all three cameras are running with an operator so that you could edit for when he says " can you get this angle here?" and they don't, you miss out on reeeeeeaaaaallly valuable angles of descriptive video....but you don't because it was live, and editing takes a lot of time and money. And you guys are magicians who know that angles are important, right?

But since this was a "Once In A Lifetime" opportunity to film him and get it right (and since he says that he'll never do a lot of this stuff ever again) the investment in time and money to produce it might have been money well spent to create a much better product than what is sold here.

Really enjoyed this. John shared alot of good info and was entertaining while doing it. Good job on this one Penguin!

John was honest, funny and insightful. He shared his personal material that he has used for years to make a living as a full time pro. You can't ask for much more than that. I loved the lighthearted nature of the whole thing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this lecture but would not recommend it to anyone who has not seen or does not like John's style of performing. There's a lot in the beginning of the lecture that's not even magic but instead him talking about people copying his act which I didn't mind but I can see how it might annoy other people who buy this just to learn a couple more tricks. He briefly teaches VDP at the very end which was very cool but it might not be worth the $30 to some people just for the quick tutorial. All-in-all, a must have for a Piff fan, but if you've never seen Piff you may want to reconsider.

The lecturer is very good the only problem was his attitude towards magic. I will use the flatpacks back the cards across and VDP. I also really disliked that he did not explain how the sharpie went thought the bill.

I have seen plenty of lectures and really enjoyed them!! I always try to see that positive of lectures and tricks, but its had to do that when the person giving the lecture repeatedly states how he never wants to do close up magic again. As a day to day close up performer, i was deeply annoyed, and because of this, i will not use any of the effects taught.