We’ve officially moved – this will be the last post at this address. To get my new posts and content go NOW to my brand new blog home – blog.aaronfishermagic.com, or just click here!

A brand new podcast designed to help you as you set out to practice the classic pass.  Drop me a comment and let me know what you think!

I just opened my new copy of Genii Magazine and was excited to see that in addition to my newest column, the magazine has published a review of Search and Destroy.

By now, many of you have your copy. I want to know what YOU think – please feel free to write your own review of the DVD and drop it as a comment to this post.

Magazines are swell, but I made this DVD for you – lay it on me.

Search and Destroy featuring The Nowhere Pass

Genii Magazine review by Dustin Stinett

Reproduced by Permission of The Genii Corporation, Copyright 2009.

This DVD is a terrific addition to any card enthusiast’s video library. Some might question that for $29 you only get one trick and the sleight that it centers around. But this DVD teaches much more than just a trick and a sleight in it’s 83 minutes (about 45 of which are devoted to "Search and Destroy").  You will learn things about  audience management and misdirection that can be applied to the magic you already do.

"Search and Destroy" is based on Larry Jennings’ "Searchers," the original slow-motion sandwich plot (originally published in Richard’s Almanac in 1983) wherein the two mates slowly and visibly come together into the center of the deck to capture a selected card. The method(s) Mr. Jennings applied to his solution were, frankly, more interesting than the plot itself. Aaron Fisher has made the plot interesting–read:  "entertaining."  Furthermore, his solution will not tie your fingers into knots, though it is not self-working by any stretch of the imagination.  Besides knowing a control, one must apply the techniques of audience management taught along with the technical procedures.  You also learn three basic sandwich effects since one is needed to serve as a bit of foreplay before getting to the main event.

The second half of the disc is dedicated to a comprehensive description of Mr.  Fisher’s handling of the Bluff Pass.  I can still recall the first time I saw this move in action, and it fooled the you-know-what out of me. Even now, when I know what’s happening, if fools my eyes.

There are two performances. The main one is filmed live in front of an audience of non-magicians. Once you’ve learned the mechanics and psychology of the routine, you should watch this performance again so you can see these nuances in action.  In this context, this entertaining little film becomes a key object lesson.

The second performance is done for a group of magicians who are clearly taken in as well, even though they should be privy to the underlying "secret" behind the trick.

The overall production values are quite good and navigation is easy.  Mr. Fisher has a very relaxed and amusing teaching style and he is, I think, well on his way to becoming quite the raconteur.  I like everything about this DVD:  The trick, the sleight, and the value-added lessons taught on it. The only thing I can add is "get it!"

I’m back from Sacramento and I’ve drawn the names from the magic hat. I’ve already emailed the winners…and here they are! Thanks again to all of you for making the both the Search and Destroy DVD and The Secret Weapon such a success!

Search and Destroy Shooting Outline

Winners of a Search and Destroy shooting outline autographed by Wayne Houchin, Dana Hocking and me!

Russell Yee

Carlos Santillan

Franklin Monk

Donald Huggard

Abe Carnow

Bill Sawich

Glen Bledsoe

Sheldon Greer

Kieran Moran

Stephan Danko

Grand Prize Phone Session Winners

The following people will each get a 30 minute phone session/lesson with me next week!

Gary Ireland

Phillip Person

Max Kovins

Chris Fecteau

Mark McPhee

If you’re in northern California, why not come to the Calmagic Dinner Theater in Martinez.  I’ll be performing both Friday and Saturday night.  The food is tasty, there will be plenty of close-up magic, and guess who’s headlining on stage?

Go to the website and make dinner reservations soon because seats are going fast.  Make sure to come say hello – it’s always a pleasure to meet readers, and it’s not everyday I get to perform at events open to the public.

Here’s the link:

http://www.calmagic.com/

See you there!

Here’s a special video message from me filled with goodies to celebrate next week’s release. Check it out – and leave any questions as a comment below.

See you at aaronfishermagic.com week from today, Tuesday March 17th, at 4pm est/1pm pacific, for the release of the Search and Destroy DVD and The Secret Weapon!

Check THIS out:

This is my very first podcast. I recorded this with my good friends Alex Slemmer and Steve Johnson. We did it at Steve’s store, my favorite magic shop on the west coast – Grand Illusions. If you’re ever up in the Sacramento area, make sure to stop by and say hello.

If you’re in the area, make sure to come to my lecture at Grand Illusions on March 19 – I’ll be  signing copies of my new DVD, Search & Destroy featuring The Nowhere Pass.

After you listen to the podcast, post a comment with your thoughts! I’d love to read them.

Click here to watch the new trailer for The Secret Weapon.

I launched the new Aaronfishermagic site this morning, and the response was positive. So positive, in fact that happy card men (like YOU!) overloaded the server this afternoon. For a little while, the new videos weren’t playing and pages weren’t loading. Thankfully, all that’s over now.

The cause of all the ruckus was the unveiling of trailers for my two new products. Both of these babies will be released on March 17th, but today, you got the first peak.

Click here to watch the preview for Search and Destroy featuring The Nowhere Pass

What do YOU think? Drop a comment or question here.

After you watch the trailers, drop me a comment to let me know what you think. This is also a good place to ask questions about the product. Then check back on this post over the coming days and read the answers.

Thanks again for your visit, and for making the launch of the new aaronfishermagic.com such a success!

Assuming you intend to do a classic pass as a sleight, not as a color change, visual vanish or appearance, you’ll want to avoid this common error.

What’s wrong with this picture? We’ve all done it, trying to master the ‘fast’, invisible pass that so many card men seek. This is the ‘frame up’ – and whether or not you think it makes your pass look better, it almost certainly makes it feel worse. It doesn’t matter what you say, do, or where you attempt to focus the attention of your audience. If your hands are tensed and ‘framed up’ this way, your audience will focus on the source of all that tension – your hands. Remember, if you want to do a natural, unsuspicious pass – stay loose!

When Vernon said the shift must be accomplished at the very moment your hands come together at the pack, he meant it.

Many shift workers spend countless hours working on a pass which might be called invisible, and next to no time working on ways to ensure the success of their labor in actual performance.

Check out the photos – if your set out for the pass looks this way, you don’t stand a chance. The moment the audience can see a line or a break, if they even know there are two packets in play, you’ve lost all hope of making the shift without suspicion.

Does your pass make use of an ultra clean break? Let me know. We’d all love to know your thoughts, so tell us!