.:Elegance of Card Conjuring:.

Before I start, I feel that this question will be asked, so its better to answer it now. YES, the preview of the DVD was misleading. The girls was stooges. Something you should consider doing if you want a “death blow” to your spectators!
I will NOT rate the effect, not the method, nor the DVD as a whole. I will talk about each method and the effect it will produce. Pros and Cons of each method, and why people don’t like it. So .. here goes ..
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Overall:
This DVD will discuss LOTS of different methods to make a card go/stuck through the window. Some methods are obvious to most of magicians, and require stooges. and some DON’T. Some methods needs the spectator’s back to be against the window, and some DON’T.
In this DVD, Eric James gives you all of his methods to make a card appear in the other side of glass. Plus, he gives you some of other effects and variations to the main effect. Effects such as Card Through Window ( not stuck ), Deck through Window, Card in Mobile Phone, Card or Deck Through Table .. etc. You’ll see in this review.
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OK, now I will break down the DVD. Eric James had divided the DVD into chapters. I will review each one. Here goes:

1- The Plant:
Here, Eric explains the first method of creating the effect ( i.e, card stuck to other side of window ). This one is the most basic, easiest ( in technique ), hardest ( required good spectator control ).

Pro’s:
- Doesn’t need a stooge.
- very low setup time. ( for me, it takes less than 10 seconds )
- Any window can be used.

Con’s:
- Everyone on the other side of the window will figure it out easliy.
- No signed card.
- Needs VERY good spectator control. Which Eric goes into LOTS of details in that. How to practice that, the psycology. Very nice of Eric to do that actually.
Here, Eric goes into every little detail. You wont have any questions afterwards.
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2- Stooge:
Well .. this chapter is on using stooges to make the effect possible.
I must say this, When I was a layman and I saw Blaine pulling this off, I was like ” What the !!!! ” and thought the guy did witchcraft. This effect was the most powerful effect in his special in my opinion. DONT underestimate the effect. And DONT underestimate the power of stooges, and how can their use, make the impossible possible.
Pro’s:
- Same as above.
Con’s:
- Same as above. Except you dont need spectator manegment for the effect.
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3- Card to Cell Phone:
Well, the selected card appears as a messege in the spectator’s cell phone.
Here what I do:
I make them select a card. return it and shuffle. I borrow their phone and put it on a table, with its screen towards the surface of the table. I spring the cards face down on the table. Let them see if their card can be found in the deck ( of course, it cannot be found ). I tell them:” Check the phone”. They check it, and the card is looking at them!

Pro’s:
- Of course, people will wonder “you are doing a trick .. how did you send this to me?” ..
- The card comes as a messege, but what I like making it appear in front of em, so I came up with a method to do it.
- My ultimate effect when visiting friend’s house, or performing in homes. Although very hard to pull off when not at friends, but I did it one time with no stooges with my handling, and it was very strong .. TOO strong …

Con’s:
- Needs a stooge.
- Setup time: maybe takes 2 minutes, or less.
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4- Card to TV:
The card appears on the other side of the TV glass. Its very great, with a HUGE con .. So.. I dont perform this effect ..

Pro’s:
- Ingenuis method.
- There is nothing on the TV. You spring the cards and BAM! one card is stuck.
- When friends at your home, do it. Other than that, I can’t see it being done.

Con’s:
- The T.V must be connected to a __________. ( a very,very common entertaiment device. ).
- The setup time is quite long at the first time ( Me= 1 hour .. hehehe ), after that, 1-2 minutes are O.K ..
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The Ultimate Card Through Window:
Wow .. WOW, the gimmick is GENUIS. Even that word doesn’t give it justice. But .. a good type is hard to find. I was lucky and found one by accident.

with this gimmick, you eliminate the stooge in card through window effects. You and a spectator go to a window, spring the cards, and a card is stuck/goes through the window. Very nice looking effect!

Setup time .. lots of people talk about it being loong. It IS long to setup a window ( yes, you can’t do it with any window out there, you must set it up first. ) But after you’ve set your window ( takes 15-20 minutes after collecting materials ), the setup time varies from an effect to another. Here are the effects ( which are the whole thing which this dvd is about ).

Can any window be used? No, I’ve seen some windows which are cannot be used. Plus, you have to get permission to setup the window ( dont worry, you wont break the window, trust me ). I’ve setup the window of out storefront, and a window in my house. Kinda looking for another windows I can get permission to set them up.

Another Con is .. everyone at the other side of the window, looking at the window when you perform it, will figure it out.

A- Card Stuck to the side of window:
This is the one that is soo famous. You spring the cards into a window, and its on the other side. they looked at the window, was clean. You spring, and the card is there!

I dont do this one, not my cup of tea.

Pros:
- Stunning,visual card magic.
- Setup time after setting up the window: You need some practice to make it work better, and to get used to gimmick. After practicing it, you will make it in less than 5-10 minutes.
- Eric teaches you 2 methods to do it. One can be done with the window any time. Another can be done at night only.

Cons:
- Setup of the window .. not any window can be used ( see the general con above ).
- They CANNOT get the card again themself. You must take the card and clean up ( easy, but kinda tricky sometimes ).
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Card Through Window, flies freely:
This is the effect I do all the time. I love it! I always perform it to lay people passing infront out store. You spring the card, and see a card goes through and falls on the other side of the store’s window.

Pros:
- Very visual magic.
- Spectator CAN go and GET the card THEMSELVES.
- Very short setup time and reset ( takes 3-10 seconds .. MAX ).

Cons:
- Same as general cons.

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Visual Card Through Window:
You show a card, wave your hand on the glass, and you pass it through the glass. You then take it away from the window visually. Pretty much Cyril-style visual effect.

This is done so you can repeat the card through window effect. Thats the main point here.

Pros:
- The least amount of setup. Any window can be used.
- Card CAN be signed. NOT recommended though. As because you want them to see the routine as a whole ( as Eric says ). You dont want to do the first effect, sign it, then repeat. Unless spectator asked for it.
- VERY visual.

Cons:
- They CANNOT EVEN TOUCH the card. You pass it, give the illusion of the card through window ( unique for this method ). They CANNOT touch it.
=> You do the illusion, you bring it back, and your done.
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Deck through window:
Same as above, although all cards go through except for their FREELY selected card. I used it once only, and it was too strong .. heheheh.

Pros:
- Same as above.

Cons:
- Same as above, and you throw your deck to the ground X-D!
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Card Through Table/ Deck through Table:
This one is really nice, but with its presentation, I’m working around it.

It can be done anywhere, anytime, no setup up at all. Borrowed deck, free selection. But MUST be done smoothly. Its all sleight of hand.

Pros:
- Visual, is done with glass tables.
- Mechanics are easy, no real sleights here, all easy.

Cons:
- Basic method depends on your presentation. I didn’t like Eric’s Presentation, I’m working around it.
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OK, I hope I was fair with this DVD. I was hugly disappointed ( sp? )with it at first. Then when I was sitting in my room, I looked at it, decided to give it a try, and it worked as wonders. I perform Card in Phone anywhere in houses, and anywhere where I’m with my close friend ( my stooge ). I perform Card Through Window, flies freely, and working around the card through table. I’m very glad I have this DVD .. after all.

Pay 40$? I think this is overpriced. You decide yourself after reading the review.