Welcome back to another edition of Monday Mail Call, where I share the latest magical treasures that have made their way into my possession over the past week. Today, I'm excited to share with you the magic magazines that dropped on my doorstep, and my ticket to an awesome magic convention. Join me as I dive into each so we can discover together what kind of magic these things have in store for us!

Genii, July 2023

For the first time in what feels like years, this month's issue of Genii arrived before the 1st of the month! As is usual, the digital version arrived mid-June, but the physical find-it-in-your-mailbox copy surprised me this past Thursday, just hanging out there with the bills and junk mail.

Featured on the July cover is Jeff McBride. I'm not really sure what his outfit is supposed to be. Maybe a clown, or a vampire sorcerer? His name sounds really familiar to me, but doing a quick search I don't recall if it's familiar just because, or maybe I do know his material and have simply forgotten. Anyways, once I dive into the issue I'll know more about him -- and what's up with the face makeup.

A few weeks ago, err rather, a month ago during another edition of Monday Mail Call, I mentioned how I was behind on my reading and needed to catch up. Well, I've just about done it! I'm halfway through June's edition of Genii -- featuring Bernard Bilis, a wonderful French magician. I've read the article all about him and he sounds like a really neat magician. Now I'm diving through some of his routines they're teaching and whoa are they much more sleight-intense than what's normally in Genii! I love it (^_^)

Love Letters, No. 13

Speaking of the last time I wrote about magazine subscriptions, I mentioned that I was thinking the previous edition of Love Letters would be the last. Turns out, I was wrong!

Right on time, the 1st of the month, a new letter appeared in my inbox -- a love letter by The Jerx. I haven't opened the issue yet, but the email says that it includes the following:

• A handling for a Michal Kociolek effect, fully taught in this issue. Nothing you need to buy.
• Attempts to de-gimmickify an excellent gimmicked book-test.
• Some ideas for the first new magic app I've (Jerxy) started using regularly in months.

Each issue typically includes product reviews and open letters as well, so there's more to it than just the few bullet-points above. Overall though, the newsletter is more of a further-uncensored expansion of his blog.

Magifest 2024

I know what you must be thinking, "how did @gbabbits get Magifest 2024 delivered to his mailbox?!" While the logistics of that would be intriguing, it's much simpler than that -- I bought my ticket to the convention =P

Tickets are on sale now, though the schedule is far from being populated. There are a few folks that are already listed as being on the schedule, but given that the thing is 6 months away, I'm under the assumption that it'll change drastically between now and then.

The ticket price is $300, though they did say it would bump up to $350 on July 1st (it... hasn't yet). I attended this year's -- which only cost $275 -- and it was well worth the price. The number of people there, jam sessions, talks, and vendor room... it was just amazing! I'm excited to attend again and, now knowing how things work there a little, I hope to enjoy it even more.

I would love to be able to do one of the other conventions like Blackpool, but the international travel costs are just way too high -- just getting there would cost more than my entire trip to Columbus, Ohio. Though, I'd prefer to go to England than Ohio...

As I wrap up this edition of Monday Mail Call, I'm actually left wondering if there's going to be another Genii Convention in the future. I don't recall hearing about it before the June edition of Genii (in the article for Bernard Bilis), but it was highlighted enough times to make me curious! Also, due to the holidays, Scott Baird posted on Instagram that The Hermit will be late this month, so I'll likely write about it next week =]

Stay tuned for the next iteration of Monday Mail Call, there's a lot more to come!

p.s., if you'd like to offer suggestions for books, tricks, decks or if you have questions about magic (performing, routines, sleights, etc.), please reach out here.

Welcome back to The Babbit's Grimoire! Or, if it's your first time here, simply welcome!

Today, I want to briefly delve into the world of what I consider to be overlooked magic accessories that play a vital role in enhancing our card and coin tricks. Yes, I personally don't do much coin magic... but, that doesn't mean I don't have a rather high stack of silver dollars and half dollars, books, coin bags, and other accessories. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be able to palm a coin without it looking like my hand's seized up. But I digress =P

In this post, we'll explore the wonders of 3-Way Folding Mirrors, the indispensability of close-up pads, and even touch upon some affordable alternatives that won't break the bank. So, let's get started!

3-Way Folding Mirrors

When it comes to close-up magic tricks, performing seated at a table offers an intimate and engaging experience for your audience. That's where the 3-Way Folding Mirrors -- sometimes called Trifold Mirrors -- come into play. These nifty accessories allow you to gain a unique perspective and perfect your sleight of hand techniques with ease. Imagine the ability to showcase your card and coin tricks from different angles, captivating your audience with a multifaceted performance.

How? Well, the short version is that the way these mirrors angle on the table in front of you, you have 3 different views of your hands. You can see what a spectator would see if they were on your left, right, or straight ahead. This provides a larger advantage over a standard mirror because you don't have to manually reposition it or turn in an awkward way to get a good view.

I always wanted to get one for myself and when I finally did, I couldn't believe that I waited so long! I film a lot of close-up card tricks, which has also been pretty helpful for noticing flash-worthy angles, but the 3-Way Folding Mirror has surpassed that approach in a much, much faster amount of time.

Here are a couple of 3-Way Folding Mirrors that I've found across the internet. The first in the list is the one I have (and is featured in the review above):

• 3-Way Mirror by Sean Yang
• (Larger) 3-Way Mirror by Sean Yang
• Wooden Frame + Metal Hinges (Etsy)
• Large Acryllic 3-Way Mirror by Jason Ladanye

If you have any suggestions or mirror recommendations too, I'd love to hear about them!

Elevate Your Performance with Close-Up Pads

Close-up pads are a magician's best friend when it comes to executing flawless card and coin tricks. These pads not only provide a smooth surface for your intricate maneuvers but also add an elegant touch to your act. They minimize unwanted noise, create a designated performance area, and provide a comfortable resting spot for your props. The practicality and professional presentation that close-up pads bring to your table are unmatched.

There are different types of pads, different sizes, and an endless assortment of colors. The sizes and colors are really up to personal preference, but the types come down to personal style -- in my opinion. What I mean by "types" are:

• Cloth Pads - they're made of high-quality fabric like velvet or felt. These are the most popular type among magicians.
  
  
• Roll-Up Pads - they're made from flexible materials like neoprene or rubber. They offer convenience and portability, and are preferred by magicians who perform in different venues or frequently travel.
  
  
• Close-Up Mats - these are thicker and are a more cushioned version of the cloth pads.

Most (or all?) can be customized too with your name, logo, or other artwork. Some magicians will even get their pads custom-tailored to work with, or for, specific tricks -- but we won't touch on that right now.

I, personally, have two. I have a cloth pad with a green felt top and black leather bottom, and a black roll-up pad. The roll-up pad I use when I'm traveling; it literally just rolls up and goes in my backpack. The cloth pad, which is really solid and not just "a cloth", I use at my desk and occasionally on my lap when I'm sitting on the couch.

There are a bunch of places online where you can find pads to use. Some are affordable (and still good quality), others are very, very expensive -- and the quality is either about the same, or extremely higher... I haven't really noticed a middle-ground, though it may exist.

These are the close-up pads I use:

• Leather + Felt (Green) Close-Up Pad, 11in x 16in
• Standard (Black) Roll-Up Pad, 11in x 16in
• Jumbo (Green) Roll-Up Pads, 16in x 23in -- I used this one for a few years until wear-and-tear got the best of it.

Here are a few others that I've had recommended to me:

• Walnut + Red Felt by Dan & Dave
• Half Circle Roll-Up Pad
• Standard (Black) Roll-Up Pad with printed Aces / border
• Large (Black) Roll-Up Pad, 16in x 23in

If you have any suggestions or close-up pad recommendations too, I'd love to hear about them!

Ah, and to address the difference in opinion regarding "to use a close-up pad or not" -- it, like the type of pad one wants to use, is also personal preference. Some magicians, especially those who table hop, don't have the luxury of using a close-up pad for those performances so it's better to practice without one. Why? Because if you're used to picking up cards or coins from a soft surface and then move to a hard one, you're going to fumble around a bit. Make sure to keep that in mind when you consider whether a close-up pad is for you.

Table Servante

Table magic often requires a seamless flow of props and gimmicks without drawing unnecessary attention. This is where a table servante becomes an invaluable accessory. A table servante is a hidden storage compartment or pocket attached to a magician's table or performance surface, providing quick and discreet access to essential items during your routines.

At the end of the day, there's not too many different variations of this tool -- it's pretty much a bag that attaches to the edge of the table. I've seen some customized ones that have different pockets and whatnot, but if you're a beginner in magic, you don't need anything that crazy. Here's one or two that you could check out though:

• Table Servante
• Table Servante (by TCC)
• Velcro-to-Table Servante
• Bonus: Secret Servante -- a servante that attaches into your jacket!

Like I mentioned, it's basically a pocket on the side of the table. If you want alterations to it, like elastic strips that can hold coins or other objects, it wouldn't take much effort to manually sew these things (or new pockets) into one of the items above. Or, just buy a large piece of fabric and make the entire thing yourself =P

There's a certain irony when it comes to servantes and, well, me. Almost all of the card tricks I practice are at a table. However, I've only performed at a table twice (not including video). All of the other in-person performances I've done have been standing. The majority of my repertoire is table work. A decent number of tricks I practice require lapping, or bringing something out from my lap. Do you know what helps considerably with that type of work? A servante! And yet, I've never used one in a real performance so while I think that these are great tools, I actually can't say how well they are "in real life" performances.

Conclusion (or "to be continued")

As magicians, we often strive to leave our audience spellbound with every performance. By embracing the power of often-overlooked accessories like 3-Way Folding Mirrors and close-up pads, we can elevate our magic to new heights. There are plenty of other accessories, like Card Clips and Coin Holders, that deserve their own mention, but the ones I've discussed here today are the top-of-mind of what I use on almost a daily basis.

Remember, quality doesn't always come with a hefty price tag, as there are affordable alternatives available that deliver outstanding results. So, explore these accessories, share your experiences, and let's continue building a vibrant and supportive community of magicians together.

Keep the magic alive, and until next time! -- @gbabbits

It was almost this time last year that I received my 2-book set of Talk About Tricks, and a few weeks later I had skimmed through the 1300 pages to see what was what. I parsed through the entire table of contents and knew that I was super happy with my decision to shell out for the collection.

Back then, I made it a personal goal to read at least one month's section, every month. The goal wasn't necessarily to consume everything -- after all, at least then, I only focused on card magic; lately I've been dabbling in most other types too, but still mostly cards -- but the goal was to pick out all of the card tricks that I thought I'd like and add them into my practice regime, hopefully my repertoire.

I got through the first month from the book, September 2001, and barely into October. After that, I had put the book aside to work on some other projects and next thing you know, a year has nearly passed. Ugh.

Just a few days ago, I pulled Volume 1 back out from the dust jacket and put it on my table with a fresh deck of cards. I immediately found Trait Secrets by John Bannon and started practicing it daily. Then, I was reminded of the Retention Vanish by October 2001's article from Chris Korn -- a finesse for handling the killer coin trick. Today, I made it up towards the middle of November 2001's content and really like the Greek Triumph trick by Mark Aspiazu!

Why bring all of this up now? Well, for quite some time I've been trying to find a good way to remember my full repertoire, or how to practice the hundreds of tricks that I want to use. A big blocker for me, specifically what I think has been holding me back, is that I just have too many things I want to do and so many ideas for how to organize them that, well, nothing ever got organized. However, I settled on a way!

Rather, I read about a way that echoed one of my preferred methods. I was discussing my inability to focus on specific tricks to practice due to having "too many to practice" and they sent me a blog post on The Jerx that was Jerxy's method of practicing: flash cards!

In the article, Jerxy goes into detail about an app that he uses and describes how it works -- even with screenshots. My idea wasn't explicitly flash cards, but it was similar in concept where I would enter in the different routines from my repertoire and each day it would show me a couple (like, up to 5). I could rate my execution for that trick and pending how difficult it was for me to perform, or if I had to look at the instructions, it would prompt me again for it sooner rather than later. If the trick was easy, it would push the trick down further into the stack and allow the rest to bubble up. As I type this, I have programming terms in mind... but by writing it it does in fact sound a lot like flash cards, so maybe they're the exact same idea =P

I considered taking the short route with a marker and index cards -- multiple colors to separate things like "card magic" versus "coin magic" and whatnot. I only had white index cards and I knew that keeping track of those would be slightly harder, and given the number of tricks I want to practice it would be impractical to maintain, so I figured I would pass on this approach. It would, however, have worked if I had a smaller list of tricks to practice. I'll still keep that as a manual backup plan for specific types of things.

Anyways, I looked at a few apps -- including the one Jerxy mentioned -- but I didn't really like any of them. And, I figured that I technically have all of the information for the tricks from my repertoire here on this site... why not make it myself? I spent about 2 hours this past weekend and knocked out the interactive display pieces, I have just a little more to do to wrap everything up and bam -- I'll have a functioning "flash cards" app that will work on my laptop, iPad, and phone! In the interim, I've been practicing only the tricks from Talk About Tricks that I've liked so far, and it's working out pretty nicely.

If all goes well, this weekend I will be piloting my new app and will hopefully have a functioning practice regimen finally! I'll keep you updated with my progress. Wish me luck (^_^)

Welcome back to another edition of Monday Mail Call, where I share the latest magical treasures that have made their way into my possession over the past week. Today, I'm excited to share with you the stack of books that are further piling up on my floor because my bookshelves are over-filled 😂. Join me as I dive into each so we can discover together what kind of magic these things have in store for us!

Magifest 2024 Guest of Honor

Wednesday afternoon a marketing email from Vanishing Inc. popped into my inbox announcing the Magifest 2024 Guest of Honor. It's going to be none other than Richard Turner!

I first heard of Turner just a couple of years ago, but I don't recall how he came into my radar. However, he did, and wow was it a great few months. I watched and re-watched some interviews with him on YouTube, and I even watched his video Dealt. Personally, I liked 2017 MIT Presents Richard Turner much, much better.

Anyways, I was already planning to attend Magifest again in 2024 -- this just makes me want to book my ticket sooner rather than later. As a heads up, if you're planning on attending and you haven't bought a ticket yet (like me), the price jumps up $50 on July 1st so hop to it!

Theater of the Mind

I pre-ordered the latest printing of Theater of the Mind from Vanishing Inc. back in October 2022 -- it had been on my wishlist for a while after multiple friends recommended it to me. So when I saw it in stock and not for a ton of money, I went for it!

After several delays, the book was finally ready in June! Unfortunately, I forgot all about pre-ordering it (yay 8 month delay) so when Vanishing sent out another round of marketing emails, my only thought was "hey, that book's on my wishlist!" and so I ordered it. Again.

I was rather surprised when a couple of days later, two boxes showed up at my house. "I could've sworn I only ordered one thing," I said to myself. I checked my recent orders and yeah, I only ordered one. And then it dawned on me 🤦‍♂️

Luckily, Vanishing Inc. will process a refund for me for one of the books (box still unopened). However, I'm actually a bit interested in why the book cost only $42 in October, but $70 in June...

The Phoenix, Volumes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6

If two of the same book weren't enough, I also got in 5 volumes of The Phoenix -- also courtesy of Vanishing Inc..

I would've taken these in used condition, but the fact that they were released in "new-condition" and at a reasonable cost -- consider me sold. I haven't yet cracked the spine on any of them, but when I do I'll make sure to put up info here on the site!

Also, yes -- it's missing Volume 3. I haven't been able to find a copy of it anywhere online either, so if you know of a place that is selling it (or if you have a copy you want to part with), reach out here!

As I wrap up this edition of Monday Mail Call, I can't tell what I'm more excited for -- to sit down and read Theater of the Mind, or to filter through all of the content in The Phoenix volumes! Truth be told, I also have the complete set of Pabular but haven't started on those yet either... yikes!

Stay tuned for the next iteration of Monday Mail Call, there's a lot more to come!

p.s., if you'd like to offer suggestions for books, tricks, decks or if you have questions about magic (performing, routines, sleights, etc.), please reach out here.

As many, most, or hardly any of you have also done, I've had a chance to play around with ChatGPT a bit since it launched. It's a really neat tool and for some questions, it's downright amazing. For others, it's laughable. But I've been wondering, how well would it do if asked to come up with a magic trick? As in, design one from scratch.

This thought has been on-and-off in my mind for months, but I never bothered asking. That is, until this afternoon.

I was browsing for dog treats on Amazon and came across a bag of 100 pig ears. 100! Now, this wasn't what I was looking for, but I had to know, what on earth would I do with 100 pig ears?! Or, what could I do!

The response I received was, well, you read it first and then we'll go through it together:

Certainly! Here's a close-up magic trick that incorporates pig ears as a prop. It's called "The Mysterious Transformation."

Effect:

You start with a pig ear and a regular drinking straw. With a wave of your hand, you magically transform the pig ear into the drinking straw, leaving your audience amazed and bewildered.

Props Needed:

• A pig ear dog treat
• A regular drinking straw

Instructions:

1. Begin by holding the pig ear in one hand and the drinking straw in the other. Show both props to your audience, allowing them to examine and verify that they are just a pig ear and a drinking straw.
2. Place the pig ear into your closed hand, ensuring that your fingers are concealing it from view. Hold the hand with the pig ear at chest level, facing the audience.
3. Using your other hand, hold the drinking straw up to eye level, so it is clearly visible to everyone.
4. While maintaining eye contact with your audience, slowly and deliberately wave the drinking straw over your closed hand, as if performing a magical pass.
5. As you wave the straw, secretly release the pig ear from your closed hand, allowing it to fall into your lap or a nearby prop.
6. Continue waving the straw over your hand, creating a sense of anticipation and suspense.
7. Suddenly, open your hand, revealing that the pig ear has transformed into the drinking straw.
8. Display the transformed straw to the audience, allowing them to inspect it if desired.
9. To enhance the effect, you can conclude by offering the transformed straw for examination or even using it for a drink if one is available.

Tips:

• Practice the sleight of hand necessary to secretly release the pig ear without detection.
• Maintain a confident and relaxed demeanor to divert suspicion from your actions.
• Use smooth and deliberate hand movements to create a magical atmosphere.
• Engage your audience through eye contact and by building anticipation during the trick.

Remember to practice the trick thoroughly to ensure smooth execution. With the right performance and presentation, "The Mysterious Transformation" using a pig ear and a drinking straw can captivate and surprise your audience in a close-up setting, such as a bar.

This response is, in my opinion, pretty nice. It's actually formatted in a way that I would expect to see a trick in a book or other tutorial. It leads off with the effect, then props needed -- I added links for them, just in case you want to give it a whirl (or if you need to order pig ears and drinking straws...).

I also really like that it ends with a list of tips! They are actually pretty good tips overall and could apply to a decent percentage of magic tricks.

But the best thing is, the AI system provided a name for the trick! The Mysterious Transformation.

The performance instructions start out pretty well, albeit they take a rather mysterious twist there in the middle.

We start by "proving" to the audience that the props are real, which in this case, they are. That's fairly standard in a magic trick with props.

Up until step 5, things go smoothly. Step 5 itself is good too if you consider the instructions to have a hint of "use your imagination" mixed in. Why do I say that? Well, up until this point I actually imagined I was standing while performing (I normally stand while performing). However, this trick requires me to lap the pig ear under the misdirection of waving the straw. Assuming I'm sitting, it's still going to be a bit of a stretch since a pig ear isn't really the smallest of objects, and it's not a solid color either. If my hand is at chest level, it will have maybe 6 to 8 inches of visible space to drop through "secretly."

And then, there's step 7. So, 1 through 6 are buyable -- we can make those happen. Let's assume the pig ear is in my right hand (really in my lap!) and the straw my left. I'm waving the straw in my left hand and then open my right to reveal "that the pig ear has transformed into the drinking straw". Do what now? I don't care how well I wave that straw, I don't think I'll be making anyone believe the pig ear transformed into it.

I like how it ends with the suggestion to take a drink with the straw. "See, it's just a normal straw." A normal, once-was-a-pig-ear straw.

If we swapped some things around and treat the straw as though it was a makeshift wand, it could become a simple vanishing routine. Not quite the same effect or impact of the original transformation. However, no matter what we do, it still doesn't answer the question as to why we have a pig ear in a bar...

So all-in-all, ChatGPT can create a magic trick. I've played with a few other concepts -- even followed the above response with a few clarifying questions and correcting points. With the pig ear trick, I did get a workable performance eventually, but it wasn't anything mind blowing. With card tricks, ChatGPT knows basic handling skills like double lifts and palming, but again, nothing novel quite yet. I do think that with a proper query and even the right information pre-provided, it will be a tool that's usable as a creative assistant. Only time will tell though!

Oh also, the main picture for this page was made by Adobe Firefly! I'm not going to bow down to our robot overlords quite yet, but they're getting pretty close =P