Confident Deceptions
I first came across Jason Ladanye on Instagram (@cardmagicbyjason) back in July, 2020. I remember this, because I saved the post =P. However, I also remember jumping to his website and seeing Confident Deceptions... and it was sold out.
I scoured the web, and nothing. eBay, void. I reached out to folks and anyone who had a copy didn't want to part with it. Wow! What secrets did this book hold that made it so treasured?!
The product page on Vanishing Inc. says "nearly 250 pages," but let's be honest -- it's exactly 240. This book needs no exaggeration of page numbers here, the content speaks for itself. There are 18 effects in this book, a mixture of magic and gambling demonstrations and they're each original routines!
The material in Confident Deceptions is not easy and some of these look pretty challenging. But even after skimming the contents briefly, I know that I already want to add most of these to my repertoire because the effects are just amazingly impossible.
The influence of his mentor, Darwin Ortiz, is evident in the offbeat nature of the plots and the clarity of the magic. Ladanye has developed his own uncanny knack for uncovering subtle ways to boost the impact of every effect. Done correctly, these effects look truly impossible.
Where to buy?
Last I checked, you should be able to pick up Confident Deceptions at Vanishing Inc. The last price tag I saw for this book was set at $60.00.
Contents of Confident Deceptions
- Foreword by Darwin Ortiz
- Introduction by Jason Ladanye
- Thoughts on the Pinky Count
- The Quick Change Artist
- Lucky Fifty
- Ladanye's Ambitious Card
- Arcane Control
- Thought Transference
- The Set-Up
- Precision Aces
- The Gathering
- The Player
- The Ultimate Exchange
- Forging Ahead
- Through and Through
- It's all in the Hands
- The Big Blind
- The Big Stack
- Centerpiece
- Bringing Down the House
- Best for Last
- Acknowledgements