Ricky Smith is a respected and elusive magician who has quietly amassed an impressive collection of original moves, routines, and refinements. We’ve just reached a deal with Mr. Smith to carry his two sets of lecture notes, Threeve and Nothing as It Seems. These collections are PERFECT for lockdown reading, as the material is advanced but approachable, and well-explained with a sense of fun.
Nothing as it Seems is a collection of original magic by Ricky Smith that is at turns hilarious, insightful, and playful. The notes are a tribute to one of Ricky’s favorite Pearl Jam songs, and indeed, these notes are a sort of reflection of his tastes and interests. You’ll enjoy a new way to get into the Diagonal Palm Shift (from scooping up scattered cards), and a beautiful trick called “Keplinger Prediction” that uses it. You’ll also discover a deep-dive into palming and second-dealing. But there is lighter magic here, too. You’ll learn a clever opener for a walk-around magician, in which you approach a table with a lit candle in a cupcake. When you discover that it’s nobody’s birthday, you extinguish the candle and vanish the cupcake. His “Card at Any Vowel” is funny, but also effective. A selected card appears at “any vowel called for.” There’s even a method to place your jacket in your lap and turn it into a servante device for lapping! In all there are sixteen items covered in this fascinating collection.
Contents of Nothing As It Seems
Introduction
Birthday Cake Vanish
Egg Bag Routine
Card at any Vowel
Dealing DPS
Learning Palming
Learning Second Dealing
In Defense of Overhand Shuffling
Kepplinger Prediction
Multiple Card DPS Handling
The Art of Using the Coat as a Servante
Two Phase Ambitious Card Routine
Pulp Friction for Right Handed Folk
The Bear Trick
Shuffle DPS
It’s the Eye
Threeve was originally limited to just 52 printed copies, so this ebook is a rare chance to revisit notes long out of print. There is some overlap between the two sets, but there is also enough individual material to warrant a study of both. Much of the material here was honed while performing at the bar As Is in NYC. The booklet was originally made for an appearance he did in New York, and he chose what to include based on what he felt like performing at the event. Accordingly it is very sleight of hand focused! There are some effects, some moves, and a discussion of the punch deal.
Contents of Threeve
Introduction
Card at any Vowel
Dealing DPS
Learning Palming
Learning Second Dealing
Kepplinger Prediction
Multiple Card DPS Handling
The Bear Trick
Shuffle DPS
The Runcible Card Trick
The Bar on Spring Street
The Odds Against Us
An Impractical Punch for Aggressive Gentlemen
Introduction
A Brief History
My Experiences
Putting in the Work
Utilizing the Work
Some Applications
Conclusion
Recommended Reading
Please note: There is some overlap in material between the notes. For a comparison, please refer to the contents lists.
