It has been a great honor for us to serve the community through our endeavors, and our gratitude to all of our supporters is beyond physical expression.

We have learned so much from all of you, and we owe you for the courage to begin the next chapter in our pursuits. So, as we move forward with new ambitions, we leave you the Key, in hopes that you flourish beyond your wildest imaginations. It has unlocked everything for us, and with it, you can believe there will be no door locked for you.

This spring, we invite you to open the door to a treasury of wonder at www.artofmagic.com.

We’ll see you on the other side.

Starting tonight we will be teasing one new product daily up until the release. Follow us on Instagram to take part in the fun.

And now, we present to you the first of 8 new releases; The Cloak by Daniel Prado.

The Still Waters project is a brand new collection of card magic from Bill Goodwin. Presented are five effects never before taught on video, including a version of Cannibal Cards, the interactive Pre-Pre-Figuration, as well as the starling Shake Change and more.

See what new effects Bill has to offer in our collection of card magic.

Magic is predominantly a boy’s club. The greatest, most revered magicians of the last centuries have all been men, with women relegated to the positions of assistant or reluctant participant. Now, it would be foolish to suggest that there have been no outstanding magicians and performers who are female, but the culture of magic has always been masculine in nature.

We’re now into the final stretch of 2015, and a lot has changed in America and across the globe. But like a lot of things in the magic world, our attitude towards women needs some modernizing.

This guest post from Lauren Cohen, a professional graphic designer and magician, relates some of her experiences navigating the magic world. Hopefully it is eye-opening and inspiring to many of you.

A few weeks ago I was chatting with another magician and I referred to myself as a “female magician.” The magician I was talking with stopped me and said, “No, you are not a female magician. You are a magician.” However, while that’s true, I am still a female in the magic world and I do get treated differently. And don’t get me wrong, there are really great perks of being both a magician and a woman, but there are a lot of struggles as well.

Out of all of the magicians in the world, only 6-8% are women. That’s a really, really low number, and beyond that, even fewer perform regularly. This frighteningly low number makes it difficult for women to be taken seriously and for women to be held at the same level of standards as men in magic. The first trick for a magician is being accepted by the audience; the first trick for a female magician is being accepted not only by the audience, but also by her peers (both men and women alike).

I often find myself approaching a group of men publicly jamming with magic, and I’ll want to join in, but the men won’t talk with me or give me the time of the day, unless of course they want me to pick a card. I’ll stand around and I’ll watch random men walk up and be automatically accepted into the group, where I’ll have to prove myself and my level of commitment before I’m welcomed in.

And once I’m welcomed into a group, there’s still an uphill battle of dealing with the significant others of male magicians. I’ve received countless emails, texts and phone calls from angry wives and girlfriends asking me to stop being friends with their men. I’ve been accused of spending too much time with their men and have been told that I need to stop. I’ve had girlfriends and wives SIT DOWN with me and their husbands or boyfriends during jam sessions to make sure no funny business happens. I’ve had friends tell me that they couldn’t accept my friend request on social media, because their wife or girlfriend wouldn’t be ok with it, and would ask questions like what role do I have in their lives and why should I be connected with them. NEWSFLASH: I am not and have never been interested in a taken man. He’s all yours, honey. I take the sanctity of marriage seriously and I would never tell anyone to cheat or be disloyal in a relationship. All I want is friendship, and in the magic world, since there are such low numbers of women, if I want friends, the likelihood of a friend being a man is high.

Being a woman in the magic world means standing up for myself… a lot. It means reminding people that I have a voice and I can speak for myself. It means knowing when to smile and brush comments and attitudes off, and when to fight back. It means constantly reminding people that I AM serious about magic, and that I have earned the right to call myself a magician, rather than merely being a magician’s assistant or magic groupie.

I went into a magic shop once and asked for an item that is commonly used by magicians. The store clerk asked me if I was looking for the item for my brother, dad, husband, boyfriend… I stopped him and said, “No, I’m looking for myself.” The clerk asked me what I wanted to do with it, and I said that I didn’t have an idea in mind,  but I wanted to play around with it to learn what was possible. The clerk chuckled and said, “Sweetie, it’s best to pick up a magic kit first if you’re just beginning.” I smiled back, thanked him for his advice, and asked once again for the specific item. I was taught to always be polite and respectful, even when others are not.

I just returned from a magic convention and even there, some unnecessary comments were made, simply because I am a woman. Most of the men at the convention were totally accepting of me, and welcomed me into the group right away, where others felt it necessary to point out that I am a woman. On the first night of the convention, I was jamming with a few friends and a male magician came over and half-jokingly said, “Are you guys holding this poor girl hostage and against her will? This IS a magic convention…” I just smiled and tried to bring light to the situation by saying, “Right, because I totally look like I’m having a terrible time, huh?” However, one of my friends immediately jumped in and said, “She’s a magician, you jerk!” The hostage comment really upset my friend and I told him that I usually just brush comments like that off, because at this point, I’m used to them. My friend frustratingly said, “But you shouldn’t have to be.” And he’s right. I really shouldn’t have to be used to comments like this. I am so grateful to my friend for standing up for me. These comments are unnecessary and are not ok, however I let comments like this slide because they happen so frequently and if I were to say that the comment bothered me, I’d be looked at as being too sensitive and unable to take a joke. However, having one male magician point out how uncool that comment was to another male magician helps to make a point. When other men come into the magic world, they don’t receive comments like this, so why should I just because I’m a woman?  During another day at the convention, another magician asked if I would show him some magic. I nodded “Yes,” and gladly went over to a table. A small group of people gathered around me and right when I put the cards on the table, one of the male magicians asked what I was doing. I responded with “Magic.” He then condescendingly said, “Hah right. And how do you know that?” To which I replied, “Same way as you. I’m a magician.” The magician watched me perform a few effects, heard people compliment me, and walked away without even apologizing for doubting me or my ability in the first place… And this was AT a magic convention, where I was wearing a convention specific name-tag in a place designed to be supportive of one another and the art.

There have also been countless times where I’ve been performing a set at the Magic Castle, and before taking the time to watch me do anything, either a magician member will come to me directly and tell me that I have to be a member to perform, or they’ll ask someone else what I’m doing and if I know the policy that I have to be a magician member first if I want to perform at the castle. When I receive questions and comments like these, they always come from men who don’t take the time to watch me do anything, and just go off assumptions that I’m a woman, so I couldn’t possibly know magic. At the castle, magician members wear gold pins on their left side, and I proudly display mine, yet some people would rather assume that I’m not a magician, rather than look for the pin. And even after I mention that I AM allowed to perform at the castle because I AM a magician member, 9/10 times, I won’t receive an apology or any type of acknowledgement that the comments and questions were out of line.

Men in the magic world are also a lot more hesitant with women. While one man might give constructive criticism to another man, many men are too nervous to be honest when giving feedback to women, in fear of hurting our feelings or discouraging us. Constructive criticism is helpful, and if one person’s thoughts make someone quit magic altogether, then perhaps other areas need to be reevaluated instead. False praise is a real thing and it doesn’t help us women become better, but instead, it hinders our ability to grow and to change.

There aren’t many of us, but thankfully, there IS a Women Magicians Association at the castle. I told all of the ladies in the group that I was writing a blog post about this topic, and asked them to tell me what they’ve experienced as well. A few women said that when they bring their husbands to the castle, everyone assumes the HUSBAND is the magician. A couple of other women said that people ask them which magician they assist. Male magicians don’t get comments or questions like these, so why do we as women?

And just for a minute, let’s delve into the world of getting hit on by male magicians. I understand that many male magicians are socially awkward individuals and don’t know how to talk with women in general, so when they finally have something in common with a woman, they get excited, but that doesn’t mean I want to be hit on. That’s not to say that I would have something against dating another magician, but the flirtation should be tactful. And no, I’m not going to be interested in a man who is 20-30+ years older than me. Sorry NOT sorry.

It’s also difficult for women not only within the magic community, but out of the magic community as well. I frequently get stopped at parties when I’m about to do magic, and receive comments like, “Oh YOU’RE the magician?” or “Oh you’re actually not bad,” after I’ve finished a performance. I also often get told that I don’t look like a magician, to which I reply that I’ve left my cape at home, or it’s getting dry-cleaned. Though will someone please answer the question to me of what a magician is supposed to look like? Do all doctors look the same? Lawyers? Teachers? No? Exactly. So there’s no standard way that a magician is supposed to look either.

One time while I was being interviewed for something, the interviewer told me that I was pretty and asked why I wouldn’t be a magician’s assistant instead of a magician. He said that I had the right look for it and clearly I had the knowledge in magic. Without skipping a beat, I jumped in and responded with, “Why be the sidekick when you can be the superhero?” That part didn’t make it into the interview.

Even with all of the struggles, there are some great perks of being a female magician, and I’d be silly to not mention those. Many male magicians are fascinated by us women in the magic world, and tend to take the time to get to learn more about us and our story. They want to know what we’re interested in specifically, what got us started, and what our journey has been like. I’ve been blessed with having the privilege of knowing so many incredible magicians who have immensely helped me with my magic journey and career. They take the time to sit down, work with me, help me improve, and teach me, despite me being a woman. I feel so much support from really great individuals and I’m so touched and honored to have so many friends behind me.

I’ve also had a lot of positivity thrown my way from people not in the magic world. Many times, someone will finish a set at the castle, and someone will announce that if people want to stick around, a female magician will be up next, and most people choose to stick around, just because it’s rare for them to see a woman. They get excited seeing a female magician, and they let me know how truly excited they are. After I do a set, people compliment me and tell me that I’m pioneering the world of magic, and comments like that make me feel incredible. People also tend to remember specifics about my set or about me because I stand out from the men. I have been called a unicorn on more than a few occasions, and I like that. I like being someone special and sticking out from the crowd.

So while there are a lot of frustrations and battles that I face as a woman in the magic world, magic makes me happy and I’m not leaving this world. I’m learning more and more, and getting better each day. I enjoy pushing the limits and being in the minority. I’m learning how to stand-up for myself and the other women more. This world is growing, changing, and flourishing, and if you don’t like women being in the magic world, then you can choose another world to be in, because I’m a woman, I’m a magician, and I’m here to stay.

When these lessons were combined into a single volume, we received one of the greatest magic books ever published. There are effects by Dai Vernon, Francis Carlyle, Max Malini, Nate Leipzig, Ross Bertram, S. Leo Horowitz, Dr. Jacob Daley, John Scarne, Emil Jarrow, Slydini, and Bert Allerton, and they contributed some of the most wonderful routines in their repertoires. This is not just a collection of the novel magic of the time; these effects would become staples of the art that would resonate for years to come. Additionally, the focus on sleight of hand based tricks would help spur the popularity of this genre into what we see today. Learning one of these effects and doing it well will give you a sense of the goals you should strive for in creating your own routines.

This book was on a list of recommended magic books I received when I was little, and I had to work pretty hard to get all the books on the list. But I think none of the others stood out to me as much as this slim volume. The photography, the great introductions, and the clarity of instruction really captured my imagination, and you could get a sense of what it would be like to watch one of these titans of the close up arena perform.

There are many copies of Stars of Magic around, and you should be able to find an inexpensive, used copy quite easily, but look out for the original issues or the latest printing by Meir Yedid, as the photos tended to be poorly reproduced in other editions.
This is going to be an exceptional month, and it will require Elliott and my best efforts to do justice to this epic treatise. Luckily Elliott and I are ready for the challenge!

We are pleased to be covering Stars of Magic for Book Club this May. Join Ricky and Elliott, on our YouTube channel or our Google+ Page, as they delve into the magical theory and work through the ideas, tricks, and routines with you, every Wednesday evening at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST.

You are welcome to participate in the discussion by posting questions and comments throughout. You also have a chance to win a Smoke and Mirrors Private Reserve deck by showcasing your techniques on Instagram, using #dndbkclb.

This month’s book for Scotch and Scotch (plus books!) with Elliott Terral and myself is one of the most glorious card magic books of all time, The Card Magic of Le Paul! Paul Le Paul’s real name was Paul Braden, and he was born in 1900. As a professional, he performed a complete manipulation act with cards with incredible skill and accuracy. His book really differentiated itself through a vast quantity of photographs of his masterful hands during each step. For me, it was most fascinating to see a master’s hands up-close and at many positions during each sleight.

While there are hardbound editions of this classic that are really gorgeous and worth searching out, this book is available as an inexpensive paperback. This means that you can take it with you, not worry about it so much, and really study the book at your leisure. I used to have a backpack that I would bring on every trip my family took with paperback copies of Expert Card Technique, The Expert at the Card Table, Card Control, and the Le Paul book. They are all beat up now, with lots of bookmarks in them, but having them present, and not being worried about them, made it hard not to study.

Reading The Card Magic of Le Paul, you will uncover many fantastic sleights and routines that will serve you well for the rest of your life. Probably one of the best ways to gain control of a card ever developed is “An Automatic Jog Control”. While I don’t use it all the time, I have found that it is one of the best things to know when a spectator refuses to put a card back where you want. Just fan and let them push the card in where they want. “A Useful Acquitment” will help you when you are getting comfortable with palming and also give you something extra to do in case your routine needs an extra beat or a swift and efficient reversal. “A Flourish and a Pass” describes two excellent things that blend perfectly together. Anyway, there is much more, and let’s not forget about the great and classic routines like “The Gymnastic Aces,” “An Impromptu Torn and Restored Card,” “Cards in a Sealed Envelope,” and much more.

Some resources that you should look out for include the movie Eternally Yours, which features Le Paul doing some of his work, and also check out The Conjuring Arts Research Center. They have a delightful article about Le Paul and additionally have his notebook digitized and accessible. Quite a treat!

We think that you will find much to learn in this book, and we look forward to giving you the best advice we can and hope you find it helpful!

We are pleased to be covering The Card Magic of LePaul for Book Club this April. Join Ricky and Elliott, on our YouTube channel or our Google+ Page, as they delve into the magical theory and work through the ideas, tricks, and routines with you, every Wednesday evening at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST.

You are welcome to participate in the discussion by posting questions and comments throughout. You also have a chance to win a Smoke and Mirrors Private Reserve deck by showcasing your techniques on Instagram, using #dndbkclb.

High above 45th & Madison, smoke and Sinatra linger in the air, and a fresh pack of Aristocrats sits patiently atop the marble desk, begging to belong within the pockets of a finely cut suit. Executives, magnates, and gentlemen pass by; all of whom appear to have exceptional taste with regard to their pasteboard.

Printed in Cincinnati within the walls of Bicycle’s original factory, Vintage Aristocrat® playing cards are like nothing you’ve ever handled before and can never be printed again — the printing press no longer exists. These cards were lost in the folds of history — transmuted through the passage of time into something truly special to behold.

Each box is letter-pressed and sealed with the visage of the Vintage Aristocrat. Featuring a sleek foil strip and embossed edges — each deck is as neat as your whisky. Additionally, the rich attention to detail that each deck boasts is some of the finest we’ve ever seen. So come fly with us — to an age when endeavor was king and success was snatched from the breeze.

Over the last two years, we worked closely with artist and designer Tom Lane and The United States Playing Card Company to print Antlers, a culmination of inimitable experience, extraordinary attention to detail, and a manufacturing practice resurrected from over 100 years ago, which we have longed to replicate for the quality we believe it yields.



The Antler deck is offered in two editions, Standard and Limited, each available in Hunter Green or Deep Maroon, as well as a two-deck Collector’s Set featuring a custom leather case. Everything was hand illustrated in the style of early 20th century playing cards. The back design and Ace of Spades both feature a male deer wreathed in ornate flourishes. Custom jokers are also included in each deck, along with a double-backer and a blank face card.

The Standard Edition features a monochromatic back in Hunter Green or Deep Maroon.

Each Limited Edition deck is hand-wrapped in parchment paper before boxing and is sealed within by a perforated stamp for easy opening. They feature a full color back design and Ace of Spades for grand appeal.

The Collector’s Set houses each of the Limited Edition Antler decks in a custom leather case featuring an embossed emblem and snap closure.

When we began this project, we knew we wanted the first edition of Antlers to honor our family name and embody our love for the great outdoors. Naturally, they would be very personal to us.

Growing up in Sonora, California, far from the city, our childhood is filled with memories of the forest, with its wild animals and seasonal change. And being so close to Yosemite, many of our summers were spent admiring the park’s majestic landscape. Needless to say, those times left a strong impression on us, particularly our aesthetic.

In all, it was the deer that lived in our backyard, the snowcapped mountains of the Sierra Nevadas that surrounded us, and our summer treks through Yosemite Valley that inspired our Antler playing cards. And now, it’s  like we’ve reached the top of the mountain, looking out, inspired… we did it.

Our journey goes on, and there is no one we’d rather continue with than you. So with these cards, we invite you outdoors and into the wild. Adventure, discovery and wonder await you.

Lewis Ganson was able to travel with The Professor on this tour, watching, listening, and documenting as The Professor performed his best routines, divulged secrets privy only to crooked gamblers, offered tips and improvements on numerous sleights and techniques, and much more. The results of this documentation were the glorious Dai Vernon Book of Magic and The Inner Card Trilogy (Inner Secrets of Card Magic, More Inner Secrets of Card Magic, and Further Inner Secrets of Card Magic). Later we would be blessed with Ultimate Secrets of Card Magic.

The Inner Card Trilogy is a wealth of information and exquisite thinking. You will find a number of true classics that are still resonating through our field over 50 years later (see the recent handlings and touches on “The Trick That Cannot Be Explained” by Eric Mead, Luke Jermay, and Roberto Giobbi, as well as over one million variations of “Twisting the Aces”, to get about the same vantage point that the Titanic saw of the infamous iceberg). Additionally, you will find some stunning deliberation on almost every facet of card handling, from the smallest details to touches that are game changers for some often abused sleights. There is so much contained in this volume that, with careful study, you will most certainly find items that will astonish you with their brilliance, as well as those who believe they have made a careful study of the book!

As usual, Elliott and I will do our best to discuss the book in as helpful a manner as possible. Hopefully as you read, we can make enough valuable comments that those already in the know will get more from the book than ever before…or we will get to drink scotch while talking about a great book, so, at least, it is a win for us!

We are pleased to be covering Dai Vernon’s Inner Card Trilogy for Book Club this March. Join Ricky and Elliott, on our YouTube channel or our Google+ Page, as they delve into the magical theory and work through the ideas, tricks, and routines with you, every Wednesday evening at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST.

You are welcome to participate in the discussion by posting questions and comments throughout. You also have a chance to win a Smoke and Mirrors Private Reserve deck by showcasing your techniques on Instagram, using #dndbkclb.

Not only is the magic very strong, but Helder’s style and charisma really emphasize the experience that he creates for the audience. Watch the video here or visit TED.com.

You can also visit HalfHalfMan.com to see some of Helder’s newest work. He and an extraordinary team are working very hard to treat magic with the respect that it deserves, encouraging creativity, profound thought, and deeper understanding.