https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/aug/13/jerry-sadowitz-edinburgh-fringe-standup-show-axed-due-to-complaints

Jerry Sadowitz. I am not particularly a fan of his brand of comedy but do you know what? I’ve also never bought a ticket to one of his shows.

See how I can take responsibility for myself? I’m not impacted by his material this way.

You don’t go to a Jerry Sadowitz show and expect a Val Doonican experience. You’d be ripped off if you did.

He is also a universally respected sleight of hand magician. I’d love to see that so if I do go I’d expect the Jerry Sadowitz experience to be a part of that.

Cancelling his show impacted on people who booked flights and hotels to attend. Will the venue reimburse that? Not to mention the man’s income.

The right wring their hands over “cancel culture” which doesn’t exist but this? A *genuine* cancellation because people went to a Sadowitz show and got what they paid for.

It’s very easy to not go to a show, read a book, watch a television show. Easier than going and getting upset that you got what you paid for.

Well hello there, the pair of you who read this, neither of whom got here by design. What about ye? How’s it goin’?

It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? Things have been hectic personally and I’ve been physically and emotionally drained by certain events and continuing issues. I don’t wanna piss in yer cornflakes about it *but* to cheer my ginger ass up I bought a Mystery Box from https://magicshop.co.uk. Within its cardboard exterior I found a great many things (at least three times the value of what I Paid outright) this delightful little box introduced itself to me.

Gorgeous. I love the design and the cheeky wee gaff on one of the jokers.

As for feel? USPCC stock so, you know, great. USPCC set the benchmark.

As far as I am aware they aren’t marked.

This is just lovely 🙂 so many options.

This is a novelty deck but designed for much use.

We can play all the Card Games (that use a standard 52 card deck) but with options for chess, draughts, backgammon, dice, dominoes and more (apparently).

They are also smaller than a poker deck and perfectly square. Makes sleights a lot easier but they are unusual so folk may be paying closer attention to the novelty.

We’ve been here before but this is a new deck.

Ah, I do have a favourite deck and it is these.

Opening a new deck is an event.

Not gonna lie, this card trick path I’m on is, well, tricky.

I did what I always do when an obsession grabs me. Before I let the dust settle and have a good think about things I’ve already spent… umm… money on books and gear.

I bought the classics. Royal Road to Card Magic, Fulves Self working card tricks, S. W Erdnase Expert at the Card Table etc.

These books are of their time. The contents priceless but the grammar and style are a bit dense.

Enter Giobbi.

Card College is brilliant. It starts off with how to hold a deck. Genuinely, you could have never seen a deck of cards – oh the HUMANITY – and be well on your way.

And some enterprising individual created a deck of cards based around the colour scheme and illustration style of book 1. There’s a set based on book 5 as well but https://magicshop.co.uk were out when I was looking

My advice, should you require such: Buy a half brick of Bicycle Rider Backs and Card College volume 1. You won’t need anything else. Maybe, MAYBE, a close up pad.

This is a novelty deck so not really suitable for flashy shenanigans, although you could

They are lovely though, it’s nice to look through them and spot where I’ve been or not been *cough*

Plastic finish, which I’m not fond off but they are novelty and the plastic will help them last.

While I try to get my hands around sleights there are always packet tricks like these.

I am gettin some sleights correct, as such, but not fluent enough to show off. It really is about showing off but entertainingly. Never arrogant or condescending. Penn Gillette says that one should never assume you are smarter than the audience. Ever. That comes across as condescending. Condescension is never entertaining.

Without doubt colour changing kings to aces gets a better reaction than any other trick I can do. There is a genuine look of “what? How!?” from everyone I’ve shown it to. I love that moment.

There are also many self working tricks that require little sleight but some practise. I’ve heard some say that self working tricks aren’t magic. Such nonsense. Self working tricks are every bit as impressive as sleights. It’s in how they are done.

Went ahead and bought a deck of Vintage Feel Jerry’s Nuggets.

The vintage box is slightly thinner I think.

The vintage cards feel thicker, sturdier. Fresh out the box they faro nicely. I can see why cardists and magicians would favour them.

Very nice I think. I don’t think I’d ever fork out 400 odd quid for an authentic deck but these will do nicely.

Or “A Deck of Ice and Fire.

These are fucking gorgeous.

This deck is so very pretty and gorgeous. I may have developed feelings for it.

Not one for nonchalant carrying, I feel.

They are very smooth out of the box. Faro nicely.

Green Monarchs are still my favourite. Those I will carry about.

This is a contender.

There is little in life that brings me as much pleasure as a magic set 🙂 I started this over lockdown.

This was the first kit I bought purely because I love Penn and Teller. All the classics you’d expect. They are as good at branding as they are at magic 🙂

This is a very good one too. Again a bunch of classics.

That Marvin one! This is an exciting one too.

I do like this one. The decks you get aren’t the highest quality but there’s a lot in here.

I love magic sets but, buyer beware. There is *usually* a book with 125 magic tricks in these sets so absolutely ignore the number on the box. I think it’s a bit deceitful. Sleight of hand is one thing but sleight of truth quite another.