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For those who did not make it here is a report on the last lecture by Craig Petter. This report will appear in Abracadabra.
3rd October
2007
Craig Petty was
a name unknown to members but by the end of this lecture it is a name
that we will certainly remember. Craig has worked professionally for
some 15 years in both the private and corporate sectors and the
experience was evident in this excellent lecture entitled
“Magic2Kill”.
Craig’s first love is
coin magic and he showed some unbelievable visual coin magic which
amazed and astonished us all. A brief list of effects does not do
justice to the sheer beauty and magic of the routines. His first
routine – his favourite opener when he can perform seated
– consisted of his versions of coins through table, coins
across, and Hanging Coins. The expressions on the faces of helpers Bernard
Visgandis and Stephen Buxton showed that
they did not have a clue as to method. Craig revealed that he was using
a flipper coin, which he thought was the most underestimated gimmicked
coin in magic. He uses a gravity type as the normal ones are difficult
to use in a flowing routine. Other uses of the flipper coin were also
demonstrated. Craig also performed a lovely routine using ungimmicked
coins. All the sleights, some original to Craig, were explained and
demonstrated.
Craig then moved on to cards with
his own “Snowstorm in Walsall” – a
brilliant extension of Dean Dill’s Blizzard effect with a
shocking ending. Another Petty effect was
“Inkmaster” – a routine based on a number
of marketed effects (all credited) in which an incorrect prediction of
a card written on the back of a stranger card turns into the correct
prediction and then the stranger card turns into the
spectator’s signed selection.
In the second half a bewildering
number of excellent coin effects were performed and explained using the
humble “Ultimate Coin Bag” – another
underestimated prop in Craig’s opinion. Combining the bag
with standard sleights produced some very magical effects.
Craig finished off his set with
“BCM2” – a very effective use of the
Frixon pen utilising a business card which somehow managed to bring in
his love of coins again. He also discussed a little-known application
of the Frixon pen in which the magic happens several hours later in the
spectator’s own home.
After 3 hours Craig was still ready
to continue but the clinking of glasses told us that the bar staff were
anxious to go home. Craig is bringing out three DVDs at Christmas, one
on the Flipper coin, one on the Coin Bag and another on coin magic.
Members were keen to put their name down to be the first to get these.
A brilliant lecture from a very likeable, skilled and enthusiastic
performer – well recommended to other societies.
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