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The Effect
Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz
379 pages, including appendices


Cost
£35.99 in the U.K.
$40.00 in the U.S.


Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
0 - Please see the review below


Review
Strong Magic is not only the title of this recently reprinted book, but its goal (Note: this review is of the original 1994 edition). In this book Mr. Ortiz teaches not the secrets of certain effects, but the secret of magic: Showmanship. Too often magicians concentrate solely on technique and neglect a major component of the performance; actually performing. The magician must not only think about the next sleight, or the “out” if something goes wrong, but of the audience’s entire experience.

Mr. Ortiz speaks with authority as both a highly skilled technician and a consummate performer. He has carefully arranged the book into the following sections:

1) Prologue: A Little Theory

2) Part One: The Effect
ch.1) Clarity
ch.2) Conviction
ch.3) Suggestion
ch.4) Substantive Meaning
ch.5) Situational Meaning
ch.6) Dynamic Structure

3) Part Two: The Character
ch.7) The Functions Of Character
ch.8) Creating The Character
ch.9) Conveying The Character
ch.10) Style

4) Part Three: The Act
ch.11) Structure
ch.12) Unity
ch.13) Variety
ch.14) The Informal Performance

5) Part Four: The Audience
ch.15) Audience Testing
ch.16) The Time Element
ch.17) Immediacy
ch.18) Attention Control
ch.19) Audiences
ch.20) Assistants
ch.21) Hecklers
ch.22) The Unexpected

6) Appendix One: Darwin’s Laws

7) Appendix Two: Glossary

The sections are briefly described below:

1) Prologue: A Little Theory
The magical experience in its various forms.

2) Part One: The Effect
What makes an effect strong and memorable.

3) Part Two: The Character
The importance of developing the correct character and how to do that.

4) Part Three: The Act
Constructing an act that flows and keeps the interest of the audience.

5) Part Four: The Audience
Controlling and learning from the audience.

6) Appendix One: Darwin’s Laws
36 important points made throughout the book collected into the appendix for easy reference.

7) Appendix Two: Glossary
A glossary of terms.

This book presents, in great detail, all of the “little things” that are required to create strong magic and a positive experience for the audience. Although it is presented in the context of close-up magic, the information presented within is valid for all forms. Mr. Ortiz is presenting the true secrets to becoming a great magician. Any magician who follows the advise presented within these pages will not only be able to raise the level of their performances and increase the audience’s enjoyment, but will help elevate the status of magic as an art form. Even if the reader does not agree with the points made within the pages of the book, if the reader is made to think about the issues presented and about possible solutions, not only will the readers performances benefit, but the art of magic as a whole.

Without a doubt, this book should be on every serious magician’s bookshelf.

Overall
10/10

nice review