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‘On The Loose’ with Bill Malone, Volume 4

Available from:
http://www.magicbox.uk.com/
Price: Around £25

Difficulty: 3 out of 5. At the most. I wouldn't be a beginner, however.

Would you believe it? I didn’t own any of the Bill Malone discs in this set until very recently. I decided to have a little blow-out and buy all four. But then I had an unexpected visit from a certain other ‘Bill’ – you know, the ones that land on your doormat and lighten you of the requisite funds.

Bummer. Out of the Four volumes I had to choose the one which would give me the most new material. I chose the fourth. Here is what you get… The bold lettering is the publisher’s own description:


Twisted Flush
A Marlo twisting routine with a surprise ending!

Exactly as it says – a ‘twist the aces’ routine but with a gambling flavour. Nice tongue-in-cheek patter. For those unfamiliar: The four aces are held in the hand, and with a little gesture the aces flip over magically one at a time. The surprise ending? The four aces turn into a Royal Flush. Nice!


How Cheaters Cheat
Bill’s audience-tested Invisible Palm routine, which he has been performing for over 20 years!

Yes it’s the Invisible Palm routine. I’m going to make an admission here – The first time I watched an Invisible Palm it was a let down. I thought it looked obvious and unmagical and I had never thought of it as a winner. But Bill’s routine is very good. His bucket-like hands do ‘the move’ so convincingly that I’m sure the reactions from Dave in the audience (you know who I mean) were actually genuine.


Radical Aces
An extremely visual Ace production from a deck first shuffled by a spectator.

An excellent ace production that can be done very easily. When I watched the performances I picked this out straight away. I was in the market for a new ace production since I was bored with mine and fancied a new one. The productions are very visual - I even scared myself when I first tried it. Bill gives this a little bit of a gambling theme. Well, a little bit.


Resetting Reset
Bill’s version of Paul Harris’ Reset which he performed every night for three years at the famed New York Magic Lounge in Chicago.

This one’s for the shovel-handed. Bill performs this version of Reset so quickly and so smoothly it felt like I was watching card magic for the first time again. The Reset routine is this: Two piles of cards switch places instantly, and then one at a time. The cards can be ‘reset’ at any time the magician wishes. This happens very visually. I suspect that this is a very satisfying routine to learn: It has a nice flow and you are setting yourself up for parts of the routine well in advance.


Good Trick, Bad Trick
A fun way of doing a fan force!

This is one of those estimation type moves which allows for seemingly genuine free choices. I’m not too keen on estimations, since obviously there are several other ways to give ‘free choices’. To a lot of people however, especially any mentalists who use cards, this move could have legs. If you know what I mean.


Skinner’s Matches
For the first time Michael’s entire impromptu match routine which surprises even the most intelligent spectators!

A brilliant and well-known, stand-alone routine using matches (is this in Mark Wilson’s?). Two matches are torn from a matchbook. The rest are burned and a spectator holds the book. A quick magical gesture and the matches return to the book unused.
A perfect antidote to card and coin magic, especially for restaurant or bar work where you can find those little books of matches. What puts me off this routine, and what stopped me from learning it a year or so ago, is the UK smoking ban. Pah.


Walk Around Knives
Bill’s colour-changing knife routine. Perfect for the strolling magician when no tables are available.

Bills’ version of the colour changing knives. The effect: The magician can make a pair of penknives, one black and one white, swap colours or switch places. This requires props which cost around ten pounds. The routine is very versatile and there will be no end of variations. Bill’s version is in his usual style: Fast and visual. Here they are, for sale on the Magicbox website. Click away, people!:

Colour Changing Knives

The move is very easy, but it will be a will take a bit of practice to get it spot-on.


Four Burglars
A funny version of the Four Burglar trick with a knock-out punch at the end.

How many times have you been forced to watch this f****** trick? Well here’s your own version. Exactly the same, but with a kicker finish.
Funnily enough, I already invented my own version of this trick to deal with those annoying “can I show you a trick?” moments. Obviously Bill’s version is better than mine, but I’m too lazy to learn another.


Only Had Two
A brilliant idea from the legendary Mr. Larry Jennings!

A card to pocket routine that ends with the entire deck disappearing, apart from the selections.


Two Card Impossible Location
A Marlo card location with an interesting idea of covering the method!

Yes a very impossible card location. I didn’t spot the method when I watched and was very surprised when I watched the explanation. This is testament to Bill’s excellent technique – he covered it so well that I never suspected.


Bill Malone on the Multiple Selection
Bill’s whole routine plus a great new convincing control for the selections!

This is simply a multiple selection routine, but it has improved my routine no end. The important thing here is the new control; obviously when you have the selections controlled you can reveal them in any way you like. Bill does include eight of his favourite revelations though. They are all quick and snappy and will keep most magicians happy for a long time.
Bill mentions Daryl’s Revelation series. With Bill’s control I have been inspired to get out my Daryl DVDs and put together a new set of revelations for my multiple selection. Hoopla!


To conclude…
An excellently produced DVD. The contents are excellent. I Would happily include any of these routines into my repertoire. Bill’s teaching method is quick and concise, and he covers both the technical aspect and presentational side of the routines. He even offers two chapters of ‘Bill’s Tips’. These offer a few minutes of Bill’s musings on things like hecklers and how to sell yourself properly. Basic stuff – but very important and often overlooked.

Bad points? Oh well, one or two. Firstly, this is a card DVD. It may not be worth buying if you are not a cardie, even for the two non-card routines. Especially since I’m sure I have both of these in a book somewhere and I suspect it may even be Mark Wilson’s.
Secondly, Bill’s teaching method may not be to everyone’s taste. Frankly I love it... There’s no bull**** here. But the downside is that often a hard move is skimmed over very quickly. Thank heavens for the slow-mo button! Also, once or twice Bill refers to a move from a previous volume and this may cause problems.

In total? A solid 9 out of ten.
Why do videos on here always get such good reviews? Well, we only review the ones we like. Or the really rubbish ones. C'est la vie.
Watch clips of the video here!

Video Clips off the MagicStore website

EDIT: Edited to include the stuff out of the template that I'd forgotten. Doh!

Good review!
I have the first two volumes of 'Here I Go Again', both of which are excellent and have many effects on them that I have found very workable and used. This series is the one I intend to invest in next.

I have all four of these volumes and I really love them.Even if i dont perform many of the tricks on them, i love watching them for entertainment