Michael Kras
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Life Savers by Michael WeberLIFE SAVERS BY MICHAEL WEBER
Effect: A book exhibiting tons of improvised magic effects and stunts with items found around the restaurant, workplace, school, and more!
Review: Upon buying this book, I quickly realized what a mistake I had made. I mean, I had very moderate expectations for this book. My assumption was wrong. This book is excellent!
Life Savers is all improvised magic, mentalism, and other fun stunts using paper, watches, gum packages, matches, rubber bands, safety pins, coins, bills, and so much more. And the material, you can be assured, is solid gold!
But first, a view of the book itself: The book is well made, with an attractive cover and heavy hardbound binding. The book is, quite obviously, very good quality. Exactly what you would expect from Kaufman and Co. There are crystal clear images, which are a mix of illustrations and black and white photos. You will have no trouble understanding even the most complex effects. Everything is broekn into categories, such as a section for restaurant magic, on-the-fly gimmicks, office, minimal working props, and more.
And now, the moment you have all been waiting for... a review of the effects! Here is each effect present in Life Savers:
You're Uri: During your favourite mental bending routine, the spoon or fork suddenly begins to SMOKE as it is melting! This is excellent, and requires no gimmicks. ****
Coffee Machine: After a coffee has had sugar and cream mixed in with a spoon, everything travels back in time. That is, the sppon is back in it's original spot and is now DRY, and the coffee has returned to it's un-creamed and unsugared state. This is a very surprising effect for laypeople and has a very clever method. ****
Hiding McBride: In this super-simple quickie, you split your single spoon into two spoons for a spectator lacking one. This is a neat effect to do at a moment's notice. ***
A Man For All Seasonings: A single handmade salt shaker is seen to pout sugar, salt, AND pepper!! This is pretty cool, but really not something I would put effort into creating. This can't be done at a moment's notice, really. ***
Tear For Two: Two sugar packets are torn and restored. This is a very convincing illusion, and I lov the method! ****
Off the Deep End: A great routine with a ring and a spoon, inspired by Jay Sankey's Stirring Silver. This is quite good, but I will stick with Sankey's handling. ***
Change of Seasons: This is a Copper/Silver type of effedt uusing salt and pepper shakers/ This is not impromptu but has a very cool method. ***
Sub-Strategy: An excellent effect in which a glass of water slowly melts away until it totally vanishes. This is one of my favourite effects, as it is so powerful! *****
Swatch This: A time randomly set on a layperson's watch matches your predicition! This is a very nice idea, and I recommend you try it out. ****
The One-Two Punch: A hole punched in a ticket is visually pulled off the ticket and placed on another! Another great effect with a very cool method. ****
Moxie: a version of the Rattle Bars monte effect, done with match boxes. Very nice! ****
Down With Safety: This is the worker's Safety Pin Thru Hankerchief done through a man's shirt button hole! A great handling of a great effect! ****
An End To Pindemonium: A linking saftey pin routine with no gimmicks. A neat idea, and will definitely be a memorable effect! ****
Knot The Truth: A knot mysteriously moves across a rubber band and stops to reveal a chosen matchbook. A clever method for a great effect, one which can be very magical. ****
Knocked For A Loop: You break and restore a spectator's belt loop with no gimmicks and no extra bits. This is a very cool stunt that would play well. It's not magic, but it is a great stunt to do while performing! ****
Off-Hand: A rubber band penetrates a spectator's wrist. This is a nice handling on the Broken and Restored Rubber Band. ****
Working Without A Grant: A clever transposition of two different bills. This will only work with American currency so I suggest you obtain some! ****
The Five Cent Ring On Stick: A great Ring On Wand bit with no extra rings or gimmicks. This smploys a clever method! ***
Q-Tip: You predict a randomly arrived-at number on a spectator's own wristwatch. This is a great mentalism bit! ****
Powers of Dimness: An ashtray or bowl mysteriously levitates out of a spectator's hand. This would be a great stunt for kids, but unfortunately adults don't often fall for it. ***
Penny Candy: An interesting handling of the Copper/Silver plot. Not a new method really, but it has a great storyline to it. ***
Crosswords: You divine a word on a crossword puzzle that a spectator is merely looking at. This is truly ingenious and will definitely find it's way into many mentalists' repertoires. *****
Directory Assistants: A phonecall reveals a selected card. Be careful with this one, as no stooges or confederates are used. A neat idea or course! ****
Satan's Serviette: This teaches you how to make an improvised Devil's Napkin. This is extremely clever, but unfortunately cannot be done with all serviettes. ****
United Divinations: A mentalism routine using the Satan's Serviette that is quite good. ***
Improvised Pulls: You are taught several ways of making an impromptu pull. Many will find this very useful. ****
The Wrigley Device: A great way to vanish or produce liquids! ****
Flame Thrower: Don't waste your money on expensive fire ball producing gimmicks, when you've got an impromptu version right here! I love this! *****
Undercover Transposition: A transposition between a matchbook and a bill with a clever twist. Very nice!!! ****
The Cap In The Bottle: The original Cap In Bottle idea, while not as good as current versions. ***
Sight Of Hand: Using an ingenious principle, you have the ability to read in total darkness from a freely chosen book. *****
Dispensed Deception: A borrowed ring vanishes and reappears inside a toy capsule INSIDE a vanding machine! An ingenious idea with a clever handling that made me smile when I read it. ****
Appealing Illusion: A clever idea similar to Paul Harris' Peeler concept. A photo of a car, for example, is torn a bit and the torn part is peeled back to reveal a car engine within. The page is then restored, and the engine will never be found again. ****
Just The Fax: After asking a spectator 10 questions (with both the magician and the spectator privately writing down their answers), the results are revealed to perfectly match. A very clever multi-use of the Psychological Force! *****
The Ship In The Bottle: A signed coin penetrates the side of a capped-off bottle. This is a very neat concept! ****
A Better Mousetrap: an evolved version of a classic puzzle using a window torn into a card. A neat idea that takes the puzzle to the next level.
Stretching It. Two rubber bands fairly link in this impossible multi-phased routine. This is quite ingenious and requites no gimmicks or cut bands. *****
Four Dollars In Change: A visually engaging routine involving origami and borrowed bills. A nice idea with a cool concept. ***
Overall, I give Life Savers by Michael Weber a solid 9/10. A true modern classic with unbelievable impromptu effects and routines present. There is something for everbody in this book. Highly recommended.
Hope you enjoyed my short review.
Michael Kras
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