
Lectures
During my 49 year career, I have had the honor of lecturing more than 600 times for my fellow colleagues in magic. I am always thrilled to show sleight-of-hand artists, mentalists, and illusionists of all skill levels something they might be able to use in their routines, development or learning.
If your magic club or group is interested in booking me for a lecture, please reach out via phone, email or the contact page. I look forward to serving you!
"Bill Wisch on Slydini" - A Magic Word Podcast Special Lecture
On Monday April 13, 2020 Bill Wisch and Scott Wells of The Magic Word Podcast teamed up to present a special one-time only lecture by Bill Wisch about Slydini. The lecture included discussion about The Slydini Linking Pins, the Slydini Palm, Bill Wisch Palm Change, and Slydini's Timing Techniques. Bill also demonstrated the Wisch Wedge and its many uses, including what Dai Vernon, Slydini, Charlie Miller, Larry Jennings, Derek Dingle (and many others) called "the most natural double lift." Please visit The Magic Word Podcast and "like" the Facebook page at
Thank you to Scott Wells for hosting and teaming up to create this wonderful event!
Current Lecture: "Slydini Inspiration"
Lecture Summary
Approximate Runtime: 1.45-2 hours (no intermission).
Lecture Requirements: One table to perform at, two chairs, a sales table and two bottles of water.
Lecture content:
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“The Killer Set”
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“I.C.A.A.N.” – Impromptu Card At Any Number
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“Slydini’s Helicopter Card – Standup Version”
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“One Wonders” – Powerful, new coin sleights in an impromptu, 1 Coin Routine
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“X Box” – A totally new, card folds itself while inside the box, effect.
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“The Slydini Knots Routine”
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Bill’s Creations
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“Wisch-Craft Overhand Shuffle System”
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“Wisch Wedge”
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“The Invisible Die”
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“The NEW Wisch-Craft Wonder Deck”
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and more.
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Slydini Inspiration Tour Introduction
2019 Lecture Video Clips
Ring Reports and Testimonials - Slydini Inspiration
"What more can I say? It was great!"
Scott Wells, Award-Winning magician, creator of "The Magic Word" Podcast and Southern Lecture Tour Coordinator on the "Slydini Inspiration" Lecture in 2019
Magic Word Podcast/Lecture Review with Scott Wells and Bill Wisch in 2012
https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/bill-wisch-talks-about-slydini-and-more
https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/slydini-lecture-by-bill-wisch

Collage design: Scott Wells



RING 194, HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA –
Space City Magic Club
Meets 1st. Thu., 7:00pm Madison Christian Church, Hughes Rd., Madison, AL
BRETT BOYER, President / E-mail: (redacted for privacy)
Monday , October 21, 2019
In late October we hosted a lecture by magician Bill Wisch. Bill was an actual student of Slydini and the only magician authorized to tour with Slydini’s lecture. We delighted in the performance of Slydini material, presumably just as the master did it, as well as original magic and sleights by Mr. Wisch.
He opened with his “Killer Set,” a card selection to “Any Number,” “Helicopter Card,” and “One Coin Routine.” “X Box” is another card routine in which the selection appears folded in quarters in the middle of a cased deck. Bill also demonstrated his method for an overhand false shuffle in which you can preserve either the top or bottom stock. His overhand full deck false shuffle is very deceptive: it is just a series of straight cuts, but the movement of the thumb and middle fingers make the sound of shuffling.
His performances of Slydini’s “Knots” and “Balls in Box” routines were worth the price of admission. Mr. Wisch closed the lecture with the “Invisible Die” card routine, based on an effect by Claude Rix. A spectator deals the deck into six piles and then rolls an imaginary die, eliminating packets one at a time. The final packet is also dealt into piles, and the spectator continues eliminating cards until one card remains. This card matches the prediction that has been in view the entire time. Throughout the process, the magician shows eliminated cards to be indifferent.
Overall a great lecture, and so nice to see some classic effects performed by a former student of one of the all-time legends of magic.
RING 93, DUBUQUE, IOWA – Tri-State Magic Club
3rd Sun., 7:00pm, Hy-Vee meeting room, 400 Locust St., Dubuque, Iowa
BOB BEARDSLEY, President, (number redacted for privacy) E-mail: (redacted for privacy)
On Sunday, November 27th, Bill Wisch treated our club to an outstanding lecture. Bill not only demonstrated and taught some terrific magic effects, but also told a number of stories about his early experiences in magic. Bill’s passion and the lecture was truly one from the heart. Bill was honored to be Slydini’s protégé, and was the only student ever sponsored to lecture on his behalf. Almost to the member, it was agreed that the Bill Wisch lecture was one of the best they had ever attended.
Ring Reports and Testimonials - "Slydini- The Lecture", 2012
"It was almost as if Tony Slydini’s hands had returned from the grave.”
"The FlashPaper" - Fort Worth, Texas - Magician's Club Newsletter – May 2012


Additional Testimonials
“Bill, my friend - you put on one of the best lectures I have ever seen….and believe me I have seen sooooooo many !!!”
---- Mickey Silver
"One of the highlights is his way of performing 'Paper Balls to the Hat (Box)' while standing. I was completely fooled! Bill's stories are also entertaining and instructive. As a side-note: Bill's 'Wisch Wedge' as applied to an 'Oil & Water" routine gives Rene's routine a run for the money. If you get a chance, check out this lecture-session."
----Jon Racherbaumer - The Genii Forum (https://forums.geniimagazine.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=38767&p=264108)
"This one is a loooong time in coming...to get Tony's material, including some things that have never been given out before, by the only student that Tony gave permission, IN WRITING, to teach and lecture about, makes this one lecture that MUST NOT BE MISSED!"
---- Eric Appel, John McNicholas Magic Round Table
“Bill Wisch is the only student that Slydini recommended to lecture his work. I heard Slydini say it many times.”
---- Artie Miller, Slydini's long-time friend and final student
If you have any interest in the magic of Slydini, you will find Bill Wisch a source of true insight; if you have any interest in performing fun effects that involve audiences, you will find Bill Wisch to have a treasure-trove of them that he willingly shares.
----Pat Farenga
"I was lucky enough to catch Bills lecture in Las Vegas and I must honestly say that it was definitely one of the best lectures I have seen in years. Not only is he a top rate magician but he is truly a very nice and classy person who will go out of his way to be as helpful as possible."
---- Jack Gallardo III
"No matter what style of magic you perform, after attending a Bill Wisch lecture, you will become a better performer and thinker of magic.'
---- Chris Kavanaugh
"I do not usually make comments but this is one time I have to. If you missed last night's lecture than you missed one of the VERY BEST lectures ever in Austin. Bill Wisch is a gentleman and scholar and a darn impressive magician. His stories about Slydini were mesmerizing as well as entertaining. His card work was a joy to watch and make any non-cardican want to grab a deck and start learning. Thanks to IBM Ring 60 and JD (and the boartd) for bring Bill Wisch in. This will be a difficult lecture to top in the future."
---- Carl Seagren, Austin, TX
"The lectures [in Houston] are almost always excellent but I thought this one was particularly good. Most lectures concentrate on skills and effects. This lecture had a lot of that material too, but used it to tell the story of a magician who was one of the most influential figures in modern magic. I walked away thinking about the way the Slydini techniques could be used to enhance the magic I already perform and am eager to try and create some things using the techniques and ideas that Bill shared with us at the lecture. This is something that every magician would benefit from seeing."
---- Ed Cotham, Houston, TX