Ring 211 - Grand Rapids, MI

RING 130, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA –

First Coast Magic – Bob Hutchings Ring

Meets 3rd Tue at Hampton Inn, 4681 Lenoir Ave. S., Jacksonville, FL.

Meetings/Lectures at 7:30 (subject to change).

DR. DAVE COLL, Secretary, Secretary (number redacted for privacy)

E-mail: / Web site:

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Ring President Dan Joubert made several announcements including our plans to have a holiday party for our members. Dan then introduced our lecturer for the evening, the incomparable Bill Wisch. Bill was selected as the only protégé of Tony Slydini. As such, he is the only student of Slydini’s given the honor to present his magic on his behalf. However, Bill is so much more than an expert on Slydini’s magic. He has invented over thirty sleights, and the large majority of the magic he performs is of his own creation.

Bill Wisch began his lecture with his incredibly deceptive “Impromptu Any Card at Any Number,” a variation of the famous card effect we are all so familiar with. This was one of the most deceptive ACAAN effects we had ever seen, and it truly plays as it sounds. Guest David Buss chose a playing card from a normal unprepared and shuffled deck, the card was shuffled into the deck and Ring Sergeant-at-Arms Laura Buss called out a number between five and forty five (the number thirty-three in this case). The cards were counted and dealt from the top of the deck, and, with no apparent sleight of hand or funny moves, the selected card was found at the thirty-third position! The simple misdirection required to perform this miracle has to be seen to be believed.

Bill then performed a stand-up version of Slydini’s “Helicopter Card,” and followed this with his “Stand-up One Coin Routine.” Most of us have seen more one-coin routines than we care to even think about, but this one is so deceptive and practical, it was a highlight of the lecture for me. And I’m not even a coin guy! His next trick was “Ultimate Card in Box” in which a freely selected and signed playing card was thoroughly

shuffled into the deck, the deck placed into the box and, upon reopening the box, the signed card was found to be folded in the center of the deck. This trick utilized the Wisch Fold, a great alternative to the Mercury Card Fold. Bill fully explained the effects he had just shown us (a set of tricks he simply calls “The Killer Set”), providing tips on the sleights used and incorporating anecdotes about Slydini.

He moved on to one of Slydini’s gems, “Slydini Silks,” in which two silks are unmistakably tied together but magically come apart instantaneously with no apparent effort on the part of the magician. Bill is the world expert on this wonderful silk routine, making it look much easier than the practice it absolutely requires. The next trick was his “Invisible Die” routine, which is actually an extremely fooling card trick. Bill then demonstrated the Slydini Switch by performing a “Torn and Restored Napkin” routine. He showed another napkin trick, the “Standup Paper Balls to Box.” Bill ended his lecture with the “Wisch Craft Wonder Deck,” a specially prepared set of gimmicked cards that allows many different miracles to be performed. He discussed and demonstrated the Wisch Wedge card control technique, an amazingly useful sleight for performing card tricks. It is quite clear that Bill is an extraordinary magician, and one can see why Slydini chose him to perform and teach his magic. If you have the opportunity, do not hesitate to see and learn from Bill Wisch, protégé of Slydini.                                                       ---David Coll, MD

RING 268, LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA – Cajun Conjurors

Meets 3rd Mon.. each month, 7:00pm. at Mr. Gatti’s in Lake Charles

PERRY VINCENT, President / (number redacted for privacy)

Web site:

Monday, November 11, 2019

Attending the November 11th Bill Wisch lecture were Perry Vincent, Bob Fry, George Mullican, Chip Romero, Robert Vallin, Craig Boudreaux, Scout Semmes Barrilleaux, and George Labove.

Wisch’s lecture was titled Bill Wisch - Slydini Inspiration and he began by performing and explaining what he called his “Killer” set. This is the set that he does whenever he wants to ensure the audience is absolutely killed. These effects were chosen because they floor audiences and he believes they embody the spirit of misdirection, wonder, and fun that Slydini inspired in him throughout his forty-eight year career in magic.

The “Killer” Set included “Impromptu Any Card at Any Number,” his version of “Any Card at Any Number.” It is, to his knowledge, the only version that requires no gimmicked/set-up deck and no props besides a single, standard deck of cards. Slydini’s “Helicopter Card Stand-up Version” is Bill’s stand-up version of the Slydini classic “Helicopter Card.” He believes this version embodies the spirit of the original effect while allowing the performer to do the effect standing up. “My Stand-up One Coin Routine” is his one coin routine that he has performed literally tens of thousands of times and was inspired by Slydini’s seated version. The “Ultimate Card In Box Effect” effect showcases the Wisch Fold and its many uses. In this effect the spectator selects a card, signs it, the card is put back into the deck, the deck is put back into the box, and the card folds itself inside the box!

He then performed and explained the classic, “Slydini Knotted Silk” routine. He chose this routine because it was the first effect he wanted to learn. Slydini told him personally that he was his best student with the knots. Other routines and magic featured in the lecture were The New Wisch-Craft Wonder Deck; a “Double Take Monte” demonstration; The Magic Die (Claude Rix) demonstration; and an explanation of available personal lesson videos including: Wisch-Craft Overhand Shuffle, Any Card at Any Number, and The Wisch Wedge video (which includes a demonstration of Slydini’s “Oil and Water”).                  

                                                                                                                                        ---George Mullican