Well, good golly, it is indeed 9:00 a.m., and it’s a Saturday—woohoo! That means it’s time for the Monster Magic Saturday show, and what better way to start the weekend than with a little bit of magic and a lot of fun?
Thumb Tips: Handpicked Astonishments by Paul Harris featuring Joshua Jay produced by Murphy’s Magic. (£21.50)
This originally came out over ten years ago as a simple DVD as part of Paul Harris’ Handpicked Astonishments series. It’s now been re-released online, and while the video content remains the same, the props are now included, which is a welcome addition. The tutorial, hosted by a young Joshua J., is fantastic for anyone wanting to explore the versatility of thumb tips.
Inside, you get a variety of thumb tips and fingertips, all slightly different in colour and size. There are soft and hard options, as well as a selection of small buttons used in one of the routines. These buttons are particularly handy if your local currency differs from what Joshua uses in the tutorial, he originally demonstrates with a dime, but the buttons can substitute perfectly.
The tutorial begins with the fundamentals: concealing the thumb tip, confidently flashing empty hands, and performing movements naturally without drawing suspicion. Joshua demonstrates multiple techniques for loading and unloading the thumb tip, including Slydini’s and David Williamson’s approaches. This section is invaluable because it teaches proper habits and prevents beginners from developing sloppy techniques, which is a common pitfall with thumb tips.
Then come the routines. There’s the classic button-bending effect, a sugar-vanishing trick inspired by David Williamson, a salt and pepper routine utilizing two thumb tips simultaneously, a dollar bill to sugar packet transformation, and an impromptu fortune cookie effect. All these routines are excellent for developing creativity and confidence with a thumb tip. You get a solid sense of performance style by watching the full demonstrations, including hand placements and pacing, which are as instructional as the first 20 minutes of theory.
This collection is less about jaw-dropping new tricks and more about confidence-building and inspiration. It’s an excellent resource, especially for magicians who have avoided thumb tips due to nervousness about being caught.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/thumb-tips-hand-picked-astonishments-with-joshua-jay-by-murphys-magic
Twins by Murphy’s Magic (£10.50)
Originally by the late Brother John Hamman, Twins is a brilliant storytelling card effect using four cards. The story follows red-headed twins and their red-headed partners in a humorous, convoluted tale involving a bar, some upstairs trips, and unexpected pairings at the end. The trick uses the Gemini Count, a technique invented by Brother John Hammond, and the tutorial by Javier is crystal clear, giving you all the timing and handling details you need.
The included cards are colorful and subtly marked for orientation, though you could easily use a standard deck if preferred. What makes Twins shine is the combination of sleight of hand and narrative. The story not only explains the movements logically but also engages the audience, creating peaks and troughs in tension and humor. The finale—revealing the third card—is genuinely magical and unpredictable, and it always elicits a strong reaction. It’s an exceptional mix of simplicity, visual impact, and storytelling.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/twins-by-brother-john-hamman-and-murphys-magic
Stainless Steel Paddle by Vorst and Borsch. (£30.99/£41.50)
This is a high-quality take on the classic whiteboard paddle. It’s substantial yet manageable, with optional heat-shrink tubing for comfortable handling and sandpaper for maintenance. The large straight paddle is sleek, reflective, and perfect for professional presentations, while smaller versions are ideal for portability. You can perform all your usual paddle routines, like moving Xs, revealing dots, or name predictions, but with an elegant, durable prop that elevates the performance. The tutorial, just over 20 minutes, covers multiple routines and handling tips. The price reflecting the top-tier engineering and materials.
https://monstermagic.co.uk/products/stainless-steel-paddle-by-vorst-bosch
Frozen in Times and Minutes by Massuda. (£124.99)
This is the latest iteration of Frozen in Time, focusing on precise time predictions. Participants roll three dice, which represent hours and minutes, and your prediction envelope matches perfectly. Props include a display envelope, four sharp dice, a key ring indicator, and the gimmicked time apparatus itself. The tutorial is visual, with subtitles and soft classical music, split into several short segments, making it easy to follow.
The appeal here is not just the prediction but the performance: setting dice in wine glasses, handling props theatrically, and creating a mini parlor show experience. Everything can be examined afterward, reinforcing the impossibility of the effect. While the aesthetic may not appeal to everyone, the mentalism and performance potential are outstanding. It’s an investment in a visually impressive, baffling routine suitable for parlour and stage settings.
And that wraps up this week’s Monster Magic Saturday show. I’m off to have some lemon and honey to soothe this cold, grab some magic, and get out there to enjoy the best hobby in the world. Keep practicing, keep performing, and keep the magic alive. Until next time, bye-bye!