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Private Lessons: Featuring The Classic Force

Paul Gertner

The Paul Gertner Group

(Based on 1 review)
In 1980, Paul Gertner published a small booklet titled Forcing a Card in the Classical Manner. Since that time it has become recognized in the magic community as the ultimate teaching text for learning this mysterious sleight-ofhand technique. This DVD brings that 16-page booklet to life, teaching you how to master The Classic Force along with four additional forcing methods from easy to advanced. As a bonus, Paul also demonstrates and teaches four additional routines including Paul's Opener, which he has used to open every tradeshow performance over the past 30 years. Techniques include... The Classic Force, The Dribble Force, The Riffle Force, The Mental Fan Force and The Hindu Shuffle Force.

Reviews

Bryce Kuhlman

Official Reviewer

Jan 17, 2011

Paul Gertner was one of my idols growing up. I first saw him on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. There are several routines from his book, Steel & Silver, that I continue to work on 20 years later.

Paul seemed to vanished from the magic scene sometime in the 90s. I'm guessing he was working (for real people). I believe the depth of wisdom Paul displays on this DVD can only come from performing these slights and routines thousands of times.

If you've ever tried to learn the classic force, you'll know that it's all about timing and attitude. It has very little to do with physical dexterity. It's the polar opposite to XCM. This is the primary reason why it's so hard to teach the classic force. No amount of detail shots and "super practice" sessions are going to give you the feel required get that card into an unknown person's hand.

Therefore, the bulk of Paul's teaching focuses on psychology, little tips and lots of options for handling different types of people (including really difficult ones). If nothing else, this should give you confidence to go out and start trying the classic force in your performances.

If you're still too chicken to try this elegant force, Paul teaches the Dribble, Riffle and Hindu Shuffle Forces. They're all workable alternatives that rely more on physical technique and less on timing and attitude.

Alternately, if you want to go further down the rabbit hole, Paul also teaches his work on the Mental Fan Force. It's absolutely amazing when you hit it, but it's not for the faint of heart. You're going to need some contingencies plans because you won't know if your helper has nailed the force card until it's too late to fix it.

As a bonus, Paul teaches four routines:

  • Paul's Opener is something of a mind-f*** where someone from the audience keeps choosing the same card over and over in increasingly impossible conditions.

  • That's a Coincidence is a straightforward opener in which four people from the audience each select a card. The cards turn out to be a four-of-a-kind.

  • In Screamer your helper thinks of a card in the spread. Not only do you find the card, you the thought-of card has the person's name written on it.

  • Library Card is a previously unpublished routine that's part book test, part card stab... a very interesting combination!


Bottom line: if you're performing with a pack of cards, you should probably own this DVD.
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