Welcome to this post about the Best Magic Wallets.

What is a Magic Wallet? 

A magic wallet is something that was invented by the Magic Wallet Company. It is a wallet that contains two card sleeves held together by elastic bands. By placing the money inside the wallet, closing it, and opening it from the corner, the elastics form an X over the cash which then securely holds it inside the wallet.

Magic wallets can be made from all sorts of materials including leather, faux leather, and other various types of fabric. One of the most important things about the magic wallet design is that it is minimalist meaning these wallets must fit easily in your pocket so that there shouldn’t be too much of a struggle when wearing different types of clothes. A lot of the designs are also very sleek and can be paired with a nice casual outfit or a fancy event. 

How do I use a Magic Wallet?

If you’d like to see how to use a magic wallet, watch this simple video explaining how to use the wallet! You will not be disappointed! 

How do I choose a Magic Wallet?

It’s good you might ask this question, cause we are here to help! Here are 3 things to consider when choosing your Magic Wallet. 

FIRST: Pockets – 

Most magic wallets share a similar design but not all of them have the same number of pockets or card slots. The top-end models may be able to hold up to 16 cards while lower-end models may only hold up to 6. This has no effect on the quality of the product, it just means you won’t be able to carry too many things if the wallet lacks pockets. So, first, you have to decide how many pockets you think you may need!

SECOND: Design – 

Magic Wallets have various designs from quirky designer models to fancy leather models. They come in an array of colors and styles so you must decide what fits best for you in regards to the color and design. If you’re aiming for a more classic choice, I say go for the leather wallet. If you are looking for a classic cheaper choice, the faux leather magic wallet is still sleek and charming while costing less. Now if you are looking for something different, fabric magic wallets are great for that, you can easily pick a designer wallet with a bold design! 

THIRD: RFID Protection – 

RFID Protection is very important when choosing your magic waller. Modern thieves have adapted to the new technologies and know-how to retrieve data stored on cards or ID’s. Which is kind of scary BUT when choosing a magic wallet luckily most designs contain RFID-blocking technology, which means the wallets prevent the scanning of cards or ID’s or any other important documents held in your wallet. We recommend finding a secure wallet like this but if it is something you’re not interested in, in a magic wallet there are still designs for you!

NOW let’s get to our Top 5 MAGIC WALLET DESIGNS!!!

First is The Garzini Magic Wallet

This magic wallet is made from high-quality leather with a matte-finish. The Garzini brand has come up with their own design for their magic wallets – horizontal leather straps rather than criss-crossed elastic. This magic wallet contiains double stitching, multi-layered bonded leather straps and integrated silk to ensure longevity. Besides the extent of great construction, the Garzini’s thin minimalist magic wallet handles the actual storage beautifully. It has room for up to 10 flat cards plus cash and maybe a few extra items such as a business card, etc. 

PROS

• RFID Protection
• Holds up to 10 cards + cash and whatever else you would like to try to fit
• PREMIUM Quality
• Gift Box – comes with an elegant gift box 

Cons

• Can bulk up easily if there is a lot to put into the wallet

In second place we have the Jaimie Jacobs Magic Wallet Flap Boy

This Magic Wallet is one of the best magic wallets on the market. This specific accessory is an elegant fashion statement that has a nice slim, minimalist style. The Flap Boy Magic Wallet is suitable for formal or casual attire and is made from premium leather which will keep its color over time and resist everyday wear and tear. The manufacturer even backs these magic wallets with a three year warranty!

PROS

• Italian Crafted Leather Wallet 
• Stylish Design
• RFID Blocking Technology
• Comes in a GIFT BOX
• MAGIC FLAP FEATURE

CONS

• Leather could become stretched over time – becoming too loose

In third place we have the Useful Thingy Magic Wallet 

Unlike the other magic wallets mentioned above, the Useful Thingy Magic Wallet only has four card slots and can hold up to a maximum of 8 cards, thus the slightly lower price. BUT not to worry because this magic wallet is MAGNIFICENT! It has a flawless compact size and aesthetics that make it ideal for business, casual, and formal attire. And as the name suggests this wallet is very useful. 

PROS

• ELEGANT DESIGN – with black leather that is suitable for men, boys and kids
• Quality elastic straps to hold bills securely
• 100% money back guarantee for 30 days
• GIFT BOX INCLUDED

CONS

• Only 4 card slots 

In fourth place we have a slightly different design, this wallet is the Hunterson – Vegan Collection Magic Wallet

The Hunterson Vegan Magic Wallet hits the nice middle ground of magic wallets, using old-school construction, a very straightforward design BUT it is made of vegan leather! (Specifically the material used is pineapple leaves!). This magic wallet has deeper pockets on the inside which creates a little more space and storage. 

At first this may not seem like a big deal BUT it completely changes the card-carrying game! This magic wallet holds up to 12 cards at once despite the wallet having only 4 exterior cards slots and 2 interior sleeves. The straps have also been strengthened to resist stretching, securing all of the accessories needed inside the wallet!  

PROS

• VEGAN WALLET!!! – made of pineapple leaves 
• Improve Magic Wallet – extra strength in elastics
• RFID Protection
• The Perfect Gift

CONS 

• Can potentially get bulky if too many things are stored inside it 

And lastly we have the RVCA Men’s ANP Magic Wallet 

Now the RVCA Men’s Magic Wallet is proof that magic wallets come in all styles and sizes. This wallet is made entirely of polyester and has a bold custom print on both the interior and exterior. The RVCA has faux leather tabs that resist constant wear and tear.

There is plenty of room for the essentials holding a maximum of six cards and of course the classic elastic bands which create more storage exclusively for cash. This magic wallet is easy to clean and maintain. And if you are looking for something a little more bold, this magic wallet is for you!!

PROS

• Polyester wallet that resists wear and tear
• Custom printed artistic pattern on both interior and exterior

CONS

• No RFID protection
• Only three cards slots

We hope this helps you find the Best Magic Wallet

Easy coin magic tricks…

My friends,

How are we, as magicians, stereotyped?

Close your eyes and take a moment to think. 

Most people-when they envision magicians-see glossy suits and a matching tophat, a deck of cards splayed in their hands. Okay, maybe that’s a little outdated, but you get the picture. What they DON’T expect are coins. And if there’s ever a playing ground magicians THRIVE on, it’s the unexpected. 

Well? 

I know what you might be thinking; coin magic tricks aren’t unexpected, they’re the most basic tricks out there, no ones gonna be amazed by them! If that’s you, AWESOME, because in this article, we’re going to show you 5 different coin magic tricks that YOU can easily do yet will still leave your audience gasping.

Easy Coin Magic Trick One:

1. Coin vanish under glass. This one is nice and easy, especially for kids, however, it’s a trick all will enjoy. Follow the step-by-step instructions below or watch the following video.

MATERIALS NEEDED 

● A glass 

● A coin

● Scissors 

● Two sheets of paper 

● Glue 

● A pen 

● Aluminum foil 

PREPARATION FOR THE TRICK 

1. Place the glass onto one of the sheets of paper and draw its outline. 

2. Cut out carefully using the line drawn. 

3. Stick the piece of paper on the rim of the glass. 

HOW TO DO THIS TRICK 

1. Put the coin on the second sheet of paper, and at its side the glass upside down.

2. Cover the glass with the aluminum foil and put it above the coin. 

3. Snap your fingers, take off the aluminum foil, and the coin has disappeared.

4. Cover the glass again and take off the glass making sure you don’t show the piece of paper. 

5. Discreetly let the glass fall onto your legs, keeping the aluminum foil in your hand.

6. With one hand, take off the piece of paper stuck on the glass. With the other hand, put the aluminum foil above the coin, just like you were putting the glass above it.

7. Pretend you’re going to catch the glass under the table and crush the aluminum foil, and voilà! Show the glass that was hidden under the table. 

TIPS:

Make sure you don’t show the piece of paper placed under the glass and that you’re letting the glass fall onto your legs. 

Easy Coin Magic Trick Two:

Coin vanish with aluminium foil. This simple trick shares two things in common with the first. It’s a coin vanish, and it’s nice and simple. To learn how to perform this vanish, read the step by step instructions below.

MATERIALS NEEDED 

● Four coins (quarters work well) 

● A small square of foil 

● Scissors 

HOW TO DO THE TRICK 

1. Place the square of foil on top of one of the coins and rub it with your thumb to make a good impression of the coin in the foil. 

2. Carefully cut out the fake coin from the foil. Be sure to allow for “sides” of the coin. 3. Arrange the other coins around the fake coin and you’re ready to perform the trick. 4. 4. Show the coins to spectators and make sure that they acknowledge that there are four coins. 

5. Close your hand and crush the foil into a tiny ball. 

6. When you open your hand again, display three coins. The piece of foil is hidden under the other coins. 

WHAT YOUR AUDIENCE SEES: You hold four coins in your hand. You close your hand and when you open it again, a single coin has disappeared. 

NOTE, you’ll want to experiment with the placement of the foil relative to the other coins. The key here is to situate the fake foil coin so it’s easy to crush when you close your hand.

Easy Coin Magic Trick Three:

Coin through hand. Instead of the typical coin vanishes that are so well known, here is another coin magic trick where a coin appears to have been push through your hand. As simple as that. All you’ll need are two hands and a coin. Oh, and the instructions. 

Check out the coin through hand magic trick instead with this video! 

1. You have the second coin in a thumb clip or thumb crotch position. 

2. Turn this hand down, pick up one coin, show it to your friends, angle your hand so that your hand is at an angle. 

3. Say that you’re going to find your soft spot by tapping the coin on your hand. This is the acting part.

4. Then you’re going to count to three. When you get to the number three, you’re going to push the coin that you’re holding gently onto the back of your hand with your fingers screening it from your audience’s view.

 5. When you get to three and that coin is pushed, throw your fingers like that, and your thumb against your hand, you’re going to drop the coin that’s in the thumb crotch down.

6. And it will land either in your friends hand if you have them cup their hands underneath your hand, or it will land on a table if you’re just performing on a hard surface. 

Easy Coin Magic Trick Four:

4. The Mind-Reading Coins 

This trick is a bit different to the previous 3, however it is still a simple and fun coin trick, and will have your audience convinced you’re a true mind-reader. It’s impromptu, meaning it’s a great party trick that you can use to impress your friends and family with at any time.Before you start, grab three different coins (i.e. penny, nickel, quarter) or bills. Then, write a prediction on a piece of paper or text it to a friend (just make sure they don’t open it early). For this example, we will write “you will choose the penny” as our prediction. 

Place all the coins on the table. You’re now going to perform something called the “Magician’s Choice” which uses clever wording to make them select a coin you want them too. 

Ask your friend to place their hands on top of any of the two coins and slide them toward you.

If they slide the nickel and quarter, emphasize how by eliminating the quarter and nickel, they have SELECTED to KEEP the penny (the wording is important). They can then open the prediction to see you’ve performed a miracle. 

If one of the two coins they slide is your prediction (i.e. the nickel and penny), you’ll immediately ask them to pick up these coins into their hands. As they do, you’ll push the remaining coin (in this case, the quarter) to the side stating how “they’ve chosen to eliminate the quarter”. 

Tell them to give you one coin (being vague here is key). If they hand you the penny, say “Great, you’ve SELECTED the penny” and proceed to the prediction. 

If they hand you the nickel, say “great, we’ll get rid of this one too” and place it alongside the quarter on the table. Mention how they’ve chosen to “KEEP” the penny”. Then proceed to the prediction. 

Well, we hope you enjoyed learning these simple coin magic tricks. Coin tricks are awesome because unlike a deck of playing cards, most people will likely have a few coins handy whatever the situation.

That means you can do these magic tricks wherever you are! Thank you so much for sticking around to the end of this post and we hope you have a ‘quarter’ of the fun we had trying out these tricks!

John Guastaferro is an American magician and guitarist. He has also written a book which was chosen as “Book of the Year” on The Magic Café titled “One Degree.”

This is an exceptional book, with nothing but positive reviews and feedback.

You can download a free sample here at Vanishing Inc.

How did John Guastaferro get into magic?

Let’s start of course, at the very beginning – how he became interested in MAGIC.

In John’s own words…

“Back in that day, the TV specials were of Doug Henning on TV. And it’s a really small household just my mom and I and no siblings. And I think in many ways, I was always drawn to something creative, whether it be art, or in this case, magic, and something really caught my eye. I know Doug Henning was doing a lot of you know, fun and whimsical illusions, which I thought were great. But it’s when he kind of slowed down and he made a nickel vanish in his hand that it really drew me in and I didn’t know at the time that this was a john Cornelius effect. All I knew is that it was just so pure. And I just wanted to dive in more, so from that point on, I would read every book I could. There really wasn’t a magic shop nearby, it was in Huntington Park California. But there’s like a gag costume semi magic shop nearby called (thinks) fun city and I liked it. It had all that typical stuff, right? The fake thumb with the blood on it, and the squirting nickel and all that stuff, but they also had a few magic tricks. And I would just get my hands and everything I could and Yeah! I think Joshua j put it well, when time where a lot of kids get into magic, but some of us become students of magic, right? It wasn’t far after that, where I became a student of magic. And you know, we just, we didn’t have like YouTube or anything back then. But I would just, you know, get books any way I could and then I would have my mom pick up things from Hollywood Magic on her way home from work because she worked in LA. The rest is history.”

How did John Guastaferro get into music?

John is also an accomplished guitarist with several top-rated albums. Specializing in Jazz, Flamenco, and Spanish guitar, John’s music creates the perfect rhythmic backdrop to captivate guests.

In John’s own words…

“Honestly, I didn’t even know that I had a musical bone in my body, to be honest. I mean, it wasn’t until like, 17 years old till I got to the guitar, which is late to kind of master an instrument. I guess like many people in Qatar was hanging out my friend’s house, and he played. So, he taught me how to play Stairway to Heaven, you know, and then I ended up putting a few dollars together and buying just a cheap guitar, and again, like anything, I just stayed with it. I just put as many hours as I could into it. I think the dexterity that I had in my hands for the magic certainly helped me, you know, progressing faster.”

Up to this point, we have seen John Guastaferro’s interest in guitar and magic spark. BUT there is even more to the story. The future is ALWAYS changing and sometimes we don’t know what to expect. The same thing happened with Guastaferro. He continues…

“I wish I could have foreseen the future. I mean, I’m glad about the future that came about, but I had no idea where it would lead. But at that time being in college was a priority. Magic was important to me and music became important to me, and these were still passions of mine but I didn’t look at magic or music as any sort of career or anything when I went into college. I was really artistic as well. I’ve always loved drawing and art – oil painting. And you know, these days, I do a lot of pencil sketches and graphic design, too. So, I went into college as an Architecture Major.”

“The first couple of years, I liked it, I really did, but when it got into the very kind of technical structure, math stuff, it wasn’t as appealing to me. And so, I took a step back my third year, and just took a lot of classes. I took classes in graphic design, in fine arts, and music. And then when I took a business class, there was a good click. (Because I really have this kind of left brain and right brain thing going on.) I really liked strategy, as well, and I think one of my teachers just saw that in me. So, I majored in marketing, specifically in Business Administration with a specialization in marketing. And I always thought, okay, like, being a creative director, you know, in advertising, that’s something that I think that could appeal to both my creative side, and my, my business side. So anyway, I was very well aware of the creative interest I had. And I just was kind of open to it. It was six years in college, because I took a year just to take some classes and just be open to it, and everything. So that was my journey there.”

This wasn’t always an easy journey and John Guastaferro explains that it was only in the last 10 years that he shifted from feeling scattered, “like being pulled in different directions” to realized “Wait a minute, there’s a reason why I’m pulled in all these seemingly different directions, but they’re actually all going in the same direction.” Guastaferro says “It took me YEARS to land on this”.

Why Magic?

John Guastaferro’s answer to why he and all of us should study magic:

We asked Guastaferro in the podcast, “What do you find meaningful about magic? And why do you put all of your time into solving magical problems as opposed to solving some greater good social problems?”

“I mean, they’re all interwoven, you know, and they’re in there. And there are different beautiful things about each. You know, I often give motivational talks as well, where I weave it all together, you know, and I often say, like, in philanthropy, I’m having the opportunity to turn the impossible into the possible, you know, I mean, there are families that may be suffering in the community that I live in, and I lead a local foundation. And, for example, we provide a lot of grants during this pandemic and helping people that are hungry. And, and really, these are impossible circumstances that we help become possible, you know, and in magic, we make it look that way. So, in many ways, it’s much more powerful in actually doing that work. But I also think it heightens the beauty of magic because I think, you know, in magic, my view is that it’s not really about pulling an ace out of your pocket, or whatever. I mean, those are beautiful moments and fun, enjoyable moments, but I think it also leaves an audience with an extra feeling that you know, if that’s possible, maybe anything is possible. So I think there’s a gift in that that we’re giving when we perform magic.”

More from John…

If you’d like to hear more from John, one of the first places you can go is The Daily Magician Podcast:

This exclusive interview features:

• How he uses magic in keynote speeches and why it’s such a powerful tool.

• The power of being on stage (and why you should assume that everyone is ready to be inspired)

• The exact 4 sentence ‘mantra’ John recites before every performance

• How to be a great public speaker (John’s top tips)

• Why being an ‘expert’ does not necessarily make you a good speaker (and why speaking is about so much more than reciting facts)

• Why John Guastaferro believes that knowledge is in fact NOT power (and what real power is)

• The three things John believes you need to be successful in business

• The power of smiling (and why you should do it constantly)

• Why calling your performance an ‘act’ is an incomplete definition (and how you should think about it instead)

Go take a listen to our podcast!!! 

And for more information about John Guastaferro here is his website: https://onedegreeconnect.com/

You can also check out his latest masterclass here:

https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/masterclass/john-guastaferro-masterclass-live/

Have you ever wanted to learn a card stack? Well if so, this post is for you!

HERE we will discuss what a card stack is, the different types of card stacks and their uses, and how to learn a card stack along with our top 3 card stacks. 

So let’s begin!

What is a Card Stack? 

Card stacks are an advanced card magic technique that enables you to perform astonishing magic routines with ease. We recommend learning a reliable card stack in order to open up a whole new world of magic for you! AND these techniques on how to learn a card stack, are a great way to take your card magic to the ‘next level!’

Something to note as we dive into things is, there are two main types of card stacks. The first type is sequential meaning the stack follows a set sequence over and over again. This can also be referred to as ‘cyclic’ for the same reason; the stack follows a cycle. Sequential card stacks are generally easier to learn. 

A few examples of this are the Si Stebbins (a numeric progression) and Eight Kings (a rhyming mnemonic progression). The purpose of a sequential stack is providing an effective compromise between the ease of determining the next – and previous – cards in the stack while at the same time having the stack appear to be a random assortment of cards. 

The second type is a memorized stack. A memorized stack or otherwise known as a memorized deck is one in which you simply know the position of every card and the numerical name of the card at any location. These decks are more randomized and they don’t really follow a set pattern or ‘cycle’. However, memorized decks enable you to perform a larger quantity of tricks than sequential stacks.

Ok so now that we have learned a little more about card stacks, you may be asking what is the best card stack? 

Well… for the answer we have decided to review our top 3 choices

1. Mnemonica Stack
2. Si Stebbins Stack
3. Aronson Stack

The Best Card Stacks

1. Mnemonica Stack

The Mnemonica Stack is one of the most famous stacks in all of card magic.  It was invented by the legendary Spanish magician Juam Tamariz. While it’s not particularly easy to learn, the Mnemonica Stack has many benefits that allow you to perform a wide variety of routines, many designed by Tamariz himself. 

So why learn the Mnemonica Stack?

Great question!

The Mnemonica Stack is great for learning the location of every card in the deck. This means that you will know the EXACT location of any card that is named and placed back and shuffled a certain way. You can know where a card is without even having it be seen or glimpsed. AND you can know how far down a card is in a deck for tricks such as ACAAN. 

2. Si Stebbens Stack

Second, we have the Si Sebbens Stack. This stack is undoubtedly one of the most popular card stacks and for a good reason. The Si Stebbins Stack was originally created by magician Si Stebbins and is a classic sequential stack.

The stack follows the popular ‘CHaSeD’ order (Clubs, Hearts, Spades, Diamonds). 

One thing to note about the Si Sebbens Stack is that in order to use this stack practically, it will take some ‘mental maths’ which can be a deal-breaker for some magicians (the last thing some of us want to do under pressure is performed math right?!) BUT learning this stack can be very beneficial overall!

The Si Stebbins Stack is very reliable and is used quite heavily by professional magicians around the world. 

3. Aronson Stack

Last but not least we have the Aronson Stack. This particular card stack is not cyclic so it may take a little bit longer to learn but we wouldn’t mention it if it wasn’t worth the time. The benefit of learning the Aronson Stack is that the result is worth every bit of effort you put into it. 

The Aronson Stack was created by Simon Aronson. He has devised HUNDREDS of powerful effects that can only be performed by using this exact stack! On the surface, this stack may look like a regular shuffled deck since there are no patterns that a spectator could spot and that is what makes this stack worthwhile! 

If you would like more information on the Aronson Stack feel free to CLICK HERE (LINK TO BLOG POST: https://thedailymagician.com/the-aronson-stack#5 )

So we’ve talked about the different stacks, now let’s get into a few recommendations on how to get started on the learning process. 

Here are a few book recommendations to get you started!

Book Reccomendations:

First is the book Mnemonica by Juan Tamariz. This phenomenal book reveals concepts and routines that you wouldn’t have realized existed using the Mnemonica stack. 

This book is one of the best-selling magic books of all time! Many magicians recognize its brilliant combination of practical training and mind-blowing routines. 

CLICK HERE for more information!

2. BOUND TO PLEASE

If you are looking for something less Mnemonica Stack and more Aronson Stack, we highly recommend the book Bound to Please written by the man himself, Simon Aronson. And what is a better way to learn? 

Aronson’s book is a perfect introduction to working with stacked decks. It contains incredible memorized deck effects and ideas, although the actual pure memorization method it uses isn’t one we recommend. 

CLICK HERE for more information on Simon Aronson’s, Bound to Please!

3. THE MEMORY ARTS  

The last book we’d recommend checking out is the book, The Memory Arts by Sarah and David Trustman. This book is a tried and tested method that many magicians have had success with. 

This book presents a new and exciting way to learn complex stacks in record time!

CLICK HERE for more information on The Memory Arts!

~ BONUS TRAINING ~

While we have talked about many wonderful books here is one that we HIGHLY recommend for working with card stacks (or otherwise known as memorized decks.)

This book is called the Memorized Deck Starter Pack. This course will show you an elegant method to memorize as many decks as you want, by doing the same amount of work (OR LESS) than required by other memory methods. 

If you are interested in this training, CLICK HERE for more information!!