THE BLURB:
A professional Magic Square routine from the repertoire of
Luis de Matos. Members of the audience call out numbers at
random. Unbelievably, from these the performer is able to
construct a perfect magic square. All the columns, rows,
diagonals and corners add up to the same number. Not only
that but this number was chosen by a spectator just a few
moments earlier. No formulas. No memory work. An incredible
mind boggling routine for the professional worker.
Instructional DVD includes performance footage.
Bonus Feature: Luis de Matos' handling of the Instant Magic
Square for impromptu work.
Running Time Approximately: 44min
MY COMMENTS:
I know that the first thoughts you may have include asking
just what a magician could bring to the mentalist's table
that's new to this classic. However, this mathematical
effect can certainly be presented as either mentalism or
magic. That said, I will state up front that for those who
have learned the formula or calculations for a magic square,
this certainly is not for you.
On the DVD, de Matos explains that his love for this effect
came about by watching Arthur Benjamin perform the routine.
Benjamin specializes in "mathemagics" and has a very
entertaining act using lightning addition and calculations.
He's a regular performer at the Magic Castle and for good
reason. You can check him out on YouTube. (Incidentally, I
believe Marc Salem is credited as the one who reintroduced
audiences to how powerful this routine can be on the stage.)
Getting back to de Matos, he realized that Benjamin's
routine wasn't for him. Benjamin actually did the
calculations for the magic square and de Matos didn't want
to make mistakes under the pressure of the spotlight. So he
came up with a very easy to do method.
Let me describe de Matos' routine. A clear bowl is on the
stage and it is filled with folded papers. The performer
shows that each paper has a different two digit number
printed large on it. Someone picks out three papers and
another chooses which one to use. All three are shown to be
the different. The performer then has the audience call out
numbers which are filled in to the four by four magic square
grid which is on a large notepad on an easel. When the grid
is completed, the performer explains how the columns, rows,
diagonals, corners, etc., all add up to the randomly chosen
number.
As indicated above, this version requires no mathematical
computations and no formulas. If one has noted that one key
difference to most magic square routines is the folded
papers, then you may be able to guess that the papers are a
key to performing this routine. I can't go into details, of
course, but if one doesn't want to use these papers, one
will be performing a different handling. These papers are
easily printed out on your computer as the DVD comes with
the PDF files to enable you to do that.
The randomness of selecting a paper, which has the number
printed large on it, makes this a very visual routine and
the method for knowing the square is ingeniously organic.
The only consideration, and this is minor, is that you must
have these papers pre-printed. But one can have a few sets
already made and they do pack flat. Though this is
well-suited to stage and parlour, it certainly can be used
for close-up as the papers can be put in a clear plastic
bag.
DeMatos also includes another routine entitled "Lucky
Number." This is another very nice idea that reminds me of
the Magic Bingo routine in that the audience is divided up
into having different tasks and everyone has the same result
at the end. Obviously, this is a stage presentation, but an
entertaining one.
Again, if you already know the formulas and calculations,
this 45 minute magic square DVD will have little to no value
to you. However, if you don't know the formulas and
calculations, and don't want to learn them or use them, then
this handling is certainly one that is worth checking out.
A professional Magic Square routine from the repertoire of
Luis de Matos. Members of the audience call out numbers at
random. Unbelievably, from these the performer is able to
construct a perfect magic square. All the columns, rows,
diagonals and corners add up to the same number. Not only
that but this number was chosen by a spectator just a few
moments earlier. No formulas. No memory work. An incredible
mind boggling routine for the professional worker.
Instructional DVD includes performance footage.
Bonus Feature: Luis de Matos' handling of the Instant Magic
Square for impromptu work.
Running Time Approximately: 44min
MY COMMENTS:
I know that the first thoughts you may have include asking
just what a magician could bring to the mentalist's table
that's new to this classic. However, this mathematical
effect can certainly be presented as either mentalism or
magic. That said, I will state up front that for those who
have learned the formula or calculations for a magic square,
this certainly is not for you.
On the DVD, de Matos explains that his love for this effect
came about by watching Arthur Benjamin perform the routine.
Benjamin specializes in "mathemagics" and has a very
entertaining act using lightning addition and calculations.
He's a regular performer at the Magic Castle and for good
reason. You can check him out on YouTube. (Incidentally, I
believe Marc Salem is credited as the one who reintroduced
audiences to how powerful this routine can be on the stage.)
Getting back to de Matos, he realized that Benjamin's
routine wasn't for him. Benjamin actually did the
calculations for the magic square and de Matos didn't want
to make mistakes under the pressure of the spotlight. So he
came up with a very easy to do method.
Let me describe de Matos' routine. A clear bowl is on the
stage and it is filled with folded papers. The performer
shows that each paper has a different two digit number
printed large on it. Someone picks out three papers and
another chooses which one to use. All three are shown to be
the different. The performer then has the audience call out
numbers which are filled in to the four by four magic square
grid which is on a large notepad on an easel. When the grid
is completed, the performer explains how the columns, rows,
diagonals, corners, etc., all add up to the randomly chosen
number.
As indicated above, this version requires no mathematical
computations and no formulas. If one has noted that one key
difference to most magic square routines is the folded
papers, then you may be able to guess that the papers are a
key to performing this routine. I can't go into details, of
course, but if one doesn't want to use these papers, one
will be performing a different handling. These papers are
easily printed out on your computer as the DVD comes with
the PDF files to enable you to do that.
The randomness of selecting a paper, which has the number
printed large on it, makes this a very visual routine and
the method for knowing the square is ingeniously organic.
The only consideration, and this is minor, is that you must
have these papers pre-printed. But one can have a few sets
already made and they do pack flat. Though this is
well-suited to stage and parlour, it certainly can be used
for close-up as the papers can be put in a clear plastic
bag.
DeMatos also includes another routine entitled "Lucky
Number." This is another very nice idea that reminds me of
the Magic Bingo routine in that the audience is divided up
into having different tasks and everyone has the same result
at the end. Obviously, this is a stage presentation, but an
entertaining one.
Again, if you already know the formulas and calculations,
this 45 minute magic square DVD will have little to no value
to you. However, if you don't know the formulas and
calculations, and don't want to learn them or use them, then
this handling is certainly one that is worth checking out.
Luis de Matos
THE MAGIC SQUARE
$35
Sorry, No Discounts on This Item
