Desert Island Tricks

A lot of magic advice lives in theory. David Rhodes brings something better: a working performer’s list of eight routines he’d keep if everything else disappeared, plus one book, one non-magic utility item, and one thing he’d banish from the art. David’s story starts with a familiar arc, going all-in on magic in his twenties, stepping away for years into the corporate world, then coming back with fresh eyes and sharper taste.

We dig into a lineup that leans heavily toward practical mentalism and audience-first structure: Telepathy Plus as a minimalist billet miracle, a memory demonstration that builds real credibility, and a Magic Square that can turn “confusion” into a perfect closer. From there we get into blindfold work and psychometry, where the impact comes from meaning, not props, plus fork bending with a clear stance on why less is more when you want it to feel genuinely psychic. We also talk borrowed-object impossibility with ring flight, and why the strongest close-up magic often lives in the spectator’s hands.

Card lovers still get fed: Out Of This World gets its flowers as one of the most powerful spectator-driven effects ever, and David shares a sneaky multiple selection “cheat code” that lets you weave in favourites like Triumph. We round it out with Interpreting Magic by David Regal for the interviews, a corner rounder as an underrated weapon for short cards, and a banishment that every performer should consider: ditch hack lines that kill connection.

Send in your list of 8 tricks, 1 book, 1 non magic item and 1 banishment to [email protected]
Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk

The magic that stays with you isn’t always the trick you can describe, it’s the feeling you can’t shake. That’s where our conversation with French magician, creator, hypnotist and theatre performer Jean-Luc Bertrand begins: the rare moments that make a seasoned performer feel like a five-year-old seeing impossibility for the first time, and how we can build shows that give audiences that same hit of wonder. 
We get into the effects and performers that shaped Jean-Luc’s taste and philosophy, from Garrett Thomas’ legendary ID-style miracle to David Blaine’s extreme commitment and Derren Brown’s masterclass in scripting, structure, and hypnosis. Along the way we talk misdirection as intention, how to avoid performing on autopilot, and why the best professional magic is really about “writing memories” for people at the most important events of their lives. 
Jean-Luc also shares what he would banish from the magic industry: the lack of meaningful copyright norms and the casual attitude toward copying. We explore why originality is harder than buying the latest trick, and why ethics matter if magic is going to evolve. Plus, we tease Jean-Luc’s upcoming Murphy’s Magic release, the JLB Coin, and what makes it feel like real superpowers in the hands. 
Jean Luc’s Desert Island Tricks: 
Welcome Package. Card Under Tablecloth 
Drivers Licence Trick by Garrett Thomas
David Blaine’s Frog From Mouth 
Derren Brown’s Card Under Box
Creating a moment for a single audience member 
French Fries Production 
JLB Coin 
Yann Frisch
Music Box Effect 
Banishment. Lack of Copyright in the Magic Industry 
Book. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Item. BIC Lighter 
Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk

We’re drawing a line in the sand: self-working tricks are not a guilty pleasure. If the audience can’t backtrack the method and the moment feels impossible, it’s real magic where it counts.

We bring Harry Nardi back after the Alakazam convention to rebuild his desert island lineup using the only criteria that matters on paid gigs: trust. That means effects that reset fast, pack small, play big, and stay strong when conditions are messy. You’ll hear why Instant Paper To Money beats Extreme Burn for freedom and fairness, why MD Mini keeps destroying even after time off, and how Coins Across and Stand Up Monty earn their spot as reliable, high-clarity crowd winners.

Then we get into the meaty stuff: PK Touches routining and the “less is more” debate, plus a swap that turns the set personal with Lover’s Waltz as a fused, signed souvenir. We also break down why Castle Wallet feels like the closest thing to real mind reading, including the framing of “fake mind reading” versus a prediction that people never see coming. Add in an island guest pick (Chris Harding), a replay-worthy performance memory, a painful first-gig lesson, and a shoutout to a perfect convention show from Tom Wright, and you’ve got an episode packed with working pro insight.

If you enjoy practical close-up magic, mentalism, and smarter thinking about what audiences actually experience, subscribe, share this with a magician friend, and leave a review. What’s one “easy” trick you think deserves more respect?
Harry Nardi’s SOS Substitutions : 
Extreme Burn for Instant Paper to Money 
Imagine for Lovers Waltz
Big Reaction for Castle Wallet (with a sneaky Foreshadow) 
Banishment. Discounting self working tricks 
Guest. Chris Harding 
Memory. BGT Semi Finals 
Horror. Asking a person with a disability to help when they couldn’t 
Show. Tom Wright’s Show at the Alakazam Convention 
Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk

A great magic set isn’t the one with the fanciest props. It’s the one you can do when the pockets are empty, the room is loud and someone says, “Go on then, show us something” with zero warning. That’s why Marc Lavelle’s return hits so hard: after stepping back from the magic and convention scene for years, he comes back with a clearer view of what actually works for real audiences. 
We put Marc on the “Desert Island Tricks” hot seat and build a survival-ready lineup: stack work with the Shadow Stack for named-card miracles, a fast one coin routine that snaps attention to the performer, plus ring on string and elastic band magic that can be done with borrowed or everyday objects. Along the way, he shares a wild Maldives story where one simple band-through-thumb moment gets demanded on repeat for ten straight minutes, proving that impact often beats complexity. 
From there we move into bulletproof interactive pieces like Mark Elsdon’s Tequila Hustler, a multi-spectator drawing duplication, and practical working tips like using Five Guys cardstock as free billets. We also talk Ring Thing, PK touch, and why Paul Harris style “organic magic” still matters when everything is filmed in slow motion. Then comes the spicy banishment: should the Omni Deck be retired for a while because spectators have seen it too often? Marc makes the case for variety, smarter endings, and building effects that don’t arrive pre-spoiled by social media. 
If you enjoy close-up magic, walk around work, mentalism principles, and real-world gigging advice from a working pro, hit subscribe, share this with a magician friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.
Marc’s Desert Island Tricks: 
Welcome Package. Any Card Named (Shadow Stack)
One Coin Routine 
Ring on String 
Band Through Thumb 
Tequila Hustler 
Multiple Spectator Drawing Duplication 
Ring Thing 
PK Touches 
Torn and Restored Leaf 
Banishment. Omni Deck 
Book. Art of Astonishment 
Item. MagSafe Selfie screen 
Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk

A great magic set isn’t about having the fanciest props. It’s about having material that survives real-world conditions: bad lighting, tough angles, quiet tables, camera pressure, and the sudden moment when someone says, “Do something,” and you’re already empty-handed. Damien O’Brien knows that reality first-hand, from reaching the finals on Britain’s Got Talent during the pandemic to performing close-up in immersive theatre at the Magician’s Table.
We’re kicking off season three with Damien’s “desert island” list: the single card routine he’d repeat forever, the phone-based mentalism that creates bulletproof fairness, and the pieces that hit with pure visual shock. He breaks down why Ambitious Card still kills, how Digital Force Bag and Hypernesia turn a normal smartphone into a miracle machine, and why effects like Haunted Deck and Invisible Deck stay in a worker’s case for years. We also dig into Lumen Mini for deeply personal revelations, plus the bolder side of close-up with Pyro Perception and iCandy, where the reaction is instant and unforgettable.
The conversation goes beyond methods into performance mindset: banishing negative energy, building a small trusted creative team, and finding inspiration through story with Carter Beats the Devil. If you’re into modern magic, mentalism, close-up performance, Britain’s Got Talent behind-the-scenes, or immersive magic shows, this one is packed with practical takeaways you can use immediately. Subscribe, share the episode with a magician friend, and leave a review telling us the one trick you’d take to your own magical island.
Damien’s Desert Island List:
Welcome Package. Ambitious Card
Digital Force Bag
Hypermnesia
Haunted Deck 
Lumen Mini 
Pyro Perception 
Eye Candy
Invisible Deck 
Pk Touches 
Banishment. Negative Energy 
Book. Carter Beats the Devil
Item. Phone 
Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk