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Will Houstoun Academy - Dr Houstoun on Cards Two Day Live Online Magic Course 19th - 20th March 7PM


Will Houstoun Academy - Dr Houstoun on Cards Two Day Live Online Magic Course 19th - 20th March 7PM
$46.17 $32.33

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Dr Houstoun: On Cards

Playing cards are one of the most versatile magic props, offering unparalleled flexibility and opportunity to the thoughtful performer. In this exclusive interactive course Will Houstoun will share his thoughts on and approach to magic with cards, as well as a selection of the routines that form his performing repertoire. Pieces explained will include unpublished material and ideas, kept secret for over a decade, that he has used to win The European Championships of Close-up Magic (2006) and The Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year (2015). 

Tricks and routines discussed in the course will include:

Minus Aces - This is perhaps the fairest way to produce four Aces from the pack. After the deck is examined and shuffled you produce the four aces quickly and efficiently… and then you give the pack away. Remember: The pack is examinable, the spectator checks the aces are in it at any point and shuffles, and you could even be blindfolded!

Order and Chaos - Will’s feature routine, in which two decks match order in a remarkable way, this is the piece he closes every show with.

The Notebook - The discovery of this handwritten manuscript, written around 1800, challenges our preconceptions of what magic was like a few centuries ago. Learn how, as well as discovering a 200 year old trick that is as good as any modern creation.

Choices - What if? This is a question that haunts all our lives, and in this trick you and your spectators can find out the answer!

Minimal Assembly - The bare bones of an ace assembly… when you take away everything but the essence of the trick this is what remains.

Hellis’s Trick - A little known impromptu card to impossible location that has remained hidden in a manuscript for 150 years.

Plus more tricks, moves and tips, as well as the card related items you tell us you want to see, via the live chat.

In addition to these feature pieces, and a wealth of other hints and tips on various moves and pieces of sleight of hand, Will will discuss his thoughts on conjuring, steered by Alakazam’s team, well as taking questions from the Academy chatroom. 

Endorsements

"Will created one of my most used tricks and my go-to effect if someone stops me and asks to see something." - Dynamo

"Will is a natural communicator with bags of content to match the best.” - John Archer

"An original mix of eye popping sleight of hand.” - Ernest Earick

"[Will] is a really fine magician with some serious chops.” - Genii Magazine  

"Smooth as silk... I loved your three fly and all your little touches. One of the best I've witnessed. Your shadow coins move so effortlessly and your attention to detail is unmatched." - Dean Dill

Biography

Will Houstoun has a PhD in the history of magical education, supervised by Dame Marina Warner, and is a winner of both The European Magic Championships and The Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year. He holds a Literary Fellowship with The Academy of Magical Arts in Los Angeles and a Research Fellowship with The Victoria and Albert Museum Research Institute. Consultancy credits include Martin Scorsese's Hugo, the BBC's Wolf Hall and The Almeida's The Twilight Zone. Other clients include The Wellcome Trust, The RSC and The ROH


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Customer Reviews

Jean Morneau

I just wished I had only one professor as brilliant and interesting as Dr Houstoun way back when I was in college. Each of his answers to whatever questions being asked are like mini lectures in their own right. Even if you didn't use any of the moves or tricks taught, but believe me you will, simply sitting down to watch him perform and listen to his explanations would be more than worth the price of admission. The best university course I have ever attended!

William McGregor

Day 2 - matching decks routine worth the cost of the course - been practising the colour change from yesterday all day . Best card lecture I have attended in a long time.

Martin Monty

I am only half way through watching the live first lecture - and it is fantastic ! I was fortunate enough to see Will in a small lecture in June 2015 in Reading. I was totally blown away by his Coins Matrix. Tonight, I am able to watch him perform and I can enjoy it without any distractions. The Alakazam Academy means I can re-watch the lecture to catch the bits that I really want to focus on. I love the various camera angles. I have attended all of the Alakazam Academy lectures and will keep doing so, as the standard is excellent. I really enjoy hearing the thoughts and comments of other students. Will explains everything really well and makes it a joy to learn from him.

William McGregor

I enjoyed this and got 2 moves that will fool my colleagues worth the cost of the lecture. Still got tomorrow night to go.

Sam Wheeler

Half way through day one and off to a great start. After some interesting discussion at the start the lecture begins with an interesting method to locate the 4 aces from a shuffled deck. This is something I've tried to play with during the break and I'm thinking about using from now on. Then into an effect from The Notebook which was pretty good but I loved the work on the colour change, particularly the discussion about the natural hand positions in various corners. If the rest of this continues as strong as the first quarter, and as well as the coin course, I'm sure it will be great!

Benoit

Will is as interesting when he talks about card as coin and this course is as good as last time. It would be sad to miss that!

Richard Groom

What an elegant chap with an elegant mind. His thinking is as refined as his card handling. A pleasure to spend some time with Mr Houston.

Jean Morneau

Just one word: "Wow, wow and wow again!" OK, these are five words I guess... "Fantastic!" then. Can't wait for Day 2!

Danny Marsh

"Teaching is a work of the heart". Very apt quote for Dr. Will. His teaching is informative but so interesting. His tricks are simply magical. The first trick on day one is simply worth the whole course alone. Such a brilliant principle that I'd never seen or read before. I have completed many, many courses with Alakazam. This is a strong contender for the most powerful and informative. This will take many repeat viewings. All easy enough with Alakazam's brilliant concept.

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