Switch by Ben Earl

Switch by Ben Earl

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A curated series of magic effects pushing the boundaries of creativity and performance. Each piece offers a unique blend of technical mastery and psychological insight, designed to astonish both laymen and magicians alike.
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‘Switch’ is an in-depth exploration of the Transposition plot using nothing but ordinary props and skill. The technique, psychology and presentations are covered in detail including multiple variations to assists in stage-by-stage learning.

If you are prepared to practice you will have two transpositions that look and feel 100% real.

Paper Switch: The performer places an Ace of Spades in their pocket and the spectator holds any contrasting card in their hands. Without a false move both cards magically transpose!

Metal Switch: The performer holds a silver coin in their closed hand and the spectator holds a copper coin in their closed hand. Without a false move the coins impossibly transpose!

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The Hidden Collection

Forgotten thoughts on sleight of hand and magic

We hear about how the best secrets are hidden in books, but it’s hard to know which texts really deliver on that promise. Look no further.

Over the years Ben has put out a limited number of small innocuous pamphlets containing ideas on sleight of hand technique, magic, and specific effects from his repertoire. These publications never made it into the hands of many magicians, but those who do treasure them.

Each pamphlet is focused around a specific topic. Purchase any individually or the complete set for a discount.

Shining new light on classics

However, there are touches and refinements contained within that aren’t discussed anywhere else. Little twists that elevate already powerful magic to phenomenal heights. 

This is Not a Box

A deeply personal snapshot into Ben’s approach to magic. Deceptively simple ideas are maximized to their fullest potential combined with robust theoretical underpinnings and refined technique. 

  • Selected Time Travel: A beautiful transformation of a card through the lens of time travel.
  • A Choice Illusion: A card transformation that is viewed and understood differently by everyone who sees it. 
  • The More You Know: You use radical honesty to tell your spectator the exact method of the trick, yet they still do not see or understand how the effect happened. 
  • Confirmation Bias: A divination of a mentally chosen card that not only feels real, but is deviously open about its methodology. 
  • Primary Movement: The stunning teleportation of a coin from one hand to the other. This is Ben’s reputation maker and a modern classic.
  • Pocket Time Machine: A powerful vanish of a coin through a conceptual demonstration of time travel. 
  • Plus two essays, Real Magic and The Empty Space that will fundamentally change how you approach performing magic.

Eye Candy

Visual magic combined with strong psychological underpinnings that create three hyper-visual moments that will make your spectators think they were slipped a hallucinogenic substance. No flaps, threads, or other gimmicks either, all you need is a pen, a coin, and a deck of cards. 

  • Framework: An insane vanishing deck where you watch the entire deck slowly melt away leaving only four aces behind. 
  • Memento: A mixture of concrete and surreal manipulations of a signed playing card, jumping forward and backwards through space before their signature visually morphs into the performer’s! 
  • The SDS Vanish: An impossibly clean, bare-handed vanish of a coin which looks completely real and can be done standing, surrounded, and in a T-shirt!

Switch

An in-depth exploration of making the transposition plot feel 100% real, using only normal cards and coins. No gaffs or duplicates required. Multiple versions are explored for every skill level.

  • Paper Switch: An Ace of Spades is placed in the performer’s pocket and the spectator holds any contrasting card between their hands. With no false moves both cards impossibly transpose. 
  • Metal Switch: The performer and spectator each hold a different coin in their hands. With only two coins in play they magically switch places. This is the ultimate answer to the copper-silver plot. 

F for Fiction

Three powerful card effects Ben developed while working under in the most strenuous performing environments. All deeply deceptive yet not technically hard to do. The perfect blend of efficient methodology and robust psychology. 

  • Four-Card Impossible: A deeply fooling and hands-off four-of-a-kind discovery from a deck genuinely shuffled by the spectator.
  • Finish 52: A painfully clean card discovery from your pocket under test conditions. Your participant names any card and you are able to pull it out with one hand. No extra deck. 
  • Followers: The most direct and efficient version of Dai Vernon’s Travelers possible: four cards instantly and cleanly disappear from the deck and appear in four separate pockets. 

We only have a limited supply left and once they’re gone we won’t be reprinting any more.

Hidden but not lost

(Re)Discover the moment

Customer Reviews

Based on 2 reviews
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M
Michael Vincent
Excellent

I think this study is excellent.
I enjoyed the various levels leading up to the final solution and Ben's preferred approach. This shows an academic mindset and constant re-evaluation of this routine and concept.

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M
Mr.E52s
Excellent

This book (booklet) has only two chapters. The first chapter is Paper Switches and the second is Metal Switches and the premise is simple one object switches with another.

In Paper Switches, the performer chooses the Ace of Spades then has an audience member select a red contrasting card (The reasoning for this is explained). The performer places the Ace in his coat pocket and the spectator holds his selection trapped between his hands.

The effect is simple but jaw dropping, the Ace transposes with the spectator's card.

There are five methods to perform this effect, the first method is very good. The second method is gooder. The third method is gooder-er, while the fourth and fifth method is gooder-er...er than the first two.

Practice is obviously required; however, within reach of the experienced beginner and intermediate practicing prestidigitators.

The Metal Chapter, like the first chapter involves the transposition of two coins similar in nature to the "paper" switches.

I enjoyed the interspersed timing explanations and the philosophy behind the reasoning on why Ben Earl created these effects in his own streamlined and high impact fashion. Although this booklet has only two effects, this is definitely worth adding to your collection and repertoire.

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