I normally don’t review videos I get. However, in this case, I enjoyed everything. That made reviewing this lecture easy. Some items I liked more than others but each item is definitely worth your attention.

Ed begins with a very strong version of Chicago Opener. As in the original version, the back of the first selection changes color. Then the second selection changes places with the first selection. Then the first selection changes places with the second selection. There are a lot of “bits of business” throughout the presentation that takes this version to a higher level.

Ed’s version of Card To Pocket is one of my favorites in his lecture. This effect incorporates the transposition of two selected cards which makes this effect outstanding.

What’s Yours Is Mine is another favorite of mine. The unexpected ending makes this a super fooler. You definitely do not want to pass this one up. It’s a killer effect!

Man From West Palm Beach is another effect you don’t want to pass up. The deck is shuffled face up cards into face down cards. The four aces are produced one at a time with the deck righting itself for a strong ending.

Psychic Fail is an effect that is very strong and very easy to do. It also has many comedy interludes within its presentation, which makes it a worker. In addition, Ed tells an informative story about how to connect with your audience. It’s a lesson he learned from Bill Malone which we can apply to our magic.

The lecture is filled with lots of doable yet very strong magic. This is one of the best lecture videos I have seen in a very long time. In addition to his lecture, Ed also includes a bonus effect in a separate video. This effect, The Poker Players Pickup, has received rave reviews by some of today’s leading close up magicians. I give this lecture video a huge thumb’s up!

Ed Oschmann Penguin Lecture from 2017.
2.5 hr long lecture of real world workers that keeps Ed busy working and getting paid. I liked that the performance pieces of each effect were shot live the day before the actual lecture. This way we got to see spectator reactions as well as how these polished routines play out in a live spectator type setting, as opposed to in a lecture set up.
Ed does a very good job discussing each effect, teaching each effect, all the nuances of the routines, proper crediting and why they work in the real world. Ed gives very valuable advice on what gets the reactions while performing. We must know our audiences, we must read the room and more importantly, we must perform for the audiences, not always what we want or like to perform as magicians. The knuckle busting effects may bring us satisfaction when properly executed, however, the reaction to that particular effect may end up with a polite clap from the spectators. Depending on if its a paid event, a corporate event, working the bar or restaurant, in order to be invited back or work steady, laughter and loud fun audience responses are crucial.Ed details these ideas, thoughts, stories and shares valuable tips all across this lecture.

I thoroughly enjoyed this release. Not sure how I originally missed this one as it is now 6 years old.
Sleights shared included Charlier Shuffle, Herman Pass, One Hand Top Palm and tips, Hindu Shuffle subtleties,James Ellis Pocket Load, Lepaul Replacement, Top Change, Deck Switch, Erdnase Change subtlety,Triple Undercut and a few more I’m probably missing.

A few of the trick highlights for me was Poker Player Pickup, The Man from West Palm Beach,Yours Truly ,What’s Yours is Mine,Pocket Pool and Jokes on Me. Really workable doable fun routines.

* Note* for me personally, I was not a true fan of Ed’s performing character. I must admit though, that it works for him and gets him the work and the money. That’s what counts. However, during the discussions, the tips, the teaching of the details and effects as well as the ending conversation with Dan Harlan, Ed has a relaxed demeanor, a professional attitude and is a funny guy. I would prefer his performing character more in tune with his natural self. But again, it works for him and he is the working magician getting paid, not me!

All of the magic presented and thoroughly explained hits hard.

Highly Recommended!

I really enjoyed this lecture. The routines are practical close-up card magic. He used to work at Malone’s and he gave a lot of good advice from what he learned from Bill Malone. There is great wisdom there for the working magician. He has original presentations. There are some slights on this lecture that can be on the intermediate side of difficulty, for example, one-handed top palm. But as a whole I think the skill level required to do most of these effects are within reach of the Penguin audience. Ed does an excellent job communicating and explaining the routines and sleights in detail. I like how he took classic effects such as the Chicago opener and Triumph and put his original spin on it. Made me re-think how I can make my own changes to those effects.

He has a great routine where a selected card is chosen. He takes out a card with an 8 ball picture on it and an actual real eight ball pops out of there and then later the eightball vanishes and the 8 ball picture card turns into the selected card! So visual.

He has a great card in the pocket transposition. There is a great presentation he has using the deck, 2 selected cards and the out to lunch principal. Very original thinking of this routine.

Not only did I find great advice on this lecture. He has a great sense of humor and it was entertaining to watch.

Edward does a great job here, making the lecture not only informative but entertaining as well. The bonus download is really the strong worker here though. I think it would be safer to use your own patter on it, but the potential is there for a spectacular piece of party magic and fun.

Like the other reviewers have said, this is one to get…….nothing fancy, just entertaining routines that will appeal to most any type of audience.
I got this mainly to see his take on the Man From New York (which I’ll use from now on ) but he tips a lot more stuff that’s practical, workable material.

This was a great lecture full of workers and terrific advice.
The Best-Party-Trick-Ever was the crown jewel but it was full of other great — and dare I say better–versions of tricks you already do.
Tiny Kreskin, and Yours Truly come to mind and his Psychic Fail is a surreal closer.

Great thinking. Fun effects

I’m always interested in what becomes popular in the magic community and what falls under the radar.

Now personally, I don’t review much anymore. I spend most of my time performing for laymen, working at Conjuror.Community and learning. I love magic a TON and try to find the good stuff. However, that is getting harder and harder to find. It seems like almost everything is rushed to market and has little thought in it. Where is the deep knowledge of how it plays out? Where is the 1000+ hours spent making something into an entertaining piece of magic (note the word entertaining). Especially for close-up magic. The amount of material released is insane.

So what do I look for when I want to learn new magic or maybe spawn an idea? I listen to performers who make a living at the stuff and don’t release a TON of it. Edward Oschmann is a PERFECT example of someone I want to listen to. He’s clearly performed these pieces enough times to know a TON about them (However, Dan Harlan also tosses in a few great ideas in there).

Edward is entertaining, smart and talented. Now that penguin is including live performances, you get to see what he performs like as he strolls through a party or performs close-up. Its just a fun ride and he gets into the nitty gritty on all of it.

I’ll be adding two of these to my strolling repertoire which is huge for me after watching a lecture. So, if you want to see a worker explain the good stuff, you need to watch this lecture. If you are a “card guy” you’ll love the little touches on palming and other sleights. If you are into performance, you will love Edward’s character and style.

Basically, just go buy this. You’ll enjoy this. If you don’t enjoy this… I think you’re crazy.

Do you like David Williamson, Chad Long, or David Acer? Here is a guy that has put a lot of thought into entertainment and has figured out what plays for laypeople. If you are looking for an 8-phase oil and water this is not for you. If you want your real-world audiences to laugh and remember you without huge technical difficulty do yourself a favor and get this. There are two routines here that are going straight into my working sets. You will laugh often and learn nuggets of wisdom along the way. On the surface his character is quirky and a little unsure of himself but beneath is one clever dude who has put a lot of time into his magic both in his head and in the field. If you are a fan of Bill Malone, you will also learn the wisdom that he passed onto Edward while they worked together. Practicality? Check
Entertainment? Check.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this lecture as I wasn’t aware of Ed, but was in for a nice surprise! This lecture was filled with practical, and for the most part technically easy, strong magic for real people. So if you’re looking for some really good magic to go out and perform that will let you concentrate on presentation, this is well worth checking out.

This was a great lecture. Mr. Oschmann’s work was filled with the kind of comments and techniques that are gold for workers. The pieces on this lecture were not for those who long for something to fool their buddies at the next club meeting (though some of the material will do that), but was stuff that has clearly been done hundreds of times in front of real people.
If you do close-up at restaurants, walk around at weddings or clubs, or just love good, clean, well thought out magic, get this lecture. You will be glad that you did. I am!

In short, I really enjoyed this lecture and recommend it.

In long, this card lecture (plus one napkin effect) is packed with finely honed, practical, and entertaining material that is taught very well. I can’t imagine anyone coming away from this lecture without finding something they will use. Personal favorites were Visual Card to Pocket, Pocket Pool, and The Man from West Palm Beach. They will require some work, but they are worth it. However, what I particularly appreciated about this lecture were the many little things that Mr. Oschmann contributed beyond just the nuts-and-bolts explanations. It’s these little things, the details and subtleties that can really elevate an effect, that really fill out this lecture. There are touches on controls, forces, directing attention, and switching a deck sprinkled throughout. There’s also a nice tutorial on the one-handed top palm. Alternative handlings are often included for different ability levels.

This is strong, thoughtful, working material taught clearly and thoroughly.

So, full disclosure, Edward offered this on the Cafe for anyone wiling to give an honest interview. I took him up on it and I’m glad I did.

I’ll keep my review short and to the point: this is great, commercial magic. These tricks could easily be added to anyone’s working repertoire.

My personal favorites are Visual Card To Pocket, Pocket Pool and Jokes On me, but these are all workers.

Difficulty level is, I’d say, within the range of most anyone willing to put in some practice. Nothing too extreme, but some moves will take time to get down depending on your skill level.

I’ll definitely be using some of this material in my close up set. Thanks Edward!

I am an amateur hobbyist who enjoys watching the lectures as others might enjoy a movie. Then I will rewatch with a pack of cards in hand. Mr. Oschmann is a skilled performer who has spent much time with some of magic’s greats. A few of the tricks use sleights that are beyond me, (but probably available to many of you!), but even in those explanations there are tips I found useful (a simple convincing) addition to a false Hindu Shuffle. Yours Truly is a great variation of Red Hot Mama, and Psychic Fail and The Poker Players Pickup are straightforward and great fun. Dan Harlan is his usual competent host. I have returned to this lecture several times and would recommend it.

I normally don’t review videos I get. However, in this case, I enjoyed everything. That made reviewing this lecture easy. Some items I liked more than others but each item is definitely worth your attention.

Ed begins with a very strong version of Chicago Opener. As in the original version, the back of the first selection changes color. Then the second selection changes places with the first selection. Then the first selection changes places with the second selection. There are a lot of “bits of business” throughout the presentation that takes this version to a higher level.

Ed’s version of Card To Pocket is one of my favorites in his lecture. This effect incorporates the transposition of two selected cards which makes this effect outstanding.

What’s Yours Is Mine is another favorite of mine. The unexpected ending makes this a super fooler. You definitely do not want to pass this one up. It’s a killer effect!

Man From West Palm Beach is another effect you don’t want to pass up. The deck is shuffled face up cards into face down cards. The four aces are produced one at a time with the deck righting itself for a strong ending.

Psychic Fail is an effect that is very strong and very easy to do. It also has many comedy interludes within its presentation, which makes it a worker. In addition, Ed tells an informative story about how to connect with your audience. It’s a lesson he learned from Bill Malone which we can apply to our magic.

The lecture is filled with lots of doable yet very strong magic. This is one of the best lecture videos I have seen in a very long time. In addition to his lecture, Ed also includes a bonus effect in a separate video. This effect, The Poker Players Pickup, has received rave reviews by some of today’s leading close up magicians. I give this lecture video a huge thumb’s up!

Mr. Oschmann teaches several effects primarily designed for Close-Up performances. Some of the tricks could be adapted to Walk Around and Cabaret, as well.

Ed has a nice style of teaching and gives provenance to all of the effects, he teaches.

If you are into learning some good quality effects like Card to Pocket or even using some extra props, then this lecture is for you.

Many of the sleights, that Ed teaches are from beginner to intermediate level. Like any good magic, practice will be key in perfecting what you learn.

In this lecture, you will first see a video performance by Mr. Oschmann and then get an in studio tutorial.

I highly recommend Ed’s work and techniques to those who want to further their magical endeavors.

Ed’s personable style, rather than a “lecturer” makes this fun as well as easier to learn things. And as a worker, there’s so many tools in here we can learn from to create all new effects.

Ed is a true professional and a worker in the real world….not just in the magic world!

You may not be familiar with Ed’s work, and that’s because he’s out there making a living performing the magic that you will see on this lecture. Everything that Ed teaches here works in the real world; there are no pipe dreams, or effects that are only based on a half brained idea. All of the effects that Ed teaches are fantastic and professional in every sense of the word. You will not find one bad effect on this lecture!

Some of the most important things that Ed teaches here are based on his experiences that he had when working at Bill Malone’s bar….listen carefully and take notes on the stuff he shares with these stories. Information and advice like this are priceless.

If you want solid material and advice that will make you a better magician, then look no further. I have watched this a number of times, and each time, I learn something new that I missed the time before, there’s so much to take in….you will definitely get your bang for the buck with this lecture!

Watch, listen, and learn from a true pro. I can’t recommend this enough!! And, besides, Ed is a super nice and great guy!!! I could go on praising this. But, I’ll just say to purchase this and get ready for a great journey! As you’ll quickly learn, the journey is the most important part to creating great and memorable magic. And, Ed is a wonderful guide for great magic and great fun!

It’s a great collection of subtleties, touches and presentations for classic card effects. Many close up guys and restaurant workers will get new ideas and effects to add to their arsenal.

It’s a great collection of subtleties, touches and presentations for classic card effects. Many close up guys and restaurant workers will get new ideas and effects to add to their arsenal.

Ed is a great magician and teacher. These effects are WORKERS! I use many of these in my working repertoire.

Fantastic. Edward Oschmann truly understands entertainment and everything in this lecture is practical and workable. If you are a fan of Bill Malone, Edward passes on some of the advice and knowledge that Bill passed onto him while working at his bar. There are plenty of new and comedic twists on classic plots, I will be putting two of these routines into my working sets.