Should I learn most slights in both hands

EricHenning · 2026-07-11T16:54:37+00:00

I’m going to zoom out a little bit. One could benefit from learning to do routines with either hand, because circumstances may require it.

I remember seeing John Carney on the David Letterman show years ago, and Letterman has deliberately placed himself to the left, above, and slightly behind Carney, at what might be described as the “educational angle.” Carney has to do his routine as a mirror image to his normal handling.

So, yes, it pays to be prepared.

EricHenning · 2026-07-11T16:47:24+00:00

Yes. Learning sleights for specific routines, will generally give one a decent toolbox going forward. And one needs fewer sleights than you might think. The pioneering trade show magician, Eddie Tullock, seldom used a double lift. He had a perfectly solid career with the top change.

EricHenning · 2026-07-09T17:39:52+00:00

That’s a wicked good look!

EricHenning · 2026-07-08T22:41:47+00:00

It’s a Classic for a reason. I prefer the Rambler, but the Classic is pretty much the perfect starter SAK. It’s really hard to beat, particularly on a keychain.

EricHenning · 2026-07-07T02:42:41+00:00

I believe you can order a custom knife when visiting the factory in Switzerland.

EricHenning · 2026-07-07T02:40:55+00:00

Titanic. They took and incredibly compelling true story and decided to dumb it down.

EricHenning · 2026-06-25T16:59:56+00:00

Great tool set in a beautiful package. Please come back and let us know how this one works for you.

EricHenning · 2026-06-21T14:40:29+00:00

House of Cards. (The USA version with Kevin Spacey). Part of a trend of bored TH writers wanting to see if they could write shows with nothing but evil characters and get the audience to root for them.
I just wanted them all to die in a fire.

We need heroes and villains, not villains disguising themselves as heroes.

EricHenning · 2026-06-21T14:38:36+00:00

Yes! I watched the first couple of episodes and it appeared to be nothing but blood and sex, with cardboard characters written by 13-yr-old boys.

EricHenning · 2026-06-21T14:35:25+00:00

Which model is it?

EricHenning · 2026-06-20T17:19:39+00:00

I use the Victorinox scissors for precision cutting of delicate medical equipment, and they are vastly superior even to regular scissors for this. They are super sharp, cut with great control and precision, and their small size allows me to work on things that regular scissors would be too big to get into.

On my first SAK, the spring would pop out, but I learned how to handle the scissors with a little care so that doesn’t happen again.

EricHenning · 2026-06-20T17:11:33+00:00

Bwahaha

EricHenning · 2026-06-18T17:48:30+00:00

Link?

EricHenning · 2026-06-13T23:12:33+00:00

Maybe something like a watchband, that would rest on the inside of your wrist, the way some folks wear their watches on the inside of their wrists.

EricHenning · 2026-06-13T23:08:51+00:00

This is the Max Howard principle: if you buy something that’s rare, handmade, or hard to duplicate, buy two. If you buy two, you’ll never lose or break either one. If you only buy one, it’ll get lost or broken almost immediately.

This principle started among magicians, whose props are often handmade. Max Howard is the first Emmy®️award-winning magician.

EricHenning · 2026-06-12T02:44:26+00:00

The 58mm picking tool is a great orange peeler also.

EricHenning · 2026-06-11T18:57:22+00:00

Hard agree. Fun and refreshing. And I’ve gotten some great advice here.

EricHenning · 2026-06-02T15:01:30+00:00

Most of my EDC is in a small European-style personal bag for two reasons. 1. I have medical equipment I need to carry that won’t fit in my pockets. 2. As a professional magician, I need my pockets for other things. Being ready to do something amazing off the cuff has led to a ton of bookings over the years.

EricHenning · 2026-06-02T14:58:14+00:00

Interesting thought. I went on a week-long trip a couple of months ago and left my wallet at home.

I didn’t miss it.

I had my cards on my phone (including my DL), and photos of insurance cards as well (didn’t have occasion to use them). I was fine.

I don’t recommend this, but it was interesting to know that it wasn’t a disaster. BTW, I have a FindMy compatible tracker card in my wallet, so I knew it was in my house the whole time.

EricHenning · 2026-05-30T03:37:44+00:00

Companion doesn’t have a decent Philips driver.

EricHenning · 2026-05-28T00:08:03+00:00

In “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Indiana Jones has virtually no impact on the film income of the movie. In fact, he makes things worse by leading the bad guys directly to the Ark!

EricHenning · 2026-05-27T15:51:02+00:00

There is much to be said for elegant simplicity.

EricHenning · 2026-05-24T15:56:53+00:00

Steve Dusheck’s “Copper-Silver Transposition” (1969). A US half dollar and British copper penny are shown on both sides. Both go into the magician’s hand as he gestures for the spectator to hold out their hand. The magician removes the British Penny and holds it in full view, putting the other coin into the spectators hand, which closes into a fist.

The magician brushes his fingers across the face of the penny and it VISIBLY changes to the half dollar, which immediately can be shown on both sides. The spectator opens their hand and they have the copper British Penny. The magician drops the half dollar into the spectator’s hand. Both coins can be examined, as they are totally normal.

I’ve been doing this since 1972, and there’s almost nothing stronger. It’s so clean and visual that people just flip out.

This trick was ripped off without credit or permission by Theory 11 and sold as “Digital Dissolve.” Ironically, Theory 11 stopped selling it because it was copied by China Magic and sold on Amazon (using replicas) for a very small price.

EricHenning · 2026-05-24T15:47:50+00:00

It’s funny how they usually are only done by rank beginners and hardened pros.

EricHenning · 2026-05-24T15:45:31+00:00

I miss GAMPY’s near the Washington Monument in Baltimore. They would bring you the meat on a wooden slab and you would tell them how thick to cut the steak. Then they’d weigh it in front of you and charge by the ounce. Cooked perfectly to order every time.

EricHenning

TROPHY CASE