"Invisible Touch" DVD by Lior Manor
Suggested Retail USD$35.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

"Invisible Touch", a DVD by Lior Manor, is exactly what I've been waiting for: the creator of the wonderful "Invisible Touch" teaching his work in great detail with all the subtleties and psychological pieces firmly in place.

I'm late getting on the whole "Invisible Touch" bandwagon because I'd heard through the grapevine (okay, okay, from a lot of folks I trust) that I had to see how Lior Manor did it to really appreciate it. So I waited for that very thing. And I waited. And I waited some more.

I have to say that, considering the "Invisible Touch" DVD, the wait was worth it. This disc has Manor teaching his creation thoroughly and with an eye to all the bits and pieces that make this something special.

For those in the dark, "Invisible Touch" is a way to have a spectator feel a light touch while everyone see the performer's hands came nowhere near the spectator. It's a small thing, but it's a powerful thing and done in conjunction with a larger effect, is just the right ingredient to move the impact of an effect up a few notches.

In terms of those effects, Manor teaches some neat ones, if not a bit "old hat" if you've been in the field for a while. Manor covers a couple of spoon bends that are very slick: one is a "in the hands" 90-degree bend while the other is a "in the hands" twist. In addition, he teaches his version of "PK Time" and, in a bit of weirdness, a Himber Ring routine. All of these routines are good stuff. Add Manor's "Invisible Touch" to each one and you're talking about some memorable routines.

That's really what "Invisible Touch" is all about: taking an existing routine and upping the amperage to wring even more out of an effect. Manor teaches how he does just that and, even if you've been using some flavor or the other of this, his insights are incredibly valuable and definitely worth having.

For those not familiar with "Invisible Touch" (and I can't imagine there are many out there, considering the exposure -- both good and bad -- this has gotten over the years), it uses a gimmick you can pick up at any magic shop. There's no set-up other than having the gimmick on you, and resets are just as nonexistent. You do have some issues, like lighting for example, but Manor's handling all but gets rid of any drawbacks you may run into. It's easily done, mechanically speaking, and the presentational/psychological pieces are simple enough to grasp. "Invisible Touch" is a great, real-world, piece of work.

In addition to "Invisible Touch" and the routines that go with it, Manor also teaches his presentation for the "10-Card Poker Deal". While I liked his addition of the use of money that keeps magically changing as the cards dictate, the routine left me cold. This isn't to say it's a bad routine, just weaker than versions I am in love with, particularly Bruce Bernstein's "Psych-Out". It's worth seeing to watch how well Manor presents his take on the classic, but it likely won't have you dropping any version you currently do.

So is "Invisible Touch" for you? If you're after something that plays much bigger than it by all rights should, something to give a bit more power to an existing mentalism routine, then yes, you should get this without a second thought. Personally, I think you should also get it if you're already doing a version of it: there's nothing quite like a creator describing his own work, with all the parts of it that often go without notice or mention.

In the end, it's Manor's work and you should learn from him all you need to know about "Invisible Touch".

"Invisible Touch" DVD by Lior Manor
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

Material: 8
Manor teaches his handlings and subtleties for his creation in a variety of different frameworks: a couple of very nice spoon-bends, a version of "Psychokinetic Time", and even the Himber ring. This is extremely good work and will get your creative juices flowing. On the downside is his handling and presentation for the "10-Card Poker Deal" which, while entertaining and with a neat spin to things, just doesn't pack the punch of other routines.

Practicality: 9
Slip the gimmick on and you're ready to go. That's about as simple as it gets. The gimmick has some intrinsic issues you need to worry about, such as lighting and the like, but Manor's handling deals with these issues admirably. All in all, there is little to worry about with this one.

Quality of Production: 5
The production values are good here, but the navigation would benefit from being broken into more chapters so a specific handling could be found easily. Also, like other folks, I've run into problems getting this to play in my DVD player though it did work just fine on my computer.

Quality of Instruction: 10
This is Manor's baby and he knows its ins-and-outs better than anyone; his instruction shows that. Covering the mechanics in detail and some beautiful subtleties, this video goes to show there's nothing like learning direct from the creator.

Presentation: 10
It's all about using that "touch" to heighten the effect and Manor shows exactly how to do that using the smallest of things to wring out the greatest impact.

Shane

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