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Search and Destroy

Aaron Fisher

(Based on 2 reviews)
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Real Magic in the spectator's hands

As magicians, we project an air of mysterious, hidden ability. Our audiences are envious of this power, and their secret is that they wish they could do what we do. Search & Destroy gives them that opportunity - in a fun, entertaining, and completely self-working way. And yet without offering them a single clue as to how it's all done!

The plot is simple: the slow-motion sandwich effect. A card is selected and returned to the pack. Two kings are placed face-up near the top and bottom of the pack - they move in toward the center, one step at a time, until only one card is trapped between them. Of course, that one card turns out to be the selection. But here's the rub: the entire effect happens with the spectator holding the cards! Better yet, this trick is all but self-working. If you can control a playing card, you can perform this miracle.
  • Virtually self working; allows you to concentrate on learning the touches and nuances that turn this trick into a miracle
  • Audience tested thousands of times
  • Widely considered the best sandwich trick of all time
  • Any deck, anytime, anywhere
Practical, powerful technique - lessons that will evolve your magic

Search & Destroy also includes a detailed explanation of the Nowhere Pass - Aaron's acclaimed and well-thought-out approach to the Bluff Pass, long considered the province of only the most advanced sleight-of-hand experts. With the care and attention that has come to define Aaron's teaching, this segment will give you a new tool in your arsenal that you will find uses for in many of your own favorite effects. And that's only the beginning: the lessons you learn here about tension, focus, and design in sleight of hand will improve every card trick you do.
  • Learn the secret of soft, elegant sleight of hand
  • Perform surrounded
  • Any conditions
  • Completely invisible from any angle
  • Control a card to any position in the pack
Running Time Approximately: 1hr 30min

Reviews

Josh Burch

Jun 25, 2014

Search and Destroy is an in the spectator’s hands slow motion sandwich trick. For a card trick to be in the spectators hands is rare and in this case it makes the magic that much stronger. I don’t love sandwich effects, I feel that they are a dime a dozen and lack in creativity. That said, Search and Destroy is one of my go to card tricks. I think that it is a great trick and I feel like Aaron Fisher is a great teacher. I don’t think that it warrants a $30.00 price tag though, more on that in a moment.

On the download you learn a handful of sleights and even a couple simple sandwich effects. Among the sleights you learn is the bluff pass, Aaron Fisher’s Nowhere Pass, and Marlo’s Tilt. All of these facilitate in you doing the trick. Even with those sleights the way that Aaron teaches them to you makes it feel almost like Search and Destroy is self working.

I have been using this a for a while now and I love it. I use it when I have a tough spectator who’s trying to steal the lime light. It gives them the sense that they are the magician and to have them do it makes it all the more powerful. Aaron says it in the download and I would just about agree, the reactions are almost as strong as sponge balls.

So what about the price? For the same price I can stop by Big Blind Media and get a whole DVD full of self working card tricks by acknowledged legends or I could buy Aaron’s book the Paper Engine and learn it there for cheaper than thirty dollars. As of now Aaron has a deal going on where you can subscribe to his newsletter and he’ll give the DVD to you in download form for free. Take advantage of this offer if you can! So my rating is different depending on the price, if its free I’ll give it 4 stars, if it’s $30 I’ll give it 1 star. With so many other resources out there, a single sandwich effect is not worth $30.
(Top ▲)

Fredrick Turner

Official Reviewer

Nov 27, 2012

Calling Aaron Fisher's Search and Destroy a one trick DVD is a misnomer. Yes it is a DVD that teaches one trick but its more than that. The hour and half DVD is a lesson in studying, learning and performing great card magic.

This well produced DVD begins with Fisher perform the effect in a real close-up environment - performing in a restaurant with a real audience. This isn't a “street” magic situation. This is a real performance with Fisher and his participants interacting as it really happens in a close-up performance.

Next Fisher teaches Search and Destroy - a two phase sandwich effect where the performer does a quick version followed by a longer version performed by an audience member. The inspiration for Search and Destroy was Larry Jennings’ The Searchers - a slow motion sandwich effect. Fisher structured the second phase so that all of the dirty work is actually performed by the participant while allowing the participant to be the star. Brilliant thinking.

The last 45 minutes of the DVD focuses on Fisher’s Nowhere Pass. This is lesson in how to take an unconvincing sleight, the Bluff Pass, and rework it into a great utility move.

Throughout the explanations you gain insight into the thinking of a professional. If you are unfamiliar with Fisher, his thought process and attention to detail, I would recommend checking out his Card Magic Minute videos on his YouTube channel.

Both Search and Destroy and the Nowhere Pass were originally published in Fisher’s The Paper Engine (2003). The DVD was directed by Wayne Houchin. All in all, it is a great package for the intermediate card handler - or a beginner who wants to work.
(Top ▲)