Jamy Ian Swiss Masterclass

Alexei

Spending 3+ hours with Jamy Ian Swiss is an investment and an amazing educational opportunity. The instructions is detailed and top notch, providing details (and multiple variations) on two of the techniques in card magic: palming card(s) and performing a classic pass. The video is well shot, giving close-ups and various angles to reveal the nuances on the hidden actions and secret movements. Special emphasis is placed on psychology of misdirection. I appreciated the applications, as well as the supplementary (reading) materials. Mr. Swiss is true master. Highly Recommended.

Dean

Kevin

As usual, Jamy is such an interesting person with a wealth of knowledge. He is an excellent teacher and very good at explaining techniques and theory. Very happy with the purchase. I would also recommend reading anything that he has written as well.

Michael

Excellent demo and exposition of the pass. Jamy also connected a few dots regarding the history of various passes. all in all, I'd recommend to anyone trying to attain mastery of the move.

William

Jamy is a master of all the expert, fundamental handlings: Erdnase/Vernon/Jennings et. al. He also teaches ideas about how to make some of them even better.

Francis

Whether you're relatively new or a seasoned pro at card sleight of hand, this is an OUTSTANDING in-depth instructional on palming and the pass. Thorough and full of nuances, these videos provided me with tips and guidance to correct bad habits I've been doing for over 25 years. I frankly hadn't appreciated the usefulness of Topping the Deck, and one of the card-replacements passed on to Jamy (from Johnny Thompson) is just beautiful and diabolical. Buy this, watch it, watch it again, and review it regularly to refresh and polish your card skills. Yes, even you.

Ted

Jamy clearly put a lot of effort and thought ahead of time into these sessions and shared a great deal of information. The classes were well structured and there was no "rambling", just right to the point teaching. During the Zoom session Jamy was cordial, entertaining, and especially informative. This masterclass is one of the better masterclass values so far in terms of how much solid information/teaching and technique was imparted...and if you have any interest at all in the techniques listed for this class, then this one is definitely worth your attention.

Danny

Rafael

A very complete and overwhelming study of two of the most utilized tools in sleight of hand card magic. Jamy Ian Swiss goes into detail, giving proper crediting and execution of the different variations of each sleight. Each variations builds upon the other, giving the student a curriculum where they have several options for the different routines and effects that require palming or the pass. This class made me revise each step of techniques that I have used for at least a decade in my magic, and I should thank Jamy for shedding light in new considerations for the masterful execution of sleight of hand. Highly recommended for someone familiarized with these techniques and is ready to take the next step in their learning curve.

Gareth

Packed full of information, including unpublished work, history and more. Even the Q&A was split roughly half and half lecture and Q&A. There are also excellent supplemental materials that actually do supplement the video content very well - Jamy has put in a lot of work and it shows.

Samuel

I have been a fan of Jamy Ian Smith for over twenty-five years since he first lectured in Florida. Is he a curmudgeon? Yes. Can he be a bit of a jerk? Absolutely. But I think what drew me to him and his teachings all those years ago was his passion. I’ve seen him lecture back in the day when he was still doing hot living rooms; I had the great privilege of attending one of the “Card Clinics” with Roberto Giobbi (a life-changing experience). Along the way I learned something about Mr. Swiss. The reason he could be a grump at conventions is that people were taking an art he loves and treating it as if it were “paint-by-number.” He cares about magic and is unafraid to stand up and point out those who don’t meet his standard. All of this is oversimplified of course (you need to read his three books; then track down his Genii book reviews, some of which simply wonderful; then look around for his lecture notes. I bought mine in the ‘80s so I don’t know about their current status.
The workshop itself: One of the things that I appreciate about Mr. Swiss is that his work is well organized. Week one was the palm, week two was the pass. Even if you have already “mastered” these moves, there is a great deal to learn about how to approach learning a sleight, picking up speed, reading carefully. There are nuggets of gold here.A second thing that I appreciate about this class is Mr. Swiss’s care and willingness to share written material. Every week there is a PDF of the writings to which Mr. Swiss referred. Maybe it’s because I am a historian, maybe it’s because I have a small booklet published, maybe it’s because I’m wacky, but whatever the case, knowing and caring about those upon whose shoulders we stand and giving credit to those who have come before us is important.All of this to say that I learned a great deal from Mr. Swiss, far more than the title might indicate. I highly recommend this work if you want to learn the moves, but also if you want to learn how to teach yourself difficult sleights.
The third week (Zoom call): Mr. Swiss went above and beyond in this session. He spends the first 45 minutes teaching more material (some great stuff from the forthcoming Latta book). Then he spends another hour or more answering questions. It was a very valuable time.
All of this to say that the class was excellent and well worth the time and money. Even if you never use, or plan on using the pass, there is some really valuable advice on teaching oneself skills.
Highly recommended.

Siegfried

Excellent masterclass—as it was to be expected from this master performer, teacher, and scholar. Jamy explains not only How, but also Why. I deeply enjoyed this. Highly recommended.

Brian

I have already reviewed Pt. I of Jamy's Masterclass. This portion of my review is as regards part II. Part II is on variations of the pass, with heavy emphasis on the Classic Pass and its particularized variations. Here, "Masterclass" is a very apt descriptor. This is not the best place to learn the pass. That is, if you are a beginner, you will likely be overwhelmed and freeze. That is not to say it is impossible to start with this video, but it is fast-paced and waits for no one.

One thing I loved about this video is that Jamy shows what performing the pass expertly looks like. You simply don't often see people who can do the pass - and its permutations - this well. But there is a dichotomy here. Although Jamy is clearly an expert at the classic pass, you can also see that the pass - even when done expertly, quickly, and silently - is not always invisible. This is not a criticism of Jamy, but rather a hard and fast reality of this sleight (cue discussion on misdirection).

I loved part II of Jamy's Masterclass. I think it is better than part I. Jamy seems to have gotten "warmed up" and appears more relaxed in this video than he did in his first. As he is teaching some tricks at the end of the video, Jamy laughs at how clever some of the mechanical routining is and this is simply endearing. Of course, Jamy is punctilious with his crediting, and his knowledge of magic is apparent.

Probably the best part of this Masterclass is that most videos on the pass are very cognizant of angles and avoid showing the weaknesses of the pass with intentional production choices. In such videos, you can tell that there is a lot of production work centered on ensuring that the pass is filmed at just the right angle, in just the right lighting, sometimes even with an apparent tampering of the film effects, to make the pass appear more invisible. Jamy here puts his passes before the unblinking eye of the camera live, and his passes still pass muster. Read that again. Live. On camera. Repeatedly. We are talking guts here.

Again, this Masterclass is not for the beginner. This is more than apparent with the tricks that Jamy teaches at the end. Probably the "simplest" of these is a Jim Swain effect that requires 4 consecutive classic passes to effect the vanish of 4 aces, one at a time. The tricks progress heavily from there, to tricks involving culls, passes, palms, color changes, etc. To stick another metaphor in here, you don't need to play on the Augusta National Golf Course if you have never been to a driving range. The advanced nature of this material could, quite literally, be annoying to a beginner.

Of course, there will be beginners out there who are so excited about magic that the warning of the advanced material will simply whet their curiosity and cause them to view this with wide-eyed wonder. That is ok, too, and this will be a resource that you can come back to for years to come. But, it will take, quite literally, years before this material can be touched with any degree of proficiency.

I highly recommend this Masterclass if you are interested in the pass and have already spent at least one or two years serously trying to master it. You can see it done expertly. And you can also see the pass's weaknesses, even when performed by a leading exponent of the move. This should inspire one to practice arduously before taking these moves to the streets.

Good job, Jamy, and good job Vanishing Inc.

John

What great value. The documents provided are a great way to follow up. What a brilliant teacher and the model for all future Vanishing inc masterclasses.

The is the masterclass of masterclasses.


Looking forward to rewatching and spending more time with a great craftsman.

John

James

I could listen to Jamey Ian Swiss talk about magic all day long and never get bored. His passion for the craft is evident in everything he does and the tips he teaches in this master class is worth far more than the cost.

Jeffrey

Jamy is a great teacher period. For a slight like topping the deck the level of detail given is needed. Like someone else said this is not a learn the palm quickly tutorial. But here’s the thing, it’s not a learn quickly slight! If you want to learn it right and understand the why’s you need this. The other thing that is great about this is while you are learning from Jamy, you are also learning from Vernon, Marlo, Riser, Skinner and others who Jamy was fortunate enough to know.

Charlie

WOW! What a great study on palming cards. Jamy is a very good teacher and the effects he chose were top notch. Thanks again for the PDF files that go along with the masterclass.

Andrew

Based on his writings, I knew this would be an excellent lecture -- filled with history and sleights and effects -- and it absolutely delivers. The first 25 minutes are critical to developing a strong palm technique... I've watched them three times in the last three days, and get something else with every viewing. Look forward to mastering the palm, so I can start to re-watch the rest!

Yukari

In a word, I can only say it's great. Jamy has generously shared with us the tips and tricks about palming that he learned directly from the masters of the past. Honestly, Howie Schwarzman's lesser-known trick alone is worth more than the fee, but Jamy's "Travelers" is truly wonderful. It's just pure mastery. In addition, the two extra ebooks that came with this masterclass week 1 are also very informative. I'm also looking forward to next week's lesson on the pass. Highly recommended!

Franyer

David

Ian

This was a fantastic lecture, with layers and layers of knowledge. I recommend it to anyone to is a student, performer and fan of magic. The materials which were included with the lecture are extremely valuable as well - I know I will be studying this lecture many times over.

Chris

I throughly enjoyed part 1.
Palming cards for a extended period of time is something I avoid. After watching this class, and seeing a performance of an excellent LePaul effect, I’m encouraged to learn how to do it. Thank you Jamy !

Adam

Been waiting 20 years for a recorded version of Jamy teaching Topping the Deck. There is too much priceless info here to detail. Fantastic Masterclass!

Steve

Jamy Ian Swiss is a most knowledgeable practitioner and teacher of sleight of hand as demonstrated by his excellent publications and his lectures such as this one on palming. If you want to begin or continue learning and polishing your card magic you should signup and study Jamy's Masterclass. He not only teaches palming but he illustrates an approach to learning and critical self-analysis as one goes about such study. He also teaches several "classic effects' that depend on well-executed palming. These serve as exercises for practice and improvement as well as great additions to your repertoire. To supplement the lecture, Jamy provides references and descriptions of the palms and the effects.
Do not miss this.

Nathan

Whilst there may have been a few clunky non-palm moments (nothing against Jamy for these -- I can understand it must be difficult to carry off some moves with a camera zoomed on your hands and no audience to misdirect), Jamy's erudite knowledge shone through. Loved the extensive description, thoughts and fluid demonstration of Vernon's Topping The Deck, as well as the touches on bottom palming and replacement of palmed cards. Have to say, his holding out is some of the best (esp. in LePaul’s “Quadruplicate Mystery") and the inclusion of additional Support Materials is a real boon.

Roberto

Great lecture on palming! The instruction was fantastic, I certainly walked away with lots of info I was not aware of even after being in magic for so many years. Jamy is a great teacher and historian of magic. The man simply knows his craft! I loved the in-between anecdotes he shared. I am very much looking forward to next week's class on The Pass.

George

Jamy Ian Swiss' first lecture was terrific. He is great at both dialing in on the small but essential details but also giving you a broader perspective. If you've read any of his writing you know that already. This Masterclasso is packed with content and will be well-worth going through several times with the rewind button in-hand. In addition the supplemental pdfs that come with the lecture are just above and beyond. Plus there's unpublished Vernon in here so... A+ from me.
*****

Edward

Great class. Did it start early? I joined at 9pm (UK) and it was already in full swing. Also, was it prerecorded? It felt a bit suspiciously smooth in the way it ended straight into the logo without a handover. But a really good class, just felt different from the others I've done.

Jay

Wow! What a delicious and deeply satisfying explanation, demonstration, and integration of ideas about the top palm, bottom palm, and variations. His inclusions of history, famous cardicians, and references to resources rounded out an insightful 90 minutes!

Matthew

Outstanding !
Tremendous overall approaches to learning sleights and presenting magic interwoven with some of the best concise specific teaching.
..and so important to see such high levels of crediting throughout.

Chuck

So much material on palming from an absolute master of the craft, Jamy Ian Swiss! The Vanishing, Inc. Masterclass series is the best venue for learning tools and techniques in magic. Jamy is so generous with sharing his skill and printed, even unpublished materials!

Dale

The Vanishing, Inc. Masterclass with Jamy Ian Swiss was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Mr. Jamy Ian Swiss' depth of knowledge and skill as a performer and teacher made it well worth the time and cost. Thanks,

THOMAS

Thank you, Jamy! Especially love the historical sidenotes that really flush out the context and evolution of a move.

Michal

Scott

Very clear explanation of palming and hand positions to work on to make the effect natural. The presentation of tricks to use as a base for putting the method into action was excellent.

Jerry

Lindsay

Excellent, in depth coverage. Back to the drawing board.

Gary

Excellent coverage of sleights and philosophy for using them. Love the attention to detail!

Billy

JR

As always Jamie never fails to deliver. Absolutely stellar.

Dan

Loche

Jeff

Martin

Mark C.

Grayson

Jamy Ian Swiss is one of the best performers in the world of magic but also the most detailed teacher. I truly think this masterclass was so detailed in the art of palming and the pass which are essential moves in magic. He is a true master of his craft.

Benoit

The first two sessions are some of the best to see on the pass and palming. The third session is badly recorded and very unpleasant to watch... I hope Jamy will come back for another session to tell us about other techniques

Larry

I purchased this AFTER the masterclass, so I saw none of this live.

And the first 2 videos are excellent. Lots of good work on the moves. Certainly wish there were photographs of grips and hand positions though, as it's not as easy to follow while trying to hit the pause button with your elbow.

The final video, which is the live support video (Q/A), is horrible. It's almost COMPLETELY a shot of the Zoom session in GALLERY MODE! Which means you can't see Mr. Swiss's hands or deck in any detail. There are a few moments where it is JUST his hands, but most of the time you're watching a screen with 15 other people staring out, and a tiny box containing Mr. Swiss.

Brian

It has been said that an expert knows more and more about less and less. This axiom proves true, for this lecture, at least. That is to say that in this lecture Jamy goes microscopic on the details of Vernon's "topping the deck," as well as some other palming variations (i.e., bottom palm and various replacements). Clearly, the sleight given the bulk of the attention here is Vernon's "topping the deck." If you are thinking about buying this Masterclass, you should know that Jamy goes IN DETAIL on the topping the deck sleight. That is, you would likely not be able to appreciate all of the details he offers unless and until you have been performing the sleight for years, know its weaknesses, strengths, and pitfalls. If you read Marlo's work and think the minutiae and subtle permutations offered are dry or boring, then Part I of Jamy's Masterclass may not be for you. This is not a "learn how to palm quickly" video. It is a "so you have been doing the topping the deck palm for years, let me show you what you are probably doing wrong if you haven't figured it out already with 10,000 hours of practice" video. It is not exciting, per se, unless you get excited about the details that make The Work, well, The Work. If this is your cup of tea, then you will love this Masterclass. The tricks taught are great tricks. There is one drawback, however. In this format, you don't really see the tricks performed. Thus, if you haven't seen Vernon's Travellers or LePaul's "A Quadruplicate Mystery" performed, then ... SPOILER ALERT: the tricks will not have the impact that you would get seeing them performed for a lay audience. These are great tricks, and being exposed to them for the first time in a conversational, the-performer-walks-you-through-it expose deprives you of seeing the tricks performed in a natural setting (side note, I first saw Le Paul's trick performed by Tom Mullica with spectator selections; Jamy's version taught here has the spectator's selections change to aces). In other words, you won't get the chance to be blown away by the tricks he shows. All in all, I rated this "Good" because, well, it is simply not for everyone, and that is ok. I was educated and inspired to hit the books harder; I was impressed with Jamy's research and crediting. I was inspired to do more mirror work and pay closer attention to the subtle permutations offered in the literature, such as Marlo books. But I am a card guy who loves the details. So, this is not for the generalist that wants to learn palming really quickly because there is that "one trick" he or she is nervous to perform because the magi doesn't have a "good palm." On the flip side of that, if you want to lean a "good palm," with all the associated minutiae, you need look no further than this.

Rajaram