Hi Folks,

This is Reno, from JB, Malaysia. Chanced upon this site while browsing online for the Icarus Effect. :)

Oh yes, got this link from ya Sister's Site - Singapore Magic Circle.

Basically I'm Chinese & 29yo this year, and I started my interest in magic waaay back when I was 7, and believe it or not, it was a very simple trick that got me started back then - the Guillotine (at that time, when you're 7yo, it did freaked me out ... cold.)

I'm not into coins, cos I'm seriously a clumsy freak and I can't handle coins well, for the love of god.

But I'm a hardcore addict of both Close-Up Magic as well as Card Effects. And I'll swear by cards for the rest of this lifetime as well.

And yes, I do collect all those effects that you see in the market, and I've been doing so for the past 22 years. Magic Stuff such as the following :

(1) Card Gimmicks (Ultimonte, Bicycle Built for Five, NFW, etc etc)
(2) Tenyo Tricks
(3) Effects as performed by David Copperfield (Misled, Quantum Bandits, Grandfather's Legacy, etc)
(4) Fire Effects
(5) Etc

My main love when it comes to card tricks would most definitely be ACR. Yup, Ambitious Card Routines. And on a side note, just wanna end this intro by stating that Gaeton Bloom has really came a long way with his ingenuity and creativity, for his Escalator effect is seriously the greatest gift to mankind, and a fitting finale to a well thought out Ambitious Card Routine.

Have a great day ahead.

Cheers,
Reno Quek
Renoraine, Inc.

Gday Reno,

Thanks for the wonderful intro.

Can see that u have lots of experience with magic... wow... 22 yrs is a long long time bro. :)

Gimme 5... haha coz im v clumsy with coins as well... the only time i use coins is for coin matrix or when doing coin roll.

Ambitious card eh.. yeah.. that's my fav too.. always do that when someone ask me to do a trick. no need to think... just do..

Ive heard of the Escalator effect but cant remember much abt it. Appreciate if u can PM me a lil abt it. :P

Reno, we do have gathering quite often almost every month. Hope u can join us oneday.

BTW, do u do card flourishes? im sure u can do some...

Cheers,
Brendan

Hello Brendan,

Good day to you too dude. And thanks for the kind words.

But seriously, I don't consider myself having tons of experience, no doubt its true that 22 years is indeed quite a long time, but that is simply because magic is my one and only true love. Aside from temporal gauge to equate a person's experience, I do believe that practice is another main factor to judge a person's level of experience & ability in a particular field. I would only consider myself above amateur level, and below a pro. Cos no doubt I'm really hardcore about magic, but I don't have the time to go through every step, every move for most of the effects that you see in the market. I'm pretty selective, that's why. And magic is just a hobby for me, albeit a very expensive one! :D

And glad we share the same distaste shall we say, for coin effects. Hmm, although thinking back, I do collect 1 or 2 coin effects over the years; the infamous Scotts & Soda, Copper, Silver & Brass Transposition, etc. Yup, no brainer's tricks!

I'll consider joining you folks when I'm up in KL again, dang ... somehow, it seems most of the happening stuff are in KL, not JB. What a shame. :rolleyes:

And Brendan, unfortunately, I don't do card flourishes. I simply don't have the time for it, cos most of the times, I'm just practicing and honing my sleights for ACR, and a few other types of effects as well - T&R, Oil & Water Effects, and some of the notable effects that either involve cards per se, or a combination of cards and something else (rubberbands, coins, marker pen ala peeling off of signature effect etc).

I don't rely heavily on those one trick pony (such as NFW, Wild Cards, Hollow, etc) unless they are really that damn good and unique. Most of my effects are lifted straight from Kabbala, Apocalypse Series, Harry Lorayne's Best of Friends 1 & 2 (recommended for amateur to pro level), Paul Gertner's Steel & Silver and not forgetting Chris Kenner's Out of Control (highly recommended for intermediate level, the sleights are easier, but the effects are deadly!).

Ok, pertaining to Gaeton Bloom's Escalator, I'll PM you after this. What is it that you need to know again? :P

Cheers!
Reno

Hi Reno.

Welcome to the MMF forums.
Glad to have someone of your experience around. :D
Go easy on us "babies" ok?

have a great day.

Hi Jeff,

Thank you. And like I said, 22 years may equate to the interest, but not necessarily the experience. ;)

Nevertheless, I do have a lot more to learn from the likes of all of you.

And of course, you too have a wonderful night ahead Jeff! :)

welcome !!

yup same as brendan n u .. bad in coins !! cant even do matrix nicely :)

i am so young here .. so i think i got a lot to learn from u :D

God bless

Hey dude,

That's great, I'm just like you then ... I tried Matrix Assembly once and suffice to say, I actually flicked the coin, TOO FAR ... and it landed on the floor (ka-chink!).

At least Brendan can still do Matrix. :)

wow.. you sound really advanced! hehe... welcome to mmf...

Hi Sukyi,

Nice to know you dudette! :)

Hi Reno,

Welcome! ;) - Hope you enjoy your stay!

Andrew B)

Howdy Andrew,

Thank you and looking forward to my stay here ... Ciao! :D :D :D

Sukyi's a dudette ;)

Aha, I didn't know. Amended my post, sorry Sukyi! :P

Welcome Reno,

Do dropby MTR if you are in PJ/KL.
I believe with your experience, you would be a great contributor to this forum.

Cheers...vision

Thanks Vision, a pleasure to know you too! :)

By the way, what's MTR?

Reno,
MTR = Magical Theatre Restaurant.

A new restaurant just opened recently. I've yet to dine/visit that place.

Heard its good :). So should check it out! :P

Cheers,
Brendan

welcome to mmf
me too from JB
maybe we can meet and jam when you are free. Pm me your contact and we'll talk :D

hi there reno. hope u'll enjoy ur stay in mmf k? feel free to chat wit the members here.

@Brendan Low : Oh yes, heard of Magical Theatre, somewhere in Sunway Pyramid right? A friend of mine wanted to bring me there when I was in KL 2 months ago on a business trip. Could not pop by at MTR due to a lack of time. Sure, I'll drop by one of these days! :)

@Lai : Hey, that would be nice, meeting up in JB. you can reach me at (012.208.2550) or (reno@renoraine.com.my). BTW, do you ever pop by at Magic Spot (Plaza Pelangi)? Peter Chua is a friend of mine, and he's managing Magic Spot, and believe me, he's really good at sleights! Especially Card and Ropes! ;)

Cheers!

hahahaha... no prob... :P

Hi Reno, since your in JB, you might wanna consider coming for some of SMC's meetings sometimes. It is nearer for you than to go up to KL.

And welcome to the forums.

Hi Aloy,

Yes, yes ... most definitely I will. ;) It would be great to catch up with some old friends again (wonderful people I've met and known visiting Magic Castle in the past - Vijay, Sherman, Nicky, Solomon ... etc). :)

Thanks for the invite, cheers. :)

Hie Reno,I got both Stealth Retractor and Magi Cap.This is just my opinion on both.Stealth Retractor by John Kennedy(there is another Kennedy for mentalism).Good effect if you perform levitation.Silent and reliable.Hook up?Not thought in the instructions.It`s just the gimmick itself.Now,if the thread entangles,it`s going to be hard to put it back man.Especially in the dark where it is used.If you`re not into levitation,don`t get it.Seriously.If you want to move objects from a distance,get it.It`s been very helpful for my PK effects.I can sell it to you 2nd hand(I`ve to check where I stored it 1st)

Magi Cap,haha.....don`t get it.Nuff said.I don`t want to elaborate,just trust me on this kay.I got 3 effects for Jesse....and the only one that has a decent rating is CASH CARD.

Gaetan Bloom`s Escalator.I got it too.You said that it`s a real closer,IMO,it`s really good,but not the best.Maybe because you`re a card worker it suits you well.For me its overpriced but thats good in a way to keep people from knowing the secret.Have you got Gaeton`s 3 card Monte?I heard that it`s very good.I like Quarte by Gaeton Bloom,but it`s more on mentalism side so you won`t be ineterested I guess.=)Saw your site,wonderfull.Tow thumbs up.PM me if you want comments(my opinion) on new items that I have.Enjoyz

Hi David,

Thank you for your wonderful mini-reviews of the items that you have.

And appreciate your kind words with regard to the Paramount Guild site.

Nope, I don't have the rest of Gaetan's effects, only Escalator for now. ;) I mean, I don't even know he has other effects until you brought this up. Thanks!

Why don't you send your comments over to my email addy : reno@renoraine.com.my

PM is a little troublesome, cos I hate logging in to a site just to read a PM.

PS : I need your opinion as well on locally produced PK Ring; cos we have a higher grade magnetic ring in production at the moment, termed "Incarnum Ring". This is much stronger than Wizard. :)

And cheaper as well. :!!:

I need to get this off my system, come to think of it (no offence to anyone who thought otherwise) : I was in KL, and had the chance to check out MTR (Magical Theatre Restaurant) cos I was lodging over at Sunway Lagoon Resort, which was proximate to Sunway Pyramid, where MTR is located.

The ambience sucks.

The music, well sucks. (so LOUD & T-H-U-M-P-I-N-G , and they expect you to down your food* in peace?)

*yup, the food sucks big time as well!

Cheesy decor, and let's not even get to the pricing on the menu. Spent RM100 there for a table of 3 that night. Makes me wonder, this is the type of feelings that you get "when you paid a premium price for a magic trick, only to find out that it is a bloody disappointment."**

**I.E. Ripped Off.

Like I said, RM100 would be better off utilized at places like TGIF or even Chilli's. Value for money, not to mention free flow of beverages. ;)

Again, this is my personal opinion. I like to call a spade, a spade. Anyone who begs to differ, shoot. I'm all ears. ;)

Now I feel better! :D