"Big Blind Friday" is a weekly newsletter where we send magic gems, news, articles, curiosities or illusions from around the world - basically anything that has to do with magic and magicians.

This project was started with the idea that not everyone has the time to stay up to date with what's happening in the world of magic AND there's also a lot of forgotten gems that people don't know about. 

If you'd like to stay up to date with these as we send them every week, make sure to subscribe and check your emails on Friday :)

2022

In this post you can find all 15 episodes that were released in our newsletter series "Big Blind Friday". If you want to receive them in your mailbox each week, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter, as we give away free stuff and unreleased material to our newsletter family.

Episode #1 : September 23rd
In this week's newsletter: new series, challenges, flipbooks and more
Link

1. Would you survive in the 1940s as a magician?
2. Markobi wins FISM22 Card Magic section
3. Vintage flipbook magic trick
4. "Collusion" Performance
5. Quote of the week

Episode #2 : September 30th
In this week's newsletter: a comic book, a lost internet gem and more.
Link

1. Sleight of Hand Comic Book
2. Five Points on Being Natural by David Williamson
3. A lost gem
4. Double Marriage by Biz
5. Quote of the week

Episode #3 : October 7th
Limitations, and how they can help us
Link

1. Limitations and Creating
2. A DIABOLICAL color change by Biz
3. "Snap" by Jack Paton
4. Searching for Erdnase Movie
5. Quote of the week

Episode #4 : October 14th
Video snippet, free e-book and creativity boosts
Link

1. Magic challenges 
2. Card Shark PC Game
3. What's happening on Instagram
4. Quote of the week
5. Ideas to Boost your Creativity

Episode #5 : October 21st
A review, community project and music for magicians
Link

1. Music for Magicians by Tristan Magic
2. The Best Definition of Sleight of Hand
3. Reply to this email with ... (community project)
4. ThermoDynamic Playing Cards
5. Quote of the week

Episode #6 : October 28th
A contest, a short movie and other shenanigans
Link

1. November Performance Contest
2. How do you behave around famous magicians?
3. A Magician Home Alone by Zach King
4. Call Of The Wild Performance by Chris James
5. Quote of the week

Episode #7 : November 4th
Interview with Jack Tighe, 50% Amazon Sale and more...
Link

1. Creating Magic Ep. 1 : Jack Tighe
2. Amazon Sale
3. November Contest
4. How do you react to magic?
5. Quote of the week

Episode #8 : November 11th
Reviews, Video of The Month and More
Link

1. Portfolio 52
2. "ACE" by Noel Heath
3. Magic Book Commonplace Ep. 1
4. Contest Reminder
5. Quote of the week

Episode #9 : November 18th
Black Friday Sale, a card game and more
Link

1. Trickerion Board Game
2. The A.C.A.A.N. Game
3. Sanderson's Laws of Magic
4. This Week on Instagram
5. Quote of the week

Episode #10 : November 25th
A horror short, Dani on Fool Us and more
Link

1. Sleight Horror Short
2. Think With Your Hands
3. Dani's Act on Fool Us
4. This Week on Instagram
5. Quote of the week

Episode #11 : December 2nd
Dark Magic, filming new releases, actionability and more
Link

1. Competition Closed
2. Organizing Magic by Actionability
3. Dark Magic 1939 Movie
4. Real Magic with Siri
5. Quote of the week

Episode #12 : December 9th
David Devant, Mario Lopez, Siri and more
Link

1. Magic Commonplace Book Ep. 2 : David Devant Tales
2. November Competition Winners
3. Lopez Card Warp
4. Brief History of Magicians
5. What's happening on Instagram

Episode #13 : December 16th
This issue is all about robots and magicians !
Link

1. Robot Performs Magic @TED
2. ANIFEX Has Replied
3. Micro Documentary by Asi Wind
4. Pen and Teller Video Game
5. Magicians Life in the Impossible

Episode #14 : December 23rd
Christmas magic, magicians and sleight of hand
Link

1. Sleight of Hand Animation REVIEW
2. Christmas Magic Playlist
3. Cape Town's College of Magic
4. Eric Chien Wins Ultimate Magician on BGT
5. 10 Controls you Might Not Know

 

 

2023

In this post you can find all episodes that were released in our newsletter series "Big Blind Friday" in 2023. If you want to receive them in your mailbox each week, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter, as we give away free stuff and unreleased material to our newsletter family.

Episode #16 : January 6th
Articles from around the world
Link

1. NYTimes : Juan Tamariz Article
2. Teller without Pen (Article)
3. The Life of Howard Thurston
4. How LA's Magicians hone their tricks in private magic jams
5. Quote of the week

Episode #17 : January 27th
Decks, performances and more.
Link

1. Magician Performs for Elon Musk
2. Criss Angel talks about growth (podcast)
3. Where Cards Fall PC Puzzle Game
4. The Berglas Effect (David Segal Article)
5. The Magicians Playing Cards

Episode #18 : February 3rd
Freebies, Blackpool, Articles and more.
Link

1. 24 FREE Books !
2. A Pickpocket's Tale - Apollo Robins
3. Video of The Month - Papier Mache
4. What happens after you become FISM World Champion
5. The Amazing Jonathan Documentary

Episode #19 : February 10th
Games, answers, performances and preparing for Blackpool.
Link

1. On Instagram 
2. Tenyo x Nintendo Game
3. Pen Jillette Answers Magic Questions
4. Asi Wind's One Man Show Using Just a Deck
5. Quote of The Week

Episode 20 : February 24th
Coming back after Blackpool with newfound energy.
Link

1. John Bannon Blackpool Bundle | Limited
2. Max Maven 1994 Game for CD-i
3. Ben Seidman reviews Sleight Of Hand from Movies
4. Take Two: Edward Marlo by Jamy Ian Swiss
5. Quote of the week

Episode #21 : March 10th
Games, a great twitter post and more articles.
Link

1. Teller Board Game
2. Juan Tamariz Documentray
3. Blackpool Video Teaser
4. Take Two : Dai Vernon
5. Ken Carbone's Wonderlust

Episode #22 : March 24th
How to create, a vr game and more.
Link

1. Jack Paton Interview
2. How to create new card tricks
3. Pen and Teller VR Game
4. I Like The Way I see - Richard Turner Documentary
5. Quote of the week

Episode #23 : March 31st
Learn more about magic and magicians.
Link

1. Maurice Fogel
2. Julius Dean shows Messi a card trick
3. 10 Levels of Deception
4. Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle
5. Quote of the week

Episode #24 : April 7th
Get better, wiser and more in tune with yourself.
Link

1. Achieving mastery is impossible - Rico Weeland
2. The female magician that started it all in Vegas
3. Magic tricks only fools monkeys with opposable thumbs
4. Unlock the secret power of your mind (podcast with Derren Brown)
5. Quote of the week

Episode #25 : April 14th
Laughs, love and magic.
Link

1. How does a magician trick other magicians?
2. Magician hypnotist makes women orgasm
3. The Magician's Elephant | Netflix Movie
4. Magicians in Crime Fiction
5. Food Magic on Jimmy Fallon

Episode #26 : April 21st
We begin including a funny magic-themed comic strip!
Link

1. 30 Magician Themed Movies
2. When Copperfield had to reveal his illusion
3. Tommy Cooper
4. David Blaine gets injured in new stunt
5. Comic Strip

Episode #27 : April 28th
Find out new things about old magicians. 
Link

1. 10 Things you didn't know about Houdini
2. Do you know Black Herman?
3. RNB Artist Ginuwine faints during Criss Angel stunt
4. King Charles performs magic for the Magic Circle
5. Comic Strip

Episode #28 : May 5th
Special episode dedicated to The Daily Magician.
Link

Episode #29 : May 12th
We interview and learn a trick from Cameron Francis!
Link

1. Anthony Hopkins Performs Magic
2. Visual A.F. Magic Tricks Vol. 2 Kickstarter
3. Best of Wizard Wars
4. Teller consults on Mrs. Davis TV Show
5. The Daily Magician Offer
6. Comic Strip

Episode #30 : May 19th
We launch a magic academy only for you!
Link

1. BBM's Top Secret Magic Academy
2. Cameron Francis Interview + Free Trick
3. Death Trick: Double Blind PC Game
4. The War Magician
5. What's been happening on our Instagram
6. Comic Strip

Episode #31 : May 26th
Comedy, comedy, comedy!
Link

1. Did you join our Top Secret Magic Academy?
2. When Magic Tricks Take Too Long
3. 100 year old magic tricks (with explanations)
4. Carl-Einar Hackner
5. This magician's comedy is quite unique
6. Tom Dobrowolski Life and Magic
7. Comic Strip

Episode #32 : June 2nd
We interview and learn a trick from Tom Dobrowolski!
Link

1. Creating Magic EP.4 : Tom Dobrowolski
2. Stanford Marshmallow Test (with Magic)
3. Try not to WOW (at a Magician)
4. Magic Duel: Jack Black vs Zach King
5. RIP Milt Larsen (founder of The Magic Castle)
6. Comic Strip

Episode #33 : June 9th
Learn from Steve Cohen, see Ant save the day and more.
Link

1. A magician's secrets for becoming more commanding (podcast)
2. 100 Hours practicing the Second Deal
3. Gimmicks vs Sleight of Hand
4. Mike Tyson punches Criss Angel
5. Ant saves magic trick on live TV
6. Comic Strip

Episode #34 : June 16th
We interview and learn a trick from Schlutz!
Link

1. Creating Magic EP. 5 : Ryan Schlutz
2. Man performs magic during war to survive
3. Learning magic at Auschwitz
4. Siegfried and Roy : What happened the night of the attack?
5. Secrets of Magic REVEALED (article)
6. Comic Strip

Episode #35 : June 23rd
7 MARLO STORIES FROM DAVID SOLOMON
Link

1. Creating Magic Ep.6: David Solomon
2. Magic Skills Save Wife From Killer Husband
3. Magic Infused Insurance Ad
4. Secret Magic Garage
5. Kickstarter Spotlight: Tricks Instead of Treats

Episode #36 : June 30th
CASINOS, CHEATS AND THE UNDERWORLD
Link

1. Catching Card Cheats
2. Europe Card Counting with Steven Bridges
3. Card Mechanic in the Underworld | VICE
4. Casino Boss Breaks Down Gambling Scenes in Movies

Episode #37 : July 7th
MANUSCRIPT SELLS FOR $8,000
Link

1. Ed Marlo Manuscript Sells for $8,000
2. Who Was Ed Marlo?
3. Michael Close Teaches Us A Marlo Trick
4. Rare Ed Marlo Photos and Project In The Works
5. Mastery In Spades
6. A Marlo Story from Bill Guinee

Episode #38 : July 14th
THE END OF A MAGIC FEUD
Link

1. The End Of Magic World's 50 Year Feud
2. Michael Jordan Tries To Trick David Blaine
3. Dance of Cards: Poker With Abilities | PC GAME
4. Hunger Games Actor Learns Magic for Role
5. Pen & Teller's Long Goodbye

Episode #39 : July 21st
THE ART OF CARDISTRY
Link

1. The History of Cardistry
2. Cardistry Cameos
3. Video of The Month : SHUTEYE
4. Cardestroy Compilation
5. Wild Cards | Documentary

Episode #40 : July 28th
MUSIC, MENTALISM & MORE
Link

1. Pen Jillette Releases 3rd Album
2. New Orleans Magic Convention After 20 Years
3. A Tricky Kind of Magic: Graphic Novel
4. Mentalist Oz Pearlman On MIND-READING SECRETS
5. Magician Takes Matters In His Own Hands

Episode #41 : August 4th
THE GREATEST CON ARTIST OF ALL TIME
Link

1. Second Chance Suit: Short stories around cards
2. Paul Wilson on The Greatest Con Artist
3. Poker Face: TV Show
4. Asi Wind Killing it on The View
5. Did Tom Cruise really perform sleight of hand?

Episode #42 : August 11th
TELLER AS A LAYMAN
Link

1. Teller on the Big Bang Theory
2. Daniel Madison's First Magic Journal
3. From being bullied to being a millionaire
4. Copperfield's book "History of Magic"
5. Professional Magician Reacts to Tricks from Card Shark

Episode #43 : August 18th
AI REPLACES PSYCHICS
Link

1. AI Replacing Psychics
2. David Blaine's Vegas Show
3. Hackers Rig Casino Card-shuffling Machines
4. Cardstacking Pro Offers Advice
5. Doug Henning : Real Magic and Transcendental Meditation

Episode #44 : August 25th
CREATING MAGIC PROPS OUT OF TOILET PAPER
Link

1. Fonejacker - Trying to hire a Magician (Prank)
2. AMAZING: In Prison, trying to learn magic by mail
3. The coterie of cardistry
4. All David Blaine tricks from IMPAULSIVE
5. Book: Random by Penn Jillette

Episode #45 : September 1st
MY DAUGHTER, THE MAGICIAN'S APPRENTICE
Link

1. David Blaine Removes Spectator's Teeth
2. Helping Dogs Get Adopted With Magic
3. The School of Hard Tricks | TV Show
4. MAGICIAN SPOTLIGHT: Matthew Le Mottee
5. My Daughter, The Magician's Apprentice

Episode #46 : September 8th
FUNNY DAVID COPPERFIELD
Link

1. Illusion of the Year
2. Funny David Copperfield Routine
3. The Flourish Magazine
4. The Science of Magic | Gustav Kuhn
5. Diversity in Magic

Episode #47 : September 15th
BAD MAGICIANS WORLDWIDE
Link

1. Most Magicians Are Lazy Hacks by Rick Lax
2. One Magician Holds Singaporean Buskers Captive
3. Magician banned by The Magic Circle
4. The Bad Boys of L.A. Magic
5. Guessing Women's Underwear Colour Backfires

Episode #48 : September 22nd
MAGIC CASTLE DOCUMENTARY
Link

1. M for Magic : The Castle Documentary
2. Anna DeGuzman scares Lil Uzi Vert
3. Magicians in Mistery Books
4. David Blaine Prepares New LV Show
5. Card Stacking Around Cats

Episode #49 : September 29th
WOMEN IN MAGIC
Link

1. Women in Magic: Ellen Armstrong
2. NY Times Article on Derren Brown's New Show
3. New Magic Circle President
4. The Only Magic Shop in LA turns 20
5. David Ben on Choreographing the Inconsequential

Episode #50 : October 6th
WE ARE GIVING YOU A FREE EBOOK !
Link

1. 50th Episode FREE BBM Notes
2. The Most Lovable Magician | STEVE ROWE INTERVIEW
3. The David Blaine Paradox
4. 13 Magic Tricks from the Middle Ages
5. Mandy Muden KILLING IT on AGT

Episode #51 : October 13th
JUAN TAMARIZ DOCUMENTARY
Link

1. CREATING MAGIC EP. 7 : STEVE ROWE
2. Juan Tamariz Documentary Kickstarter
3. Larry Becker: A Piece Of My Mind
4. Magician tactics in politics
5. Youtube: Kids Meet A Magician
6. Top 6 Magic Tricks | The BEST of Cartoon Box

Episode #52 : October 20th
FREE CARD POSTER FOR YOU
Link

1. Cardtopia Happening in NYC | 4th November
2. Youtube: Corridor Crew Create NEW Magic Tricks
3. List of all decks printed in the world
4. The Longest Magic Letter Ever Written (OVER 100 pages!!)
5. The Human Cartoon: Sylvester the Jester (SUPER CREATIVE)

Episode #53 : October 27th
PRIEST MAGICIAN
Link

1. Darwin Ortiz RIP
2. Priest, magician and missionary
3. 52 Peak Club : Story submitted by Dustin Marks
4. DISCOVER: Kuda Bux
5. The Penn and Teller Conundrum

Episode #54 : November 3rd
LEARN 7 COLOUR CHANGES FOR FREE
Link

1. David Copperfield's Next Magic Stunt
2. Ida Summers: Legendary Las Vegas Con Artist
3. Tobias Dostal : Art and Magic PODCAST
4. Most SPELLBINDING FEMALE Magicians
5. KICKSTARTER SPOTLIGHT: The Card Pickers

Episode #55 : November 10th
LEARN 7 CARD PALMS FOR FREE
Link

1. RIP David Berglas
2. DISCOVER: Damoo Dhotre
3. The Creations of Steve Sheraton
4. Pen and Teller Don't Mind Being Fooled
5. Ricky Jay-Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women

Episode #56 : November 17th
LEARN 7 CARD CONTROLS FOR FREE
Link

1. Berglas Documentary
2. Revealing the Psychology of Playing Card Magic
3. The First Magic Convention in Ireland
4. Kickstarter Spotlight: Peach SOJU Playing Cards
5. Asi Wind Shares His NY Gems

Episode #57 : November 24th
7 WAYS TO PRODUCE CARDS OUT OF THIN
Link

1. Magicians Less Prone To Mental Illness
2. In this math seminar, the magician reveals his secrets
3. 13-Year-Old Girl Sets Guinness World Record
4. All The Magic Tricks and References in Good Omens Season 2
5. Magician Spotlight: Antonio Diaz

Episode #58 : December 1st
WAYS HOW TO MAKE A CARD VANISH 
Link

1. The Warlock Effect by by Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dawson
2. Michael Jai White Did Magic Tricks With Dark Knight Co-Star Heath Ledger
3. Look Inside a Magician’s Treasury of Magic
4. Falling In And Out Of Love With LA's Mystery-Cloaked Magic Castle
5. 138 Effects from Books Filmed and Explained

Episode #59 : December 8th
DYNAMO IS DEAD
Link

1. LEARN 7 Ways to Perform The Top Change FOR FREE
2. CGI vs Magic Trick
3. Being a Woman in Magic May be the Hardest Trick of All
4. novel stimulus collection to induce epistemic emotions
5. Dynamo Is Dead
6. Kickstarter Highlight: Plague Doctor Cards

Episode #60 : December 15th
LEARN 7 POP OUTS FOR FREE 
Link

1. Why does Joe Rogan hate magic?
2. One Hobbyist Magician’s Disillusionment With The Magic Castle
3. From magician’s assistant to tech mogul
4. ‘Wartime magician’ performs 26 shows in nine days for kids in Israel
5. The Catalyst interview: Magician Michael Carbonaro

Episode #61 : December 22nd
LAST EPISODE THIS YEAR
Link

1. David Blaine New Tricks On Fallon w/ Keeanu Reeves
2. Dynamo Is Dead Interview
3. From Eton To Emirates Palace: EMC Interview
4. World Famous in Gainesville
5. How To Design Mixed Reality Experiences Like A Magician

 

 

2024

In this post you can find all episodes that were released in our newsletter series "Big Blind Friday" in 2024 (since it's 2024 now, the list will keep getting updated). If you want to receive them in your mailbox each week, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter, as we give away free stuff and unreleased material to our newsletter family.

Episode #62 : January 12nd
CHICAGO THE NEW CITY OF MAGIC
Link

1. Learn 7 ways to end a Faro Shuffle
2. Is Chicago Becoming The Best City For Magic?
3. Magicians Transforming Corporate Events
4. Young Mornington magician hand picked by Simon Cowell
5. David Copperfield x Epstein
6. Magician Spotlight: Suhani Shah Is Taking The World By Storm

Episode #63 : January 19th
GEORGE MCBRIDE CREATING MAGIC   
Link

1. CREATING MAGIC w/ George McBride
2. Stephen Mulhern went from teen magician to Dancing On Ice host
3. Blaine's New ACAAN
4. Man steals $64,000 from Walmart stores across the US using sleight-of-hand
5. The Mentalist : From Magician to Writer
6. BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Illusions by Liz Hyder

Episode #64 : January 26th
LEARN 7 FALSE SHUFFLES  
Link

1. CREATING MAGIC w/ George McBride
2. A Professional Liar: Ben Price
3. Duo tries pulling off "Ocean's Eight" Stunt
4. Escapologists who tried escaping death
5. Anna DeGuzman's Mistake on AGT
6. Why We Haven't Seen A "Now You See Me 3" ?

Episode #65 : February 2nd
URI GELLER AND ALIENS  
Link

1. Alex Elmsley, Roy Walton and Sleight of Hand CREATING MAGIC with George McBride
2. Fire Wallet Prank Guy
3. Richard Turner's Final Show
4. Uri Geller Says NASA Is Hiding Aliens
5. Magician Spotlight: The Wizard Jacobs
6. Jamy Ian Swiss on "The Origins of Deception"

Episode #66 : February 9th
2 FREE TRICKS FROM GEORGE MCBRIDE  
Link

1. Learn an Ace Assembly and a Triumph from George McBride
2. Penn Jillette as 'Jimmy Borges'
3. The Fallout From The 2020 Reckoning At The Magic Castle
4. Magician Spotlight: Scott Humston
5. Card Trick Fails During NFL on ESPN
6. The Greatest Scam Ever Written

Episode #67 : February 23rd
DRUNK MAGICIAN, CANNABIS SHOW AND ...  
Link

1. ‘Drunken’ magician falls 25ft
2. Richard Potter: America's First Black Celebrity
3. Cannabis-themed magic show 'Smokus Pocus'
4. Kickstarter: Magically Me: Inclusive Magic Kit for Kids
5. Magician on: "So, I Quit My Day Job" Podcast

Episode #68 : March 1st
FREE MAGIC FROM JOHN CAREY  
Link

1. Creating Magic EP.9 with John Carey
2. Magician Creates Fake Biden Robocall
3. Newly Acquired Ricky Jay Archive
4. Cannabis-themed magic show 'Smokus Pocus'
5. David Copperfield and Magic as Therapy
6. Elephant pulls magic trick on woman

Episode #69 : March 8th
MAGICIANS WORLDWIDE RECOMMEND ONE BOOK  
Link

1. Asi Wind New Show
2. Houdini vs Thurston Podcast Episode
3. The Best Magicians in The World Recommend One Non-Magic Book
4. Why magic should frighten you
5. 10 things I've learned as a magician

Episode #70 : March 15th
WHAT GOOD MAGIC LOOKS LIKE  
Link

1. This is what great magic acts look like
2. Goal Celebration Card Trick
3. NEW MAGIC TV SHOW: The Magic Prank Show with Justin Willman
4. Channing Pollock in film
5. Balatro: the insanely addictive poker rogue-like
6. The Silk Switch by TDM

Episode #71 : March 22nd
DMC OPENS HOGWARTS  
Link

1. We want your story!
2. A Magical Life (At The Magic Castle)
3. PodKats : Las Vegas Entertainers
4. Shohei Ohtani Blown Away By Invisible Deck
5. DMC Wants to Open A Real Life Hogwarts
6. Barney Steals All The Women Using Magic

Episode #72 : March 29th
SLEIGHT OF HAND IN MOVIES  
Link

1. Ben Seidman Reviews Sleight of Hand in Movies II
2. A Unique Pilgrimage: Two Magicians Ride Bikes Blindfolded
3. Trick Spotlight: Mr. How on "The Breakfast Club" Podcast
4. Magic And The Brain
5. Campus Magico

Episode #73 : April 5th
CAMERON FRANCIS IN THE HOUSE  
Link

1. April Fools
2. Being a better magic lecturer w/ Cameron Francis
3. Asi Wind Blows Andrew Huberman's Mind
4. How a Magician Designs Original, Mind-Blowing Tricks
5. Magician bids emotional farewell to Tropicana: Las Vegas
6. Sutton magician sentenced to federal prison

Episode #74 : April 12th
MARKOBI ON FOOL US
Link

1. Does Markobi take the trophy?
2. How Ricky Jay Tells A Story
3. Act Highlight: Morgan And West Lie Detector
4. Should you watch the Magic Prank Show?
5. Book Highlight: The Magician by Blexbolex

Episode #75 : April 19th
LEARN SLEIGHTS FROM GIACOMO
Link

1. LEARN 3 ORIGINAL IDEAS FROM GIACOMO BIGLIARDI
2. How 3 Singaporeans turned cards into a flourishing business
3. 'The Magic Prank Show' is in the Top 10 on Netflix
4. The Illusionist Locket
5. Magician David Copperfield reappears in Jeffrey Epstein court docs

Episode #76 : April 26th
MAGICIANS WHO DIED PERFORMING
Link

1. Now You See Me 3: New Cast Announced
2. Magicians who died performing a trick
3. Magician Highlight: Youngest on Fool Us
4. Get your own invisibility shield
5. Stage show incorporates black magic history