Leaf by Paul Harris and Eric Mead (AoA Book 3)

[Exitmat]

Leaf
By
Paul Harris & Eric Mead
From
Art of Astonishment Book 3

The Effect
The Astonishment Guide plucks a single leaf from a living plant. The leaf is marked on one side with the initials of a witness. This marked leaf is slowly and deliberately restored onto the plant--where it remains as a living tribute to sustained astonishment.

Review
I was very interested in this effects when I first got the AoA books, but I had so much on my plate at the time that I never sat down and really worked on the effect to take it to performance level. Yesterday I finally did. A magic buddy of mine and I went in my backyard and workshopped it for an hour or so. I was amazed at how clean and easy the trick actually was--and how believable the effect is. I fool my own eyes when I do it. This is something I'm going to be performing all the time now. When I want to really make an impact on someone, this is now right there at the top of my list. This is magic at its finest. One of the strongest, most beautiful effects I've ever come across. Worth the cost of the entire AoA series in my opinion.

A Few Facts
-No sticky stuff or gimmicks
-The effect is almost impromptu--what set-up there is is easy and only takes a moment
-The leaf is actually attached as part of the tree and will stay there until the leaf dies naturally, as any of the others eventually will

My Experience Performing Leaf
This is, without a doubt, one of the strongest effect I have ever performed for somebody. Last night my girlfriend and I were heading out the door. Before we got to the car I said I wanted to show her something and I plucked a leaf of a bush. I signed it with her initials and asked her to hold it and make sure everything wa fair and that there was no sticky stuff on the leaf. I grabbed a branch and asked her to hand me the leaf. I put it in my mouth to get it wet, then held it up to the branch and rubbed it, then slowly let it go and gave it a light tug to show it was on. I turned the leaf over and showed her her initals. She was absolutely astonished. She said that was the greatest piece of magic she has ever seen me perform. This morning when we got up one of the first things she wanted to do was go outside and look at her leaf. She still couldn't believe it. She went outside and examined it closely, tugged on it--she couldn't believe it. She experienced real magic--and for me that felt great.

Note
If anyone needs any tips or anything feel free to PM me (with proof you own the AoA books of course). My buddy and I came up with a few subtelties and ways to cover the dirty work. It would be a shame for anyone who owns the AoA books to not be performing this simple, yet incredible. miracle.

Thanks for reading. Happy Magic.

[big dan]

I am currently waiting for AoA Volume 3 to be delivered so i'll definitely check this one out!! I only own the first volume (i know, i know, i should have all 3 by now!!) because i bought it when i was still a beginner and found some of it a little tough so i kinda skipped over it. Now i keep on looking back at Vol. 1 and seeing things i like and hearing about other effects from other volumes so i have to get the other 2 now!! 

Thanks for the great review Exitmat!

all the best

dan

[Robmonster]

Thanks for the recommendation on this trick.

There is SO much stuff in AoA. I am still very much a beginner and so I feel that most of the stuff in these books are beyond me. However, I will go and read up on this one as it sounds like something I may be able to use.

RM

[big dan]

Just got AoA 3 and am loving it!! 

Can't believe i didn't get the whole set!! There is so much awesome material in here! I have been practicing the Hot Shot Cut recently and the simplified version in this book is so much easier for me, love it!!

Leaf is very clever too. Unfortunately living in a ski town there isn't much in the way of leaves, but roll on summer so i can try this effect!!
So simple, yet i don't doubt that it really mystifies a lay audience!

thanks exitmat!

big dan