Brian Watson… We here at Stevens Magic are pretty good at recognizing rare talent, and Brian has it. He’s one of those rare people in the art that does everything well. He is a consummate performer extraordinaire, producer, and manufacture, and truly a wonderful guy. We are constantly impressed with his ability to hone special skills from a performance discipline standpoint – which frankly is an amazing accomplishment all by itself. But his ability to then conceptualize and put into motion high quality products, which teach these lessons learned is what makes him so appealing to a specialty boutique magic shop like ours. For example, his recently released products at the 2015 Blackpool conventions are flying off our shelves and getting great reviews! Below is a recent one we would like to share with you with. Keep up the good work Brian – or as his friends call him – BRI! – Mark Stevens. And now here is a look at Brian’s TOP SELLERS at Blackpool 2015 – NOW AVAILABLE AT STEVENS MAGIC EMPORIUM!

“Congratulations on a fine book. When I get my books unpacked, it will go on the shelf with the best of the books on cups and balls, because that is where it belongs!” Bill Palmer – Curator of the Cups & Balls Museum

REVIEW: Anytime Anywhere Cups & Balls – By Tom Pilling:

Ask any magician, what is the oldest trick in the world, and they’ll probably name the cups and balls. For many magicians, the cups and balls are the alpha and the omega of magic. The same simple props can entertain a large theatre full of people, and most practitioners will know the sheer joy of producing four large final loads in a close up environment. Much has been written on the subject, careers have been made from it, and yet so many magicians still slavishly follow Dai Vernon’s routine. It’s a pity, since the Professor’s version, while fine in itself, is just that: it’s his version. And so, it was with some considerable pleasure that I watched Brian Watson’s meticulous offering on this classical piece of magic.

This is very much Watson’s version, and for that alone he has my admiration. From the spoken preamble, which is a piece of art in itself, to the fourth final load, it is clear that this routine has been constructed from the bottom up; it is architecturally sound, if you will. The DVD’s and book do not just deal with the mechanics of the routine, but go into exceptional detail regarding both the psychology and choreography of the trick.
This is a package for grown ups, or rather, for ‘grown up thinkers’, which could well include more mature youngsters, and may exclude certain adult magicians. Watson’s background is in psychotherapy and hypnosis, and his thinking draws on the work of the late Milton Erickson. Much of the ‘work’ here is actually getting the audience into an appropriate state before the trick even begins. This process of ‘indirect hypnotic induction’ is a technique that could feed into all of one’s performances, and the discourse on moods and states is highly significant for the thinking performer. This might have some people scratching their heads, but for me, Watson’s teaching on this subject is one of the high points of the DVD’s. Along with his opening sequence…

Ah yes, it’s time to get down to brass tacks. The opening sequence is delightful; the balls appear one by one, without the magician seeming to do anything at all. As magicians, we are usually best at fooling ourselves, and we so often mistake something that looks clever for something that looks magical. In this case, Watson’s opening sequence is actually what magic looks like: effortless. The routine continues in the same vein; it is a concise piece of art, pared down to the essential elements. There is no wand used, no faux explanations à la Vernon, no juggling or gymnastics. This is a carefully considered piece of theatre, and the owner of this book and DVD set will be treated to an in depth analysis of not only the ‘how’, but more importantly the ‘why’.

The Book Features The Same Information as the Double DVD! Many Buy BOTH!

But as to the ‘how’. Watson treats us to a new sleight. It’s a very deceptive move, which is thoroughly explained. The only thing lacking is a name; I suggest the ‘Watson Roll’, although I daresay he will be too modest to take me up on it. Another distinctive feature of this routine is the pouch that is used. When I first watched the performance I was completely deceived by it, which is all you can ask for. Put simply, gone are the days when you either have pockets bulging with citrus fruits, or you are carrying some leather accessory that makes you look like an extra from ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’. Watson has delivered an elegant solution to a perennial problem, and it is this solution which gives the routine its Martini like moniker.

Another bonus here is a brief explanation of centre line theory, familiar to martial artists and in particular to exponents of Wing Chun. Not what you might expect from your average magic DVD, but this isn’t your average magic DVD. Like the sections on psychology, this is theoretical material which ideally should feed into your wider thinking and inform your performances. And anything, anything that gets magicians to use their feet is worth its weight in gold.

So, what we have is a beautiful routine, precisely explained, with some invaluable teaching on psychology and performance. There are also some great bits on those classic mistakes and flashes that one sees all too often. If you get caught caught flashing your load, (which sounds terribly rude), then buy these DVD’s! It takes guts to publish new work on the cups and balls, which is perhaps why so many magicians just blithely copy Vernon, Gazzo or Ammar. As I said earlier, it’s a pity. And while I don’t intend to steal Watson’s routine, which would defeat his stated objective in any case, like a magpie I have already taken several jewels for my own nest. When presented with such quality, this much is inevitable. – Tom Pilling March 2015

More Quality Products from Brian Watson at Stevens Magic include:

Brian Watson’s Psychic Chess 2.0 has all the impact of a Knight’s Tour but no memory work! It’s small enough to fit into a single credit catd slot of your wallet… yet it play’s huge!

From the creative mind of Brian Watson comes Psychic Chess 2.0 is an easy to do, interactive mentalism routine which packs a punch and leaves a lasting impression. No knowledge of chess at all is needed to perform or understand. It has the impact of a Knight’s Tour and fits in your wallet so it’s ready to go at anytime and needs no memory work whatsoever. It can be performed with the beautifully printed plastic cards (supplied) or even real chess pieces in an impromptu setting.

Psychic Chess 2.0

• Easy To Do
• Mo Memory Work
• Packs Small, Plays Big
• Fits In A Single Credit Card Slot Of Your Wallet
• Totally Impromptu
• No Knowledge Of Chess Needed
• Beautifully Printed Plastic Cards Included

Cockroach Catcher – Brian Watson (DVD w/Props)

Inspired by The Web (Jim Pace) and Boris The Spider (Ian Pidgeon), The Cockroach Catcher is an entertaining routine with and exquisitely hand made paddle that has a surprise ending! All the props are included together with an instructional DVD. Super Easy to do and highly entertaining! Most of you are already well familiar with the above predesesors, and that is exactly what you should consider this updated version – because of it’s popularity. If you are familiar with the previous two, that means they made an impression on you and more then that – they made a huge impression on the people you performed it for. I know that Jim Pace’s Web was one of the top selling magic effects because it incorporated both magic, fun and that extra “factor” that made it so powerful. Comes with:

• DVD
• Custom Made Gimmick
• All Supplies

The Cockroach Catcher is:

• Highly Entertaining
• Easy To Do
• Self Contained
• Quick and Easy To Set Up

Catch one now!

Magical Empowerment – CD’s – Brian Watson – BOOST YOUR CREATIVITY!

Brian Watson’s Magical Empowerment Series are unlike any other self help CD’s available. They are created by a magician, for magicians! Brian has focused on some of the TOP challenges we face as performing magicians and developed these tools to help YOU reach your potential. This is a 3 volume series with this product focusing on how to “boost” your creativity! See the bottom of this page for “other” Empowerment CD’s.

The Magical Empowerment series of CD’s are crammed with over 20 years of knowledge in Ericksonian Psychotherapy and Hypnosis and over 30 years experience in the magic field! Each one is created by a magician, for magicians and with magicians unique needs in mind and utilises the inner resources of your subconscious mind to create lasting, positive changes, unlike many CD’s which simple rely on pure suggestion alone.

Brian Watson Dip. I.hyp. E.Psy NLP Prac. (BHR) is also a specialist practitioner and trainer in Clinical Hypnosis and Ericksonian Psychotherapy with over 20 years experience.

Magical Empowerment – CD’s – Brian Watson – Stage Fright

This is a 3 volume series with this product focusing on how to achieve overcoming “Stage Fright.” Whether we admit it or not, we all experience it to some degree and if we wouldn’t be serious about our art. See the bottom of this page for “other” Empowerment CD’s.

Magical Empowerment – CD’s Brian Watson – Perfect Practice

This is a 3 volume series with this product focusing on how to achieve “Perfect Practice.” See the bottom of this page for “other” Empowerment CD’s.