This session was an extra cost, as The Session had arranged in association with Ben Earl to launch his new magazine ‘Gambit’ during the Session weekend.

Personally I think the entrance fee of £10 was the most value for money, and well spent during the weekend. Think of of how you felt when you saw Richard Turner, or Lennart Green false shuffle, show you the false shuffle and you still didn’t see it. This was the reaction from the audience as Ben first ran through some effects and slights in volume one of his magazine.

The ‘Simulation Shuffle’ was in particular the one that caused the audience to double take in disbelief, and I think could have been worth the entrance fee alone. The comment of “how much did you sell your soul for..” may give you an idea of just how convincing it was. Followed by killer, and completely unbelievable deck switches, most people I think could have left there and then happy of money well spent!

Ben’s Magazine is a very well produced and written 26 page glossy, which, as he describes was a “creative outlet for me, mainly stuff I’ve never shown anyone”, which if you know Ben’s work is a huge signal to get this limited run magazine.

The magazine features extra material by Derek Delgaudio, Pat Mustard, and future issues Jason England, and it a very bitey, cards only publication, focusing purely on the magic. It will feature Ben’s sleights, shuffles, cuts, and over moves on a bi-monthly basis. Ben said that he had over 23 deck switches that he’d release over the next issues.

Each issue will feature about 2 effects, 2 or 3 moves and a couple of articles, each magazine costing £12 inc p&p. Ben isn’t going to be taking subscriptions, but will email readers when the next issue is ready, and they can order directly from the site.

Issue one were given to those attending, and issue two will be mailed free to them, for everyone else, go to www.gambitmagazine.com for more information, but trust us on this, you need this magazine. (the site will be up next week, but if you email us we can pass on your details to Ben)

We hope to be publishing a podcats interview with Ben Earl this week to talk more about the magazine, how it came about and what you can expect to see in it.

Update: Benjamin Earl has asked anyone who has a copy of the magazine that was launched at The Session to return it to him for a replacement. He has re-worked the first issue; correcting all of the errors, sorting out the layout, printing on ‘magazine paper’ stock and added in ‘more’ material. He will send you the re-worked and now complete issue One. If you have not had an email directly from Benjamin please email him directly at benjaminearl9@googlemail.com for details on where to return the magazine to.