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What is I Saw That!?
I Saw That! is a personal website for magicians, built around Ariel Frailich's writing and a small shop. Its centerpiece is Sub Rosa, a book about a switch of small objects—techniques for secretly exchanging one item for another. The page carries endorsements from working magicians such as David Regal, Nick Lewin and Matthew Field, who describe it as a practical, repertoire-ready treatment of an underused move. Beyond the book, the site hosts a blog with posts on topics like a "French Connection" and Rencontres, plus an index of posts by category and a section of exhibits. A newsletter signup sits on the homepage.
Who it suits
- Close-up and parlour magicians looking to add a deceptive object switch to their working material.
- Readers interested in magical theory and history, who will find more value in the blog and essays than in the shop.
- Casual visitors may find the site narrow; it is a specialist's corner rather than a general magic retailer.
A practical next step
If you perform close-up magic, read the sample or description of Sub Rosa first and ask whether the switch fits tricks you already do—a switch is a tool, not a routine, so its worth depends on the effects you can build around it. If you are mainly curious about ideas and writing, start with the blog index instead of the shop. Payment appears to run through PayPal at checkout, so check shipping and currency details before ordering.
Who is Ariel Frailich and what qualifies him to teach the Sub Rosa switch?
Ariel Frailich is the author of Sub Rosa, a book about a switch of small objects, and the writer behind the I Saw That! blog. The site presents him as the person who "has literally written the book" on this particular move, and the page's endorsements come from working magicians rather than from a general publishing blurb.
What the page shows about his standing
- A named, specific subject. Sub Rosa is described as being about "an underutilized switch of small objects," not card magic in general. That focus is the main qualification signal: he is teaching one move he has studied closely enough to fill a book with it.
- Endorsements from practitioners. Matthew Field calls it "an unbelievably rich collection of plots, routines and stories to accompany a clever switch." Nick Lewin writes that it "will help develop every magician into a more creative and capable performer" and gives it five stars. David Regal says it "should be in the repertoire of every magician."
- Routines, not just a move. The Field quote points to plots and stories built around the switch, which suggests the book teaches application and presentation, not only the mechanics.
What the page does not establish
The page does not list his performance history, years of experience, awards, or teaching background. The case for his authority rests on the book itself and on other magicians' reactions to it. That is meaningful for a magic book—peers in the field vouching for the material—but it is not the same as a documented career record.
How to judge whether that qualifies him for you
Think about what you want from a source. If you want one move drilled deeply, with the plots and presentations that make it usable, a single-subject book with practitioner endorsements is a reasonable fit. If you want a broad foundation in sleight of hand, a book centred on one switch will not cover that.
A practical next step: read the full endorsements and the book description on I Saw That!, then check whether the switch fits the effects you already perform. A move is worth learning when you can name two or three routines in your own repertoire where it would replace something clumsier.
What kinds of magic routines and plots does Sub Rosa teach, and which skill level is it aimed at?
I Saw That! presents Sub Rosa as a book by Ariel Frailich built around a single small-object switch, and the page's endorsements describe it as a collection of "plots, routines and stories" that accompany that switch. That tells you the book's centre of gravity is the routine and presentation layer — the plots, patter and story frames that give the move a purpose — rather than a broad survey of many unrelated sleights. The quotes on the page come from Matthew Field, Nick Lewin and David Regal, and they emphasise creativity and performance value: Lewin says it will help "develop every magician into a more creative and capable performer," and Regal calls the switch "underutilized" and says it belongs in every magician's repertoire.
Who it suits
The endorsements are aimed at working and aspiring performers rather than absolute beginners. Regal's "every magician" phrasing and Lewin's "develop every magician" suggest the material is meant to reward someone who already performs and wants new presentational angles on a subtle switch, not someone still learning basic sleight of hand. The specific routines and plots themselves are not listed on the page, so check the book's contents or shop listing before buying if you need to know exactly which effects are included.
A practical way to decide
If you already have a switch in your repertoire and want stronger plots and stories around it, this is the obvious fit. If you are shopping for a beginner's course in fundamentals, look elsewhere first. For a second opinion on close-up material generally, see Magicana.
How do I buy Sub Rosa and what payment options are available at checkout?
Buy Sub Rosa through the shop on I Saw That!: open the "Shop" link from the home page, add the book to your cart, then continue to checkout to complete the order. The checkout page is at isawthat.com/checkout/, and PayPal is the payment method the site indicates for checkout.
As a next step, if you want to confirm the physical details or shipping before paying, check the book's product page in the shop first, then proceed to checkout. If PayPal isn't workable for you, treat that as a decision point—there's no indication on the site of an alternative payment route, so you'd need to ask the seller directly before ordering.
What topics does the I Saw That! blog cover, and how can I find posts by category?
The I Saw That! blog is a magician's notebook: posts about close-up magic, sleight-of-hand technique and the creative process, plus personal reflections such as "My French Connection" and notes on books and writers like W. H. Auden. Its centrepiece is Sub Rosa, a book about a small-object switch, presented with endorsements from Matthew Field, Nick Lewin and David Regal — so expect material on routining, subtleties and performance craft rather than beginner how-tos.
Finding posts by category
The homepage links to an Index and to All posts by category; start with the category index to browse by theme, or use the Index for a flat list of everything published. A Blog link returns you to the latest posts if you want chronological browsing.
A practical route: open the category index first to see which themes actually have several posts, then jump to the Index when you want to scan titles quickly. If you're a performer looking for usable material rather than reading, go straight to the Sub Rosa shop page via "More info" and treat the blog as supporting context on the ideas behind it.
What does the newsletter offer subscribers, and how often does it go out?
The newsletter's stated offer is limited to a sign-up form: an email address field plus first and last name fields, with no described frequency or content promise on the page. The site's own description describes it only as a newsletter, so the cadence—weekly, monthly or occasional—isn't stated in the supplied page information.
What the page does show
- A sign-up form collecting email address, first name and last name.
- An invitation to "Enter Shop" alongside the newsletter, suggesting subscribers may also hear about products such as the book Sub Rosa.
- No sample issue, archive or publishing schedule on the page.
Practical next step
If you're deciding whether to subscribe, treat the cadence as unknown until you receive the first message or check a recent post for a stated schedule. A reasonable expectation, based on the site's mix of blog posts, exhibits and a shop, is occasional updates covering new posts and releases—but that is an inference, not a published commitment.
For comparison, some magician-authors run newsletters with a fixed monthly cadence and a public archive; if a predictable rhythm matters to you, look for an archive link before signing up, or subscribe with a secondary address and judge the first few issues.
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