Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Infinity Bend - Eric Ross
Effect.
Eric Ross’ Infinity Bend allows you to perform the most visual coin bends ever seen. Eric came up with the solution to the problem that most coin bends face, the ability to make bends visually without cover or the use of expensive gimmicks. With Infinity Bend you can borrow a coin from a spectator and bend it in full view at your finger tips
Difficulty .
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
3
Review .
Ok here we go , The effect is suitable for both street magic and stroll around or one on one . What you see in the demo video is what you get . It involves a gimmick and Erick is a genius you could make the gimmick with in less than a minute . He teaches two handling one is beginners and the other one is intermediate. To be frank I found beginners one more practical that the intermediate. Both involves sleight but the beginner seems to be more convincing .I feel Erick was also struggling with the intermediate way of handling and it is much more angle sensitive only advantage is an additional audible convincer . which is of course is not needed when we could see the coin trough out the routine. Bardon Williams also teach an additional handling of the coin bend at the eye level which is the one you see at the beginning of the trailer .which is a better sequence but a little angle sensitive but great if you master it . As a bonus Eric teaches silent Coin matrix that does not need a close up mat it can be done on any surface.
Overall .
This is really cool effect to watch . Even though some moves are involved if you take some time to practice It is going to fry the spectator's. But I am not really convinced with the advanced handling by
Erick Ross .Silent coin matrix as a bonus is good but there are some limitations. I am not going to explain what the limitations are since it may tip the method .
Overall rating 4.5/5
Please do comment your concerns .
Eric Ross’ Infinity Bend allows you to perform the most visual coin bends ever seen. Eric came up with the solution to the problem that most coin bends face, the ability to make bends visually without cover or the use of expensive gimmicks. With Infinity Bend you can borrow a coin from a spectator and bend it in full view at your finger tips
Difficulty .
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
3
Review .
Ok here we go , The effect is suitable for both street magic and stroll around or one on one . What you see in the demo video is what you get . It involves a gimmick and Erick is a genius you could make the gimmick with in less than a minute . He teaches two handling one is beginners and the other one is intermediate. To be frank I found beginners one more practical that the intermediate. Both involves sleight but the beginner seems to be more convincing .I feel Erick was also struggling with the intermediate way of handling and it is much more angle sensitive only advantage is an additional audible convincer . which is of course is not needed when we could see the coin trough out the routine. Bardon Williams also teach an additional handling of the coin bend at the eye level which is the one you see at the beginning of the trailer .which is a better sequence but a little angle sensitive but great if you master it . As a bonus Eric teaches silent Coin matrix that does not need a close up mat it can be done on any surface.
Overall .
This is really cool effect to watch . Even though some moves are involved if you take some time to practice It is going to fry the spectator's. But I am not really convinced with the advanced handling by
Erick Ross .Silent coin matrix as a bonus is good but there are some limitations. I am not going to explain what the limitations are since it may tip the method .
Overall rating 4.5/5
Please do comment your concerns .
Monday, April 13, 2009
iknow - Jason palter
Effect .
A spectator is invited to listen to as many songs as they'd like from your favorite playlist (a folder that contains a compilation of 60-70 songs) on your iPod or MP3 player. They are all different. The spectator is asked to scroll through and randomly stop at any song in the playlist, while the iPod is out of sight -- behind their back or under the table. They are now encouraged to remove the headphones and sing the tune in their mind. You can be in another room as this happens. Now for the mind-blowing climax: You bring your ear close to theirs. You explain that you are listening for the beat and melody of the tune that is still reverberating off their eardrums, and vibrating in their head. To the absolute disbelief of the spectator, bit by bit you start to hum the tune they are thinking of, and then suddenly you name the selected song!
Easy to do.
Always ready to go.
Instantly repeatable.
Nothing is added or taken away during the performance -- it's completely self-contained within the iPod itself!
Your iPod is not gimmicked, and can function as a regular playing unit at all times.
Full instructional DVD guides you through every step of the preparation, including full presentation and bonus ideas.
Use your own music & playlists.
Works with iPods and most other MP3 players that have display screens.
Difficulty.
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
1 to 1.5. Only one secret move, which shouldn't be a problem.
Review.
The trick really is exactly as described. The spectator spins through your iPod (or other music player) at random, listens to a song, and you can then name what they heard. It's not absolutely necessary for the spectator to recognise the song, since you can hum or sing it for them to confirm that's what they heard. The trick can be repeated with the same or different spectators.
This is essentially a one-to-one trick. Jason Palter does offer some suggestions for adapting it to stage use, but it's not likely to go over very well with a large audience. You can plug speakers in at the beginning to demonstrate the breadth of your music library, but when it comes to the crunch, it's got to be one person with earphones (or at most two sharing the earphones) because otherwise you could hear what was being played. This innate limitation is the only real drawback, making iKnow more suitable as a party or pub trick among friends.
There is quite a lot of preparatory work, and it will probably take at least 30 minutes to an hour to get the thing set up. The good news is that this is a one-time effort, and once you've done it you can work the trick any time, anywhere. The DVD is extremely clear and detailed about how to do the preparation, with step-by-step instructions. If you have enough technical savvy to operate an iPod in the first place, and to read this on the internet, then you shouldn't have any problems with the setup.
For £12.99 the disk doesn't come with music or a player, of course, so you'll have to provide your own. It doesn't have to be an iPod -- you can use any MP3 player that has the ability to group songs into playlists and display the whole list of names on a screen so they can be scrolled through. Let's face it, only real cheapos (like me) don't have a player that's up to this basic minimum standard... so it looks like I'm now in the market for an upgrade.
Even after being set up, the player is not harmed in any way, and remains completely useable as a personal source of musical entertainment. In other words, you don't have to run out and buy a new player to keep aside just for this trick.
The DVD has decent audio and video (except for one small section where the sound goes dim). While it's far from a Hollywood director's dream, it's nice and clear and gets everything across well, and that's what counts.
Overall.
I'm not usually very keen on single-effect DVDs, but I'm glad I plumped for this one! Well worth the price, especially if you're looking for
a way to baffle friends from time to time.
Source Talkmagic.co.uk
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Nik Stokes Signed And Sealed
Effect.
A Ziploc bag is closed and placed on your palm.
A borrowed signed coin is placed on top of the bag.
The coin visibly penetrates the still sealed bag.
It is really inside. Really!
And you never touched it.
You repeat the effect.
The coin is positively identified.
You merely throw it towards the bag.
It visibly penetrates again.
Difficulty.
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
It is between 1 and 2 .
Review.
This effect is more suitable for street magic or stroll around situation . The coin ending in the bag is not an illusion it really ends inside the bag. The down side of the magic is that the magician cannot hand out the bag along with the coin immediately after the penetration. You cannot perform this magic trick surrounded. Even though you ends up dirty Nick teaches two ways of clean up but I am not totally convinced whit the second method .
Overall.
It is really visual .You throw the coin and the coin magically penetrates the ziploc bag .As I mentioned before the it is not an illusion that the coin ends up in the bag it really ends inside .Like almost any other Magic Dvd at first Nick demonstrate the effect . Then he gives the step by step instruction of the performance and setup (set up time is less than 10 sec ) though it fools the spectator's it is not a Magician fooler .If you still want to buy this I recommend you to perform along with similar effect like card to ziploc bag like Wayne Houchin Indecent.
Overall rating. 3/5
Monday, March 23, 2009
Magicap by Jesse Feinberg.
Effect.
Incredible magic with an ordinary cap and pen...
Show a regular bic pen and cap all around. Take the cap off and it disappears! Snap your fingers and its back on the pen! Take the cap off again and put it in your pocket... In a blink, the cap appears back on the pen! Create your own unique routine, the possibilities are endless.
You can even make the cap melt through a glass table or window. How about pushing the cap into your PDA or cell phone screen and seeing it inside! All of this is explained and extra ideas are included too.
The pen and cap are examinable at any time. No pulls, no setup, easy to learn.
Difficulty .
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
It is 3
Review .
"Magicap", an idea by Jesse Feinberg, is a slick piece of magic that is more multi-purpose than you would think and easily overcomes its weakness with some raw magical power.
The easiest plot to explain is that an ordinary cap and pen are shown. The cap is removed and disappears, reappearing back on the pen. The cap is removed, put in the pocket, and instantly it's back on the pen.
And, to be honest, everything is so clean that little plot right there plays bigger than it should.
But the sky's the limit with "Magicap". Some of the ideas Feinberg supplies in the instructions are just too slick for words. With "Magicap", things like making the cap penetrate glass tables, windows, doors or the like is a breeze. Make it appear in a glass, too, just for kicks. And my favorite -- if you've got the right equipment for it -- is having it appear to be inside a cell phone or a PDA. That "Magicap" uses a devious deception and a so-simple-it's-silly gimmick over lots of sleights or machinery just adds to the fun and flexibility of this one.
Now, there are a few things you need to be aware of; whether or not they are problems will be up to you and your intended use for a pen which allows you to vanish and reappear a pen cap at will.
First, and probably the biggest problem, is that angles are not your friend here. You'll have to get used to using the pen and the gimmick a bit to cut those angles down a bit and to learn when "Magicap" can be performed safely and when it can't. For that reason, "Magicap" is probably best done for one or two people at a time in most situations.
Second, the nature of the gimmick is such that it's visible often and can call attention to itself pretty easily. Feinberg recommends wearing certain clothes or performing in certain circumstances to cut down on this (hate to be so vague, but too much and the clever little gimmick gets tipped like a sleeping cow). Luckily, a bit of distance will do much the same thing.
Third, this is a little gutsy to perform. With the gimmick on display a few times here and there, it can be a little nerve-wracking for anyone not used to it (and even experienced types will feel a twinge of nerves the first time they take "Magicap" for a spin). However, it does work and, like so much else we do, the more we get away with it the better we feel about it.
Last, don't buy this for $20 or so and expect the sun, the moon, and the stars. Feinberg kept this ridiculously simple (and I'll bet there hasn't been anyone to buy it yet that hasn't said "That's it? I could have done that!", but they didn't which is why Feinberg gets the credit for making something this neat). In fact, the gimmick is so simple -- and simply made -- that Feinberg, bless his heart, included more of the raw material so you can make your own as you need to.
As I said, you'll have to decide whether these issues are really problems or not. For me, they're a minor inconvenience; I can do it often enough to make it worth putting in my pocket (shoot, I need to carry a pen anyway, so why not?).
At the end of the day, "Magicap" is a lot of clever thinking, a simple design, an easy methodology, and lots of great brain fodder for some incredible effects.
Overall .
Talk about packing small: it's a pen (which is normal) and a small gimmick. There's an angle issue, and some of the things you do with it are best not done under bright lights and microscope-eyes (and probably for not more than a couple of spectators at a time). However, the set-up and resets are not even worth mentioning. The gimmick is a little fragile, but not overly so; practice a little care and it'll last a while.It's all about the visuals and "Magicap" has them. Throw in some of the weirder plot ideas and you're talking a great piece of work here.
Overall rating . 4/5
Incredible magic with an ordinary cap and pen...
Show a regular bic pen and cap all around. Take the cap off and it disappears! Snap your fingers and its back on the pen! Take the cap off again and put it in your pocket... In a blink, the cap appears back on the pen! Create your own unique routine, the possibilities are endless.
You can even make the cap melt through a glass table or window. How about pushing the cap into your PDA or cell phone screen and seeing it inside! All of this is explained and extra ideas are included too.
The pen and cap are examinable at any time. No pulls, no setup, easy to learn.
Difficulty .
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
It is 3
Review .
"Magicap", an idea by Jesse Feinberg, is a slick piece of magic that is more multi-purpose than you would think and easily overcomes its weakness with some raw magical power.
The easiest plot to explain is that an ordinary cap and pen are shown. The cap is removed and disappears, reappearing back on the pen. The cap is removed, put in the pocket, and instantly it's back on the pen.
And, to be honest, everything is so clean that little plot right there plays bigger than it should.
But the sky's the limit with "Magicap". Some of the ideas Feinberg supplies in the instructions are just too slick for words. With "Magicap", things like making the cap penetrate glass tables, windows, doors or the like is a breeze. Make it appear in a glass, too, just for kicks. And my favorite -- if you've got the right equipment for it -- is having it appear to be inside a cell phone or a PDA. That "Magicap" uses a devious deception and a so-simple-it's-silly gimmick over lots of sleights or machinery just adds to the fun and flexibility of this one.
Now, there are a few things you need to be aware of; whether or not they are problems will be up to you and your intended use for a pen which allows you to vanish and reappear a pen cap at will.
First, and probably the biggest problem, is that angles are not your friend here. You'll have to get used to using the pen and the gimmick a bit to cut those angles down a bit and to learn when "Magicap" can be performed safely and when it can't. For that reason, "Magicap" is probably best done for one or two people at a time in most situations.
Second, the nature of the gimmick is such that it's visible often and can call attention to itself pretty easily. Feinberg recommends wearing certain clothes or performing in certain circumstances to cut down on this (hate to be so vague, but too much and the clever little gimmick gets tipped like a sleeping cow). Luckily, a bit of distance will do much the same thing.
Third, this is a little gutsy to perform. With the gimmick on display a few times here and there, it can be a little nerve-wracking for anyone not used to it (and even experienced types will feel a twinge of nerves the first time they take "Magicap" for a spin). However, it does work and, like so much else we do, the more we get away with it the better we feel about it.
Last, don't buy this for $20 or so and expect the sun, the moon, and the stars. Feinberg kept this ridiculously simple (and I'll bet there hasn't been anyone to buy it yet that hasn't said "That's it? I could have done that!", but they didn't which is why Feinberg gets the credit for making something this neat). In fact, the gimmick is so simple -- and simply made -- that Feinberg, bless his heart, included more of the raw material so you can make your own as you need to.
As I said, you'll have to decide whether these issues are really problems or not. For me, they're a minor inconvenience; I can do it often enough to make it worth putting in my pocket (shoot, I need to carry a pen anyway, so why not?).
At the end of the day, "Magicap" is a lot of clever thinking, a simple design, an easy methodology, and lots of great brain fodder for some incredible effects.
Overall .
Talk about packing small: it's a pen (which is normal) and a small gimmick. There's an angle issue, and some of the things you do with it are best not done under bright lights and microscope-eyes (and probably for not more than a couple of spectators at a time). However, the set-up and resets are not even worth mentioning. The gimmick is a little fragile, but not overly so; practice a little care and it'll last a while.It's all about the visuals and "Magicap" has them. Throw in some of the weirder plot ideas and you're talking a great piece of work here.
Overall rating . 4/5
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Juan Hundred Dollar Bill switch .
Effect. 
A normal dollar bill is examined and then displayed at your fingertips. Both hands are clearly seen to be empty. The bill is not folded up or covered in any way. The entire face of the dollar bill is in full view and stays in full view as it visibly morphs into a one hundred dollar bill. Both sides of the bill are clearly shown and the bill is handed out for immediate examination.
Entire face of the bill visibly changes while in full view with absolutely no cover.
Uses a normal bill which can also be borrowed.
Bill is completely examinable before and after the change.
No bills are palmed ideal for real world workers.
Bills can be both different sizes and colors.
Streamlined technique with completely natural and easy to do handling.
The Juan Hundred Dollar Bill Switch can be used for an endless variety of full view bill illusions. Several routines are also included.
Bonus effect.
Dan Whites Handy 500
Four single dollar bills visibly transform into four one hundred dollar bills while firmly held in the spectators own hand!
Difficulty.
It is between 2 and 3.
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
Review.
These are my thoughts on the product listings.
“Entire face of the bill visibly changes while in full view with absolutely no cover.”
Absolutely True . Watch the preview and see for yourself.
“Uses a normal bill which can also be borrowed.”
You could borrow the bill and perform it in the DVD Doug gives a proper explanation on the handling.
“Bill is completely examinable before and after the change.”
Yes you could examine the bill before and after the change.
“No bills are palmed ideal for real world workers.”
Bills are not palmed. But for clean up you need a TT.
"Both bills can be different sizes and colors"
Yes both can be of different color .In the case of size it could be but there should not be markable difference If there is too much difference in the size it makes the handling difficult.
"Streamlined technique with natural and easy to do handling"
As I said in the rating it is between 2 and 3 ie intermediate.
In the DVD Doug teaches the effect well . He repeatedly teaches the setup which makes it easy to follow.
At first the sequence will be confusing but once you followed the instruction well it would be a piece of cake. He teaches the different variations other than changing the 1$ to 100$ like
Turn a check into instant cash
How to use bills of different sizes and colors (Be careful when using the bill that have markable difference in the size ).
Turn a squiggle on a dollar into a signature .
How to perform Paul Harris's Nightshades using the switch .
How to use the switch for a serial number divination .
The bonus effect
Dan White's Handy 500--the Hundy 500 change in the spectator's hands
For this effect you need to be familiar with Hundy 500 change and gimmick else you wont be able to follow.
Overall.
It is really visual provided that you have put enough practice into it .If you don't want to settle with old way of changes that involves folding the bill into small packet then you have to go for it. If you are a beginner in coin and money magic and want to learn bill change I recommend you check this out .
Overall rating. 4/5
Card from pocket
Effect.
This is a stunning performance, but you will laugh once you know how easy it is. In this trick, you take out a normal deck of cards and tell one of the members of the audience to make a cut in the deck. Taking the "cut" part, the spectator is to flip it upside-down and place it back on the deck. You tell the spectator to cut once more, more deeply into the deck. Again, you tell him or her to turn the "cut" upside-down and place it back on the deck. You then show them the first face down card that they cut to. You give the deck to them to shuffle. When they are done shuffling, you take the deck and put it into your jacket pocket. You ask them what their card is. Pretend they say, "six of hearts" You reach into your pocket and pull out the six of hearts!
Items Needed For Trick.
You need two decks of identical cards.
Preparation.
You need two identical card form two different decks . Before the show, put whatever card you want them to pick in the small pocket inside your coat and take another identical deck out and place the identical card on top of the deck.
Performance.
Simply do the cuts mentioned above and this naturally forces the card to be chosen. You let the spectator shuffle the cards as much as you like and stick it into the big pocket in your coat. Ask what card was theirs and reach into the little pocket and pull out their card. What I mean by, big pocket and little pocket, is most jackets have two pockets on the inside.
This is a stunning performance, but you will laugh once you know how easy it is. In this trick, you take out a normal deck of cards and tell one of the members of the audience to make a cut in the deck. Taking the "cut" part, the spectator is to flip it upside-down and place it back on the deck. You tell the spectator to cut once more, more deeply into the deck. Again, you tell him or her to turn the "cut" upside-down and place it back on the deck. You then show them the first face down card that they cut to. You give the deck to them to shuffle. When they are done shuffling, you take the deck and put it into your jacket pocket. You ask them what their card is. Pretend they say, "six of hearts" You reach into your pocket and pull out the six of hearts!
Items Needed For Trick.
You need two decks of identical cards.
Preparation.
You need two identical card form two different decks . Before the show, put whatever card you want them to pick in the small pocket inside your coat and take another identical deck out and place the identical card on top of the deck.
Performance.
Simply do the cuts mentioned above and this naturally forces the card to be chosen. You let the spectator shuffle the cards as much as you like and stick it into the big pocket in your coat. Ask what card was theirs and reach into the little pocket and pull out their card. What I mean by, big pocket and little pocket, is most jackets have two pockets on the inside.
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