Magic: Product Review Thread?

[Jolly Well]

2 DvD recommendations here.

1st is Steve Dacri's Spongeball Toolbox. Has everything you need to get started in Sponge Magic. A little age on the performance, but it's still a nice instructional DvD.

2nd is Jay Noblezada's Sponge. This has some of the stuff that you saw in Dacri's DvD and more. More modern than Dacri's and a different feel to it. A street magic type DvD with great Instruction.

Of the 2, I like Sponge better than Toolbox; but you get your cash value out of either of them. I would (and did) buy both!

[Jolly Well]

The Effect

'The most dangerous trick in the world'!
Holding a lit match to the primer end of a bullet it fires and you catch the slug between your teeth.

Cost

Around $20

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


I brought this a few weeks ago and have now performed it a few times to a very good response. The bullet is thoroughly examinable and the whole effect is very convincing. It does require some sleights but a bit of practice and you'll soon get them. You will need to provide a couple of inexpensive items for the effect, one of which is a book of matches (suddenly surprisingly difficult to get hold of in my area, curse those lighters)!

With a bit of improvise, you can use a lighter in place of matches - preferably a zippo type.

A couple of concerns:

Some of the parts are small, and could be easy to lose.
In this day of terror and high security - you have to be careful where you use this trick.
Some yahoo wanting to call me on the trick and fire something at my head from his concealed weapon...

Overall
Good reactions for a little work. I use this in bowling alleys and some bars for great reactions thus far. Definately not for performing for kids; but I still give it a 4.5/5

[Happy Chappy & Daisy]

The Effect:
Three cards with colored diamonds keep switching places in the magician's hand, as he relates being taken on a trip to the big city.

Cost:
About $10, if I remember right.

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


Nicely made cards (not that much to them, but still well done); the effect comes primarily from the routine. If you knew what to do, you could really do a variation of this with cards from a standard deck. Easy to carry with you, for when somebody says, "Hey, do a trick."

Overall

A good addition to a magician's inventory, the blow-off is probably over the head of little children, so it's not good birthday party material. I found it's much more effective if you can at least fake a Northern New Jersey or Bronx accent, when describing the guy who swindled you.

[Fitzwilly]

In my patter line is that I have friends who are fire fighters and everyone knows that when they are not risking their necks saving lives and fighting fires they are back at the firehouse playing poker. So I went to visit a friend of mine but they were in the middle of a hand and I didn't want to interupt so I decided to talk to a new guy that was sitting out. I thought he was just out of cash but I should have known better.

[Jolly Well]

My Lovely Assistant is a website with a lot of magic reviews...

If you're looking for something you don't see reviewed here, or want more feedback - try there.

[Jolly Well]

The Effect

Walk around with an unied shoe lace, when it is brought to your attention you move your foot/leg around and your laces have tied themselves.

Cost

Around $20

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

Review

I actually did not buy this trick but saw it performed and worked it out. It's pretty simple, but the effect is ok. I don't know if I'd pay the $15-$20 for it knowing what it is, and don't think I would have been happy with the purchase had I bought it before seeing it (and working it out) myself.

Still, it can be a fun effect for walk-around.

Overall

Good reactions for a little work. I give it a 4/5 for effect, but a 2.5/5 for the price.

[tim]

Originally Posted by Jolly Well

I actually did not buy this trick but saw it performed and worked it out. It's pretty simple, but the effect is ok. I don't know if I'd pay the $15-$20 for it knowing what it is, and don't think I would have been happy with the purchase had I bought it before seeing it (and working it out) myself.

Still, it can be a fun effect for walk-around.

If it's that simple, could you just explain its workings to us, kindly?

[saphireSue]

just one comment about the stiff rope. They can be easily broken. You have to take care when you store it. If the break isn't to far you can open the end, the part that broken out and sew it back up, I've had to do that with 2 of them for other people.

[Jolly Well]

Self-Tying shoe laces sent to your inbox... I added a photo which I hope helps explain. If not, I'll make a quick tutorial vid or photo chain...

[Ty-Me]

Originally Posted by Jolly Well

Self-Tying shoe laces sent to your inbox... I added a photo which I hope helps explain. If not, I'll make a quick tutorial vid or photo chain...

Jolly Well I would like to have a copy of it also if you don't mind.