Perfect Position Prediction…this effect is a great effect. However, the journey to the end result is
not so fun unless you’re a magician with great intermediate to advanced skill in card manipulation.
I am not a magician nor am I adept at card manipulation. Had Adam Elbaum and the folks at
Penguin been more up front in their advertising, I would have never made this purchase. I am a
mentalist / psychic entertainer, and what drew me to the effect were the title and the promo video.
I really like and seek out prediction type effects.
The effect in-and-of-itself, is very
good…but to get to the great ending…you’ll need to know at least two what I would classify as at
least intermediate level card sleights…in addition to a deck switch…now I’m aware that you card guys
will probably think “what’s the big deal” a couple of sleights and a switch…?
But to guys
like myself, who’s card expertise ends at “here take a card”…the sleights required for this effect
isn’t that easy. So, the moral of the story here is…if you’re not into card sleights and switches
this isn’t a good purchase for you. I feel Elbaum and Penguin should have, at some point, in the
written blurb at least…stated that there are card sleights involved.
So I’m guessing that
in the interest of sales…not forthrightness, the blurb and video is the sell, not the particulars.
So Elbaum and Penguin got from me the price of the effect plus shipping, and I can’t help but feel
that the guys are sitting back with a slight smirk as they read this…if they do at all.
Continued Success,
Dr. Dan
5 of 6 magicians found this helpful.
As soon as I saw the full performance I immediately knew how it was done. It is extremely
disappointing that we do not get to see uncut performance video before a purchase. It really
borders on false advertising. Had I seen a full uncut performance I would not have purchased - it
is still a good trick but using a method any reasonably proficient card magician would recognise
instantly.
4 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
This is a good trick. It is a very clever usage and presentation using apparatus (kind of apparatus
anyway) that you may already have. My observations (not complaints) are 1) that even with its
various handlings and routines, it is still a one trick pony. 2) It would require a table top for
probably 95% of performances of it. 3)for what it is, without tipping the secret (I am not one of
those guys), it is quite expensive. Having said all that, I believe a lot of folks will find good
use for it.
3 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
I can understand how some would like this effect, but for me it is only so so. The "special" move
that has to be done to complete the effect looks less than clean, regardless of how well you can do
it. It just doesn't look right. If I wouldn't have jumped on board with the hype, the sales pitch,
and if I would have just watched the trailer more closely, the method is obvious. But that's the
nature of buying magic. It's certainly not the first time I've paid twenty four bucks for a ten
dollar trick.
3 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
The cards can be shuffled and examined by the spectator as much as they want to start, and can then
be genuinely shuffled again by the performer.
Once the cards are spread, the spectator can
freely choose any card, and can change their mind as many times as they'd like.
There's
only one thing required you might not already have, and assuming you have it the instant video
includes everything you need to know. The moves are simple and straightforward and will fly by your
spectators. There's no palming, lifts, breaks, or other technically challenging sleights.
The cards cannot be examined at the end, but there's no particular reason why spectators would
think to do that.
The price tag is a little higher than most effects of this nature, but
I'm in the school of thought that says you're paying for great ideas that will produce great
reactions, not paying for the complexity of the effect or the materials provided. I think this is a
good example of a fairly straightforward method that will blow people away.
But wait,
there's more! After the instructional video for Perfect Position Prediction, Adam teaches a
completely different effect that uses part of the same method. So really, you're getting two
different effects for the price. Suddenly this is a bargain rather than a stretch.
3 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
very commercial routine of Speccy cuting to the four aces, in fact my Favorite version of this
1 of 1 magicians found this helpful.
Great trick! Easy to perform. Great audience reaction.
Well worth the price.
1 of 1 magicians found this helpful.
This effect has a great impact on people if you present it correctly. This is a good idea, not new
at all, but still a good idea.
With also 30mn of explanation for a very simple move and the use
of a prop you certainly have at home. So, pretty cool.
But, here comes the problem of the
price. If I would have seen the full performance before buying, I wouldn't have bought this effect.
Because it is very easy to understand how it is done just from the performance if you have some
experience with magic. And 30$ for just a "secret" move like that, with the use of a trick deck, and
let's admit the input about the deck switch was not so bad --> meh...
I would have rather see it
in a compilation book about this kind of special deck, or at least at a lower price.
Summary: the idea is cool, but I didn't learn anything with this purchase because I already used
a similar idea. I was expecting something else maybe, and it is a bit expensive for what it is
Adam has taken a classic move/effect from Bill Simon, added a refined handling and really kicks it
into high gear with a whole new idea. This has now become a solid, impossible effect for your
close-up arsenal. If you show this to any magician who doesn't already know this, you will lead them
down the garden path, then turn the hose on them! Bravo Adam!