I’m really surprised by the other review of this product as I’ve been having so much fun playing
around with this set. What I love is that the method is super simple, but so deceptive. I can see
that some people might think the basic routine wouldn’t fool people. But in my experience, that
isn’t the case. I got this only a short while ago, and so I’ve only done the basic routine, but on
the twenty or so people I’ve performed it for, the reactions are great.
What I’ve found
is that people have fun playing the game of it. And in the routine you do the same trick three
times in a row, but even though it is the same trick, the method confuses people so much that they
don’t notice that the same trick just happened.
What makes this simple method work. 1) the
directions to the spectator changes every round, and they feel like they have more control each
round, when in fact they don’t. 2). The dice are placed on the cups, and that how they identify the
cups. However, the dice are removed by the spectator at the end of two of the phases. The lack of
the dice at the end really gets them. They have been moving the numbers. Switch number 1 and 3.
Once the numbers are gone, they are all just blank cups. I’ve had a number of people say they
couldn’t remember where they had placed the paper ball. So when you reveal it, they are so
impressed and confused. 3) The final phase of the basic routine changes so many little details and
seems to give them so much “control” over what is happening that no one seems to notice that you
actually gave them more control during round two. And the prediction at the end really fools them.
And this is just the basic routine.
And now, the one complaint (or concern that
you need to think about). This trick only works if the spectator follows directions, and you won’t
know if they did until you lift the cup. I “failed” this once because they couldn’t follow
directions, which looked like I messed it up. So I am trying to be super specific from now on.
This is my point… you stated they must “follow directions”. That totally contradicts the fact that the demo says “shuffled freely and secretly”. None of this is conveyed in the demo.
It is intentionally misleading the buyer, because no one would buy this knowing they basically have to direct the spectator’s “free and secret” shuffle.
I’m happy it’s working out for you, but I won’t dare risk my reputation on this one.
I say this not to disagree with you, but to allow anyone who is interested in this to understand what is going on in the trailer. There are five routines on this project, and the trailer uses the last one, the 4 Devil’s Cups. The trailer plays it out like this.
4 Cups. 1 six sided die. You turn your back, they place the die under one cup.
They freely move the cups as much as they want.
You instantly know which cup has the die.
The trailer skips one section. Before the spectator can freely move the cups, they are asked to move some cups, and to swap some others. I’m trying to be vague for the same reason this isn’t on the trailer. This is the method. If they showed a full routine, there would be no reason to buy the trick. I love the cups and carrying case, but if you own cups and dice, you can do this effect just watching the tutorial.
Should they have said that you have to give some directions? Yeah, they probably should have. They could have still hidden the method and referenced it.
As far as the trick goes in performance (for me at least)— no one has commented on the method or the directions. They think it’s all about the cups or the dice. The directions just seem to be part of the game.
I had someone make a mistake on the directions, and so the trick didn’t work, but his response was that he thought he messed it up, and then he said, “let’s play again.” That’s engagement.
I don’t pretend that this is a reputation maker, but I think it’s a great EDC and a relaxed fun trick. A coffee shop or bar trick, but not something on a big stage. But the reaction when they open the paper ball and you predicted the cup? Man that get them.
If I were you, I’d take this out and see how people react. Maybe not to a paid gig, but just show it to someone at a restaurant or park. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. And in the right setting, this would be a great table hopping item.
Also. I switched out the provided dice with Spotted Dice and a Peeksmith. Now I can switch between these routines and an electronic version. Using the two methods disguise them both.
And finally, the cups are sold out everywhere I look, so who knows when anyone will be purchasing them again.
The description for the trick is VERY misleading. This may have been the practice in Magic ads for a hundred years, but is has got to STOP! To its credit, Penguin will probably refund your money if you're not satisfied, but why not simply avoid disgruntled customers in the first place by saying "the cups are mixed pursuant to the Magician's instructions"?
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Simple and deceptive
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