Magic Tricks

For more than a decade I was a demonstrator at a magic shop. When Blizzard by Dean Dill came out it sold like hotcakes ... hand over fist! Sooo when I saw this to be an 'improvement' over Blizzard of course my interest was raised.

Now, I like Magick's stuff and he's a hell of a guy. Can't wait to get the NYC to see the shop.

First, let's address the elephant in the room: The demo's show the (arguably) 'best' case scenario which (by statistics) will ONLY happen 25% of the time. In reality, it's probably a bit more than that. So, let's face it. this alone is a major downgrade from Blizzard where literally ANY card is named and THAT'S the one you use. In my opinion, THAT'S what made Blizzard so powerful.

Now, don't get me wrong the other 75% of the time is OK. It's good. It's mediocre. In fact, Magick says it 'may be an even better trick if the other method is used' --OK, well, if that's the case ... why not show that scenario? We all know why ... as it would NOT be a fooler for most of magicians.

Sure Magick gives some great insight on this part but let's call a spade a spade it's NOT as direct as blizzard. Because of the proximity of where I was there were several top notch magicians that came through the shop. Blizzard floored them ALL. Sure, Colossal Blizzard would do that even more ... 25% of the time. But the MOMENT one of the other scenarios would have come up, this would NOT be a magician fooler. They would have sniffed the method out immediately (I would suppose). Truthfully had I saw the other scenario, I would have NOT bought this trick.

So let's address the lack of deck switch: cool. That's more for magicians I feel than the lay audience you should be performing this for. The patter given specifically revolves AROUND the lack of a DECK SWITCH. Why would the public even THINK of a switch as it is? Yes one can change the patter and should. The lay public will NOT care about this at all NOR will they see it in Blizzard. Having performed the original Blizzard THOUSANDS of times and SELLING hundreds of them as well, there was just nothing that got caught. The effect was so smooth and the misdirection so powerful that there was not even a thought of a switch.

Let's chat about 'COMPLETELY EXAMINABLE': Sure this version is! GREAT. The deck, the box, the card. Super-improvement? Hmmmm. For other magicians, yes. Again the public won't even recall the special something for the Original Blizzard.

If I were to choose between this and the original...it's the original for me for this factor alone: ANY card named. NO force. NO fishing. It's way more direct.

J.