Magic Tricks

I purchased 5 bags of the new “slims” from another supplier. I had so many problems I bought 2 more bags, this time from Penguin. The problems are still there.

The seam is obvious in every pre-linked set of bands. With the original size, I would hand out the linked bands as a keepsake. My spectator(s) would huddle over the bands, looking for some sign of glued or melted ends. They'd spend several seconds looking for it. Finally they would give up and look at me in amazement and ask, "How'd you DO that?!"

The quality of the seam in the original size added to the entire effect when the specs held the bands in their hands. There wasn’t a clue that either band had been doctored. Magic remained the only answer. Common sense would tell them there was no such thing as magic, but still...

With these new slims, EVERY spectator says something like, "Oh, I see! They’re melted together right here! Did you make them yourself or did you buy them?" They show me the weld. It’s obvious. It kills the magic of the effect.

The second problem is that there's about a 15% failure rate in these new slims. Since they need to be pre-stretched before using, failures aren’t so bad because I catch the bad ones in my house, not during performance.

Still, 15% failure... That’s pretty high.

The poor quality of the slims has made this once wonderful effect about as magical as the little plastic mummy that won't stay in its coffin. The only magical question you get on that trick is: "Where’d you get that?"

And that’s the sort of question I get with the new slims, not “Dude! How’d you DO that?”

Bring back the originals!