Magic Tricks

Caveat: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for a review.

Considerations: I'm extremely proficient in closeup work.

The basic premise of this effect is very good. Rick worked to figure out a simplified way to switch two signed cards. There are other effects out there (some that do even more, but require more - thinking about Justin Miller's "Autograph") but this is hard to beat in simplicity.

After watching once, I could immediately perform the effect. Rip & Fold is completely impromptu which makes me love it for walk around gigs. I think the premise of the trick is fine, but could be reworked to be even better in presentation. But again, the stock presentation works just fine.

Here's what's great:

1) Simple in execution
2) Simple in plot - if presented correctly
3) Two signed cards not only switch places, they appear to switch places AFTER being ripped and folded.
4) Cheap!
5) Impromptu
6) No reset

Here's what I didn't like:

1) I didn't like the video tutorial much. Rick is a good teacher, but for the professionals, it's much nicer to just explain the effect immediately in the first 5 minutes and THEN expound on the various handlings, switches, etc. I want to get the idea quick and stop watching. If I want to know more, THEN I will keep watching and look deeper. Instead, I found myself trying to skip over sections to just see the couple switches WITHOUT listening to the details. I didn't need them.
2) The choice of audience was not my favorite. Others will disagree with this, but I wanted to watch the effect and found the girls distracting. Want to watch this at work? I certainly wouldn't recommend that...and if you can't watch it at work, I don't really think it should be in the video in the first place. That's my opinion. I had a really hard time following the trick - and that's NOT what you want in teaching and selling magic, IMO. It's a basic rule of performing - don't let the assistants upstage you.

All in all, great idea and I especially love that it's impromptu. I'll try this out in real-world tomorrow night at a corporate strolling gig. I'm sure it will work well.