Magic Tricks

Here's my no holds back review...

Jos created a great effect here! However, it's not without its pitfalls. This effect is marketed as an easy to do and practically hands off effect making it seems as though beginners can jump right in. It is very much an intermediate level effect and there is a bit of math and memorization involved. Multitasking is a must for this effect. If math was a bad subject for you, I would pass on this as you need to think relatively quickly and under pressure and keep that retain that info in memory briefly while talking and performing other tasks. I'm trying to be as helpful as I can without giving the method or secret away. I have been performing and creating magic for 20 years and I am no beginner, but I would have to practice this one for a while to get it down to where I feel comfortable performing it. Most effects I can jump right in. However, feeling comfortable doing this at home and performing under pressure is a different story and I am guessing most people will watch this DVD and not want to perform this. The trailer is set up in a way where yes, it does show you an unedited full performance but most people will never be able to perform this as clean as it was shown.

I purchased this effect with the intentions on it being a semi or impromptu effect needing to carry only limited props. But there is preparation and a small setup you will need to perform before every performance and you will need to step away or have it preset before performance. However, with a bit of ingenuity, you can make this impromptu and carry around only the one envelope if you wanted. No other gimmicks. Magic isn't always about fooling magicians. This can easily be much more simplified.

To answer the concerns on the box and to maybe nitpick a little. Yes the box is needed as it needs to be gimmicked and actions are needed to make this effect work properly as performed in the trailer. I don't think I'm giving anything away there. However, the big discrepancy here is why take the cards out of the box only to put them back in and take them right back out again??? That's like scratching your fingernails down a blackboard for us magicians. There has to be cause for this unnecessary action. Sure a spectator might not catch on, but that isn't the point. Any magician, including a spectator would just put the cards on the table or hand it to the spectator to hold onto. The box should be considered out of play once the deck is removed and the box is discarded. There is absolutely no viable reason to reintroduce it.

CONS:
-Not represented fair enough in description & trailer
-Math & multi-tasking involved under scrutiny
-If you make one mistake, reputation destroyer!!! Better get your math right!!
-Not virtually hands off because you are doing 90% of the work. Spectator is only shuffling the deck

PROS:
-Very powerful effect when performed correctly, but corners could be cut to achieve same result
-Can have spectator shuffle before and count down cards at end if you wanted
-No need for multiple envelopes. With a little ingenuity, you can perform this effect with one envelope and one deck making it nearly impromptu
-Andi's tutorial on the walk around version makes it much easier to perform under scrutiny
-Brilliant method! One of the strongest CAAN effects that's not all that difficult

I gave it 4 stars because although I probably won't perform it, it is still a brilliant effect and ingenious method that deserves a good rating.