Magic Tricks

To a magician, I think it looks as though there isn't much to see here. That's what I thought at first, but having watched the video, I can't wait to try this out. I think this will look pretty incredible to lay people.

I also think it looks like a lot of fun to perform. The patter you hear in the demo is fairly straightforward, but you can really bring your own personality and style in to the presentation. For instance, "McDonald's? I never eat there. Why? No, it's not the food. It's their straws—they are so faulty! Here, just look at this...see what I mean?" There's a lighthearted kind of fun inherent in thinking about straws, of all things. I like the idea of bringing magic to such a pedestrian item that most of us never think twice about.

There's a tiny bit of preparation needed for the final color change, something you'll probably want to prepare at home. (It won't take much more than a minute to prep.) Reset is fast but not instant; you'll want to be off to the side somewhere to reset.

The teaching is really solid and earnest—video just over 18 minutes. There's a familiar move that is taught thoroughly without becoming overbearing to those who know it already. A few handling variations are suggested for employing the gimmick, and there's a great suggestion offered at the end for making the stripes of a straw disappear completely. (It's not demoed, but you'll get the idea, and it's a good one.)

Full disclosure: I was offered the chance to preview this video gratis. As I say, I didn't expect much, but I'm pleasantly surprised. Good teaching of a solid method, something that looks like a lot of fun to perform, and I'm actually eager to get out there, grab a lot of straws, and start in on this! My only wish is that this could be as impromptu as it looks. As I say, you do need an ever-so-slight amount of setup and prep. Still, I have a feeling I'll be performing this often.