Price$35.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryBizarre, Close Up
Date AddedMar 06, 2005
The Rat Pack
Curtis Kam
The Magic Bakery
(Based on 2 reviews)
What makes this card trick so gripping? As the realtors say; location, location, location. In this case, the location of the deck.
You see, the deck is sitting in a fully armed Rat Trap. Just like the ones from the hardware store - because it is one from a hardware store! And, as everyone in the room knows, one false move and a solid steel bar crushes anything between it and the deck of cards. Faster than the eye can follow. In approximately .047 seconds! (in case you're interested)
Against those odds, the magician claims he can, with just one hand, riffle quickly through the deck, locate the chosen card, and remove it, all before the killing bar of the trap brings a premature end to the evening's entertainment.
The Rat Pack is more than a card trick, it's a pain-defying test of your speed, skill and nerve. The S.A.T. for indoor daredevils. Ed Marlo on "Fear Factor". It's a sensational feat of card magic only attempted by the very best...or the very stupid.
Make no mistake. The selected card really is in the deck, and you really do pull it out just before the killing bar smashes everything else. This part is not a trick. It's a simple stunt performed under high pressure. No acting ability required here. The tension is real because the drama is real, as is the potential for injury.
The rat trap used is almost exactly the way it comes from the store. In fact, we do not include one with the DVD, as it would just raise the cost of the effect. You are shown a simple alteration that makes the trap extremely sensitive to any movement of the cards. There are no gimmicks. No shells, magnets, threads, or subtle verbal manipulation techniques involved. But, there is also no guarantee for your safety - ordinary rat traps do not come with such a guarantee, sorry.
If loud sudden noises frighten you, you are not going to like the audience reaction. They will appreciate the very real danger you're facing, and repay you in the end.
If you do trade shows, this effect is simple, yet stupidly spectacular enough to stop traffic. If you do corporate speaking, you'll find you have everyone's complete attention just before you reach into the trap - it's message time.
If you perform on the street, this effect guarantees you'll gather a crowd. Those of you who work behind a bar or in night clubs already recognize the potential here. - Great for tough crowds - nobody heckles The Rat Pack . And yes, it's completely examinable and you can perform this bad boy close-up and surrounded.
WARNING: This DVD shows how one professional approached some truly dangerous stunts. We do not suggest that you attempt to duplicate anything shown, and we assume no liability for any of the consequences if you do. We have no idea who you are, or how careful you will be. If, however, you do decide to try this, read the following:
SECOND WARNING: No matter how careful you are, chances are you'll still get your fingers crushed in the trap at least once. Everybody does. The danger is real. That's why the thrill is real. Even in practice.
FINAL WARNING: Buying this DVD does NOT give you the right to perform any of the stunts demonstrated. Purchasers may perform this material only upon the express condition that they assume all risk of harm to person or property that may result. Otherwise, all performance and duplication rights are reserved by Curtis Kam and The Magic Bakery. Copyright 2004 The Magic Bakery. All rights reserved. Victor is a registered trademark of Woodstream Corporation. 69 N. Locust St., Lititz, Pa
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Seriously, who brings a rat trap to a restaurant and sets it on the table?! I don’t think the manager would be too keen on that idea.
However, let me say this: I think the idea has potential in the right venue. I’ll talk more about that in a minute. In the meantime, let me point out that the performance segment on the DVD totally fell flat. Curtis got more applause when he took the Rat Trap out of his case than he did when he found the card in the trap.
The effect is that a real Rat Trap is set. The deck of cards is set next to the trigger. You , the magician, grab the deck and “magically” find the selected signed card before the trap goes off.
I imagine that it’s quite a scene when the trap snaps and all the cards go flying in the air while you’re left holding the selection. However, if you buy the DVD you’ll never know what that looks like because the trap failed during the performance. My thinking is this: They could have shot another performance take. Call me crazy, but I don’t think it would have been a problem.
Ok, so for some positive feedback. It’s clear to me that Curtis is a working pro. He knew how to build suspense, how to really interact with the audience and have fun with them. He even recovered reasonably well when the trap didn’t spring. So don’t “hear” that I’m criticizing Curtis as a magician. I think he’s a great performer.
I’m not so sure that he’s a great teacher, however. He seemed very unrehearsed, choppy, unsure of himself, and just plain awkward during the teaching segment. Also, every other phrase out of his mouth during the explanation was “we are not recommending that you do this.” or “it is dangerous” etc. We get it! It’s stupid and dangerous to put your hand in a rat trap. I think there was a bit of overkill on the disclaiming.
During the explanation portion, there was a lot of awkward and superfluous language. For example, I remember once watching Frank Garcia on the Stars of Magic videos and he actually said, “I’m going to, by the process of utilizing a pen, have you sign this card.” By the process of utilizing a pen! Who talks like that! Crazy! Anyway, there were a few cases of similar type language on The Rat Pack during the explanation. I think it was just due to Curtis being a little nervous talking to the camera.
During the performance section, Curtis discussed, graphically, how a trap “snaps the vertebrae of a large rodent.” That is just something that I don’t want to hear while I’m eating at a restaurant. However, as I mentioned, this piece has potential for the right venue.
This could work in a house party for sure, a smaller corporate environment, hospitality suite, Victor (the people who manufacture the trap), etc. Curtis did a great job building the tension just before the moment the trap would snap. Unfortunately there was no climax because the trap didn’t snap.
Sorry Curtis. You definitely are a seasoned pro and a great performer, but on this particular DVD, I just don’t see the value. Rubble.
However, let me say this: I think the idea has potential in the right venue. I’ll talk more about that in a minute. In the meantime, let me point out that the performance segment on the DVD totally fell flat. Curtis got more applause when he took the Rat Trap out of his case than he did when he found the card in the trap.
The effect is that a real Rat Trap is set. The deck of cards is set next to the trigger. You , the magician, grab the deck and “magically” find the selected signed card before the trap goes off.
I imagine that it’s quite a scene when the trap snaps and all the cards go flying in the air while you’re left holding the selection. However, if you buy the DVD you’ll never know what that looks like because the trap failed during the performance. My thinking is this: They could have shot another performance take. Call me crazy, but I don’t think it would have been a problem.
Ok, so for some positive feedback. It’s clear to me that Curtis is a working pro. He knew how to build suspense, how to really interact with the audience and have fun with them. He even recovered reasonably well when the trap didn’t spring. So don’t “hear” that I’m criticizing Curtis as a magician. I think he’s a great performer.
I’m not so sure that he’s a great teacher, however. He seemed very unrehearsed, choppy, unsure of himself, and just plain awkward during the teaching segment. Also, every other phrase out of his mouth during the explanation was “we are not recommending that you do this.” or “it is dangerous” etc. We get it! It’s stupid and dangerous to put your hand in a rat trap. I think there was a bit of overkill on the disclaiming.
During the explanation portion, there was a lot of awkward and superfluous language. For example, I remember once watching Frank Garcia on the Stars of Magic videos and he actually said, “I’m going to, by the process of utilizing a pen, have you sign this card.” By the process of utilizing a pen! Who talks like that! Crazy! Anyway, there were a few cases of similar type language on The Rat Pack during the explanation. I think it was just due to Curtis being a little nervous talking to the camera.
During the performance section, Curtis discussed, graphically, how a trap “snaps the vertebrae of a large rodent.” That is just something that I don’t want to hear while I’m eating at a restaurant. However, as I mentioned, this piece has potential for the right venue.
This could work in a house party for sure, a smaller corporate environment, hospitality suite, Victor (the people who manufacture the trap), etc. Curtis did a great job building the tension just before the moment the trap would snap. Unfortunately there was no climax because the trap didn’t snap.
Sorry Curtis. You definitely are a seasoned pro and a great performer, but on this particular DVD, I just don’t see the value. Rubble.
(Top ▲)
“This is the only effect I can think of that’s exciting to practice...”
Curtis Kam
The very congenial, highly professional Curtis Kam has devised one of the most emotionally engaging “pick-a-card-and-I’ll-find-it” routines you (or your spectators) are likely to witness.
In short, a card is chosen, then returned to the deck, whereupon the deck is placed on a fully-armed rat trap. Suddenly, the magician’s hand lashes out towards the pack and retracts holding only one card, narrowly avoiding the bar of the trap as it crashes down on the pack.
Sound risky? It is. While the trap is altered slightly to accommodate the workings of the effect, these modifications will not offer you a reprieve from certain pain should you miscalculate on your lunge.
But unless your audience is stoned, comatose or comprised entirely of Vulcans, this effect will almost certainly command their attention. Moreover, Curtis has designed and refined an entertaining presentation leading up to the climax that provides just enough build without peaking prematurely.
The handling itself is fairly straightforward and not particularly demanding, but be forewarned – there is every chance you will hurt yourself at some point while practicing or performing this effect! That’s not to say that you will necessarily break your fingers, but some severe bruising is entirely possible. Naturally, Curtis makes a point of mentioning this, but I found it was stated far too often during the course of the DVD. I appreciate the need to protect both the buyer and the seller in these cases, but even lawsuit-wary airlines only show you how to put on your seat belt once during a flight.
Apart from that, the DVD is very well produced, although I was frustrated by one thing. The program opens with a performance of the trick in front of a live audience in a sports bar. The audience is good and Curtis is in fine form, but at the end, the trick doesn’t actually work. Curtis does manage to snatch the selection, but the trap doesn’t go off, forcing him to apply an “out” he has for just such an occasion. At that point we are ushered immediately into a lengthy discourse on the method and presentation that stretches on for over thirty minutes, whereupon Curtis demonstrates the mechanics of the trick proper. Thus we don’t actually get to see the effect done correctly until we are 39 minutes and 52 seconds into the DVD! That’s a mighty long wait...
Other than that, you get exactly what you pay for here - a detailed look at a rare card routine that’s strong enough to be a closer.
David Acer
Curtis Kam
The very congenial, highly professional Curtis Kam has devised one of the most emotionally engaging “pick-a-card-and-I’ll-find-it” routines you (or your spectators) are likely to witness.
In short, a card is chosen, then returned to the deck, whereupon the deck is placed on a fully-armed rat trap. Suddenly, the magician’s hand lashes out towards the pack and retracts holding only one card, narrowly avoiding the bar of the trap as it crashes down on the pack.
Sound risky? It is. While the trap is altered slightly to accommodate the workings of the effect, these modifications will not offer you a reprieve from certain pain should you miscalculate on your lunge.
But unless your audience is stoned, comatose or comprised entirely of Vulcans, this effect will almost certainly command their attention. Moreover, Curtis has designed and refined an entertaining presentation leading up to the climax that provides just enough build without peaking prematurely.
The handling itself is fairly straightforward and not particularly demanding, but be forewarned – there is every chance you will hurt yourself at some point while practicing or performing this effect! That’s not to say that you will necessarily break your fingers, but some severe bruising is entirely possible. Naturally, Curtis makes a point of mentioning this, but I found it was stated far too often during the course of the DVD. I appreciate the need to protect both the buyer and the seller in these cases, but even lawsuit-wary airlines only show you how to put on your seat belt once during a flight.
Apart from that, the DVD is very well produced, although I was frustrated by one thing. The program opens with a performance of the trick in front of a live audience in a sports bar. The audience is good and Curtis is in fine form, but at the end, the trick doesn’t actually work. Curtis does manage to snatch the selection, but the trap doesn’t go off, forcing him to apply an “out” he has for just such an occasion. At that point we are ushered immediately into a lengthy discourse on the method and presentation that stretches on for over thirty minutes, whereupon Curtis demonstrates the mechanics of the trick proper. Thus we don’t actually get to see the effect done correctly until we are 39 minutes and 52 seconds into the DVD! That’s a mighty long wait...
Other than that, you get exactly what you pay for here - a detailed look at a rare card routine that’s strong enough to be a closer.
David Acer