Collard is a version of Al Koran’s “Gold Medallion” where your audience freely decides, one letter at a time, the name of a plush toy dog you have shown before the start of the trick. The name they determine, which could be quite non-sensical depending upon the mood of the room, ends up matching the name that’s “engraved” on the tag attached to the dog’s collar.

If this premise suits your style, Collard is a trick worth considering. The tag is pretty clearly an ID tag (although I suppose you might be able to pass it off as a luggage tag), so it might not be easy to convincingly adapt it to other presentations. I think that’s OK, as Archer says in the four-page instruction set, it’s a premise that plays for a wider range of audiences than the original or Don Wayne’s “Room Service.”

Although the dealer’s description emphasizes that you’re getting a professional routine, in reality there’s hardly any discussion about the handling and the suggested presentation is bare bones except for the use of two hoary jokes. What you’re really paying for is the quality of the tag gaffe, which is quite good.

However, there is a dramatic flaw in the construction of the notepad. In the instructions the illustration shows the notepad as it should be, so clearly Archer has the right idea, but somehow the ball was dropped in manufacturing. This isn’t insurmountable, but given the price and all the attention given to creating the tag, it’s very disappointing.

Collard gets high marks for being a unique and commercial twist on a classic trick. Some parts of it are very high quality, but it lacks some attention to detail in its delivery. Nonetheless, if this piece will work for you, I think you’ll find it a practical investment.