Do not buy this trick …because I want as few as possible other than me doing this trick! Just kidding. This is one of the best impromptu tricks that you can perform where you link a spectators laces together. Not only that, they walk away with their shoelaces still linked, a huge smile on their face and puzzled to heck. There is no preparation required, no gimmicks, no set-up just learning the trick and having it your arsenal at all times and ready to go in a pinch. Yes, they have to be wearing shoes with laces, I’m sure you will be able to find someone. If not, no problem, demonstrate it on your own shoes.

Nick does an amazing job of teaching you how to do this and the camera work is excellent. He also relates many useful tips to help make your performance as perfect as possible. I and you I’m sure will learn the first phase in just a couple minutes. The second phase where they walk away with their laces still linked will take a bit longer but it is very well taught. One you learn it, you have it! Use one or both phases, it is up to you. Great to transition into after doing some linking rubber band magic. As a bonus, you will also learn a ‘gimmickless’ version of the self-tying shoelace. The tutorial is 40 minutes long and there is no wasted time.

You will wish that you had known how to do this earlier and realized all the missed opportunities you had to blow away your spectators minds. This is really a fun trick and you will enjoy doing it as much as the spectator will enjoy having it done on them.

Bryce could not have said it any better.

There is no excuse why any magician in the world would not have something like this up their proverbial sleeve. This truly impromptu effect would serve anyone well in the right situations.

I have used this a lot since I bought and learned it two years ago and it is among one of my favorite effects that I do, if for any reason than they have a "souvenir" that can literally be kept forever. Just as an example (and a rather odd one at that):

I remember one experience with this where I performed it for a man at an after-hours get together during a week of corporate work. All of the attendees that were at this after-hours party was in casual dress. I performed this effect for one guy and about eight (8) months later in another state, he saw me working a trade show and came back the next day with that very same shoe, laces still tied and linked. I laughed and all that I could think to myself was, "Who keeps things like this?!" It is just a testament to how strong this effect can be.

I started learning this from the printed instructions first and was as surprised as Bryce to see that they are even more detailed than the DVD. Kudos to Paul and the rest of the team for that! Now, that is not to say that the DVD is no good - it is excellent and it teaches the routine very clearly.

Some magicians (especially rope workers) will be immediately familiar with the first link. The second link is the one that will take plenty of practice to learn, but it is not difficult. To quote Paul on the DVD, "It may seem complicated at first because there are a lot of little twists and turns, but *it* is not hard to learn; it is remembering how to tie it that is hard, but the actions themselves are very simple." It could not be said any better than that. Once you learn it, it will only take a few seconds to tie and you should definitely have a good script on hand.

As far as what types of laces to use this effect on, I have used it on quite a few different types of laces. Longer and thinner leather laces (dress shoes) and thick or thin cotton or polyester laces all work well and it is rare you will encounter laces made with any other material. Just be sure you do not use cruddy laces - the 'ick factor' aside, it will make your job that much harder, if not outright impossible to do.

As far as propping a foot on your lap to do this, it is not necessary at all. If the person is sitting, you can have someone prop it upon another chair, the bench they are sitting on or any other heightened surface. If it is an absolute must you can even do this with them standing up, although that may be uncomfortable for some performers and participants, but it is possible.

The booklet also gives you additional presentation/motivational ideas for your use, all of them very good and workable.

The "impromptu" (actually, on-the-fly) STS (Self-Tying Shoelace) is also worth learning if you do that type of effect and want to perform it when you do not have the gimmicked version with you. Once you learn it, it is very easy to set up on the go.

I highly recommended this to anyone in need of an awesome, strong, do-it-anywhere impromptu effect, and the price is right too!

I reviewed Self Tying Shoelace a few months ago. In that review, I mentioned that I’m a big fan of “incidental magic” – magic that arises out of a (supposedly) natural situation. I would consider this more of an impromptu effect. It doesn’t really arise from a pre-existing need. However, it’s every bit as wonderful as STS.

In addition to being a very cool effect, it’s completely impromptu. There’s no setup or special props required, other than many hours of rehearsal. As far as I can tell, it can be done with any shoe… that has laces (obviously).

The “linking” happens twice. I found the first link to be a bit obvious, but this may have come from my previous experience doing linking rubber bands. Once the laces are linked the first time, the untying of the laces makes the first phase a bit stronger (in case there are any observers that came to the same conclusions I did).

The second phase is the real beauty. You retie their laces for them. This time your helper pinches the laces together and they link at their fingertips… and remain linked until they untie the laces.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the printed instructions are even better than the DVD. The amount of detail is amazing. It’s good to know the art of producing well-written descriptions has not been totally lost.

The second tying does take a bit longer, so a good script will be invaluable here.

The only other potential warning is to simply be aware of social protocols. I don’t think it’s appropriate to prop someone’s shoe on your lap at a cocktail party. In fact, I can think of more situations where it’s not appropriate than places where it is. But if you’re working in casual situations, this could be a real stunner!

Oh, and as a bonus, you get Paul Harris’ no-gimmick STS. It’s not as clean as the original (Paul even mentions this). But if you’re known for doing STS and don’t want to get stuck some day without the setup, you should learn this.