Price$89.95
Media TypeTrick
CategoryGeneral, Close Up
Date AddedMar 03, 2015
Gonzo
Jose Lac' Quest
Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.
(Based on 4 reviews)
Additional Effects and Handlings by Alex Linian
EMPTY HANDS. ROLLED-UP SLEEVES. BARE FOREARMS. PURE AMAZEMENT. AN INNOVATIVE STREAMLINED NEW HOLD-OUT DEVICE.
A wondrous, secret gimmick that enables you to spread your fingers wide open and show both sides of your hands completely empty. Roll up your sleeves to just below the elbow to show your bare forearms. Spectators clearly see both sides of your hands and arms before and after each stunning effect. Everything happens in full view as you deliver miracle after miracle.
GONZO IN YOUR SPECTATOR'S HAND:
Put a bottle cap on your spectator's outstretched hand; snap your fingers, and the cap instantly vanishes or changes into a coin.
GONZO IN YOUR OWN HANDS:
Show your hands, fingers and arms 100% empty --- then, in a blink, produce and vanish a coin, a bill or a stick of gum.
GONZO YOUR LUBOR'S LENS:
Use your Lubor's Lens to make an object "look" invisible; then show that the object is really and truly gone! When we say that Gonzo gives you the power to show your hands, fingers and arms completely empty, we're talking real-world, nothing's there, 100% clean. Period. Stand in front of a mirror and take a look at yourself. Roll up your sleeves, wiggle your fingers, spread them wide open, and slowly show both sides of your hands and forearms. That's exactly how your spectators will see you before and after every absolutely killer Gonzo miracle!
WATCH THE GONZO DEMO NOW...
Show your bare forearms and your hands and fingers 100% empty on both sides (and, if you like, have your spectators examine them before and after every effect.)
Works with any normal long sleeve shirt, sweater, jacket or hoodie - anything that allows you to roll up your sleeves and show your bare forearms.
Button ups, vests, and jackets are NOT required.
No safety pins, sticky stuff, thread, or complicated hook ups of any kind!
No loops to secretly hold or manipulate. Nothing attached to your clothes.
Nothing ever ditched into the pocket or pants. With Gonzo you can wear any type of pants: Jeans, dress pants, or shorts.
Customize Gonzo to your specific arm size with a simple one-time process; once completed, you can put your Gonzo on or take it off in seconds.
Extremely comfortable --- you'll wear Gonzo all day and not even know it's there.
Instantly access Gonzo at any point in your performance.
Works best with small objects like coins, candy, rings, bottle caps, gum, etc.
Complete with Gonzo Hold-out, special Gonzo goodies, and cool custom Gonzo transport pouch.
ARM YOURSELF TO AMAZE, ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET GONZO TODAY!
Reviews
(Top ▲)
The one drawback to almost all of them is that they require you to wear a jacket.
One of the nice things about Gonzo is that you can do it with your sleeves rolled up (or pulled up if wearing a sweater). Let me be clear here: you still need a long-sleeved shirt! Short sleeves or tank tops will not work.
The mechanism itself is relatively simple and easy to attach to your body. However, like almost all holdouts, you’ll need to spend a bit of time fitting it to your body. The DVD clearly explains the way to do this. All you need is a pair of scissors.
One big difference with Gonzo is that that the “extension and retraction” is done somewhat manually during a natural motion. The benefit of this is that you can do several vanishes & productions without having to move your body in any way. The drawback, however, is that you’re somewhat limited on your angles of presentation. If you’ve got a small group of people looking down at your hands, it’ll look great. But if you’re working for a larger group and need to show your hands empty while they’re facing you head-on, you’ll need to be much more careful with how you position your arms and body.
One side note, before I forget: there will be a bit of noise during the extension / retraction when you first start using the gimmick. Thankfully, you’ll need to practice a lot. The noise will lessen the more you use it, eventually going away entirely.
One very important point: the default end effector is a magnet, so whatever you’re planning to attach to the holdout needs to be magnetic. Thankfully, the product comes with a 3” square of steel shim, as well as a shimmed penny. The DVD also includes a good discussion of how to “magnetize” other objects using household objects.
If you really have no way to magnetize your object, like a borrowed dollar bill, the product also includes a “clip” addon. It requires a tiny bit of extra motion, but definitely expands your options.
The DVD covers all of the basic moves required for vanishes and reproductions, in addition to some really cool versions like “snap” versions and using an audience member’s hand as cover. There’s also a discussion on the (minor) changes required to vanish longer objects.
There are also 5 full routines with various objects: coins, Tic Tacs and even Lubor’s Lens (included).
Finally, there’s another addon that allows you to make the holdout retractable without going near the hand that’s vanishing objects. You’ll still need to “extend” it manually, but hiding it can be done using movements similar to many other types of holdouts.
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: This is Where I Came in by The Bee Gees
Gonzo Review
One DVD, one gimmick, $90 bucks and one Gonzo Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Gonzo Review: Effect
Many effects are possible with Gonzo. Basically it allows you to vanish any small, ahem . . . metal . . . object in a very clean way.
Gonzo Review: Method
As mentioned in the ad copy, this is a hold out. It's worn on your forearm right about at the elbow. It's comfortable to wear and out of the way when not in use. It hides under your sleeve. You'll need long sleeves. As long as you can roll it up to about 3/4ths of the way up your forearm, the gimmick stays hidden. When the gimmick is in use, you will have to deal with some angles for sure, but it's still very workable.
Whatever arm is wearing the Gonzo gimmick is the side you have to protect. In other words, if you wear it on your right arm, then your right side is a bad angle. The other thing to consider is that your spectators should be standing. You need have them somewhat looking down at your hands. Watch the ad trailer and you'll see the correct vantage point. As long as they're looking at your hands from that perspective, you're fine. Also, they can be seated, but you'll need to bring your hands down a little lower than you might normally.
The gimmick is "activated" when you roll up your sleeve. Activating it is super easy. There is a one time set up that you'll need to do to make it fit your particular forearm. Once you do that, it's super easy to put the gimmick on in the morning (or whenever) and take it off at night (or whenever). It stays totally hidden and undetectable when you're not using it. Once you "activate" it, you just have to watch the angles I've mentioned.
This is a pretty simple device to operate. It only has two moving parts, and you only move them twice. You move them just before you start to use the gimmick. Then you move them again when you're done using the gimmick. It takes seconds to do, is completely invisible and can be done right in front of the spectators. Any venue where people are standing (e.g., cocktail parties, etc.), this will work quite well.
I'd say that this is good for all skill levels. Though this is nothing like Chuck Leech's Raven, if you've handled a Raven, then you'll be very familiar with the type of movement and usage potential this has. For those curious, the advantage of this over the Raven is that this is attached to your body and not your clothing. It's also easier to operate and a bit more practical.
Keep in mind, however, that this is not designed for a group. It's more like for one on one or maybe 2 or 3 people max.
Gonzo Review: Ad Copy Integrity
After re-reading the ad copy and re-watching the ad trailer, I've gotta say, I'm impressed. It is very accurate. The only thing that I feel needs a bit of clarification is the 8th bullet point that says that this is best used "with small objects like coins, candy, rings, bottle caps, gum, etc." This is true for sure. Just keep in mind that candy and gum will need to be shimmed, and so will the ring — gold is not "attracted" to the Gonzo gimmick.
Shimming a ring doesn't quite work unless it has a crown. In other words, a wedding band won't work. Lastly, the appearing dollar bill at 1:03 may or may not have been taught on the DVD. I honestly don't remember. The DVD was FOREVER long (in a good way). It took me three different sittings to get through it. I don't remember that bill production being taught. However, it may have been. Secondly, even if it wasn't, once you understand how Gonzo works, you'll be able to reverse engineer (easily) how to do that production.
Finally, just keep in mind that anything that isn't "attractive" to Mr. Gonzo will need to be supplied by you rather than borrowed. Everything else in the ad copy is solid.
Gonzo Review: Product Quality
This is where this thing really shines. Everything is included. You get the Gonzo hold out plus all the stuff needed to properly fit it to your forearm. Further, you get some little extra doohickeys that can be added to it to allow even more stuff that wasn't even shown in the trailer. There's also a bonus thing included that allows you to add a little something to the gimmick that allows you to "deactivate" it in a more automatic way. You don't need this, at all, to use Gonzo, but if you want this extra feature, you got it.
On top of that, they included a sheet of shims that you can cut to size for doctoring up any of your non "attractive" props (e.g., gum, candy, etc.). Further, you can even use this stuff on normal coins. On top of that you are also given a Lubor's Lens and the special penny needed for the penny to dime effect. The went all out in making sure you have all the tools you need to do the effects shown in the trailer. You'll have to supply your own Tic Tac box, but that's about it.
The teaching is in depth, thorough and complete to be sure. They do a good job of covering each different technique in its own segment. Then at the end, it pulls it all together. It's an excellent tutorial.
As thorough as everything was, there was one thing (i.e., how to shim a straw) that was not covered very well at all. Also, there was one moment during the presentation of a particular method for a coin vanish that requires the coin to "jump" into place thus making a little bit of noise. The audio just so happened to cut out at that moment. That felt a little fishy to me.
Other than those two pretty minor things, the product quality is solid.
Gonzo Review: Final Thoughts
When you consider the quality of the gimmick, plus all the stuff that comes in the box coupled with the in depth training and the possibilities inherent in this gimmick, $90 bucks is a reasonable price to pay. If you perform in the venues/circumstances mentioned above and you liked anything in the trailer, then you'll be very happy with your purchase.
Final Verdict:
4.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.
Available at your Favorite Magic Dealer. Dealer's see Murphy's Magic for details.
(Top ▲)
"Gonzo” by Jose Lac’Quest is a very clever and innovative approach to the holdout. This gimmick allows for an open and instant vanish of an object in full view, despite the performer’s hands being clearly empty, both before and after the vanish. It looks absolutely incredible. This alternative evolution with the holdout began with the Raven, popularized by David Blaine, and has had many incarnations over the years.
In addition to vanishes, the “Gonzo” can also be used for transformations and appearances. Objects that can be used include coins, bottle caps, cigarettes, and gum; essentially light objects that are long and thin or no wider or heavier than a fifty cent piece. In addition to a number of handlings for the basic effects described, several additional ideas are shared on the DVD, including delaying the vanish/appearance, a coin to Tic Tac box, sending an object into an iPhone and a handling using a Lubor’s Lens. In particular, I appreciated the inclusion of effects that weren’t dramatically visual, while still remaining extremely magical.
The instruction is by Alex Linian and is complete, clear, organized and extremely well thought out. He covers not just the effects, but setting up the gimmick, adjusting it, angles and the fine details that will make the effect as powerful and practical as possible. The gimmick itself is of high quality, well made and includes the props necessary to perform a number of effects out of the box, as well as additional material necessary for the assembly of props for additional effects.
The first question that most will have after watching the demo video is if “Gonzo” looks as good in real life, followed by how practical it is. It does look as good as it does in the demo, but that level of visual magic comes at a price: it’s fairly angle sensitive. This doesn’t completely limit its practicality, but it does reduce the number of situations in which it can be performed. Ironically, the closer the spectators are to the performer, the more effective the gimmick will be. However, the gimmick can be very easily rung in and out of play, moments before and after the effect, meaning it requires no setup prior to performance, can be used, or not, based on the whims of the performer and the situation, and minimizes the time angles are an issue. Mr. Linian also offers a number of very clever and practical techniques that will increase the practicality of the gimmick dramatically. In addition to being aware of angles, the only other limitation is that the performer must be wearing clothing with sleeves that can be rolled up. This can be a jacket, sweater, long sleeve shirt or a hoodie.
The “Gonzo” holdout doesn’t have the flexibility of a traditional holdout, though it does allow for more visual vanishes. Though other holdouts can accomplish similar effects, the “Gonzo” has distinct advantages others do not, including a casual get ready, the ability to show one’s hands empty before and after, and fairly reasonable angle limitations. Examine the drawbacks and advantages and, if you have an application for which the “Gonzo” is a solution, it’s an excellent choice of holdout.
In addition to vanishes, the “Gonzo” can also be used for transformations and appearances. Objects that can be used include coins, bottle caps, cigarettes, and gum; essentially light objects that are long and thin or no wider or heavier than a fifty cent piece. In addition to a number of handlings for the basic effects described, several additional ideas are shared on the DVD, including delaying the vanish/appearance, a coin to Tic Tac box, sending an object into an iPhone and a handling using a Lubor’s Lens. In particular, I appreciated the inclusion of effects that weren’t dramatically visual, while still remaining extremely magical.
The instruction is by Alex Linian and is complete, clear, organized and extremely well thought out. He covers not just the effects, but setting up the gimmick, adjusting it, angles and the fine details that will make the effect as powerful and practical as possible. The gimmick itself is of high quality, well made and includes the props necessary to perform a number of effects out of the box, as well as additional material necessary for the assembly of props for additional effects.
The first question that most will have after watching the demo video is if “Gonzo” looks as good in real life, followed by how practical it is. It does look as good as it does in the demo, but that level of visual magic comes at a price: it’s fairly angle sensitive. This doesn’t completely limit its practicality, but it does reduce the number of situations in which it can be performed. Ironically, the closer the spectators are to the performer, the more effective the gimmick will be. However, the gimmick can be very easily rung in and out of play, moments before and after the effect, meaning it requires no setup prior to performance, can be used, or not, based on the whims of the performer and the situation, and minimizes the time angles are an issue. Mr. Linian also offers a number of very clever and practical techniques that will increase the practicality of the gimmick dramatically. In addition to being aware of angles, the only other limitation is that the performer must be wearing clothing with sleeves that can be rolled up. This can be a jacket, sweater, long sleeve shirt or a hoodie.
The “Gonzo” holdout doesn’t have the flexibility of a traditional holdout, though it does allow for more visual vanishes. Though other holdouts can accomplish similar effects, the “Gonzo” has distinct advantages others do not, including a casual get ready, the ability to show one’s hands empty before and after, and fairly reasonable angle limitations. Examine the drawbacks and advantages and, if you have an application for which the “Gonzo” is a solution, it’s an excellent choice of holdout.
(Top ▲)
PROS
The vanishes look awesome! After seeing the device and the instruction, I think this is a very good tool to show a very clean vanish. The device also works very well to make an object re-appear.
Clearly, a lot of thought was put into this device. It comes with different accessories and he has really put this through a lot of roadwork.
In performance, you can roll up your sleeves, show your arms and hands are completely clean and then cause a coin or variety of other small objects to vanish and/or appear.
The device is very good quality, and with reasonable care, it should last a very long time.
You will need to get set up in advance with the device, but in performance, the get ready and reset are very easy. You could wear this device for an entire show without problem.
The instruction is very thorough. He covers a number of effects including coin vanishes, productions, coin changes, coin penetration into tic tac box, and many more. He also demonstrates effect with other items, such as bills, batteries, etc. He also shows a wide variety of effects, such as a coin that is pulverized into little pieces. He has high tech effects, such as a coin or battery that vanishes and/or is produced in/from an iphone. This routine uses an iphone app. The app is called “card to phone” by Halskov. The App allows you to put a variety of objects into the phone. He also shows a really cool effect using the Lubor’s lense and a cigarette. All the effects are very strong.
CONS
You must really customize this device to you. You will need to work on getting it set up so it works for you.
The device is designed to cause a single item to vanish and re-appear.
This device is designed for people up close and looking down at your hands. This is designed for close-up, not parlor or stage effects. He talks about different ideas to cover exposed angles.
This is probably not for the strolling magician, unless your audience is a very small group in a controlled setting.
VERDICT
This device will take a bit of work to get it just right for your body, but it is very powerful and lends itself to very strong magic.
The vanishes look awesome! After seeing the device and the instruction, I think this is a very good tool to show a very clean vanish. The device also works very well to make an object re-appear.
Clearly, a lot of thought was put into this device. It comes with different accessories and he has really put this through a lot of roadwork.
In performance, you can roll up your sleeves, show your arms and hands are completely clean and then cause a coin or variety of other small objects to vanish and/or appear.
The device is very good quality, and with reasonable care, it should last a very long time.
You will need to get set up in advance with the device, but in performance, the get ready and reset are very easy. You could wear this device for an entire show without problem.
The instruction is very thorough. He covers a number of effects including coin vanishes, productions, coin changes, coin penetration into tic tac box, and many more. He also demonstrates effect with other items, such as bills, batteries, etc. He also shows a wide variety of effects, such as a coin that is pulverized into little pieces. He has high tech effects, such as a coin or battery that vanishes and/or is produced in/from an iphone. This routine uses an iphone app. The app is called “card to phone” by Halskov. The App allows you to put a variety of objects into the phone. He also shows a really cool effect using the Lubor’s lense and a cigarette. All the effects are very strong.
CONS
You must really customize this device to you. You will need to work on getting it set up so it works for you.
The device is designed to cause a single item to vanish and re-appear.
This device is designed for people up close and looking down at your hands. This is designed for close-up, not parlor or stage effects. He talks about different ideas to cover exposed angles.
This is probably not for the strolling magician, unless your audience is a very small group in a controlled setting.
VERDICT
This device will take a bit of work to get it just right for your body, but it is very powerful and lends itself to very strong magic.