Price$30.00
Media TypeTrick, Online Instructions, Gimmick(s)
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedOct 15, 2015
Pieces
Christian Engblom
(Based on 2 reviews)
Pieces is the most natural looking Triumph effect we have ever seen.
Christian created a new revolutionary principle that takes the plot to a whole new level and at the end everything is examinable.
If someone could really magically do a triumph this is how it would look!
Comes with gimmick and online instructions.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Overview
One 47 minute streaming video, one set of gimmicks, $30 bucks and a one Pieces Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.Effect
Dai Vernon's Triumph . . . with extra stuff to fool the magician. What's the extra stuff? Spread the deck to show that the cards are clearly face up and face down mixed. Then square up the deck, and immediately re-spread to show that the cards have all righted themselves (all but the selected card).Method
The method relies on a set of gimmicks that you are provided, the ability to do a perfect incomplete Faro, a venue where you are seating and a buttload of patience. The gimmicks are very clever and will do the job they're supposed to if you can properly operate them. That's the key. I've been working with these things for hours, and I've re-watched the video multiple times, and I've yet to get them to work correctly even one time.I understand that it takes practice, but at this point, I've seen very little progress. Part of the problem has to do with the instructions (more on that in the product quality section). Also, as clever as these gimmicks are, there's a simply design modification that could have been made that would make it so much easier to operate. Assuming that you can get the mechanics of this down — I do believe that it's possible — then the method is solid. This ain't for beginners folks. It's definitely for you advanced card folk out there.
Product Quality
During the "history" section of the video, he talks about another version of the gimmicks that used to use. He shows you how to modify your gimmicks to work like the "old" version. There are pros and cons to each version of the gimmick. One of the problems that I'm having with the supplied gimmicks would be, I think, solved by modifying my gimmicks to be like the old version. The problem is that once you make the modification, you can't go back. So what happens if I decide I prefer the current version of the gimmick after I've permanently altered my gimmicks to "try out" the other version?The clean up is super easy and super clean with the current gimmick, and I'm afraid that the clean up with the older gimmick would be harder and less clean, but at the same time, it seems from the training video that the older version is easier to handle during the performance and would give you some better displays. The problem is that I can't compare the two. I have to choose one, and hope that I'm right. The reason this is a product quality problem is because they should have supplied both styles of gimmick.
The quality of the gimmick itself is good. It's well made, and does what it's supposed to do if you can figure out how to operate it. That's the key though . . . it's gonna be a long road for sure.
The production quality of the video was decent. However, the teaching was unclear at best. As already mentioned, there are several things not even taught on the video. Further, the explanation of how to load the gimmick into a borrowed deck was so unclear, that I still haven't (after watching it over a dozen times) figured out how to correctly do it. He tells you one thing, but if you do it, the deck does not end up in the same configuration as his. On top of that, every time I've tried to do it, I ended up with cards in the wrong place or the wrong orientation. I've still not been able to figure out this part.
As if that weren't enough, there are pieces of the explanation that he never addresses. For example, knowing where to split the deck when he does the face up and face down shuffle is not covered. It's very unclear what's happening there. The explanations were extremely rushed through, and in many cases I had to rewind multiple times. Even after multiple rewinds, too often, I was still lost and confused and could not follow what he was doing.
This is the kind of thing where slowing it down and using multiple camera angles would have made a world of differnece. Additionally, some "let's stop and check the orientation of everything" moments would have been nice. To my recollection, there was only one case where he actually did a position check. However, even in that case, I have no idea how he got in that position. The instructions for getting there were absolutely unclear.
I've certainly seen training videos that were worse, but not many. Learning what you need to perform this effect will be very difficult with the provided training.
On a positive note, there are two bonus ideas that you can use this gimmick to accomplish. One of them relies on being able to operate the gimmick in the exact same manner as the Triumph effect, so until you can master that extremely difficult task, you won't be able to do that bonus idea.
However, the second one requires no special "operation" of the gimmick. It allows you to instantly know the identity of a card peeked at. You are able to do this without looking at the face of the card they're peeking at, and the cards are not marked. It's a very clever usage for this principle. The best part is that removing the gimmick from the deck is easy, so after you get the identity of the card they peeked, you can remove the gimmick and you're left with a clean deck. Or if you prefer, leave the gimmick in the deck at all times and use a deck switch to ring it in when you have a card peeked.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy has some pretty heavy issues. On the video trailer, the first thing they show is a Christian Engblom spreading a deck face up showing that it's clearly mixed. Then he squares the deck and instantly re-spreads showing that the deck is now in new deck order. That effect is never taught on the video, and I have not sure how it was accomplished using the supplied gimmicks. He performs it on the teaching video, but never explains it.Secondly, when he has Patrick take a card from the spread, they cheated a little bit. The spectator needs to pick a card from a certain half of the deck. During the teaching segment, Engblom makes it clear that you need to position the spectator such that he'll reach for the correct section of the deck (the top half), so he makes a point of teaching us that you want the spectator on your right because it's less of a reach for them to grab from the top than the bottom (the part they can't touch). Well in the ad trailer, Patrick clearly knew to avoid the lower portion of the deck as he went out of his way to reach for the top (safe) part of the deck. It's minor, but it's deceptive enough that it might lead you to believe that they can choose any card. However, they cannot.
Next, the version of the trick shown in the ad trailer where the selected card and its mate turn face up is also not taught on the included video. Further, the method used, in the trailer, for showing the cards to be mixed face up and face down and then to be instantly restored can only be accomplished by permanently altering your supplied gimmicks (more on that in the product quality section).
Lastly, at the end of the video trailer he talks about how this was his solution to a challenge from Tamariz to create an effect with a borrowed shuffled deck. Well . . . it can be done with a borrowed shuffled deck, but even Engblom admits that it's a "bit of a process" to do so (more on that in the product quality section). Further, if the borrowed deck does not have the same back design as your gimmick, there are limitations to the handling. Your gimmick has to blend in with their deck.
The claim that the deck is examinable at the end is true, but it depends on the method you use. The one shown in the trailer where he shows the two twos is not clean at that point. You will have to square up the deck and unload the gimmick. Other variations end with the deck spread on the table and you are clean at that point.
The big sin here to me is that the two effects performed in the ad trailer are not taught on the video that you purchase. That's a big hit.
Final Thoughts
This is two projects in a row where the concept/effect has merit and potential, but the ad copy and the training left way too much to be desired. None of the effects shown in the ad trailer are taught on the video you paid $30 bucks for. The method is very good, if you can figure out how to use the gimmick, and how to set up the deck properly which is extremely difficult due to the poor instructional quality. Advanced card workers will figure out their own way to get everything into position once they understand how the gimmick works. However, even that's a little tricky because the instructions are very confusing.So if you can look past all that, the gimmick is very clever and can be easily removed from the deck when you're done with it. But just like yesterday's review of Tab Test, if you learn this effectively it'll be through trial and error and not from the person you paid $30 bucks to teach you. That said, however, this one does have slightly more "value" than yesterday's product, so it would have possibly had a higher rating, but the fact that the two tricks advertised weren't even taught is a BIG hit. You've got all the information you need to make an educated decision, but in case you care, here's my decision:
Final Verdict:
2.5 Stars with a Stone Status of grubble. Gem of a gimmick and gem concept with rubble ad copy and grubble training.
(Top ▲)
Pieces is an interesting Christian Engblom creation. It was developed by Engblom after Juan Tamariz challenged him to create a Triumph effect using a borrowed shuffled deck in which the cards can be shown to be mixed face up and face down, showing both sides of the fanned deck, and then having all the cards right themselves only after being squared. What Engblom created is ingenious. It is Pieces. The name is as clever as is the method.
Pieces comes in a folded card stock box that looks like it holds a DVD. When you open up the box, you see that the gimmicks and no DVD. Even after seeing the gimmicks, I was unsure how the method worked. The trick is explained on a 47 minute streaming video (also downloadable) which is hosted on the Murphy’s Magic website. The quality of the video and sound is excellent and it mostly shows Engblom behind a table (with a very large close-up mat). Engblom performs and teaches the tricks and the various different effect that he created with the Pieces gimmick. The effects are well-thought out and truly very fooling. Likely Pieces is something that will fool most (if not all) magicians very badly. Engblom explains how he created Pieces and shows the prototypes as they were developed. I am not aware of any prior gimmick like this.
Although Pieces is taught with a borrowed shuffled effect, it is more difficult to accomplish than the non-borrowed deck effect. Engblom describes it as “a bit of an operation” and that he usually does not perform it with a borrowed shuffled deck. During the explanation Engblom didn’t execute perfectly for an instant demonstrating some of the limitations on the method, that being that it is not natural and easy to execute. To be able to perform this trick up to presentation-ready level, it will take a significant amount of practice. This is not for beginners. Handling the gimmicks can be a bit knacky, but the effect presented may be worth the work for certain performers. The explanation is taught at a brisk pace, which may require that you watch it more than once. This trick is also not for the magician that wants to be up and running within an hour after watching the instructional video. Engblom also teaches some non-Triumph effects that are also very strong using this clever gimmick.
Another great limitation, for some, will be that the trick needs to be done while seated at a table with a close-up mat or other surface that allows you to evenly control the cards when you fan them… thus, no glass and no wood. For that reason, this tricks is not for strolling gigs, restaurant work, or most private parties, unless you are seated with the spectators. There are some angles to be wary of and although the deck can end clean and be handed out, you will need to be careful before your take your victory lap.
This trick may be more suitable to present to magicians because the non-gimmicked version of Triumph will essentially have a similar effect on a lay person, although this version can pack the strongest Triumph reaction.
The ad copy is accurate as is the promotional video. You can see for yourself how direct a smack in the face Engblom’s method hits you.
I enjoyed the idea of this trick more than the idea of performing it due to the limitations described above. Nonetheless, this is a very clever and creative gimmick worth learning and playing with.
Pieces comes in a folded card stock box that looks like it holds a DVD. When you open up the box, you see that the gimmicks and no DVD. Even after seeing the gimmicks, I was unsure how the method worked. The trick is explained on a 47 minute streaming video (also downloadable) which is hosted on the Murphy’s Magic website. The quality of the video and sound is excellent and it mostly shows Engblom behind a table (with a very large close-up mat). Engblom performs and teaches the tricks and the various different effect that he created with the Pieces gimmick. The effects are well-thought out and truly very fooling. Likely Pieces is something that will fool most (if not all) magicians very badly. Engblom explains how he created Pieces and shows the prototypes as they were developed. I am not aware of any prior gimmick like this.
Although Pieces is taught with a borrowed shuffled effect, it is more difficult to accomplish than the non-borrowed deck effect. Engblom describes it as “a bit of an operation” and that he usually does not perform it with a borrowed shuffled deck. During the explanation Engblom didn’t execute perfectly for an instant demonstrating some of the limitations on the method, that being that it is not natural and easy to execute. To be able to perform this trick up to presentation-ready level, it will take a significant amount of practice. This is not for beginners. Handling the gimmicks can be a bit knacky, but the effect presented may be worth the work for certain performers. The explanation is taught at a brisk pace, which may require that you watch it more than once. This trick is also not for the magician that wants to be up and running within an hour after watching the instructional video. Engblom also teaches some non-Triumph effects that are also very strong using this clever gimmick.
Another great limitation, for some, will be that the trick needs to be done while seated at a table with a close-up mat or other surface that allows you to evenly control the cards when you fan them… thus, no glass and no wood. For that reason, this tricks is not for strolling gigs, restaurant work, or most private parties, unless you are seated with the spectators. There are some angles to be wary of and although the deck can end clean and be handed out, you will need to be careful before your take your victory lap.
This trick may be more suitable to present to magicians because the non-gimmicked version of Triumph will essentially have a similar effect on a lay person, although this version can pack the strongest Triumph reaction.
The ad copy is accurate as is the promotional video. You can see for yourself how direct a smack in the face Engblom’s method hits you.
I enjoyed the idea of this trick more than the idea of performing it due to the limitations described above. Nonetheless, this is a very clever and creative gimmick worth learning and playing with.