Price$25.00
Media TypeTrick
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedMar 08, 2012
Missing
Charlie Frye
Alan Wong
(Based on 3 reviews)
- Completely examinable
- Nothing to break
- No difficult handling
This card is openly removed and can be casually tossed to the table, or held up on display.
Placing it between a spectator's palms, you now attempt to make the card vanish under impossible conditions. With no switch, and no funny moves - other than the ones you'd like to make - you announce with confidence that you've succeeded...sort of.
When the spectator opens his or her hands they'll find that you can honestly claim: "The Seven has now vanished... as have all the clubs."
As a result of your magical efforts, the spectator will be left holding the strangest card ever seen: a card completely devoid of its pips and numbers, which have now inexplicably gone MISSING. Markings that they would have sworn were there but a moment ago.
You're supplied with two cards with different identities, which have been designed with the utmost care and precision. Not only is this a fantastic close-up illusion, it's a fascinating optical illusion as well.
Comes complete with 2 gimmicked cards, card wallet and instruction sheet.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
PROS
This is a hard one to review because I have met Charlie and I really admire his talent.
On the positive side, this concept really has some potential.
The gimmicks are well made, as is the vinyl two pocket card wallet. In fact, the wallet has a special feature that is not explained in the instructions and not part of the routine.
The effect is true to the ad copy. You get a single page front and back instruction sheet, a really nice padded vinyl two card wallet, and a couple gimmicked cards.
CONS
On the negative side, the method and effect is really weak. I can’t believe Charlie didn’t put a bit more of his creative genius into this product! In the suggestions section, I’ll give a suggested routine that I think would be much stronger.
The routine described is you say that as a magician, you make things disappear. Unfortunately, you have made all of your cards disappear except one. You show a single card in the card wallet. The gimmick card is placed into the hands of the participant and you “make it disappear”. When they open their hands, the numbers and the pips have been cut out. Unfortunately, the method is exactly what the participant is likely to assume, and there is nothing else.
Another sad note, is the method might be discovered during the presentation because there is no magical change from a solid card to a card with missing numbers and pips, and there is really no good description of how to handle the gimmick so it is not detected at the wrong time.
It’s not the first time this idea has been used, and frankly, other applications of this idea are much better. I’m cursing Charlie right now because there is another marketed effect that creatively uses the idea of cut out pips in the casting of a shadow where one card changes to another as a flashlight is shone through the cutout pips and the shadow changes from one card to another. I tried to find it, cursed Charlie for making me work so hard, and I still didn’t find it. Sorry, I failed.
VERDICT
D**n you, Charlie for putting out this crap! See the suggestion section in case you like my routine idea and decide to purchase this.
This is a hard one to review because I have met Charlie and I really admire his talent.
On the positive side, this concept really has some potential.
The gimmicks are well made, as is the vinyl two pocket card wallet. In fact, the wallet has a special feature that is not explained in the instructions and not part of the routine.
The effect is true to the ad copy. You get a single page front and back instruction sheet, a really nice padded vinyl two card wallet, and a couple gimmicked cards.
CONS
On the negative side, the method and effect is really weak. I can’t believe Charlie didn’t put a bit more of his creative genius into this product! In the suggestions section, I’ll give a suggested routine that I think would be much stronger.
The routine described is you say that as a magician, you make things disappear. Unfortunately, you have made all of your cards disappear except one. You show a single card in the card wallet. The gimmick card is placed into the hands of the participant and you “make it disappear”. When they open their hands, the numbers and the pips have been cut out. Unfortunately, the method is exactly what the participant is likely to assume, and there is nothing else.
Another sad note, is the method might be discovered during the presentation because there is no magical change from a solid card to a card with missing numbers and pips, and there is really no good description of how to handle the gimmick so it is not detected at the wrong time.
It’s not the first time this idea has been used, and frankly, other applications of this idea are much better. I’m cursing Charlie right now because there is another marketed effect that creatively uses the idea of cut out pips in the casting of a shadow where one card changes to another as a flashlight is shone through the cutout pips and the shadow changes from one card to another. I tried to find it, cursed Charlie for making me work so hard, and I still didn’t find it. Sorry, I failed.
VERDICT
D**n you, Charlie for putting out this crap! See the suggestion section in case you like my routine idea and decide to purchase this.
Suggestions
This product was really pleading for a bit more creativity. The problem with the effect is there really isn’t a convincing magic moment. So, here is an idea: Take a deck of cards and load about 12 duplicate cards in the middle that match one of your gimmick cards. Place the gimmick card in the card wallet. Have only one gimmick card in the wallet. Give the cards an overhand shuffle. If you practice a bit, you should be able to riffle shuffle the cards without upsetting the block of cards. Spread the top ¼ of the cards, push the middle bunch and spread the bottom ¼ of the cards to show they are well mixed. You are really showing they are all different, but say: “They are pretty well mixed up.” Spread the middle of the deck face down, and ask them to “just take any card” Then, take the card and hold it up for all to see. By showing it around, the implication is you are not going to see it, and this is likely going to be the standard “card lost in deck, performer finds card” routine. You then say: “I am going to take this card”, turn it so you can see it, and say: “Three of Spades, and make it disappear.” Take the card wallet from your pocket and without showing the card inside, open the wallet toward yourself and slide their selected card under the secret compartment. Close the card wallet, snap your finger, cover it with your hand and say: “There, gone.” If you do this with the right attitude, as if you don’t really care, this is very humorous. You then say: “What, don’t believe me?” You open the wallet to show the card still in the wallet. You say: “OK, I’m not that good.” You then ask a participant to hold out their hands, one palm up and the other above it, palm down. Slip the gimmicked card into their hands so they don’t see the cut out pips. Ask them to hold their hands together. Then say: “OK, making something disappear isn’t easy. It didn’t work for me, so now… it’s all on you... I want you to focus on every part of the card. Start by making the numbers disappear. Got it? Did you feel anything? OK, now make the pips, the little spade drawings disappear. Got it? Did you feel anything? OK, now make the rest of the card disappear. Do you still feel it between your fingers? Are you focusing? Come on, man! Put your back into it!” Have them open their hand and reveal the magic.(Top ▲)
This is an easy product to review but hard to rate - what you get is exactly what it says in the ad copy - a one-page instruction sheet, a card wallet and two "gimmicks". This is based on an old principle that most magicians will be familiar with, but I am not sure I have ever seen it used this way - very nice thinking!
The instructions are clear, well-written and easy to understand. Since these gimmicks are more of a utility than a singular effect or routine, the instructions are short and sweet.
The card wallet is actually very nice - I would not use it in performance because it does not suit me, but it is almost like the typical plastic packet trick wallet/case except this one has hard covers.
The "gimmicks" themselves are very well-made - while the "gimmicks" do not include any extra pieces and are in face made from a singular card, there are some delicate "parts" that you just have to take care not to damage. I keep putting quotes around the word "gimmick" because for all intents and purposes, they are very ordinary cards except for one thing.
This is not a strong enough effect to stand on its own and is better used as part of another effect or at some point in another routine. As such this is more of a utility than anything else, but the illusion is very cool and very good!
The ad copy is truthful and the only parts I might slightly challenge are the "nothing to break" and the statement that the card can be "openly removed". If you are not careful there are parts you can damage. To "openly remove" the cards you have to provide a little misdirection or cover or you will ruin the ending. Other than those two words, you can display the card freely in various ways provided you follow the 'requirements' outlined in the instructions.
It is up to you to figure out how to use this to get the most out of it and I was easily able to think of close to a dozen different ways to use and present it, even though I do not use Bicycle back cards any more. While I can understand the expense of having the "gimmicks" made, I am not sure whether the $25/USD price tag is justified or not. Just like with any product at any price point, you will have to decided whether the effect is worth it or not. Personally, I like the possibilities but I am on the fence about the price.
I recommend it if you like what you read - it is very versatile.
The instructions are clear, well-written and easy to understand. Since these gimmicks are more of a utility than a singular effect or routine, the instructions are short and sweet.
The card wallet is actually very nice - I would not use it in performance because it does not suit me, but it is almost like the typical plastic packet trick wallet/case except this one has hard covers.
The "gimmicks" themselves are very well-made - while the "gimmicks" do not include any extra pieces and are in face made from a singular card, there are some delicate "parts" that you just have to take care not to damage. I keep putting quotes around the word "gimmick" because for all intents and purposes, they are very ordinary cards except for one thing.
This is not a strong enough effect to stand on its own and is better used as part of another effect or at some point in another routine. As such this is more of a utility than anything else, but the illusion is very cool and very good!
The ad copy is truthful and the only parts I might slightly challenge are the "nothing to break" and the statement that the card can be "openly removed". If you are not careful there are parts you can damage. To "openly remove" the cards you have to provide a little misdirection or cover or you will ruin the ending. Other than those two words, you can display the card freely in various ways provided you follow the 'requirements' outlined in the instructions.
It is up to you to figure out how to use this to get the most out of it and I was easily able to think of close to a dozen different ways to use and present it, even though I do not use Bicycle back cards any more. While I can understand the expense of having the "gimmicks" made, I am not sure whether the $25/USD price tag is justified or not. Just like with any product at any price point, you will have to decided whether the effect is worth it or not. Personally, I like the possibilities but I am on the fence about the price.
I recommend it if you like what you read - it is very versatile.
(Top ▲)
For $25 bucks, you get a glossy color two sided sheet of instructions, a special gaffed wallet and two gaffed cards that create an amazing optical illusion.
The problem with this effect is that the effect seems to point toward the method or at least "a" method. Once it's revealed that the pips are gone and the spectator is holding the card, it won't take long for the spectator see that maybe an optical illusion was in play. Or that somehow you secretly removed the pips.
In my opinion, this should not be used as an effect, but rather as part of another effect. Otherwise the method (pardon the upcoming pun) may be a bit too transparent. As for product quality, everything is S.O.L.I.D. Very well produced and put together.
As I mentioned, the optical illusion is beautiful. So if you feel the effect will fly and/or you liked the demo, then you'll love the product. It's very well done. If you see the demo and think that you have a use for the gimmicks, then go for it. They won't disappoint.
Final Verdict:
4 Stars With a Stone Status of Gem.