Houdini's Silent Prediction
Solari, Bob
Bob Solari Magic
Reviews
(Top ▲)
You get a single page written instructions and 40 small Houdini image cards along with what you need to do an “out to lunch” routine.
WHAT IS COOL
It could have been cool. The cards aren’t terrible, but not great. The method is easy, it is the traditional out to lunch method. The explanation is clear, but we will see below it left some to be desired. It is a cool concept, but there are some significant things you should be aware of.
WHAT ARE THE DOWNSIDES
First, the explanation of the “presentation” is an explanation of handling. Good magic, like a good movie, has to have elements that capture the viewers attention. In this case, the product offers nothing. No hook, no reason for why you have a stack of Houdini cards, nothing.
Second, the instructions say “use your favorite method” to force a card. What about the buyer who doesn’t have any method?
Third, the instructions say to not reveal the card immediately after pulling it from the stack. However, it doesn’t give any examples or guidance on what TO DO.
Fourth, the gimmicked photos don’t even look like Houdini is holding a playing card. They look like a tiny playing card was transposed on top of the Houdini image, close to his hand. They could have done a better job with the graphics.
Fifth, this product, with a bit more thought, could have been really great. First, I think the creator should have thought about how to perform this in a really powerful way, and provided at least one example of how to present it. I wonder if the creator ever presented this to real people, and if so, were they blown away, or did they just say: “That’s nice”. I’m guessing the latter. For example, what could have made this SO much better if it also included a stack of ungimmicked Houdini image cards. You could have them in your pocket and after pulling the revelation card out, you could put the stack in your pocket, then reveal the card and pull the stack out again after a switch, offering to do a follow up trick. For example, a really good follow up trick would be Roy Walton’s famous “card warp” using Houdini cards. It would have been the perfect setup to demonstrate Houdini’s skills as a master escape artist. Perhaps there could have been something on the back of the cards, like what looks like a brick wall so that the backs could be used in a card warp routine with Houdini in the middle.
AT A GLANCE
Skill level required: 2 of 5.
Audience management skill required: 4 of 5. I gave this a higher difficulty rating because as explained, there is so little substance that the audience is likely to want to look at the stack of cards, which they can’t.
Performance angles: 360 degrees
Reset time required: You can reset in front of your audience.
DIY time involved in advance: None
VERDICT
This could have been A LOT better if only some additional thought had been put into it.
Suggestions
You can probably create a better routine and better props yourself given what I’ve written in this review. I just might work on something myself.(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Creeping Death By Metallica
I have a few problems with this product. First, the "photographs" of Houdini look a bit blurry and kind of pixelated. Second, the ad copy claims that Houdini is holding the spectator's card. Take a look at the product image. You'll notice that Houdini is not holding the card, but rather it's simply printed on the photograph above his hand. Further, the card is in color and just looks kind of hokey. It's clearly not a photo of Houdini holding anything.
To me the effect would have been much better if it was as described in the ad copy . . . namely, Houdini "holding" the card. In other words, a photo of Houdini actually holding a playing card. Reading the product description, I'm guessing you'll realize that the so called "out to lunch" principle, so it's an easy to do effect. The packaging of the product is pretty poor as well. It's two stacks of business card shaped "photos" of Houdini and a folded up sheet of paper crammed into a plastic baggy.
Again, the claim that these are photos is a bit weak. It would have been a better quality product if the cards where shaped like photographs so that they actually somewhat looked like what the ad copy claims. The following statement won't impact the final star rating, however, I think it's important to point out that there really is no presentational hook or meaning with this effect. Maybe someone out there could make it more meaningful, but I just don't see it. However, as I've said before, I don't let the effect impact the review, only the product quality, and in this case, it's the product quality that's killing the value of this product.
When you consider that the cards don't look like photos but rather poorly produced photocopies of an image you found online, and further that an obviously faked "playing card" that looks cartoony "appears" on the so called photo, you've got a recipe for a cheesy looking effect that will likely not move the art forward, and give you a reputation for being a hack with crappy homemade props.
Having said all that, if you like the effect and you think that the photo of the product looks ok, then go ahead and get this. As for me and my house, we shall pass.
Final Verdict:
1.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Rubble.
