Stand Up Monte
Thomas, Garrett
Kozmomagic Inc.
This will be one of your favorite tricks to perform!
In The Hands Wildcard Effect that makes sense to real-world audiences. Garrett Thomas' Stand Up Monte includes eight or more transpositions or transformations.
Draw them in with an intriguing story about games, gambling, scams, hustlers and cons.
Then add the strength of magic that happens in the spectators hands, combined with the visual power of the classic Wildcard effect.
This easy to do routine happens All In The Hands, yours and the spectators, No Table Required. Best of all, it automatically resets.
Truly Audience Tested
This routine has been used professionally by Garrett for the last 15 years with over 15,000 performances! This effect has been an underground favorite with many of the top working magicians today.
All Necessary Tools Provided
Running Time Approximately: 90min
Reviews
(Top ▲)
For $30 bucks you get a solid Monte routine with all the needed props and a very thorough training DVD.
Let me start by saying that I've never been a fan of the Three Card Monte plot. Let me also say that I'm extremely picky when it comes to the type of magic I perform. So as usual, my review will be less based on the fact that this is a Monte routine and more focused the quality of the product.
General Quality:
Watch the video and read the ad copy. It's 100% accurate and legitimate. If you like the video, you'll like the product, cards, etc. The product quality is excellent, and the cards are made on Bicycle stock Mandolin Backs.
Teaching Quality
I don't personally know Garrett Thomas, but I've always liked what I've seen from him. His kind of a quirky funny guy and seems like the kind of guy I would totally get along with, and I'm as picky about my friends as I am with the type of magic I do. On this DVD, you get a thorough and complete education from this quirky funny guy that I like. The only complaint I have about the education section is that because he is so familiar with the moves (that comes from doing it a lot) he tends to move through the teaching section a bit too fast. This makes learning it a bit more difficult than it should be.
During the education section, there would be flashbacks to the performance section to help you see what was being taught in action. I really like this concept and wish more teaching videos would use this.
Additional Thoughts
Many of Monte effects of this type (where you place a card down on the table, and it magically changes to another card) use the type of gaffed cards used in Skinner's Ultimate 3 Card Monte. This version, however, does not use those gaffs. This, in my opinion, is a definite plus. The gaffs used in this version allow for some very clean displays. Additionally, the handling sequence taught on the DVD is very deceptive and completely masks the gaff. The effect is one of the better Monte effects (again, keeping in mind that I'm not a fan of the Monte plot). Also, Mr. T's presentation is the "right" one. It's one where you show the audience what the Monte guys do . . . rather than making the audience member the loser for guessing the wrong card every time.
So, learn that from his presentation. Also, learn from his presentation that he goes too fast, and that you should slow it down a bit.
For the price, the fact that you get all the needed props (plus yet another vinyl wallet for your collection) and a thorough DVD, this gets a solid rating. Minus a little bit for the teaching section being a bit too fast paced making the learning process a little painful at times . . .
Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM.
(Top ▲)
The DVD was well produced, and easy to navigate, and there were two live performances which were great! They really teach a lot, with what to say and how to act. Garrett Thomas is a very clever guy, and he really nails these performances and gets a great reaction from them. In the second performance, they audience seem to be very tough to please, but he still manages to get them to play along, and he ends up getting a great reaction! At one point he even drops a card, but instead of panicking he leaves it on the floor and says, 'look, I can even change the cards on the floor, and they are still amazed! Garrett Thomas breaks down the moves into smaller portions, because it is quite a long routine, and explains the different parts so that you can tailor it to fit you. There are many different shots of the same moves, and he even puts stickers on his cards to indicate something to help you learn how it is done.
The actual cards that come with the DVD are bicycle red cards, and are good quality. They come in a plastic wallet, for two packet tricks in, which is useful, and it does fit into your pocket very nicely!
My only problem with it was that the moves are a bit illogical, and don't make sense when you watch carefully, however the whole routine doesn't make sense in the audience's eyes and the audience don't notice it. From having performed this a lot, no one has ever noticed this or caught me out. It is a relatively cheap trick, and it is very good and well worth the price.
Another good thing about it is that it has built in patter, and it is a very intriguing story that you tell them to get them hooked in the first place.
Overall, a very good product, I was extremely impressed with it, and would definitely recommend it to others.
(Top ▲)
Having studied beginning magic from old videos, the quality of the DVD production is excellent. The teaching is also very thorough and done from multiple angles AND it shows real audiences reacting to phases of the routine as he's teaching the routine. Very clever!
I'm a huge fan of Monte effects and if I have the opportunity, I will always choose this one. Highly recommended!