Price$25.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryGeneral
Date AddedJan 22, 2016
400 Lux
Littleton, Kyle
Vanishing Inc.
(Based on 3 reviews)
Creator Kyle Littleton takes you through every step of the process. The routine is easy to learn, easy to perform, and imminently practical, since it uses just eight normal bills. It's possibly even stronger than gimmicked versions as the bills can be examined before and after, and the change looks just as magical! Use any bills - no gimmicks Includes multiple handlings 25 minutes of high-quality explanation"It's a beautiful thing when sleights can flawlessly replace a gimmick! Kyle Littleton's 400 Lux is a great alternative to all the "Easy Money" variations. 400 Lux is pure magic done with pure sleight of hand!"
- Karl Hein
Running time: 25 minutes
Reviews
(Top ▲)
“Flash Cash,” or as it’s more popularly known, “Hundy 500,” is a wildly popular and powerful effect found in the repertoire of countless professional magicians. And why wouldn’t it be? After all, what audience wouldn’t be impressed seeing someone instantly change five one dollar bills into five one hundred dollar bills? The popularity of the effect has lead to the creation of a number of approaches, each of which has used the same basic method, but attacked the handling from a different angle. That is, until now. Instead of changing the handling, Kyle Littleton got rid of the gimmick. His approach, “400 Lux,” is a way of performing “Flash Cash” with ungimmicked bills. His various handlings allow the performer to mimic not only the original version, but they can be used to emulate many of the most popular versions to date.
The method and handling explained on the DVD are quite clever and convincing. While the method is what one would guess (“He’s switching the bills and hiding the switched out ones”), the handling makes it appear impossible for the bills to be hidden. The visible bills are cleanly and fairly shown on both sides multiple times, so the idea of hidden bills seems to be impossible. Interestingly, this is the same principle at play with “Flash Cash,” except with the original method the bills remain hidden inside the gimmick as opposed to being hidden by a clever handling of the bills.
The instruction on the DVD is clear and well thought out. The camera work is simple and done entirely in studio. No live performances are shown, but anyone who has been into magic for any amount of time knows the effect plays extremely well. Several handlings are taught, all of which use the same opening and ending displays to cleanly show just ones at the beginning and just hundreds at the end. The changes taught include an instant change of the bills while fully opened, one where it occurs as the folded packet of ones is rotated around, and a slow change that occurs as the hand slowly waves over the opened bills. He teaches an additional option using an extra bill, which uses camouflage somewhat like the original gimmick, and looks like the change seen in Karl Hein’s “Heiny 500.” He also teaches a very organic way to transport the set up, which also allows for a well-motivated cover to ditch the extra bills at the end of the effect.
The strange thing about this DVD is that at no point does Mr. Littleton actually demonstrate the effect, start to finish. He jumps right into the assembly of the gimmick and then explains the method. To be clear, the instruction is thorough and complete, and it will be easy for the viewer to learn the effect from the DVD. However, one of the primary advantages of video as a medium for learning is to see what an effect looks like in performance, at speed, with no pauses. While it’s clear what the effect should look like, it’s a glaring error that the producers didn’t include at least one full performance, as well as performances of the various changes as they should appear.
The question to ask isn’t if a gimmickless handling is better than the traditional method. The question is, is it better for the individual performer? The advantage of “400 Lux” is that all the bills can be examined and no part of any of the visible bills need be hidden. But it does require holding out, which can be difficult to do casually, without guilt and without arousing suspicion. If you’re comfortable holding out, then “400 Lux” offers a way to emulate most, if not all, of the popular changes, while allowing for a squeaky clean display and to have all the bills examined at the end. Recommended.
The method and handling explained on the DVD are quite clever and convincing. While the method is what one would guess (“He’s switching the bills and hiding the switched out ones”), the handling makes it appear impossible for the bills to be hidden. The visible bills are cleanly and fairly shown on both sides multiple times, so the idea of hidden bills seems to be impossible. Interestingly, this is the same principle at play with “Flash Cash,” except with the original method the bills remain hidden inside the gimmick as opposed to being hidden by a clever handling of the bills.
The instruction on the DVD is clear and well thought out. The camera work is simple and done entirely in studio. No live performances are shown, but anyone who has been into magic for any amount of time knows the effect plays extremely well. Several handlings are taught, all of which use the same opening and ending displays to cleanly show just ones at the beginning and just hundreds at the end. The changes taught include an instant change of the bills while fully opened, one where it occurs as the folded packet of ones is rotated around, and a slow change that occurs as the hand slowly waves over the opened bills. He teaches an additional option using an extra bill, which uses camouflage somewhat like the original gimmick, and looks like the change seen in Karl Hein’s “Heiny 500.” He also teaches a very organic way to transport the set up, which also allows for a well-motivated cover to ditch the extra bills at the end of the effect.
The strange thing about this DVD is that at no point does Mr. Littleton actually demonstrate the effect, start to finish. He jumps right into the assembly of the gimmick and then explains the method. To be clear, the instruction is thorough and complete, and it will be easy for the viewer to learn the effect from the DVD. However, one of the primary advantages of video as a medium for learning is to see what an effect looks like in performance, at speed, with no pauses. While it’s clear what the effect should look like, it’s a glaring error that the producers didn’t include at least one full performance, as well as performances of the various changes as they should appear.
The question to ask isn’t if a gimmickless handling is better than the traditional method. The question is, is it better for the individual performer? The advantage of “400 Lux” is that all the bills can be examined and no part of any of the visible bills need be hidden. But it does require holding out, which can be difficult to do casually, without guilt and without arousing suspicion. If you’re comfortable holding out, then “400 Lux” offers a way to emulate most, if not all, of the popular changes, while allowing for a squeaky clean display and to have all the bills examined at the end. Recommended.
(Top ▲)
PROS
I think this is the best bill change of all! It is completely gimmickless, and if you think that must make it much more difficult to perform, you might want to think again.
The effect is beautiful. Clearly Kyle has put a lot of thought into this. Not only is it gimmickless, the but setup and handling have been worked out in such a way that it is pretty easy handling and requires the simplest of sleights. This is not a knuckle buster.
The instruction is top notch. Kyle teaches several ways to handle this. Frankly, IMO, just go with the initial handling he teaches. It is brilliant, well thought out, to the point, and works tremendously well. I would really suggest you focus on just two sections of the DVD: The original handling and the ditching of the dollar bills so you end clean with just four one hundred dollar bills.
In addition to the moves, he teaches how to carry the bills, how to get in and out of the effect, and a creative way to both store and disguise bills using a receipt. The idea is tremendous. It is obvious Kyle is a working magician and it is also obvious this is a working routine. He has worked through every move to get the most magic out of the most streamlined of moves.
The effect is very true to the ad copy. If you liked the trailer, you are going to love this. The moves aren’t difficult, every single bill can be examined if you so choose, and he teaches how to end clean. Oh, it takes just a couple minutes to set up, a few seconds to reset, and it can be done completely surrounded.
What more can you ask for?
CONS
I can’t think of any. Well, if you use four hundred dollar bills, you are going to have to carry 404 bucks with you and resist the temptation to not spend them.
AT A GLANCE
The skill level required: 2 of 5.
Audience management skill required: 2 of 5.
Performance angles: 360 degrees
The reset time required: 1 minutes
The DIY time involved in advance: 2 minutes
VERDICT
I think this is the best bill change ever! The fact that is uses no gimmicks is a huge plus, especially since the moves are not that difficult.
I think this is the best bill change of all! It is completely gimmickless, and if you think that must make it much more difficult to perform, you might want to think again.
The effect is beautiful. Clearly Kyle has put a lot of thought into this. Not only is it gimmickless, the but setup and handling have been worked out in such a way that it is pretty easy handling and requires the simplest of sleights. This is not a knuckle buster.
The instruction is top notch. Kyle teaches several ways to handle this. Frankly, IMO, just go with the initial handling he teaches. It is brilliant, well thought out, to the point, and works tremendously well. I would really suggest you focus on just two sections of the DVD: The original handling and the ditching of the dollar bills so you end clean with just four one hundred dollar bills.
In addition to the moves, he teaches how to carry the bills, how to get in and out of the effect, and a creative way to both store and disguise bills using a receipt. The idea is tremendous. It is obvious Kyle is a working magician and it is also obvious this is a working routine. He has worked through every move to get the most magic out of the most streamlined of moves.
The effect is very true to the ad copy. If you liked the trailer, you are going to love this. The moves aren’t difficult, every single bill can be examined if you so choose, and he teaches how to end clean. Oh, it takes just a couple minutes to set up, a few seconds to reset, and it can be done completely surrounded.
What more can you ask for?
CONS
I can’t think of any. Well, if you use four hundred dollar bills, you are going to have to carry 404 bucks with you and resist the temptation to not spend them.
AT A GLANCE
The skill level required: 2 of 5.
Audience management skill required: 2 of 5.
Performance angles: 360 degrees
The reset time required: 1 minutes
The DIY time involved in advance: 2 minutes
VERDICT
I think this is the best bill change ever! The fact that is uses no gimmicks is a huge plus, especially since the moves are not that difficult.
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: I've Loved and Lost Again by Patsy Cline
400 Lux Review
One DVD, $25 bucks and one 400 Lux Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
400 Lux Review: Effect
Four single one dollar bills visually turn into four $100 dollar bills.
400 Lux Review: Method
The method is basically the same as most effects like this, however, it does it in a gimmick-less way. This method allows you a bit more freedom of handling that traditional methods do not. Any venue where people are close enough to see the change happen is a good venue for this. You can keep it in your wallet and be good to go any time. Plus, if you ever get in a bind and need to spend the money, you can do so without having to take apart a gimmick. All skill levels welcome.
400 Lux Review: Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is actually quite misleading. First, they claim that this can be done impromptu. That's not true. Well, it's no more or less true than saying that the gimmicked versions can be done impromptu. If you have the bills (gimmicked or otherwise) on you and they are prepared properly, then you can do this any time.
Second, the ad trailer claims that this can be done with no preparation. This is also un-true. In order to do this, you need to (in advance) fold the bills up in a very specific way. They ones need to be folded one specific way. Then one of the hundreds needs to be folded a specific way that's different from the ones. Lastly, the other 3 hundreds need to be folded the same specific way as the ones.
So, there is nothing "impromptu" or "un-prepared" about this, so their claim of "COMPLETELY" impromptu in ALL CAPS is COMPLETELY un-true. The claim that the bills are examinable before and after is true. Just keep in mind that you have to secretly steal (i.e., gambler's cop) the hidden packet of bills in order to allow the visible bills to be examined. This is totally legit and doable, but I just wanted to be clear.
Next, the first bullet point says that any bills can be used. This is not quite true. First, the bills have to be the exact same size as each other. I know some currencies have ten notes that are physically larger than 5 notes. The notes get physically larger as the denomination increases. Assuming you have bills with the same size, then the next question is regarding plastic currency (e.g., Australian currency). Well, probably not. You have to be able to crease the money and have it hold a crease.
Lastly, let's say you've got some good ol' standard sized non-plastic currency. Great. You still need to, secretly, prepare the bills in advance, so don't assume that "any bills" means you can just grab four bills and change them with no prep time.
400 Lux Review: Product Quality
The production value is okay. It's not the best I've seen, that's for sure. However, the teaching is where things really fell apart. The explanations were too fast and really seemed to assume that you already knew what was going on. He wasn't very good at giving the finer points and the details. Though multiple handling techniques were taught, they were taught too quickly and not in depth enough. My guess is that a handful of times re-watching and rewinding will get you there, but I'm not entirely sure about that. I ain't got that kind of time.
400 Lux Review: Final Thoughts
The overall concept is solid and smart and really does give you options and freedom that the gimmicked methods do not. However, considering that you're getting one trick that isn't exactly stellarly taught along with the ad copy un-truths, the rating on this ain't great.
Final Verdict:
2.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Grubble with a capital letter "G" for the gem part of Grubble. A GEM of a method surrounded
Available at your Favorite Magic Dealer. Dealer's see Murphy's Magic for details. by rubble ad copy and rubble-is teaching.