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Details

AmazeBox

Shortland, Mark

Vanishing Inc.

(Based on 2 reviews)
Once in a while we come across a trick with a method that is as inspiring and whimsical as the effect it creates. "AmazeBox" is the best example of this that we've ever encountered (think of the wow factor of the best Tenyo items...but this one you can use onstage for hundreds of people). It is simply, elegantly this: a box that switches and forces without you ever touching it. No electronics. In fact, the method is most closely related to origami.

Imagine this: you ask everyone in the audience to write down their favorite song (or first kiss, or three-digit number, or whatever you want) on a slip of paper and drop it into the cardboard box at the foot of the stage. The box never goes out of sight and (truly) nobody touches it. During your show, you invite a spectator to approach the box and open it, then reach inside and remove any slip at random. In the act of opening the box, the spectator unknowingly switches all the audience's papers for an entirely different batch of slips you prepared in advance. Use this to force a favorite song or number or celebrity name. THEN, you can use the information written by the spectators later on in the show.

Mentalists will immediately identify the many, many opportunities this little box affords. It's as light as air, can be decorated or repurposed in any way you like, and is quite possibly the only effect we've produced that is easier than easy. The spectator switches the papers. You don't even touch the box.

We're absolutely thrilled with the ingenuity of this incredible little box, and the way the box is designed and folded makes the switch automatic. It's impossible to fail and, we think, impossible to figure out. The fun, toy factor is undeniable, but true professionals will find this piece invaluable. We are grateful to the creative Mark Shortland for working with Vanishing Inc. Magic on this exciting new release.

"Mark Shortland has created an ingenious and devious solution to an age old problem. Natural looking, hands off in operation and simple to use; this might well be exactly what you are looking for."
- Luke Jermay

"AmazeBox is enormously practical, and is as ingenious as the best Tenyo effects, but built into a stage prop that looks entirely normal"
- Joshua Jay

"I've never been so excited for a magic utility device in my career!"
- Kyle Marlett

"I'm using AmazeBox in my show. As soon as I saw it I knew that every mentalist and magician could find a use for it in their show too!"
- Andi Gladwin

Reviews

Stephan Sloan

Official Reviewer

Sep 12, 2022

Overview

Effect

Pieces of paper and pencils are passed around an audience. They are asked to write their favorite movie on the slip of paper and fold it in half. The slips are collected by an audience member and they deposit the slips in a closed cardboard box at the front of the stage. The box is shaken and the person who deposited the slips is asked to open the box and take one slip out and read it. They are asked only to think of the movie. Utilizing amazing telepathic powers, the mentalism divines the thought of movie. This is just one of innumerable effects that can be achieved with the Amazebox.

Method

The method involved to achieve this incredible feat is a force. The forced paper (billet) is achieved through mechanical means which will be impossible to re-engineer by the lay audience and possibly other magicians as well. The Amazebox is a cleverly engineered piece of apparatus that will rival the performance of similar products ten times its price.

Product Quality

The quality of the Amazebox is superb. It is made out of sturdy corrugated cardboard which, if not abused, can last hundreds of performances. There is some folding and taping involved and you are supplied with almost everything you need. You will need to have on hand (not supplied) some duct tape, scotch tape and double sided tape. The video instructions are extremely thorough when it comes to the construction and preparation of the box. The nuances of setting up the box for performance and resetting for the nest performance are covered as well. The instructions are light on the performance aspects but anyone involved in mentalism even for a short period of time will come up with numerous ideas on how the box can be used.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy integrity is 100%. The box does what is claimed as long as it is properly constructed.

Suggestions

A couple of things impacted me while looking at this product. First, Mark Shortland’s appearance on the video is neat and clean. He speaks clearly and it well dressed. I personally get annoyed when you watch a training video and the performer’s clothes are dirty, unkempt and ill fitting. It’s refreshing to see someone who looks professional instructing on his product. Secondly, how more organic can you get than a cardboard box? A plain, black cardboard storage box that looks nothing like a magic prop. How unpretentious can you get? If you are looking for a prop that will allow you to perform an effect that similar props costing as much as ten times more than Amazebox is for you.
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GodsMagicGuy

Nov 06, 2015

The demo video makes it clear what you can do with this box. But its more than billet switching, once you know how it works it is limited only by your imagination. The video teaching you how to assemble your box is very clear and what few extra things you need to finish assembling the AmazeBox should be in every magicians home already. I would mention there a downside to this effect but there is none.
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