Price$35.00
Media TypeTrick, One-Trick DVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedJul 20, 2012
The Money Card
Robison, Shaun
Paper Crane Productions - Amanda Hartley
(Based on 2 reviews)
Shaun Robison's take on Three Card Monte takes an already commercial routine and makes it easier for the spectator to follow and way easier for the magician to perform. All the phases in the Money Card routine use moves that a beginner could perform and the basics of the routine can be learned within minutes of opening the package. Like Shaun says in the demo "if you got hands then you can perform this trick". The cards practically do all the work. The Money Card is a very special Monte routine that has a huge kicker ending where the Queen disappears and found in her place is the money. The Money Card gimmick is very clean and allows you to perform an easy version of this classic. Included with the routine on the DVD are all the necessary gimmicks and an additional routine using the money card gimmick.
Running Time Approximately: 17min
Reviews
(Top ▲)
There is not a lot to say about this one except that it is a very good solution for a magical version of the Three-Card Monte.
The effect is pretty straightforward as far as Monte-type effects are concerned. The only thing really different here is that the money card itself at the end vanishes and turns into a real bank note of any denomination. In my opinion it is a nice way to end this handling.
There is nothing difficult at all in this handling and everything can be done naked if you were so inclined. If you have been doing card magic for more than a month or Monte-type effects for any amount of time longer than that, you are likely already familiar with all the moves used here. The self-contained gimmick is well-made and works great right out of the box. If you prefer to use a different back than Bicycle 808s, you can easily make your own gimmick for this.
Another thing that I really appreciate about this products is that not only do you get the gimmicked card, but you also get the three regular cards needed to do this straight out of the box. I have seen many other versions of this effect come with just the gimmick and you have to end up putting the rest together yourself.
I have no doubt that the included newspaper "wallet" is fine in most packages - mine was torn in a crucial spot but the wallet was still functional and I was able to fix that part. It would not matter much to me anyway because though it does tie in with the theme of this handling, I would never use it myself in performance. It is included also because it would allow for a sleight-less way to ring in the gaff, but if you have a different way (or a different Himber wallet) that you prefer to use for this, use that instead.
The ad copy is mostly accurate - the only point of contention I would have is the claim that this handling makes "...everything clearer and easier for spectators to follow..." Some points are potentially confusing as is sometimes inevitable in 3-Card Monte effects, but I believe that a good script for this piece will set a good pace and prevent those issues.
For what you are getting, $35/USD is an okay price. The DVD is short and everything is covered, the video and audio quality are good, the included props are good but I think it would have been nice to see some other ideas for the gimmick besides the main effect. There is a bonus idea given on the disc, but overall I think it fell short in showing the potential that I think this gimmick has - I see limitless possibilities in it! I also think that they could have spent a little more time on the presentation and showing you how to make it less confusing to your audience.
If you like these types of effects and/or you like what you see in the trailer, you will not be disappointed. There are other ways you can present this version other than what is taught on the DVD, and the gimmick has a lot of potential for use in other effects.
Recommended. 4 stars.
The effect is pretty straightforward as far as Monte-type effects are concerned. The only thing really different here is that the money card itself at the end vanishes and turns into a real bank note of any denomination. In my opinion it is a nice way to end this handling.
There is nothing difficult at all in this handling and everything can be done naked if you were so inclined. If you have been doing card magic for more than a month or Monte-type effects for any amount of time longer than that, you are likely already familiar with all the moves used here. The self-contained gimmick is well-made and works great right out of the box. If you prefer to use a different back than Bicycle 808s, you can easily make your own gimmick for this.
Another thing that I really appreciate about this products is that not only do you get the gimmicked card, but you also get the three regular cards needed to do this straight out of the box. I have seen many other versions of this effect come with just the gimmick and you have to end up putting the rest together yourself.
I have no doubt that the included newspaper "wallet" is fine in most packages - mine was torn in a crucial spot but the wallet was still functional and I was able to fix that part. It would not matter much to me anyway because though it does tie in with the theme of this handling, I would never use it myself in performance. It is included also because it would allow for a sleight-less way to ring in the gaff, but if you have a different way (or a different Himber wallet) that you prefer to use for this, use that instead.
The ad copy is mostly accurate - the only point of contention I would have is the claim that this handling makes "...everything clearer and easier for spectators to follow..." Some points are potentially confusing as is sometimes inevitable in 3-Card Monte effects, but I believe that a good script for this piece will set a good pace and prevent those issues.
For what you are getting, $35/USD is an okay price. The DVD is short and everything is covered, the video and audio quality are good, the included props are good but I think it would have been nice to see some other ideas for the gimmick besides the main effect. There is a bonus idea given on the disc, but overall I think it fell short in showing the potential that I think this gimmick has - I see limitless possibilities in it! I also think that they could have spent a little more time on the presentation and showing you how to make it less confusing to your audience.
If you like these types of effects and/or you like what you see in the trailer, you will not be disappointed. There are other ways you can present this version other than what is taught on the DVD, and the gimmick has a lot of potential for use in other effects.
Recommended. 4 stars.
(Top ▲)
Review of The Money Card by Shaun Robison:
Three Cards, One Gimmicked Card, a Newspaper "Himber" Wallet, 17 minutes and $35 bucks . . . is it Gem or is it Rubble?
Effect
The effect is a relatively standard 3 Card Monte routine with standard things like isolating the money card and "clearly" placing the non-money cards on the table. Then the money card appears on the table, and inside the wallet (or whatever isolation device) is found the non-money card. However, this one ends with a kicker: the three cards (Two Black Jacks and the money card - Red Queen in this case) are clearly shown. When suddenly, the Queen vanishes and in its place is found a $50 (or whatever denomination) bill.
Do you like that effect?
If you do, keep reading. If you don't, stop reading because who cares what I think about the product if you don't like the effect?
Method
The method is simple . . . a gimmick that is supplied. I've tested it out, and it works great. It's so simple and down to Earth that you should have no problems working it. Additionally, the gimmick is self contained, and is ready to go right out of the box. You'll need to supply the cash that will appear. Further, this trick can be done in the buff . . . that's right, naked. So for all you nudist colony strollers, this effect just might be for you. You literally only need the newspaper wallet with the cards inside of it, and bam . . . you're ready to go. If you already do a 3 Card Monte style effect, you already (likely) know all the handling/moves and already have the skills needed to perform this. It's super easy.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is 99% dead on. The only "issue" I have is this claim: "Shaun Robison's take on Three Card Monte takes an already commercial routine and makes it easier for the spectator to follow and way easier for the magician to perform." The second part (the magician being able to easily do it) is totally dead on accurate. However, the routine was a little confusing at a few points. That is inherent in this type of routine. There are many points that are very clear, but I still felt there were a couple of "less than clear" moments as well. Luckily, that is something that is easily rectified with simple scripting and performance pace. Other than that super tiny issue, the ad copy is dead on.
Product Quality
Though the DVD is short, it's well produced and covers everything. Plus, Robison was fun to watch, a great teacher, and a downright nice guy. The DVD was super easy to navigate. The cards and gimmick are all Bicycle 808 Rider Backs and thus very well made and easy to handle. The "Himber" style wallet looks pretty good too. It's made to look like a folded up piece of newspaper or maybe a sort of "poor man's" wallet made from newspaper. It is a little flimsy-looking, but it's still pretty dang solid.
Further adding to the product quality, is the bonus effect you can do with the main gimmick. Basically, you can cause a $50 (or whatever denomination) bill to quickly, instantly and visually appear in the middle of the deck right above a previously selected card. The deck can be shuffled (by you) right before performing the above effect.
I think, however, that this gimmick has even more potential than they give it credit for. It would have been nice to have a couple more uses for it.
Final Thoughts
When you consider that you get a special gimmick, a special newspaper wallet and the three card monte cards, and when you consider the fact that the method is uncomplicated and easy to do, $35 is a pretty decent price. I do, however, feel that they could have spent a bit more time on the presentation and on how to keep it more clear and direct. So many good things . . . so few not-good things.
Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.