REVIEW

Punkture is an effect where a safety pin is attached to a bill, a playing card, or a business card and it is moved.

Many variations of this sort of effect have been developed by the likes of Jerry Andrus and David Harkey.

This is a very organic and flexible magic prop. It looks so normal (organic) and it can be used with so many things, such as playing cards, business cards, bills, etc (flexible).

The effect is well made and the routines are well thought out. The instruction is very good. The prop is a bit different than those made previously. I think it is an improvement in that is looks better when penetrating a card or bill.

Jay presents several ways to present this, including a clever way to get into it (by simply pinning it on your shirt as an interesting conversation starter), a clever way to give out your business card, several ways to use this with borrowed bills, and many more. In addition, there are so many more ways to use this.

CAUTION

The prop is really well made, works well, and should last a very long time, if not forever if cared for reasonably well.

I really can’t think of any downsides to this effect.

VERDICT

This is a great prop with which you could create great routines, and the instruction is very good.

Suggestions

It think this prop lends itself to creating a very entertaining routine. Here’s an idea: Hand the ungimmicked pin to the participant to inspect and to hold. Have a participant select a card and insert it into the middle of the deck. Control the card second from the top. You can do this by holding the deck so the side faces the participant. Hold a break below the top card. Riffle the side and ask them to say “stop”. When they do, turn the deck so the backs face the participant and pull the top card off the deck, holding both the bottom of the deck and the top card deep in your hands. Have them put their card “in the middle of the deck”. Bring the single card to the rest of the cards and grasp about half the deck as you bring the deck up to horizontal position and dribble the cards. It looks like you have just buried their card into the middle of the deck. Take the pin back and use it as a magic wand to make their card rise to the top. Take the top card and show it. Unfortunately, it is the wrong card. Repeat the gesture, but this time, take the top two cards as one and pretend to pin the safety pin to the card, committing to the magic. Show the card. Again, it is the wrong card. Make eye contact with the participant and ask what their card was. At the same time, bring the “pinned” cards to the deck and pull the top card and pin away, leaving the second card on the deck. Place the pinned card on the table. Say: “What card did I pin?” Pretend like they are mistaken and that you pinned the card they just said. After a bit of back and forth, turn over their card, pinned to the card. Do the pin removal and instant switch Jay describes in the DVD. As an alternative, you could make a small hole in a card and force that card at the start of the routine.