Price$19.95
Media TypeTrick
CategoryBizarre, Close Up, Childrens, Comedy
Date AddedMar 04, 2015
What Tha
Lovins, Rodger
Rodger Lovins
(Based on 4 reviews)
The magician is seen to reach out into thin air and with his or her bare hands (And Short Sleeves) produce a live creature! Then, just as quick, the performer makes it vanish! Was it real? Was it just an illusion? What the heck was it!!!!! Maybe it was just your imagination! The reactions you will get are unbelievable!
We have been working on this design for over three years. We wanted to come up with something that would look real, catch people off guard, yet leave the spectator with a feeling of wonderment and magic! Here is what some magicians have told us about "What Tha".
"What Tha, has become my favorite effect to perform while out and about everyday"
"This is great! Works well with my close up work."
"Freaked me out! I just had to have it!"
"It looks so real. I thought it was alive! I love it and so will you!"
I always ask people what they saw. Here are a few answers I have received. BIRD, MOUSE, LIZARD, SNAKE, SUGAR GLIDER, BUG, GERBIL, RAT, HAMSTER, SALAMANDER, FROG, and many more! But, the words I have heard most are "WHAT THA...".
ORDER YOURS TODAY!
Comes with one handmade creature and the link to free online video instructions!
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Overview
This device/concept is not brand new...however: the 'weird' factor is. I have seen this type of bit used with a tiny doll's arm/hand. I have seen it done (years ago) with a small, plastic Nun figure(yes, the Catholic kind).So, it's a quick little bit where you either grab something or simply display your cupped hands and a little weirdish critter pokes his head out!!
In terms of quality, it is pretty solid! Rodger Lovins also provides a link to a nice long video where he discusses the basics of handling plus several extra suggestions tossed in as well. It is a tiny bit (to me, at least) on the large size for one's finger (but I don't have large hands/fingers).
This is a good prop! Usable in LOADS of settings. Good for kids, adults...just a playful little bit of fun for nearly any place you might imagine.
Effect
Performer displays his cupped hands whereupon suddenly, a bird-like creature's head appears. Just a quick, startling bit for those close up situations.Method
Utilizes a sort-of thumb tip device that is pretty simple to operate. The hands do all the work, which isn't to hard.Product Quality
Relatively rock solid! Not complicated. Does what it needs to. Maybe a hair bigger than it should be, but still pretty good!Ad Copy Integrity
Honestly, no lies to be found. The ad copy is appropriately obscure enough but reveals the proper gist of things.(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Mademoiselle by Styx
What Tha Review
One weird little prop, 11 minutes of instructions, $20 bucks and a What Tha Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
The effect is simply a weird little appearance of a bird or something in your hands. It, then, vanishes almost as quickly as it appears.
Method
This is a unique situation because the entire method is 100% exposed and taught on Rodger Lovins's site. So you can actually go directly there and learn the secret, what you get in your package, how to do it, etc., etc.
The method is very simple and very effective and very deceptive. What you're basically paying for is the little prop, which I'll let you figure out when you watch the video.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is 100% accurate. Even the claims of the types of reactions you'll get with it are true. I've been using a very similar prop for years, and it always gets a great reaction. It's one of those quick and silly things that people remember way more than the extreme sleight of hand awesomeness that you bring to the table.
Product Quality
The training quality is pretty good. It was, as you can see for yourself, very short and not the most amazing audio/video quality, but it gets the job done. If you watched the training video, then you've decided whether or not you're interested in this product or not. The only question, really, is whether or not the little thingy that you get is worth $20 bucks.
I think that the combination of some of the handling ideas taught on the video along with the included thingy, that $20 is not a bad price. However, the gimmick that I got looks like a wet, dead bird and it's a little bit sticky on the outside. Maybe it's the glue holding the feathers on? You can get a super close up view of it in the review video above.
Final Thoughts
This review more than any review I've done in the past it truly a case where you don't need my final star rating. Between this write up, the instructions from Rodger Lovins and my review video, you've seen EVERYTHING you need to know to decide if you are going to purchase this. That being said, I'll still leave you with my final rating.
Final Verdict:
3.5 Stars with a Stone Status of gem.
Available at your Favorite Magic Dealer. Dealer's see Murphy's Magic For Details.
(Top ▲)
PROS
Before we get to the review, the first “What tha!” moment I had was … Is Rodger Lovins related to Kenny Rogers? I swear, they look and sound like twins.
Now for the effect: This is a great little gag. Some people may think this really isn’t magic, but the way he presents it is magical, with a great vanish. Also, people are entertained by variation. This is a great little thing to vary things up. He says in the video that this little effect gets the strongest reactions, and I believe him. I got some really strong reactions too.
This is really designed for close-up, particularly street magic.
The gimmick works well and is made very well. They are all hand made with great attention to detail.
The instruction is very good.
CONS
You will need to store it with care as it is a wonderful little hand made prop. His suggestion is to store it in a thumbtip, a great way to go.
VERDICT
Great gimmick and great little effect.
Before we get to the review, the first “What tha!” moment I had was … Is Rodger Lovins related to Kenny Rogers? I swear, they look and sound like twins.
Now for the effect: This is a great little gag. Some people may think this really isn’t magic, but the way he presents it is magical, with a great vanish. Also, people are entertained by variation. This is a great little thing to vary things up. He says in the video that this little effect gets the strongest reactions, and I believe him. I got some really strong reactions too.
This is really designed for close-up, particularly street magic.
The gimmick works well and is made very well. They are all hand made with great attention to detail.
The instruction is very good.
CONS
You will need to store it with care as it is a wonderful little hand made prop. His suggestion is to store it in a thumbtip, a great way to go.
VERDICT
Great gimmick and great little effect.
(Top ▲)
What Tha is not so much of a magic trick as it is a close-up freak out gag. With that being said, if you are into shocking your audience with practical joke-like tricks, then this inexpensive heart-beat raising gimmick is for you.
With the What The gimmick, you have your hands cupped. You open your hands slightly and a tiny animal pokes its head out of your hands. It freaks your spectators out severely. This is likely because they were not actually expecting to see a real animal, but some finger trick. The animal disappears and the spectator is left freaking out and wondering what exactly did they see. The reactions are very strong from both men and women, but the women tend to be more alarmed by the animal.
The gimmick is well made and looks like a real animal. It is a clever idea. It is a one size fits all product, but it won't work with every finger size. The gimmick that came in my package was a bit sticky, which is not ideal, but does not inhibit your ability to perform What Tha. Because the gimmick is made with real feathers, it may get a bit ratty with frequent use.
The trick is explained in a 12 minute You Tube video, which is taught by Rodger Lovins. It is very easy to learn and the video likely could have been 3 minutes long - or 9 minutes shorter. The quality of the instructional video is not great and consists of Lovins speaking into a video camera while sitting on a couch in what is likely his basement. The instructions are a bit repetitive, but this trick is easy to master and the video gets the job done. Although there were small snippets of some live performances, I would have liked to have seen a full live performance with full audio. Lovins suggests a clever way to transport the gimmick in your pocket which should protect it from normal wear and tear. The promotional video and the ad copy are accurate, but the claim that this is the "coolest impromptu effects available today" may be a bit of hyperbole.
For what this is, it is fun and entertaining. There is no doubt that What Tha will appeal to the select performer.
With the What The gimmick, you have your hands cupped. You open your hands slightly and a tiny animal pokes its head out of your hands. It freaks your spectators out severely. This is likely because they were not actually expecting to see a real animal, but some finger trick. The animal disappears and the spectator is left freaking out and wondering what exactly did they see. The reactions are very strong from both men and women, but the women tend to be more alarmed by the animal.
The gimmick is well made and looks like a real animal. It is a clever idea. It is a one size fits all product, but it won't work with every finger size. The gimmick that came in my package was a bit sticky, which is not ideal, but does not inhibit your ability to perform What Tha. Because the gimmick is made with real feathers, it may get a bit ratty with frequent use.
The trick is explained in a 12 minute You Tube video, which is taught by Rodger Lovins. It is very easy to learn and the video likely could have been 3 minutes long - or 9 minutes shorter. The quality of the instructional video is not great and consists of Lovins speaking into a video camera while sitting on a couch in what is likely his basement. The instructions are a bit repetitive, but this trick is easy to master and the video gets the job done. Although there were small snippets of some live performances, I would have liked to have seen a full live performance with full audio. Lovins suggests a clever way to transport the gimmick in your pocket which should protect it from normal wear and tear. The promotional video and the ad copy are accurate, but the claim that this is the "coolest impromptu effects available today" may be a bit of hyperbole.
For what this is, it is fun and entertaining. There is no doubt that What Tha will appeal to the select performer.