Official Reviewer
Apr 27, 2024
Overview
The spectator selects a card, returns it to the deck which is shuffled by the magician. The magician states that if he cannot find their card, he will give them a chance to win 50,000 dollars!! When failing to do so, he takes a scratch ticket out of his pocket which instantly changes into their selected choice. Scratch is an easy visual piece of magic and is one of the most unique effects you will carry with you.
Effect
The spectator selects a card from the deck, which is then returned and shuffled thoroughly by the magician, ensuring the chosen card is lost within the deck. The magician now assures the spectator that if, by any chance he fails to locate their card, they will have an opportunity to win $50,000! However, despite the magician's best efforts, the selected card seems elusive. The magician now retrieves a scratch-off ticket from their pocket and places it on top the deck. In an instant, the ticket transforms into the spectator's originally chosen card. Astonished, the spectator can then examine the selected card, confirming it was their choice.Method
The custom made gimmick does all the work for you, it is self working. You will have to force their selection - easy enough as you will already know many ways of doing it. If you are new to magic, Mark will teach you a very easy way to accomplish that. To hand out their selected card after it has changed from the lottery ticket, there are a couple of moves that you will have to execute. There are some angle issues to deal with, both with the transformation of the ticket as well as with handing out their selected card for the finale. Product Quality
You will receive 2 cards plus the gimmick which mechanically is well made and is constructed from Bicycle card stock in either red or blue. It incorporates a magnetic locking system to ensure that it can be handled with confidence - it can actually be tossed in the air without any fear of the secret being exposed. However, even though the ticket is not shown for long, the graphics of the ’scratch off’’ portion are not very realistic looking creating some suspicion. Also when it turns into their selected card, if your spectator is too close, they WILL see a crease in the card. Ad Copy Integrity
The ad text and video trailer are an accurate representation of the effect but does not show handing out the card at the end for examination. The downloadable 10 minute video tutorial by John shows all you need plus what you have to do to hand out the card at the end for examination. Final Thoughts
A few things to consider here: 1. My comments in the product quality section about the gimmick, and 2. I feel that Mark should have spent more time illustrating and teaching the process of switching the gimmick for a real card which is handed out for examination. Do you have to hand it out - not really but in the few times I have performed it without handing it out, I have gotten the “let me see the card” request. As for rating this effect, concept and presentation I will give it a 4.5 (method of gimmick is not new) but due to items 1 and 2 just mentioned, I am deducting another star.
