Price$35.00
Media TypeTrick
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedJul 31, 2014
Domino Effect
Pandrea, Alex
The Blue Crown
(Based on 3 reviews)
No matter where you go, sugar packets are everywhere. From the most casual diner to the most upscale restaurant, people are drinking coffee and adding sweetener. This makes The Domino Effect the ideal solution for any close-up performer from hobbyist to working professional.
The magician displays two packets of sweetener - one pink and one yellow. The spectator holds one in their closed fist, while the magician shows the other. In the blink of an eye, the magician's packet changes from yellow to pink, and the spectator is now holding the yellow packet in their hand.
On the DVD, Alex shows you how to use the included handmade gimmick, construct your own extra gimmicks, and perform the routine. He provides several additional tips and bonus ideas, including a completely impromptu and ungimmicked transpo of colored sugar packets.
- Incredibly Visual
- Includes Handmade Gimmick
- Live Performance
- Detailed Instruction
- Multiple Handlings
- Bonus Impromptu Transpo
Reviews
(Top ▲)
PROS
I suppose, on the positive side, it is organic. I suppose it looks pretty good as a small miracle.
The moves are very easy.
The instruction is good.
The effect is true to the ad copy.
There is a bonus impromptu effect without the gimmick. I rather liked this little impromptu routine with un-gimmicked sugar packets.
However,
CONS
Where do I start? Lets start with the method. There really isn’t much new here. This is a commonly used method for a bill switch. Also, the handling is very similar to handling that I have seen Eugene Burger do with a bill switch. I think the difference is that Eugene’s routine has more impact. Eugene does basically the same routine, but with gimmicked bills. Done with money, it has more impact. Also, money is as organic as sugar packets. Wait, I think money is more organic than sugar packets. If by organic, we mean things that people most relate to in their daily lives, then people can relate more to money than to sugar packets. There is always an element of opinion in a review, but I just think that this is a case of taking an existing method of making a gimmick with an existing handling of the same gimmick and saying: “Hey, I don’t think anyone has applied this to sugar packets.” He does credit the concept of copper silver and a common bill switch as the inspiration for this.
Perhaps some people out there might want to perform this sort of effect with sugar packets, and who am I to tell people what to perform with? However, the whole point of reading reviews is to put some thought into the magic you are purchasing, and hence, the magic you are performing. So, with that in mind, you should weigh the different impact this same sort of routine might have with currency bills vs sugar packets. You may prefer sugar packets, you may prefer bills, you might like both. Eugene Burger’s similar effect with a gimmicked bill is called Slow Motion Bill Transpo. Eugene says he carries this effect with him wherever he goes.
VERDICT
I gave this a pretty low score because, in my opinion, there wasn’t a whole lot that was new here. If you have Slow Motion Bill Transpo by Eugene Burger and you still like what you see here, then buy it. If you don’t have Slow Motion Bill Transpo, then I suggest you check it out first.
I suppose, on the positive side, it is organic. I suppose it looks pretty good as a small miracle.
The moves are very easy.
The instruction is good.
The effect is true to the ad copy.
There is a bonus impromptu effect without the gimmick. I rather liked this little impromptu routine with un-gimmicked sugar packets.
However,
CONS
Where do I start? Lets start with the method. There really isn’t much new here. This is a commonly used method for a bill switch. Also, the handling is very similar to handling that I have seen Eugene Burger do with a bill switch. I think the difference is that Eugene’s routine has more impact. Eugene does basically the same routine, but with gimmicked bills. Done with money, it has more impact. Also, money is as organic as sugar packets. Wait, I think money is more organic than sugar packets. If by organic, we mean things that people most relate to in their daily lives, then people can relate more to money than to sugar packets. There is always an element of opinion in a review, but I just think that this is a case of taking an existing method of making a gimmick with an existing handling of the same gimmick and saying: “Hey, I don’t think anyone has applied this to sugar packets.” He does credit the concept of copper silver and a common bill switch as the inspiration for this.
Perhaps some people out there might want to perform this sort of effect with sugar packets, and who am I to tell people what to perform with? However, the whole point of reading reviews is to put some thought into the magic you are purchasing, and hence, the magic you are performing. So, with that in mind, you should weigh the different impact this same sort of routine might have with currency bills vs sugar packets. You may prefer sugar packets, you may prefer bills, you might like both. Eugene Burger’s similar effect with a gimmicked bill is called Slow Motion Bill Transpo. Eugene says he carries this effect with him wherever he goes.
VERDICT
I gave this a pretty low score because, in my opinion, there wasn’t a whole lot that was new here. If you have Slow Motion Bill Transpo by Eugene Burger and you still like what you see here, then buy it. If you don’t have Slow Motion Bill Transpo, then I suggest you check it out first.
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: I Believe I'll Dust my Broom by Robert Johnson
Domino Effect by Alex Pandrea Review:
One DVD, one gimmick and $35 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
Basically it's a copper-silver transpo with sugar packets. Splenda (yellow) and Sweet 'N Low (pink) change places.
Method
There are multiple handling ideas taught on the DVD, but the underlying method for all of them is the included gimmick. Unlike a cop-sil gimmick, you are able to show this sugar packet gimmick on both sides.
The gimmick is easy to use, though slightly angle-sensitive. However, it's still very workable and very doable. It cannot be examined, but the sugar packet left in the spectator's hand is examinable, and that's likely where their attention will be since it just "appeared" in their hand. This could be enough misdirection to switch out the gimmick.
The beauty of this gimmick is that it the transposition is very visual. You're clearly holding the yellow packet at your finger tips. Then in the blink of an eye, you're holding the pink one.
The gimmick is easy to handle, and all of the demonstrated handling ideas are well within the grasp of any level performer.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is pretty solid. It makes no outrageous claims. It basically tells you what you get. The ad trailer is also accurate.
Product Quality
I had a couple issues in this category. It is well shot, well lit, well mic'd, etc, but some of the bonus material is poorly "taught." For example, he mentioned an idea that used two gimmicks, but he did not demo it. He simply talked about it and explained it. However, the effect he was claiming to accomplish would require some finer details and a better explanation.
Based on the brief walk through, I'm not sure how it would work. Further, he showed an impromptu version that does not use the gimmick. However, it's almost the exact same handling of the handling that Jay Sankey published nearly twenty years ago. He did not credit Jay.
There were a couple other minor issues in some of the bonus sections, but overall, it's still a solid product. You're also taught in clear detail how to make more gimmicks.
Final Thoughts
For $35 bucks you get an easy to do casual, yet visual effect. Not a bad deal if you perform in restaurants.
Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.
(Top ▲)
“Awesome!” was the one-word description that table hopping spectators used to describe Alex Pandrea’s Domino Effect, released by his company, The Blue Crown. The Domino Effect is a modern version of the classic copper silver transposition routine, but using multi-color sugar packets instead of coins. The performer starts off with a pink packet of Sweet ‘N Low and a yellow packet of Splenda. The performer places both packets into the spectator’s hand and then removes one, leaving the other in the spectator’s closed hand. With the flick of the wrist, the packet in the magician’s hand changes colors (from yellow to pink) and when the spectator open’s her hand, the packet has changed from pink to yellow. This trick is extremely visual and easy to perform.
This trick is great because the gimmick is small and takes up virtually no room in your wallet, so you can carry it with you every day and use it in seemingly impromptu situations. Because the sweetener packets are virtually everywhere, it can be performed without the spectator wondering why the performer has sweetener packets.
The trick comes with a 32 minute DVD and one gimmick, which will allow you to get started immediately. The ad copy if completely accurate and the live performance on the DVD, which is the promotional video, also accurately depicts the effect. After the live performance, Pandrea explains the gimmick and how to make your own. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow and it only takes a few minutes to make up additional gimmicks, which you will need to do after significant use, as the gimmick will not hold up forever. You can also make different color gimmicks so that you can do multiple color changes; i.e. Equal (blue) to Stevia in the Raw (green) or any combination of colors.
The DVD clearly explains how to do the transposition and demonstrates various easy routines and handlings for doing the switch in the spectator’s closed hand, in a coffee mug, in a box of cards, or under the spectator’s hands. The effect is demonstrated using a flick of the hand or a pass over of packet. He also gives suggestions for patter and how to pass inspection after the trick is completed. If you are going to allow the spectator to hold the packets in their closed hands, you needs to make sure that they don’t close their hands too tight or they will crush the gimmick or that they don’t prematurely look at the packet in their hand, which will ruin the effect. The instructional portion of the video is a shot of Pandrea’s hands above a table. The DVD also explains a very good ungimmicked impromptu routine in the event that you are without your gimmick. The performer needs to be aware of certain angles and the spectator’s must be directly in front of the performer.
On Pandrea’s website, he indicates that although he “independently discovered” the trick, Michael Close “explored similar methods and techniques which were published in 1994 and can be found in ‘Workers 4’. ”
This is a must have for workers in table-hopping and close-up magic situations as well as hobbyists that want to impress their friends. The price is fair and the effect is great.
This trick is great because the gimmick is small and takes up virtually no room in your wallet, so you can carry it with you every day and use it in seemingly impromptu situations. Because the sweetener packets are virtually everywhere, it can be performed without the spectator wondering why the performer has sweetener packets.
The trick comes with a 32 minute DVD and one gimmick, which will allow you to get started immediately. The ad copy if completely accurate and the live performance on the DVD, which is the promotional video, also accurately depicts the effect. After the live performance, Pandrea explains the gimmick and how to make your own. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow and it only takes a few minutes to make up additional gimmicks, which you will need to do after significant use, as the gimmick will not hold up forever. You can also make different color gimmicks so that you can do multiple color changes; i.e. Equal (blue) to Stevia in the Raw (green) or any combination of colors.
The DVD clearly explains how to do the transposition and demonstrates various easy routines and handlings for doing the switch in the spectator’s closed hand, in a coffee mug, in a box of cards, or under the spectator’s hands. The effect is demonstrated using a flick of the hand or a pass over of packet. He also gives suggestions for patter and how to pass inspection after the trick is completed. If you are going to allow the spectator to hold the packets in their closed hands, you needs to make sure that they don’t close their hands too tight or they will crush the gimmick or that they don’t prematurely look at the packet in their hand, which will ruin the effect. The instructional portion of the video is a shot of Pandrea’s hands above a table. The DVD also explains a very good ungimmicked impromptu routine in the event that you are without your gimmick. The performer needs to be aware of certain angles and the spectator’s must be directly in front of the performer.
On Pandrea’s website, he indicates that although he “independently discovered” the trick, Michael Close “explored similar methods and techniques which were published in 1994 and can be found in ‘Workers 4’. ”
This is a must have for workers in table-hopping and close-up magic situations as well as hobbyists that want to impress their friends. The price is fair and the effect is great.