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Boom

Valenti, Mick

Mick Valenti

(Based on 3 reviews)
Imagine That Magic presents

Mick Valenti's

BOOM!

...like no other card trick you've ever seen.

Imagine this...
The spectator chooses a card then cuts it into the deck. While the spectator holds the deck in one hand, the magician gives the spectator a fused half stick of dynamite to hold on to. "I'll find your card before this 10 second fuse burns down", the magician boldly announces. With that, the Magician lights the fuse, but instead of a ten second burn down the fuse burns in a flash followed by a large unexpected BOOM! Spectator drops the dynamite, (and many times throws the deck of cards in the air, and hopes they have a strong bladder). The Card Has Vanished! The deck is shown to be void of the chosen card. But when all calms down the spectator picks up the stick of dynamite and pokes a quivering finger through its center only to find the selected card. Suited for close-up, stand up, street magic, and stage.
  • No slights needed
  • Resets in seconds
  • Two different outcomes
  • Simple to learn\Easy to perform
  • Guaranteed to build suspense and get laughs
  • Safe
Includes:
  • Card Gimmicks
  • Dynamite Sticks
  • End caps
  • Banging mechanism
  • Tutorial DVD (English, French & Spanish) all included.
BONUS EFFECT!

BOOM 2 (Signed card)
Same basic effect;
Use ANY deck of cards! Spectator signs and seemingly shuffles their card back into the deck.
This bonus effect includes a brand new card slight designed with Boom 2 in mind but can be used in many other applications.

Please note: You supply the dry underwear for your spectator.

Reviews

Jeff Stone

Official Reviewer

Aug 27, 2013

Well . . . I've got some pretty heavy mixed feelings/thoughts about this one. The question I basically have to answer for all of my reviews is If you (the reader) like this effect, will you be happy with your purchase?

I rarely try to judge the effect because everyone has different taste. I will, however, comment on the fact that I think it is stupid to put a lit firecracker looking object in a spectator's hand. I would never do this effect the way it is taught. However, with some modifications, I would use this. In fact I have a presentational idea that I'm working on as we speak - one of my changes would be that the spectator would NOT be holding the dynamite stick.


However, let's take a look at a few things:



  • Advertisement Copy

  • Method

  • Product/Production Quality



Advertisement Copy


The ad copy claims this is safe. Although the "dynamite" is essentially a red tube with some flash string in it, I wouldn't call this safe. If you watched the demo, you saw how frightened people were when holding onto the "dynamite." They often dropped it or threw it or panicked in some way, shape or form. I think that you're risking someone throwing the stick, falling, being scared and getting hurt from their frightened reaction. The actual prop itself is pretty safe, but when putting it in the hands of the unknowing spectator, it suddenly becomes a lot more dangerous.


Second, it claims that it "resets in seconds." This is technically true. However, the reset involves threading a new fuse (not supplied) onto an end cap and reloading it into the stick of dynamite. This is not the kind of thing you can do as you're walking from one table to the next. Further, when ad copy mentions reset time, it kind of implies that you'll be repeating the effect multiple times in one night.


I'm not sure that this is the kind of effect for the type of venues where you're repeating multiple times in a night. For a set show or maybe once or twice at the end of the night maybe . . . to me this is more a stage or parlor type of thing . . . a one off.


Third, it claims "two different outcomes." I'm not sure what the heck that means.


Finally, the box claims that you can "learn it in 5 minutes." If that's the case, don't you find it a bit odd that the DVD is over 35 minutes long. It took longer (a lot longer) than 5 minutes just to explain how the effect works. So learning it in five minutes is a dishonest claim.


Method


The method itself uses a fuse that you must supply (more on that later) for the ignition part. It uses a Bingo Shooting Device (a little thing that pops a small red cap much like the hammer of a cap gun) for the bang part. Two methods are mentioned for using the Bingo Shooter. One is a very smart method for setting of the "trap" and is explained well. The other method however is to place the "trap" inside the dynamite stick. But you're never shown how to trigger the mechanism or how to use it. It makes absolutely no sense.


Further, in the demo, you'll notice on the signed card performance a note on the screen says that an alternate fuse method is used. What that is, how you get it or what it does, etc. is not discussed at all anywhere on the DVD.


Finally, for the reveal, as you saw in the demo, the card is found inside the dynamite stick. Unless you plan on having a whole stack of dups, you'll have to reuse that card every time you perform it.


Even with all these issues, the overall method is pretty sound.


Product/Production Quality


For $40 bucks you get a less-than-stellar DVD, and all the props (except for the fuse) that you need to perform the effect. As mentioned, there are two types of fuses you can use. One is a very common thing you can get from your favorite magic dealer. The other one however, is never discussed at all. It's just mentioned that it exists. The problem I have with this is that I would prefer to use the other method because of the way it appears to burn in the demo. However, I don't know what the fuse is or where to get it.


The DVD quality is poor, and it's a shrunk down window screen with no speaking. It's all text with all three languages (English, French and Spanish) shown on the same screen at the same time. Then it cuts to close ups showing the moves with background music. The video portion of the explanation is actually pretty good. It's well lit and very clear.


Final Thoughts


As mentioned above, the teaching was lacking. Things were not covered (e.g., one of the fuses, how to use one of the Bingo Shooter methods). So here's the bottom line, if you like the effect, I think you'll be happy with the method (barring the missing fuse and Bingo Shooter items mentioned). You'll be able to perform the first demo shown in the trailer as is with no problem. The props themselves are well made and will easily do what the ad copy claims once you supply your own fuse.


For the lack of instruction on the second fuse and second Bingo Shooter usage technique not being explained, some points were lost. For inaccurate ad claims, some points were lost. I mentioned that I would do this effect with some modifications. However, the one major, major problem is that I would need to use the second type of fuse, but I have no idea what that is or where to get it. Many of you may find yourself in this exact situation.


Final Verdict:
2.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Grubble (a gem that is surrounded by a lot of rubble)

(Top ▲)

Danny E.Barton

Oct 25, 2012

Everything Joe Diamond said is true! So, why the 5 Stars? Well, the concept is brilliant!
Send Mick Valenti his $40.00 and throw Boom in the trash when it comes in. Come up with a routine that endangers no one but yourself, and you will have a Show Stopper!
(Top ▲)

Joe Diamond

Official Reviewer

Oct 22, 2012

Wow. Just.... wow. I don’t think I’ve gotten something this bad in a while. It’s unsafe, AND it makes the spectators uncomfortable in a way that is not fun or smart.

Just watch the demo video. Then imagine a video of that low quality for 35 minutes. The explanation is SILENT with text on the screen in a few languages. It shows you how to open the box you receive your ‘props’ in, and how to perform sleights badly, it’s the worst example of ‘teaching’ that I can think of. Oh, the video is of such a poor quality that it’s not even full screen, or widescreen, it's this box in the center of your screen type thing...

There is a risk of burning the spectator, and not even at the risk of a cool effect. The card they pick is in the ‘dynamite’ they were just holding and threw on the ground when it explodes.

Amazing! Hilarious! NOT!

The fact that this is forty bucks is just insulting. You can get tons of great books, effects, and DVDs for half that. This is magic marketing at it’s most clueless. Easily one of the top three worst things I’ve ever gotten for review, if not THE worst. There are NO redeeming qualities.

Stay far away from this and don’t even consider getting this. I got mine for free, and I just threw the DVD and props directly in the trash once I was finished.

If I could give this a negative rating I would.
(Top ▲)