This is possibly the most unusual magic trick we’ve ever reviewed on www.bicycle-cards.co.uk – indeed it marks a small step away from our homeground of close up magic effects. However, the reason we decided to take a look at it, was because although we (and most of our readers) are unlikely ever to have a quick change act, we thought that this would be a simple and effective extra element to a parlour type show and as such might have wider interest.
I’m hoping that you can guess the effect from the name – that’s right – your tie changes colour! But there’s a little more to say than that…
This gimmick will enable you to make your tie change colour during the course of your performance. It’s not strictly a visual change – you need a moment’s cover to effect the change. But it really is just a moment – so in the act of turning away from the audience to ditch something in your case, or while an audience member shows something to the rest of the audience, you would have ample cover.
What’s in the box?
You’re provided with a couple of gimmicks and materials to make this up with your own ties. You will have to destroy one tie to make this up (you didn’t think it was real magic did you?) but the ‘shell’ once made could be used with any other tie within reason. Part of my main gimmick had come detached in transit, but it is easily mended and once re-glued wouldn’t affect the performance in any way. You also receive a comprehensive instructional DVD.
There is a little work involved in preparing the gimmick to use – only basic arts and crafts skills and tools are required – it is not too difficult – but you do need to be careful since you will only get one shot at cutting up the extra tie! But David Penn’s explanations are clear and detailed so this should not be difficult.
Every aspect of preparation and set up is described – he even shows you how to tie a tie! There’s not masses of detail on the ditching process – but this is very straightforward, and you will have to experiment with your own gimmick anyway.
A couple of presentational ideas are suggested. David’s own routine is in the context of a plot around ‘perception’ – perhaps this is why at one point he describes the trick as a “great psychological miracle” – which sounds a bit over the top to me.
Although he suggests it could be worked close-up, I would have thought that in most real-world close-up settings this is unlikely to work since you’d struggle to find the cover for ditching – so for me it would primarily be a stage or a carefully controlled close-up environment to use this. Fairly obviously, you couldn’t re-set in front of an audience – you would need some privacy a minute or two and ideally a mirror!
We think this is a simple but effective little idea and would be a great element to add to an existing routine. It’s not really designed to be a stand-alone effect, but a great addition to another routine which would add some real wow.
Recommended. Available from Merchant of Magic – £42.99 (at time of writing).
Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.
Leave a Reply