What is it?

A card is selected (free choice) and signed and lost in the deck. Before this happened you showed your audience your phone with a ‘lucky card’ clearly visible under the transparent cover. When you remove the cover the card is found to be the spectator’s chosen signed card!

What do you get?

You get a small cardboard envelope which contains the gimmick and a link to a 22 minute online tutorial.

The gimmick is supplied made up – no fiddly craft work here. But it will need to be attached to something else. You could use a bank note or travel ticket or anything else that is flat and larger than a playing card. The ‘final construction’ job will take only minutes to do and is very straightforward indeed.

You’ll also need a clear phone case on your phone. I just bought my wife a new Motorola G6 Play phone (an excellent phone by the way!) which actually came with a perfect case included for free. But you’ll easily be able to pick up a suitable one for whatever phone you have.

The Teaching

The teaching is very clear. The first 12 minutes or so explain exactly what the Stash gimmick is and how to set it up. The remaining 10 minutes take you through the routine itself. Everything is simply explained – but you will find it easier if you already know how to control a card in the deck since a basic control is taught rather quickly.

The Verdict

There’s a lot we like about Stash. It is a clever gimmick – which quite unusually will work for either a blue or red backed bicycle deck.

The gimmick is a little fiddly – and I think I would be worried about how well it would last. There are a few possibilities for it to go wrong if not set perfectly. Reset will take a few moments and really needs to be done out of sight, so it loses a couple of points for that.

One massive plus point is that unlike almost every other card to impossible location effect out there at the moment you don’t need to do a Mercury Card Fold! On the flip side of that, however, you will need to be able to do a Gamblers Cop! But a version is taught which doesn’t require this.

Stash is a really interesting solution to the card to impossible location plot – and since we all seem to carry our phones around everywhere these days makes a very logical routine. Clever as the gimmick is, I have just a few reservations about its use – and the reset means I would be keeping this for a special occasion rather than using it in my regular set. But if the plot appeals, then grab a copy to take a look.

You can pick up a copy of Stash from the Merchant of Magic for only £22.99 (at the time of writing).

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

Jasper Jongejans – Stash – review

3.6 / 5 Reviewer

{{ reviewsOverall }} / 5 Users (0 votes)

Wow Factor

Value for money

Practicality

Overall

What people say... Leave your rating

Order by: Most recent Top score Most helpful Worst score

Be the first to leave a review.

Verified

{{{ review.rating_title }}}

{{{review.rating_comment | nl2br}}}

Show more

{{ pageNumber+1 }}

Leave your rating

Your browser does not support images upload. Please choose a modern one

• Wow Factor
• Value for money
• Practicality
• Overall

The post Jasper Jongejans – Stash – review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

As David makes clear on the supplied DVD, this is not a new idea in itself. Indeed, he references a large number of versions and variations and inspirations dating back to the 1940s. But he has refined the idea and added certain improvements – not least ensuring the card has an actual hole in it. Did I mention that before?

What you get

The main item in the attractive box is a nicely made tie pin/tag which is plated in 18 carat gold and should last a lifetime. This is cleverly gimmicked to enable the effect to be performed. You also receive a small jewellery bag to keep it in and a DVD (not just a link to an online video but a genuine DVD!) with all the explanations on it.

It is worth saying a word on the DVD. Mine didn’t play properly at first on my computer, but thankfully came to life with a bit of dusting. However, given the very high standard of most instructional videos these days, this felt a little on the low side. There was quite a bit of background noise and he didn’t appear to be miked. It wasn’t a problem in terms of understanding anything – all was clear – but somehow detracted from the otherwise ‘classy’ feel of the release.

The Teaching

Everything you need to know is explained. It includes the handling of a very simple and effective control which I’ve almost certainly seen before but have equally certainly forgotten! Must store that for wider use.

You get to see a few different live performances which will suggest several different presentational ideas. I loved the comedy ‘spectator as mind-reader’ presentation which has a lovely ‘dual reality’ thing going on before the final punch.

David also explains some more advanced handlings if you are more confident with cards and in particular palming. Of course, the effect isn’t limited to cards – but any roughly two-dimensional item should work – bank notes and business cards being the most obvious alternatives.

As I watched at least one of the performances I had a question about a possible noise issue. But he addresses that in the teaching and with a little practise in the handling I don’t think it should be an issue.

Getting to the heart of it

In many ways the great strength of this trick may also be its potential weakness in a UK context. What I love is the ‘organic’ nature of the magic happening with something you are already wearing. The trouble is that in most of the settings in which I perform magicians don’t wear ties! Often I would wear a bow-tie at a more formal occasion (weddings etc.) on no tie in more casual contexts. The lounge-suit and tie-wearing context of the USA isn’t so prevalent here these days (although my friends who have residencies in restaurants may disagree with me here).

However, this isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker. For a start, it could be worn as a (very plain) lapel badge. This is something I would be more likely to wear – and if you look on a well-known and rather green magic forum you will be able to find a very clever/amusing presentational ploy for wearing it here. Secondly, I could just start wearing a tie on occasions! And I’m tempted because the effect is strong enough to make it worthwhile.

Solid gold standard?

This is a solid (gold!) release from Regal. It is pretty easy to do and is more or less instant reset (he does it 3 times in his set as a running gag). The effect is very strong and visual. The props are extremely well made and classy in a slightly retro way.

It does represent a reasonable financial investment, but you are getting a both a nice piece of ‘jewellery’ and very strong magical effect.

The Gold Standard is available from the Merchant of Magic for £70.99 (at the time of writing).

The post David Regal – The Gold Standard – review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

What is it?

Burn Notice promises to “take the strongest elements of the mystery box and blend them with an organic every day object that everyone is familiar with: a simple match box.” If I’m honest I’m not even sure what that means. The ‘elements’ of the mystery box plot are a chosen card being found in a box which has been on display from the start of the effect. And that is what you have here.

There have been a whole raft of these kinds of effect over recent years – Mystery Solved, The Box, Cell, Paragon 3D, or if you’re really flush, Destination Box – to name just a few that spring to mind. So this is a well-worn path.

Burn Notice’s great strength is that (perhaps matched only by Mint) the use of a matchbox is totally ‘organic’ – it carries little or no suspicion which means the gimmick is hidden in plain sight.

Not so hot?

To my mind, despite that significant strength, this release disappoints somewhat. On the plus side the gimmick comes ready-made – so no craft skills are needed unless you want to repair the gimmick or make a variation of it. And you are given a generous set of ‘supplies’ to enable you to make or repair several gimmicks.

However, I found the supplied matchbox (tray) somewhat flimsy and in practise my gimmick was slightly liable to stick. It could be that would loosen up with more use, but it didn’t fill me with a great deal of confidence. And the ‘speed’ of the gimmick means that a fair bit of cover is necessary for the switch. It’s a simple and neat idea – but the execution is a little lacking for me.

The teaching was also very skimpy. You’re provided with a link to an online tutorial which runs for under 12 minutes, of which a fair bit is on making/changing the gimmick. There are no spoken words, so instructions are mainly ‘mimed’. The necessary sleights (controlling a card to the top, mercury card fold) are either not taught or simply demonstrated once – so this wouldn’t be suitable for someone with little basic card magic understanding.

Variations on a theme

On the plus side the concept and gimmick are easily modified – and I can see this having some more applications in mentalism, for example. The box could be used to switch a prediction very easily. And if you can’t do a mercury card fold (and you’re unlikely to be able to learn it from this release!) he does provide a couple of alternatives where you don’t need to use it. However, the trick is immeasurably stronger if you can do it.

So all in all I find myself underwhelmed by Burn Notice. It doesn’t really quite live up to its promise. In fact, on the same day I watched the tutorial for this effect I saw a friend perform an older release – Inferno (no longer available standalone but you can learn the effect on this DVD). Although the effect is slightly different – in this instance a merely thought of card appears in a matchbox which has been in the spectator’s possession throughout – it retains much of the strength of Burn Notice without some of the weaknesses.

But then again, it does come in very nice packaging…

Burn Notice is available from the Merchant of Magic for £23.99 (at the time of writing).

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

The post Takel – Burn Notice – review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

The effect

The effect can be simply described. The spectator chooses and signs a card which is lost in the pack. The performer then introduces a ‘GPS Pack Nav’ – a small packet of printed cards with ‘Sat Nav’ style instructions on them. As the spectator reads through the cards, the performer follows the instructions, revealing some humorous surprises on the way, but the final card turns out not to be the chosen one. Has everything gone wrong? No – when the final instruction card (which the spectator is holding) is turned over, it turns out to be their very signed selection.

What do you get?

A set of nicely printed ‘GPS Instruction Cards’ and 20 ‘revelation’ cards. All the cards are printed on good quality Bicycle type stock and the ‘Instruction’ cards have a pleasing chequered flag type back design. You also receive an instructional DVD which runs to just under 23 minutes. This clearly explains all the necessary set up, method, reset and a few other ideas.

Teaching is at a good pace and easy to follow – though more or less assumes a few basic card moves (DL, riffle force, holding a break). This won’t be a problem for most readers of this site, but if you are a complete beginner you may need a little extra help. (We would recommend the excellent BBM Essential Card Magic Toolbox) This may have been a deliberate choice since Oliver is left-handed and so his teaching would be ‘the wrong way round’ for the majority!

What do we think?

Magic tricks are always funny things to review. In terms of method and moves etc. there is nothing new here – if you’ve been round the block as long as I have then you’ll be able to understand the method simply by watching the performance. But you’re not really paying for that – you’re playing for the clever presentational angle and the specially printed cards.

And we really like the presentational hook. The climax is very strong as the signed card turns up in the spectator’s own hands – in spite of having been buried in the deck. The routine is well constructed with good time-misdirection and all the ‘dirty work’ is done so far ahead that you are left very clean. The presentation involves the spectator really well making for an engaging effect.

Obstruction ahead?

Although Oliver explains the reset and thinks that it could be done in a walkaround setting between tables, I’m not so sure. I think it might be a one-hit effect in some ways. Similarly you really need to start with it. He does explain a couple of ways to get in to it ‘mid-set’ – and the one involving a ‘case’ for the GPS Pack Nav is quite good – but I think in reality this is an opening effect.

If you give away the revelation card (and I think you should for the strongest impact) – then you’ll need to buy replacement cards eventually. You are given a decent supply to start you off, but if you’re performing regularly you will certainly need refills. You can get round this issue by using stickers on the cards – but I think that is rarely preferable.

You have reached your destination

There’s a lot we like about this release – and the routine will definitely engage your audience and take them to an unexpected destination! Well worth a look.

GPS Pack Nav is available from Merchant of Magic for £36.50 (at the time of writing).

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

The post Oliver Meech – GPS Pack Nav – review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

The basic effect (and a number of alternatives are taught) is that a card is folded into quarters and placed in full view on one side – perhaps underneath a wine glass. The spectator then chooses and signs a card which is lost in the deck, and when the card placed aside at the beginning is opened up it turns out to be the spectator’s signed card. The effect is simple, direct, powerful.

What do you get?

Basically a DVD, and also a couple of cards which you might use for some of the variations. The teaching is a little on the underwhelming side – I’m not sure whether that was because I was watching the English version (the creator is French I believe). So it relied more on showing/miming the explanations than using words. That being said, it was still fairly easy to follow.

The idea at the heart of The One 2.0 is a little move which makes it all possible. It is a little knacky – but not very difficult. In fact I would suggest that it is easier than the Mercury Card Fold which (as with many of these effects) you will need to be able to perform. (The MCF is taught – though again, not in any great detail.)

Variations on a theme

A variation is taught where the effect is the essentially the same – but the ‘prediction’ card has a different coloured back – and yet their chosen signed card still ends up there.

There’s also a variation called Any Number and Any Card. The spectator chooses a number, deals down to that number and folds the card at that location into quarters, placing it on the side. Then they name any card, look through deck and it’s not there – because it was the one already counted to and set aside earlier.

Transpo – is a different effect using the same move. Two chosen (signed) cards which have been folded into quarters switch places in the spectator’s hand.
Revea’Lighter – takes the same idea to create a revelation as a drawing set aside earlier changes into a prediction. And clearly you could come up with other variations on the theme fairly easily.

Slight handling variations are taught allowing you to leave the card on the table, under a glass or in your top pocket. There’s also a more ‘gimmicked’ version taught. To my mind, what this gains in a fractionally cleaner initial display it loses because it requires an extra move later – so I would have thought there’s not much advantage in this version.

The One 1.0

As its name implies, this is the second version of this kind of effect created by Anthony Stan. The DVD includes explanations and performance of the original version. This is a similar ‘mystery card’ plot but with an unfolded card. It is rather more involved in terms of set up – but if you can be bothered with the more complicated set up it is very easy to do. But to my mind version 2.0 is a significant improvement – as long as you can do the mercury card fold.

Using the version one set up, there is a version of Transpo – but to be honest the ‘sleight of hand’ version is really easier. The use of the gimmick makes some of the moves feel somewhat unnatural to me. If you’re a fan of version 1, a sandwich and a card to pocket effect using same kind of approach are also explained.

The final section of the DVD contains some ideas for different switches involving further gimmicks. For me, these lose the simplicity of the original version, but if you like fiddling with these things, why not?

Is it The One?

Compared to some of the more ‘prop-based’ variations on this theme, the great plus of The One 2.0 is its simplicity. You don’t need any extra gimmicks so you can do it anywhere, there are no unusual looking boxes or props, and its really very clean. It’s a simple idea which are often the best. The switch used could have many other applications if you’ll only get creative.

The only two minor negatives are that the teaching quality is adequate but not the most thorough, and at the end of the day you’re really simply learning how to do a neat switch. And you might think at £22.99 it is a trifle over-priced.

Available direct from Merchant of Magic at £22.99 (at the time of writing).

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

The post Anthony Stan – The One 2.0 – review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

What’s the effect?

A freely chosen card vanishes from the deck and visually (more or less) appears in a see-through ID holder which has been shown empty. With certain handlings you can even hand this out.
So it’s a simple effect (which is good) – easy to follow and understand.

What do you get?

You are supplied with a simple but clever little gimmick (and matching ordinary ID holder) and a lanyard. You also get a gimmicked card which will enable you to force a card on the spectator and then have it vanish from the pack in their hands. This is provided in Bicycle stock so you can just add it to any deck (if you use this version of the routine).

Also included are basic printed instructions and a link to online instructions. Some people have mentioned finding it difficult to watch the online explanations – but we had no problems with this. The videos have subtitles for English-speaking magicians. Unusually, these are very good translation and are easy to follow. Each part of the explanation includes a review sections to go over all the moves. The background music was (for me) irritating and slightly sinister cumulatively.

What do we think?

On the plus side there are a number of different handlings provided. There is a force and a non-force version – and I’m sure you could come up with your own variations on that if you’ve been in to card magic for any length of time. There are also a number of different handlings for the ‘appearance’ of the card in the ID tag.

We have got to say that the whole thing is somewhat angle-sensitive. And the handling is necessarily somewhat unnatural – you really would never hold a name tag holder like that in real life! But, that may just be “magicians’ guilt” talking since magicians do everything in a slightly odd way, right?

If your sleight of hand is up to it Zero Set is a very clean card to impossible object. It really does appear right inside the holder which you have clearly shown empty beforehand. But it will take you quite a bit of practice to get the loading and displaying move smooth. His handling very smooth, but still looks a little unnatural.

The non-sleight version is easier. The card is chosen by just riffling through deck. It vanishes and reappears inside holder. As mentioned a special forcing gimmick is included though you could easily make your own (or use an alternative method).

If you’re doing the sleight of hand version, you’ll also need to be able to do a Mercury card fold. This is taught on the videos, and pretty much all of the card to impossible location effects rely on this.

So there are pros and cons to this. The visual appearance is pretty good, and the non-sleight version is not too tricky to get down. If you are regularly performing in a venue where these things are used (e.g. lots of trade shows) then this would be an obvious fit for your set.
If not, then I would be less swift to order it. There are other card to impossible location effects out there which are less awkward. On the other hand, the teaching is very clear and it is relatively inexpensive if you want to give it a punt.

Zero Set is available direct from MagicShop.co.uk for £18.50.

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

The post Limin – Zero Set – review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.