What do you get?

You’re supplied with a set of nicely printed ESP type cards with a few extra cards which give you scope for a couple of different handlings. The images on the cards are very boldly printed with vivid colours and with care should last a good length of time. You also get an ungimmicked envelope to contain your prediction and an instructional DVD.

The DVD is very straightforward – a performance and explanation all done on a sofa with Peter Nardi in conversation with Dave Loosley. It is clearly filmed and easy to follow – it loses a mark for not including a live performance for real people – but that is a small niggle. It runs just under half an hour and explains everything you need to know very clearly. In addition to the performance and explanation there are a few further ideas and slightly different ways to handle the prediction at the end.

What do we think?

This is one of the nicest effects we have looked at in recent times. It is a simple plot which is easy to follow for the spectator but leaves them with nowhere to go in terms of explanation. Steve Cook has taken an old idea in magic and used it in a very subtle way which makes it extremely strong.

Many routines of this kind require some kind of odd ‘counting procedure’ or else have a number of different outcomes, some of which are weaker than others. There is nothing of that in Symbol. All the outcomes are strong and there isn’t much memory work required on the part of the performer. The prediction is in full view from the start which is a massive bonus.

The performance you watch benefits from Peter Nardi’s confidence in adding dressing to the routine – you will need to think carefully about how to present this to make it an entertaining routine rather than just a puzzle. But I hope you’ll be doing that for all your magic!

It doesn’t take up much space in the pocket (and, by the way, will be going straight into mine!) and reset is pretty much instant. I’m finding it very hard to find anything bad to say about it.

Highly recommended and available direct from Merchant of Magic for £21.50 (at the time of writing).

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

The post Steve Cook – Symbol – Review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

The spectator has a choice of using one, two or three dice. You deal down to the playing card at that number and it is found to match a prediction made earlier on a contrasting-backed playing card. The prediction names both the number and the card! It’s that simple.

What do you get?

You get all the necessary cards to make up a ‘Diception Deck’, three plastic dice and a link to download or view the 21 minute instructional DVD. The video is clearly shot and well explained and includes a nice live performance too.

As hinted at above, you will need to spend a little bit of time making up the deck which enables this bit of wizardry. It will only take you ten minutes to do and once you’ve set it up you can use it as many times as you like since the effect basically re-sets itself. It is not difficult to set up but you will need to watch one part of the explanation carefully to make sure you write on the right cards!

What do we think?

The basic routine is extremely easy to perform – and really falls into the self-working category. There are a number of slight variations taught which require a tiny amount of sleight of hand. But for my money they make the effect much more impressive and are well worth the small extra effort (the only real ‘moves’ are well covered and there is very little heat on them so this should be well within the reach of most).

Strong points are that the thing basically resets itself instantly so you are ready to go again straight away. The outcome is different every time. It is easy to do. I think the use of dice adds interest and makes the whole thing seem incredibly fair. Chris credits Cameron Francis’ excellent Annihilation Deck as part of the inspiration for this routine.

Slight negatives are that it is much easier with a table (though you could use a spectator’s hand as a table) and that the dice provided are very basic. Though that does take any heat off the dice, I will probably upgrade to a set of casino dice (like Chris uses in his explanation and performance) which are a little more interesting and aesthetically pleasing. It is also really a one-trick deck – not necessarily a problem for the amateur, but for the pro when pocket space can be an issue it might be.

But these are extremely tiny niggles. And we think this is a super-strong and fooling effect which is easy to do. Nice one Chris!

Available from MagicShop.co.uk for £30.50 at the time of writing.

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

The post Chris Congreave – Diception – review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.