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Cody Fisher: 3 Ropes and 1000 Laughs Reviewed

One DVD, One PDF and $40 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect/Method

In a nutshell . . . Professor's Nightmare. That's it. The method is the standard method that you're all familiar with, so the question is, "What exactly are you getting for $40 bucks?" Frankly, not that much.

What you're paying for is Cody Fisher's presentation and pointers on the effect. While this is pitched as an original performance, I just don't see how. It uses the same hackneyed penis-joke lines about the size of the ropes. It's starts with the same gag that I've seen every magician do: show a box of cards while asking if they like card tricks. Then you say "too bad . . . we're doing a rope trick" as you pull a rope out of the card box.

He ads a break-away wand to the mix for even more Viagra humor. During the part of the routine when the person with the small piece of rope was about to speak, I had the thought that it might be somewhat funny if he (the spectator) held up the small rope and said, "size doesn't matter." Turns out, I was right. That's actually what he said (after being prompted by Fisher). As it happens, that was Billy McComb's idea, so I guess I'm in good company.

Ad Copy Integrity

The unfortunate thing about hack lines from magicians is that most audiences think that they're funny, and if the audience thinks they're funny, then magicians continue to use them, and for all I know, maybe Cody Fisher invented some of the lines used in the routine that have now become hackneyed. I said all that to say that the ad copy is accurate as it describes the routine and its potential impact. The claim that it's "the FUNNIEST rope routine on the planet" might be a stretch, but the rest is solid.

Product Quality

The DVD is produced well, and you get to see the routine in action, and Cody Fisher does an excellent job teaching everything, and as unoriginal as I found the routine, I still can't deny the pro tips and handling ideas he offered. There are several little touches and nuances that can only be learned from years of performance experience. He gives all of this to the viewer plus a 7 page PDF with several tips, script lines and alternate ideas.

Further, he talks about how to remove the blue material to clean it up for any performance venue. He also offers a tip on how to go the other direction and make it less clean. He only mentioned that suggestion based on a client that wanted him to push the boundaries a little. What he added was enough to take it to that level without being disgusting.

Final Thoughts

If you're looking for a good rope routine and/or you want to learn Professor's Nightmare, this is a good resource. My recommenedation, however, would be to work on your own presentation and bag the less-than-non-familiar presentation offered here. If you read my reviews regularly, you know that effect and presentation don't really impact the final star rating. However, in this case, an exception must be made, because presentation is the product being sold. This presentation, while funny and entertaining, is far from being innovative or new. It's basically all the standard magicican hack lines pulled together into one routine.

If it weren't for the value tips and pointers from a working pro on the method, stage presence and volunteer management, this would have a bit of a lower rating.

Final Verdict:
3.5 Stars with a Stone Status of gem.