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Coin on Call Review
One gimmick, 15 minutes of training, $20 bucks and one Coin on Call Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
You borrow a spectator's penny and place it in their fingertips as you take a picture of it with their phone. You then place the penny in their hand and have them close their fist. When they reopen their fist, the penny is now a dime. You have them check their phone and the picture has changed too. It shows them holding a dime, not a penny.
Method
The method involved a supplied gimmick, some basic sleight of hand, misdirection and basic audience management skills. These are all standard things that should be in the repertoire of any decent magician. The idea of the effect is that you borrow from the pocket change of a spectator. Thus your gimmick must match the borrowed money. The trick comes supplied with a U.S.A. gimmick. If you are in another country, you'll have to get your own gimmick.
This gimmick is one that is found in and used for other effects, and you may even have one. If not, however, that will be an added expense.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is accurate for the most part. However, there are a couple of points worth mentioning. First, the ad copy mentions that you borrow a coin several times. This is true. However, you have to ring in the gimmick. I mention this not because I think the ad copy is deceptive, but rather to simply be clear. I think it's a fair statement. Just be aware that you'll be ringing in your gimmick. Also, the structure of the routine is very clever and easily allows the gimmick to be "rung in" with no problem.
Secondly, the gimmick used in the demo is not the gimmick that you will be provided. The gimmick shown in the video is a $50 gimmick created by Roy Kueppers. The one provided is a much less expensive gimmick. This was done to keep the cost of the product under $20. The differences between the Kueppers gimmick and the one provided are only noticeable if you're a magician looking for the differences. The supplied gimmick works just fine and will not be a problem for your spectators. However, if you feel that's an issues, Roy Kueppers now sells a Coin on Call gimmick for only $15. He was able to figure out a process to bring the cost down. So if you really feel that you need his gimmick, you'll need to spend another $15 bucks on top of the $19.95 you spend to purchase the product.
Coin on Call Review: Product Quality
As already mentioned, the provided gimmick is just fine. It looks great and will work just fine. This is a Penguin Magic instant download, so when you purchase it, the 15 minute training video will be added to your Penguin account. The training video is short but clean and clear and walks through the handling perfectly. You'll find that the structure of this routine perfectly takes advantage of each moment to make all the "secret" stuff totally undetectable.
The only problem I had with the instructions is a so called tip that Jeff Prace said was from John Guastaferro. It would appear that the video was shot with the intent that the gimmick was not provided, so this "tip" was for those who couldn't get their hands on the proper gimmick. This tip is a load of crap and absolutely will not work — yes; I tried it. The good news is that it doesn't matter because you are supplied the gimmick.
Coin on Call Review: Final Thoughts
If you like the effect, you'll find the gimmick, method and teaching all perfect for accomplishing this. When I first got this in an unboxing, it was sent to me for free by Penguin Magic. I had no idea what it was or what is was for. It was, literally, just a gimmick in a plastic baggie. It took some digging and emailing to find out what it was and to find out that Penguin added the video to my account. I mention this only to tell you that it would appear that when you receive this, it will be just a gimmick in a baggie with no packaging. Of course, you'll be in a better spot than I was because you'll know that you ordered it, and you'll know what to expect.
Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.
16 Comments
As always, an excellent review. I do have a couple thoughts…
The video ad implied the spectator closed their hand on a penny and opened it to reveal a dime. I’m pretty sure it’s not quite that clean.
Also, maybe it’s not so important to borrow the penny. It can be tough to find one these days, especially in a degree of wear that matches the one they’ll be holding for the photo. An alternative is to hand them one and have them note the date. That gets them handling the real penny and allows a subtle and perhaps needless bonus that it changes to a dime but the date is the same.
@Bob – Believe it or not, it actually is exactly that clean. They really do close their hand on a penny and they really do open it to find a dime. It’s that clean brother. As for borrowing, you’re correct. However, it’s best to borrow if possible. It makes the effect seem so much more clean and fair and impromptu.
My bad, I was thinking of a different gimmick, one that has more moving parts, thst would leave them (cleanly) with the dime.
@Bob – No worries. Due to the handling of this effect (which is very clever), they are holding a gimmick, but they’ll never know it. It’s very well structured, and they’ll never discover it.
Hey Jeff,
Thanks so much for your review and kind words. It means a lot as I’ve been a fan of your reviews for quite a while.
So cool! 🙂
@Bob – I am glad you like the effect. Any chance you will try this out? 🙂
@Aljaz – You’re welcome. I call ’em like I see ’em. Thanks for being a fan. 🙂
@Al,
You are correct that Jeff’s reviews should be a stopping off point for anyone thinking of purchasing magic over the Internet. It is one of the few places you can get a clean, clear, honest opinion about what is being foisted on us.
To answer your question, no, I don’t think I’ll be trying your effect. I rarely do magic “casually”. When I do strolling performances my audience control is so poor that I wind up with people crowing all around. It may be that a well timed roundhouse kick might clear out the trouble spots but I like to keep that in reserve for whiny children.
Still, from what little I can guess, this is an outstanding effect to keep in your pocket to spring on work buddies or classmates.
Bob
@Bob – You know Weird Al named a song after you, right? Thanks for the love about my reviews. I love your round house technique. I think I’ll try that.
@Jeff – and by that Wierd Al song you, of course, mean “Angry White Boy Polka.”
“Cigar, toss it in a can. It is so tragic!”
Bob
P.S. I hope you’re not trying that “one review per day” thing again this year.
@Bob,
I see your point in regards to audience management. I am no auhority in this area however, when I do strolling magic (bars, coctail parties, corporate gigs) I just ask everyone in the group (from 5 to 10 poeple) to come in on the photo and take a group shot.
Also, I have to strongly disagree that this is “casual” magic.
For example…
Ben Salinas uses it daily as a marketing tool. He asks them to post the picture on FB and tag him in it. That way his name and magic reaches 10’s or possibly even hundreds of potential new clients every day.
Maybe someday you will give it a shot and see how strong this routine can be. 😉
All the best
Aljaž
Just for the sake of completeness, Canada also has pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and silver dollars, all the equivalent in size to the American coins.
If anyone wants this gimmick made with the Canadian dime and penny, or with foreign coins like a €.50 and American quarter, Roy can and does make those as well.
If anyone is familiar with the gimmick in use here, what Roy has done is figured out a way to make both parts of the gimmick the same diameter.
@Dr. J. – Thanks for the post. As always, you’re bringing solid value to the table. 🙂
@Dr. J. – That is good to know. Thanks for the info. If I ever come and visit Canada, I know where to turn to. 😀
All the best
@Bob – Weird Al’s Tribute to you.
@Aljaž Šon~ I am a beginner of “magic” just a young teen and most people my age don’t believe in “magic” and I want them to see it like I do. I been doing a lot of tricks with cards by looking at youtube, this might be the first gimmick I might buy do you think there are in any stores where I can walk in by the gimmick and the DVD or no. If not this be the first gimmick I will order other than the loops by yigal mesika.
Dear Bryson,
I am happy to hear you want to learn from other sources than YT. It is highly recommended. 😉
To answer your question…
The instructional video is available only as a download through Penguin:
http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/5991
The gimmick provided is only for the US market and is otherwise available in a standard Scotch and Soda set, available at most magic shops.
If you live elswhere in the world, Jeff Prace goes through some gimmicks available in common world currency (Euro, Pound, etc.)
For other coins, not commonly available, contact Roy Kueppers:
http://www.roykueppers.com/
If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact me on FB or at aljaz@aljazson.com
All the best
Aljaž