Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Devil's Dance by Metallica
Frea-Capped by Kieron Johnson Review:
One gimmicked Sharpie, some stuff to make another gimmicked Sharpie and $35 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
Place the pen and cap of a sharpie marker in your mouth. With your arms raised in a "V" (if you're a Pearl Jam fan) or with your arms wide open (if you're a Creed fan), you turn around slowly. Upon completing your 360 degree turn around, the pen has been recapped.
Method
A simple self-contained gimmick does all the work for you. It's easy to make if your gimmick breaks, and you are supplied with enough stuff to make at least one, maybe two more. Further, the "stuff" is pretty easy to find at a craft store (e.g., Michael's or Robert's here in the U.S.A.). The method is so simple that you don't have to think about it. Let the gimmick do the work. You focus on the presentation.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is 100%. It really is clean, simple, self-working and can be set up with any kind of pen that has a cap.
Product Quality
Big Blind Media, home of Owen "the wonder lizard" Packard and the rest of the top notch BBM production team. The production quality is top notch. The teaching is clear and easy to understand and follow. The gimmick itself is solid quality and will last a long while, but when it does finally give up the ghost, you can make a new one in 5 minutes. A few pen switches and gags are also covered on the DVD, making this a pretty well rounded product.
Final Thoughts
If you can see yourself doing this type of effect, get it. It's as clean, simple and clever as they claim.
Final Verdict:
5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.
6 Comments
Hi Jeff,
Think this is ok but not sure where this would fit into most sets,may be if there is some dead time it would be fine but i cant see much more. I still think this is too obvious for most people and the method just too plain for the money. Sorry !
Best wishes,
Steve
@Steve – thanks for the feedback. Keep in mind that my reviews are not based on whether or not the effect will fit in your set or not. That’s up to the individual. I’m simply rating the quality of the gimmick and if it does what it says it does. In both cases, it scored well. 🙂
Hi Jeff,
Sorry for nor replying sooner but have been on holiday.Thanks for the reply.I still think this is too simple and i cant think of any set where this could be used and it is too expensive.I agree more with the Joe Diamond review who gave it three stars.It does work and the gimmick can be removed but this is whole lot of trouble for a novelty item.Just for the record my teenage daughter worked this out in one go because of how the pen top is held during presentation.
Best Wishes
Steve
@Steve – Welcome back. I hope you had fun on vacation. My wife and I just got back from a mini honeymoon ourselves. It was our 20th anniversary. 🙂
While I agree that even I may never personally use Frea-capped, I’m judging the product quality, not the effect. Anyone who watches the trailer can decide if they like the effect and can see themselves doing it in their own work. That’s not my job or place to decide.
Just because I hate Card Warp and will never, ever do it under any circumstance, that doesn’t mean that it should get a bad rating. It just means that it doesn’t fit my style. If I gave all products a lesser rating because it doesn’t fit me or my style, I’d never give a good review. I’m extremely picky about what I put in my repertoire.
It’s up to each individual performer to decide whether or not it’s for them. I have no right to say whether it’s for someone or not. My job is to tell you if the product does what it claims, if it’s well made, and if it works as well as they say, etc. Everything else is up to the individual performer.
Jeffro
Hi Jeff,
Is the sharpie examinable?
@MagicME – It is not. It’s gimmicked.