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Harry Robson: The Worker's Dream Review

February 2016 Update

At the end of this review is an embedded video that contains answers to some questions about this product. Read the review first. Then watch the video.

A "Mullica" Wallet, a signed card to zippered compartment wallet, a signed card to sealed envelope in zippered compartment, an "Out to Lunch" business card holder, a peek wallet . . . all rolled into one single wallet and $167.99. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect/Method

This is a crazy utility device . . . the good kind of crazy . . . Hannibal Smith crazy, not Hannibal Lecter crazy. As mentioned above, it combines multiple utility components of a wallet into one wallet. Most of you are probably familiar with what effects can be done with the above concepts, but just in case, here are a few effects:

• Mullica Wallet Feature: No Palm Signed Card to Wallet.
• Signed card to zippered compartment with no setup required, anytime, anywhere.
• Signed card to sealed envelope in zippered compartment, with instant reset.
• Peak Feature: Divine anything the spectator writes down on your business card and seals in your wallet.
• Out To Lunch Feature: Change the what's written on a signed business card (your card, spectator's signature).

. . . just to name a few.

The methods are all legitimate, doable and within the grasp of most skill levels. The only issue is with the peak portion of the wallet. It will not work if your wallet is setup to do the Mullica wallet handling. In other words, if the inner wallet is inside the outer wallet, the peak device doesn't work. Also, if the wallet is set up to do card to sealed envelope to zippered compartment, you won't be able to do the regular card to zippered compartment.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy is pretty accurate. It simply explains some possible effects and the features of the wallet. The only part that is slightly questionable to me is the claim that the spectator can open the wallet and remove the envelope during the signed card to sealed envelope effect. While this is true, it does take just a wee bit of verbal management of the spectator's actions. It is possible, when looking in the zippered compartment, to see how the card may have made its way there. The odds are in your favor, but there still is a small risk to be aware of.

One last thing needs clarification. The ad copy mentions that there are two external peek methods. This is true, but you have to set up your wallet to do one or the other. During performance, you don't have a choice of which one. You have to have made that decision before leaving the house with your wallet.

Product Quality

The Wallet

Along with the wallet, you receive a stack of cards meant for use with the Out to Lunch (OTL) principle. You can also simply use your business cards. However, the cards that are supplied allow for a fun bit o' business that will possibly land you an extra gig once in a while. The OTL section of the wallet has a very clever addition that is a brand new concept in OTL that makes everything just that extra bit cleaner. It's very clever and very well made.

The Mullica feature (i.e., the inner wallet) is also well made and fits nicely into the inner pocket of the outer wallet. It works just like many other Mullica style wallets. The wallet as a whole is top quality and well made. The only part that may not quite be up to snuff is the three credit card compartments. The seem like they might wear out a bit sooner than the rest of the wallet.

The anytime card to zippered compartment is again, simple and well made. The wallet is designed to accept a card loaded into the inner zipper compartment without having to do anything special to the wallet. This same section of the wallet can be set up to receive a signed card to a sealed envelope. This takes a little bit of set up. However, you are supplied with enough gimmicks to allow you to have ten envelopes set up and ready to go. You set them all up before leaving home for the gig. Then it only takes, literally, less than a second to set up the wallet with one of these pre-made gimmicks.

The supplied gimmicks are two fold. You get ten reusable "thingies" that will last you forever. Then you get ten envelopes. Of course, the envelopes are only used once. So after ten performances, you'll need to get more envelopes. Harry Robson tells you what kind of envelopes he uses and who makes them.

The peak portion of the wallet is also cleverly constructed, and there are two different ways you can set it up to get the peek. Both are good and clever and have their place.

The DVD

The DVD is average or even below average production. It's not the best lit or best mic'd video I've watched, but it's easy to navigate, and the information is all there relatively clearly. There were a couple of places where I felt the information was glossed over. For example, he mentions that you could do a borrowed finger ring to sealed envelope in zippered compartment, but he does not give any handling tips, ideas, pointers, etc.

Also, the Mullica Wallet handling was not explained very well. It seemed that the assumption was made that you already knew how to handle a Mullica Wallet. There were details left out that would be helpful for handling it with this particular wallet.

Lastly, the fact that the peek does not work when the inner "Mullica" wallet is in place was not covered on the DVD bothered me a little bit. I discovered that by accident.

Final Thoughts

Generally speaking, this product is pretty aptly named. However, consider this: card to wallet is card to wallet. This wallet allows you to do it three different ways. In other words, you have three choices, but only one effect. It's not likely that you'll perform that same effect more than once at the same table, and if you did, you'd want to do it differently (e.g., once in the inner wallet and once in the envelope). If you want the variety to do it differently at each table, then you have that option, but just remember, what you really get with this wallet is signed card to (one of three) impossible location(s), OTL and peek.

You can basically do three effects at any given table. The three effects can be different at every table, but while at the table, you can only use each principle once. In other words you don't want to do ten out to lunch effects at the same table, obviously.

It is possible, however, to have a nice 3 or 4 effect routine all contained in this wallet that you could repeat at each different table. You will have to carry around a few extra things for resetting for the next table, but nothing major.

As I said, this is a well named and well made product for sure. You'll just have to consider all of the options, features and decide if this is right for your needs. As for the product itself, ad copy integrity and method . . .

Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.