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Jeff Prace: In Your Wallet Review

One DVD, 2 props/gimmicks, 3 effects and $25 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect

Included on In Your Wallet by Jeff Prace you will find three effects, one main effect and two bonus effects. The main effect is a "selected" card is "lost" in the deck. A random number is generated by using the digits on your "debit card." The spectator counts to that number to find his card at that position. Then your spectator turns over your debit card to find that your debit card number is gone. In its place is the name of the spectator's card.

Bonus #1 is Ethan's List. You show a bunch of photos of a bunch of different people in a wallet photo holder. You call it a "burn book (i.e., a book of people you don't like)." The spectator thinks of one of images. You bring a flame near the accordion-style picture holder. Upon reopening the holder, the thought of image is seen to be burned.

Bonus #2 is Back in Time 2.0. You show an examinable picture of you blowing a huge bubble gum bubble. You bring the picture up to your lips and, using your teeth, pull the gum out of the picture. They see the gum as it snaps off the picture into your mouth. You immediately hand out the picture. The gum is no longer there.

Method

All of the effects from In Your Wallet fit . . . well . . . in your wallet. The main effect uses the included props: 2 debit cards. There are multiple handling ideas taught for this effect. All of them are simple and practical and totally doable. You just need to carry the debit cards in your wallet (or a few other membership/gift/etc. cards, depending on what handling method you are using). However, you will also need a deck of cards that is set up a special way, and it's not something you can do with a borrowed deck. You'll need to have your deck prepped in advance. The prep required is simple and will only take a minute to do.

Ethan's List will require you to purchase an accordion-style wallet photo holder, something like This. You'll also need to get your hands on a bunch of photos of people.

The method itself is nearly self-working. You prepare the accordion photo holder one time in advance, and you're good to go. There is, however, a small risk in the method. You let the spectator handle the prepared photo holder. It wouldn't be hard for them to accidentally see the gimmick. You need to make sure you get them to follow your instructions. The gimmicked nature of the holder is hidden, but if the spectator doesn't handle it the correct way, they may accidentally expose the gimmick to themselves. With some simple instructions and audience control, this is very doable.

Lastly, Back in Time 2.0 is again very simple. Jeff shows you how to make a very simple gimmick that makes this possible and very clean. The method for creating the illusion of the gum coming off of the photo is very simple and very clever. Jeff gives a great tip on how to properly use your body to really sell the illusion.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad trailer is very accurate. What you see on the ad trailer is what you get. The only thing I'll mention is that the written ad copy "sells" the fact that now (after you've purchased In Your Wallet) you are ready to go whenever someone asks you to do a trick: "No more fumbling when you are put on the spot" it says. The problem with that, however, is that the main trick with the debit cards requires a deck of cards that has been set up a special way, so if you don't have your deck of cards, then you cannot do the main trick.

The other effects can be done as long as you have your wallet. For the Back in Time 2.0, you'll need to have a piece of gum handy, but that's it. If you're doing this for your professional work, then you'll likely have a deck on you, and many magicians carry a deck everywhere they go, so this is fine even in casual settings. Just keep in mind that a big selling point of In Your Wallet is that as long as you have your wallet, you can do the three effects whenever you're put on the spot. Just know that if you don't have your previously set up deck, you can't do the main effect.

Product Quality

The DVD is well shot, well lit, well mic'd, easy to navigate, etc. I would expect nothing less from Kozmo Magic.

The included debit cards look good and look and feel like real debit cards. Plus, they are loaded with other possible effects. On the cards, you can reveal a few of the standard mentalism effects (triangle in a circle, the number 37 and 1089 — there are two ways to reveal 1089). There's also a way to reveal "Queen of Hearts" build into the card. The debit card number itself has no zeros, and no numbers that repeat more than 4 times. The idea being that you can "somehow reveal that with a deck of cards." And lastly, there's a revelation of 666 and "1134" (upside down says "hell").

The only complaint I have here is that Jeff does not explain how to do any of these effects. Most mentalists know the triangle in a circle, the number 37 and 1089, but he seems to be gearing this to more casual performers who likely won't know these. In that regard, I feel the explanations for the extra stuff on the debit card was totally lacking. Regarding the debit card number above, you'll see my quote about revealing the number with the cards. The reason it's in quotes is because that was Jeff's explanation for what to do with the credit card numbers. Nothing more was said. I'm not sure even what the effect would be: that you can reveal the numbers on your own credit card?

I get that we as magicians need to come up with our own effects and presentations, but it's a little odd to purchase a product and then not be told how to use the features of it. Same goes for the 666 and the "hell" revelation. I will admit, however, that this can be more easily turned into something creative just due to the nature of the content, and I can at least see that it might have some potential. But the debit card number, deck of cards reveal thing just made no sense.

If you don't know the 37, triangle/circle and/or 1089 concepts, then you have three more effects you cannot do. If you know them, then you'll be fine. Further, the 1089 reveal is more clever than you think. You get two options. One is that the date on the card says: "Member Since 10/89" or you can call the phone number on the debit card to get your balance which the recorded voice will tell you is $1089.

Final Thoughts

To perform all of the effects on In Your Wallet, you'll add some significant bulk to your wallet, especially if you do the simple/basic handling for the main effect using the included debit cards. The methods are all solid and easy and legitimate doable methods. If you don't mind that you'll need a previously set up deck for one effect, and you don't mind that you'll have to learn most of the effects possible with the debit cards somewhere other than this DVD, then you'll be very happy with your purchase.

Also, just to be clear, my issue with the previously set up deck is not about the fact that it's a set up deck. I have no problem with that. The issue is that you need a deck at all when the main point of the product is that you can do magic when you're put on the spot. However, this wouldn't be as bad if you could just borrow a deck and go, but because the effect requires a set up, you can't do that either. So this really takes away from the claim that "you are always ready to perform."

I still think, however, that this is full of well taught material that is mostly organic and very doable and usable. Finally, because the extra stuff on the debit card was not part of the advertised product and was actually just more of a surprise that you get, I can't be too upset with the lack of instructions. So . . .

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