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Vanishing Pen by SansMinds Review:

Eight Minutes, 2 props, 1 DVD and $30 bucks. Is it Gem or is it Rubble?

Effect

A Bic style pen is placed in a napkin and vanishes as you crumple up the napkin.

Method

Think Norm Nielsen Vanishing Bottles. It's the same thing, but it's a pen. It's a gimmicked pen that does the work for you. The method is very simple, but requires a little bit of finesse with the handling. Due to the nature of the gimmick, you have to be a little bit careful after you've effected the vanish. If you don't "peek" before showing just the balled up napkin in your hands, you might expose something.

Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy would be better if they left off the very first phrase, " . . . you vanish a pen WHILE THE SPECTATOR HOLDS IT." That's not true. The spectator cannot hold the pen. They cannot handle the pen. They can hold the napkin while the pen is inside the napkin, but that's it. It's also mentioned that you can borrow pens anywhere. That's true, obviously. Just understand that you have to switch the borrowed pen for the gimmicked pen. So it's not false advertisement, but I felt a little clarity is needed.

Product Quality

The gimmicked pen is made well enough, and will likely last a very long time. The DVD is well lit and well mic'd and well beyond too short. It was 8 minutes long; way too short. Due to the nature of the method, at the end, you may need some slight modification to the way you're holding the napkin to protect the secret. This is one of many, many, many tips and pointers that were left out of the DVD. They should have spent a few minutes explaining how to handle the napkin once you've crumpled it up.

Further, they should have spent more time on some tips regarding how to handle the pen when writing with it. You can write with it, but it's a little awkward. Some pointers here would have been valuable. Also, there never is a full performance shown. It would have been good to see how they switch the pen in and out. Claiming that you can borrow and do the routine is fine, but show me. Let's see an uncut performance from start to finish. I understand that you can't do that on the ad trailer, but you can certainly do it for those of us who own the DVD.

Final Thoughts

I'm ok with a $30 price point if it includes gimmicks and a thorough exploration of the gimmick. However, this one falls short. The second you open the package and handle the gimmick, you'll know exactly how the effect in the trailer was performed. That's basically all that Will Tsai covers in the DVD . . . the obvious stuff. How 'bout some finer points? How 'bout some tips from a real pro who claims this is in his working repertoire.

The gimmick is well made and does what they claim. It's also very easy to use, but when you combine everything, it's hard to give this a super great review. The main problem I have with this product is that they don't really teach you how to use it. They just very briefly show it, but nothing in depth. I could live with that if I didn't run into some handling problems. But because the method does lend itself to very particular handling that's not discussed on the DVD, I feel that it's not a complete product. If this were better explained and taught, I would give it a 3.5 to 4 ish star rating, but as it is . . .

Final Verdict:
3 Stars with a Stone Status of gem with a super small g.