Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Stargazer by Rainbow

X-Change by SansMinds Review:

One gimmick, one DVD and $35 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect

Draw a coin on a playing card. The drawing vanishes at the same instant that a real coin appears. The card can immediately be handed out.

Method

The method is a classic principle in magic that has stood the test of time. It's a very simple and clever method that I would say is for intermediate or "higher" level magicians. The method as applied to other effects is fine for beginners, but as it's applied here, it would be much better if you have some experience.

Keep in mind that your gimmick can only be used to produce one item. In other words, you can make a "coin producing" gimmick and produce coins all day. But if you want to produce a key, you'll need to have made a "key producing" gimmick and have it hooked up. However, you can really only have one thing hooked up at a time. So basically, you need to pick what you're going to produce and stick with it.

To me, that's not a huge problem. A handkerchief vanisher only really vanishes a handkerchief. If you wanted to vanish a cigarette with it, you'd have to have a cigarette vanisher hooked up. The idea of the DVD was to teach you how to create the gimmick and then customize it to whatever routine you want. It wasn't the intent of the DVD to have you go from table to table producing a different thing at each table.

Ad Copy Integrity

The written ad copy is spot on. The ad trailer is mostly "there." However, there is one issue I had. Near the beginning (5 seconds in), there's a shot of the performer openly drawing directly on the signed card. You CANNOT do that. If you draw directly on the card like that, the effect does not work. However, everything else in the trailer is legitimate. But to me, that is dishonest.

Product Quality

The DVD is well done, well lit, well produced, etc. It covers the needed training in great depth. However, it does have Chris - I don't know his last name - who comes across so annoyingly that the DVD is very hard to watch at times. Also, the supplied stuff for making the super simple gimmick is not the best quality. You can buy a much better quality version at a fabric/craft store for a buck or two.

Final Thoughts

The concept is awesome and has a lot of potential. If it weren't for the big issue in the ad trailer and the less than quality gimmick, this would be 4.5 ish stars. As it is, however . . .

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