Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Cryin' by Aerosmith

Killer Prediction Review

One DVD, one routine, $40 bucks and one Killer Prediction Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Killer Prediction Review: Effect

This is a presentation and kicker ending to an Invisible Deck routine or a Brainwave Deck routine. Three different colored paper balls are thrown out into the audience. The audience members create the identity of a playing card by naming colors, suits, odds/evens, low/high and finally a value. All of which are true free choices. The deck is spread to reveal only one card face down in the face up deck. It's the named card (let's say Five of Clubs. Typical Invisible Deck stuff.

However, the kicker is that the spectators who caught the balls of paper and helped make the decisions are asked to open their paper balls. One paper ball says Five. The next one says Of, and the last one says Spades . . . or whatever card was created by the audience.

Killer Prediction Review: Method

The method is very simple and very sneaky. Of course, the first revelation relies on the workings of the Invisible Deck. He also teaches a handling for using a Brainwave Deck as well. The question you're asking yourself, however, is how the heck does he pull of the revelation with the paper balls? I won't answer that question except to say that it's brilliantly simple. There's no question that this is a stand up piece for a set show with a decent sized audience. You won't be performing this at a walk-around gig. But if you're in a place that has about 15 or more people seated out in an audience, then this is a good fit.

One part of the uses an audience member on stage to validate the handling of the deck to make sure that things are above board. This part is not necessary to effectively pull off the trick. In fact, the spectator on stage gets a slightly less magical version of things. The purpose of the spectator is to "prove" that you are doing what you say you're doing. It will do that for sure, and I think it does add a nice touch to the routine. However, it's mostly to convince magicians that you're (supposedly) not using an Invisible Deck.

Also, more lay folks know about the I.D. than you realize, so it's a nice touch, but there is a small piece of the magic that the guy on stage sees that makes the effect a little weird for him, but only him.

The handling of the deck aside, the method for having 100% accurate prediction on the paper balls without a force is super easy and totally realistic and doable for a parlor or stage sitting. Even in a small living room at someone's house this is totally doable. The only real requirement is that your audience needs to be large enough that you have "a crowd" and not "just a few people" and a distance of about 3 feet or from your audience.

This will work in any environment that matches those qualifications. The only other point to mention regarding method is the additional costs of things needed. You will need to buy a few things from Staples and Walmart; plus you'll need to buy an Invisible Deck if you don't already own one. All of that stuff (ream of colored paper, little trash can to hold three balls of trash you throw out to the audience, Invisible Deck, and two secret things that make the routine work) totals about $40 bucks (including taxes). It's a one time investment with the exception of the paper. Over time, you'll have to buy more paper, but a ream of paper will last you forever. You lose three balls of paper every performance.

So the total cost to do this routine is about $80 bucks ($40 for the stuff to do and another $40 for the DVD to learn it).

Killer Prediction Review: Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy is solid for sure. Everything they claim is accurate including the claim that he's performed this hundreds of times. There's no doubt that he's spent years doing this effect and has dealt with every issue you can imagine.

The only thing I feel needs some clarification is this part. The ad copy says "Note: You will need either an Invisible Deck or a Brainwave Deck. You will also need one other item that can be purchased for under $10.00."

Here is the list of things that you need along with their cost.

1. Small Garbage Can - $6
2. Secret Thing #1 - $3
3. Secret Thing #2 - $9
4. I.D - $7.5
5. Ream of Colored Paper - $11

That said, you don't have to buy the small garbage can, but you will need some small see through container to hold the three balls of trash. A clear plastic cup or glass will suffice. Secret thing #1 is only $2.97 at Walmart and is an absolute must to perform the routine. Secret thing #2 is actually something to hold secret thing #1. I suppose there are other solutions, but you do need thing 1 and some form of thing 2. There are less expensive "variations" of thing 2 and if you have a case that you're working out of, then this will suffice, and you won't need to buy a thing 2.

Lastly, the ream of paper for $11 bucks is not entirely necessary. You will need three different colors of paper, and for every performance you use up those three pieces of paper, so you will have to replenish, but there are less expensive packs of paper than a full ream (500 sheets). The ream I looked at had multiple colors, so you'd only need to buy one ream.

Having said all that, the ad copy said that you'll need to buy an I.D. and "one other thing for about $10." Well the one other thing is definitely thing 1, and it's only $3 bucks. Everything else on the list above (i.e., items 1, 3 & 5) are not necessarily needed. So the total amount of money they claimed (around $10 bucks) works for me.

Killer Prediction Review: Product Quality

As is typical with Cody Fisher's stuff and Magic Estate productions, the product quality is solid. Well lit; well shot; well mic'd; etc. Cody Fisher does a good job explaining and covering all the details. That's one of the things I love about his products. He's always speaking from a position of experience. He always has little pro tips and "lessons learned" from past mistakes made during performances of the routine you are purchasing.

There was one funny moment where he got tongue-tied and the camera operator clearly intended to fix it in post and had him do another take . . . and then another because he goofed again. However, they didn't edit out the goofs, the just left the tape rolling. I found it more humorous than anything, and it did not impact the quality of the video at all, and will definitely have no impact on the final rating.

Then why mention it, Jeff?

Because when I don't mention stuff like this, people bring it up and claim that I didn't watch the video and that I missed a glaring problem. Nope. I saw it. It just doesn't matter. :)

Killer Prediction Review: Final Thoughts

There's no question this is a solid product. I think $40 bucks is a little steep for one trick, especially one that requires further costs. The DVD is 50 minutes long. Compare that to Invisible by Jay Sankey. It's 2 hours long, comes with the Invisible Deck; it's by far one of the most comprehensive studies of the Invisible Deck, handlings, methods, performance ideas, etc., and it's only $20 bucks. Double (maybe even triple) the value for half the price.

However, as a general rule, I don't let the fact that someone else has a "better" product impact the star rating of another. It's a matter of what you're looking for. If you want the specific routine that Cody Fisher does, then you have to buy this DVD. Plus his experience and hundreds of hours perfecting the routine is worth something, so I can see the reason for the price point. It's an effect right out of his working repertoire, so I understand his desire to make the barrier to entry a little higher.

What it comes down to is what you think you need for your venues. If you want a pretty darn impossible seeming prediction of a truly free selection that plays for a large audience, then this is definitely what you're looking for.

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

Available at your Favorite Magic Dealer. Dealer's see Murphy's Magic for details.