Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Jaded Heart by Dokken

Overall, I think this is a good investment, but let me be clear about a few things:

1. Ad Copy
2. Gimmick
3. Effect

Ad Copy

The ad copy is pretty transparent and open. However there are a 2 issues that I need to point out. First, ad copy claims that the pen is scratch resistant. Considering the fact that mine came direct from the factor with several scratches on it, this is clearly false ad copy. Second, the pen cap on mine was scratched up terribly and looked like crap. The pen itself had several scratches and marks on it, and some weird black dot on it that would not come off.

The second thing, related to advertising, that was a little bit frustrating is the fact that in the video trailer there is an effect shown (a visual change of normal sharpie to the clear sharpie), but it is not taught anywhere on the DVD. Out of the three routines taught on the DVD, this visual change that was "teased" in the promo was what interested me the most. Yet it is not taught anywhere that I could find. There are a few other clips found in the demo that looked as though they were taking from the performance or explanation of a routine. However, those same clips are nowhere to be found in the product DVD. So that was a bit disappointing.

Gimmick

The gimmick itself looks pretty much just like a Sharpie marker. However, as mentioned above it is not scratch resistant.I'd say that the prop itself is about a 3.5/4 on a scale from 1 to 5 (5 being perfect). The lid is very scratched up and looks like something went wrong in the manufacturing process. The "pen" is pretty solid and sturdy and looks pretty good overall. Even though there are scratches on the pen, it's not enough of a problem to prevent me from using it.

Effect

You get three effects taught to you on the included DVD. Basically you get an ambition card routine that ends with Omni Deck and Omni Pen. You get version of Greg Wilson's Recap that ends with the sharpie turning "invisible (i.e., Omni Pen). Then you get another sort of pen/flurry routine that ends in the sharpie turning into the Omni Pen. As you know, I don't typically let the effects impact my review because tastes on that kind of thing are so broad, that it's far too subjective to judge. However, I will give my standard warning about watching Craig Petty perform. He is extreeeeeeeeeeeemely boring to watch. Actually it's quite annoying. He absolutely does not acknowledge his audience and certainly does not connect with them - at least not on the footage I've seen.

His non-pausing, non-stopping, excessive over-explaning of everything he is doing is not a presentation. It's a nuisance and it clearly showed on the face of the spectators watching him. However, Craig's lack of performance prowess has no bearing on whether or not this Omni pen is a well made gimmick and therefore will not impact my final verdict. However, I bring it up as a warning to any watching . . . do NOT copy his "performance" style. Do not attempt to learn presentation from his performance on this DVD. You will further perpetuate the plethora of problems in the performance area of our beautiful (yet in someways declining) craft.

The handling taught in combination with the Omni Deck by Spencer Wood has the advantage of a clever choreography that puts the Omni Pen in the spectator's hand through the entire routine. This sneaky structure allows the spectator to use the normal Sharpie and to continue holding onto what they think is the Sharpie, but is the Omni Pen. The structure of this allows the spectator to openly hold and even use the Omni Pen as a magic wand without even realizing that the pen has been switched.

Mathew Young's handling has a few great moments where the spectator is holding on to the pen when it changes. Overall, the three routines show a broad range of the potential of the prop. And let's stay clear . . . you are mainly just buying a prop . . . the Omni Pen. What you do with it can be one (or more) of the routines on the DVD, but in reality should be your own take on the use of the prop.

Final Thoughts

For about $30 bucks you get a pretty good looking clear "Sharpie" pen, a regular Sharpie pen and two Sharpie stickers which are never explained on the DVD. Basically, if you can see yourself doing an effect where the pen vanishes (i.e., turns clear), then this is a good option.

Final Verdict:
3.5 Stars with a Stone Status of gem (inaccuracies in the ad copy notwithstanding)