Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Drops of Jupiter Covered by Taylor Swift
For $20 bucks you get a poorly packaged effect that totally kicks arse . . . kicks arse* enough to ignore the packaging problems.
So here's the packaging problem: You're getting a 27 page 8.5x11 document that's been stapled at the top left corner and folded into quarters and jammed into a plastic baggie with 2 dice and a couple of envelopes. The problem was that when trying to read the instructions the paper kept wanting to refold making it hard to read.
The effect includes two really cheap dice which I'd recommend replacing with your own dice. Additionally, you get a cheaply made 'special' envelope that I would also suggest replacing.
These are easy things to replace and frankly, even had Devin Knight left out the envelope and dice and just released this as a PDF, I'd be willing to pay the $20 bucks. In fact, I may have preferred that since the printout is jammed into a plastic baggie.
All those things aside, I still must recommend this product. The effect is very clean and the method is brilliant. Quickly, here's the basic effect:
- Spectator chooses a sheet of newspaper
- Magician tears up the paper into bunch of small sheets
- Spectator picks the 5th (or whatever he rolled with the dice) torn piece in the stack
- He then chooses which side of the torn piece to use
- Your prediction that has been on the table from the beginning (no switches) matches random words that the spectator reads off of the torn piece
No stooges; no special paper, no secret writing.
The effect is very strong.
The method will take very little work to learn. The folded up document that teaches the method covers every single detail imaginable. It teaches you everything you need to know to perform the effect as well as tips on how to practice. He even gives you some exercises to do that will help you master the routine a little at a time. Additionally, there are several subtle tips that are beautiful that will make this piece a real show stopper.
It seems clear to me that Knight has truly (as he claimed) performed this for many years. His experience with the effect shows greatly. Every little nuance and subtlety with the presentation, the technique, everything, is covered.
If you do any type of stand up work and you want a relatively simple to do mentalism effect, I'd spend the $20 bucks today.
For the crappy envelope that is not as clean as the directions say (but can easily be replaced with one that is) and the poor packaging a star is lost.
Thus . . .
Final Verdict:
4 stars with a Stone Status of GEM!
*Kicks arse is Scottish for awesome!