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Hands Free Prediction Review

Six training videos, a whole bunch of gimmicks and stuff, $25 bucks and one Hands Free Prediction Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Effect

A deck of cards is shown to be mixed. A single envelope is placed on the table as a prediction. The spectator takes the deck and deals the cards on to a pile turning them face up, one at a time. They stop (truly) wherever they want. You open the envelope to show a playing card that proves you predicted where they would stop.

Method

This is really not much different from a Koran deck (a.k.a. 101 deck). There are a few subtleties added in that may or may not (depending on your point of view) make this version better or worse. It requires a heavily gimmicked deck and a special other "thing" that makes the prediction match at the end. Everything (except a deck of cards) that you need to perform this is included, and it's completely sleight free.

You just have to remember four simple things. As long as you can remember those (easy and simple) things, then you can do this effect. Just keep in mind that it does require that you dedicate an entire deck of cards to one trick.

Hands Free Prediction Review: Ad Copy Integrity

Well . . . there are some issues with the ad copy. Let's look at the video and the written ad copy one at a time.

Video Trailer

The video trailer is a very good depiction of what happens. There is no funny business going on in the trailer. They did not make any cheat cuts or anything of that nature. The effect is as clean as it looked on the video . . . most of the time. There is one other possible outcome that will happen about 40% of the time, maybe less. In the performance, the spectator stopped at a card (Eight of Clubs). The prediction card matched perfectly (Eight of Clubs).

However, there are cases where the spectator stops at a card (let's say Four of Hearts), and your prediction will not be "Four of Hearts." It will be "Four of Diamonds" the mate of the card stopped at. This is covered by the patter and presentation, and I personally don't feel it's a problem, but I just want to make sure you're clear about what you're getting.

Written Ad Copy

Here's where we run into trouble. There are two main claims that are a little iffy. First, the claim that the deck is examinable is, we'll say, quasi-true. The deck is not examinable. The deck can be shown to the spectator briefly (just like you saw in the performance) face up. They can even deal the cards (just like you saw in the performance) and handle them, etc. And, my guess is that if they "examined" the cards they, likely, wouldn't spot the secret. However if someone truly, thoroughly, examined the deck, they would notice something.

If you're familiar with a 101/Koran deck, you'll get what I'm saying. Many people feel that a Koran deck is examinable and that the spectator won't notice the secret. If you feel that a Koran is examinable, then you'll have no problem with this one being examined because the secret is a little more hidden.

The second claim that is also a quasi-true-ish statement. I'd say that they "got off on a technicality." The claim is "No Gimmicked Deck." Well . . . it's true that there are no actual gimmicks in the deck. All of the cards are normal. However, this is not a normal deck. It can be handled as described previously, but it is not a normal deck. So technically none of the cards are gimmicked, but the deck is not a "regular" deck. I can't say anything else without exposing the secret.

Hands Free Prediction Review: Product Quality

The streaming videos are accessed via a Vimeo album with a password. There are six training videos, and they're very short and concise, and perfectly cover the techniques, set up, performance, etc. needed to learn and perform this effect. The lighting and audio weren't the best, but you'll easily be able to learn what you need to know. You are supplied with 2 gimmicks that make the prediction work. These are well made. Plus you get a gimmicked envelope that does all the work for you and will last you forever. It's the best made gimmicked envelope of this type that I've ever seen. Everything, but the deck, you need to perform this effect is provided.

Hands Free Prediction Review: Final Thoughts

If you don't mind the fact that the prediction will sometimes be the mate of the stopped at card rather than a perfect match and you don't mind dedicating an entire deck to one trick, then you'll be happy with your purchase. The only other caveat I'd throw in there is if you don't mind the two points of clarification I made in the Ad Copy section, then you'll be happy with your purchase. Considering everything that you get only costs $25 bucks, this is a solid deal over all. Personally, the gimmicked envelope is something that I would use in other card effects as well.

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

Available at your Favorite Magic Dealer. Dealer's see Murphy's Magic For Details.