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Multitude Review

One DVD, one special deck, one PDF, $40 bucks and one Multitude Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.

Multitude Review: Effect/Method

What you're paying for is a concept rather than any particular trick or effect. The method is a concept that you're, likely, familiar with, but applied in a different way. It was mentioned quite briefly in an old episode of Annemann's publication, The Jinx. It's a special deck that is prepared in such a way that the deck can be shuffled (by you — not a false shuffle) and still maintain its properties.

There is only one of each card in the deck (i.e., no duplicates), and after you shuffle it, its secret is still intact thus allowing you to do a variety of effects. It's a special deck that makes many effects possible with a lot less heartache than sleight of hand alternatives. Further, you can do several different effects without messing up the "system." Once you're done using the "system" you can just use the deck as a normal deck because it, essentially, is a normal deck . . . normal enough that you can do any trick with it that you would normally do with a normal deck.

Some of the effects (maybe 2 or 3) destroy the "system," however, he shows you how to, relatively easily, get the system back together right in front of the audience. One effect requires you to slightly modify some of the cards. The technique to modify is the use of a special tool that costs about $65. However, he briefly, covers how to do it without the special tool. As for the types of effects possible, watch the ad trailer to get a sense of that. All of those effects are simple and will take minimal practice to master. This is easily for all skill levels. Young, old, new and experienced. The deck does 95% of the work. The rest is some very, very simple and standard card handling.

Multitude Review: Ad Copy Integrity

The ad copy is pretty accurate, but there are a few things that need addressing. In the first few seconds, he shuffles the deck. The cards cannot actually be shuffled that particular way without ruining the "system." However as you watch the rest of the trailer, you'll see him shuffle the deck multiple times. Those particular cases are all cases where the "system" stays intact.

At about 2 minutes in, he does a trick with two packets of cards. The particular method used in the trailer was slightly different from the method taught in the video. However, he mentions that the other method is in the PDF, but, it's not there. Even though it's not in the PDF, he does explain what the method is, but doesn't go into any depth.

Lastly, the claim that the deck can be handed out is true, but there is a caveat. Part of the nature of the deck is that the cards are in a pattern (nothing you have to memorize), and that patter is potentially detectable. So, right before handing out the cards to be examined, you have to destroy the pattern which destroys the "system." It destroys it in such a way that you can't quickly get back into position.

It is possible to hand out the cards, but I don't believe it will ever be necessary. Also, a couple of routines allow the spectator to handle the cards. The secret is so clever and well hidden and so deceptive that I can't imagine ever needing the deck to be examined.

Multitude Review: Product Quality

The deck is extremely well made. It's the best quality of this type of gimmick that I've ever seen. What's more, this is a gimmick that many people use for other things. You can easily use these cards as a replacement for your existing version of this gimmick. It's the kind of thing that can be used as part of a full deck system, or you can just use one or two cards with your regular deck.

The DVD is well produced, and covers the effects pretty well. There are a couple of places where I felt some minor detail was missing. In those cases he went over the tutorial a little too quickly. The PDF is also well produced. It covers the same material from the DVD plus a few more effects. The DVD covers 11 effects. The PDF covers 16 in 87 pages. There are plenty of details and illustrations.

The only thing that bothered me a little bit about the PDF is that the ad copy refers to the PDF as a "bonus" PDF. Yet the ad copy also advertises 16 effects. If you count only the DVD, then it's only 11 effects. To have about 1/3 of the advertised quantity of effects be on a "bonus" PDF is a little bit misleading.

Multitude Review: Final Thoughts

If you liked anything you saw in the ad trailer, you'll be very happy with this. The system is very clever and super easy to use. If you're a card person at all, I truly believe you'll find value in this product. It goes way beyond just the tricks you'll learn on the DVD and in the PDF.

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

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