Howdy, loyal readers! Cris Johnson here, back with another fun-filled review. Before this week’s product, a few housekeeping notes…
First of all, I want to thank my subscribers to “Cause & Effects,” my free monthly ezine. New subscribers are coming in all the time and I couldn’t be more delighted! Next month’s issue will feature an article on a sneaky way to save money on your hotels. I stumbled across this by accident and I’m happy to share it with you.
Secondly, I am actually considering doing something I’ve talked about for five years…starting an agency! Since I am primarily a school guy, I am on the road a TON, but I still concentrate mostly on the east coast. With that in mind, there’s a TON of the U.S. I don’t visit very often.
If you’re a professional U.S. magician, contact me at crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net. I’m just in the planning stages now, but I promise to be fair with your best interests in mind. My (proposed) agency will target different markets, so it doesn’t matter to me if you’re a birthday guy, a closeup gal or a corporate entertainer. These are exciting times and with my 15+ years of experience, I’m sure I can launch an agency to great heights!
On to this week’s review…
Today I’m reviewing Anthony Lindan’s Incredible Suit Jacket Escape DVD. It’s available for $59.95 from Hocus Pocus. Here’s the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=13137
EFFECT: The performer, channeling Harry Houdini, embarks on a considerably LESS impressive outing: rather than escaping from a straight jacket, he’s going to escape from his own suit jacket. Two volunteers help handcuff the performer’s hands behind his back. A curtain is raised and lowered, showing the performer’s progress…or lack thereof. He eventually escapes, but the real emphasis is on sight gags and fun.
WHAT YOU GET: A very professionally produced DVD that covers the suit jacket escape in incredible detail.
MARKETS: Although I haven’t put this in my show yet, I’m working my butt off to get it ready for the fall. I have penciled this in to three of my different shows with a possibility of a fourth. I believe this will play equally well to kids, pre-teens and adults. It may play great for teens too, though I have no immediate plans to put it in my teen shows. I wouldn't do it for daycare shows, but elementary school age through adults and you're probably golden.
There are no off-color jokes or anything that would offend anyone, in my eyes.
DIFFICULTY: I hesitate to refer to any routine as "easy" but from a technical standpoint this is 'easy' to do. Any technical difficulty is contingent on what kind of quick release restraint you have. As I said, Anthony's recommendation for gimmicked shackles is the same choice I made. I know there was a Harry Anderson routine put out a few years ago in which Harry used gimmicked handcuffs, though I've no idea of how fast they release. I only mention this so you know there are options.
I should also mention that your quick release restraint needs to be something you can both get out of quickly and get back into just as fast, therefore the old Siberian Chain Escape would be a poor choice.
ANGLES: This is beautiful, because of the curtain, you’re completely covered as you make your escape and/or set up the various sight gags throughout the routine. Plus, it packs small and plays big, to borrow a tired phrase.
INSTRUCTION: Anthony does an incredible job describing in detail all of the nuances of the routine. In the hands of a lesser instructor, I can see this being described on one side of a piece of paper, but Anthony goes into detail…REAL detail, the kind of detail that shows he’s done this at least 1000 times. He addresses such issues as filling dead time while the spectators lock you up, ways to minimize that potential dead time, reducing the dead time as you introduce the curtain, and so much more.
Additionally, the equipment he recommends is top notch. I’ve already purchased the shackles he recommends and they are first rate. Really, any decent quick-release restraint would work, but I really like the shackles, as they’re big, designed to LAST and are oh-so-simple to use. The spirit curtain (or “curtain of death,” as Anthony calls it) is well thought out in terms of the recommended construction.
MY BACKGROUND: I’ve been considering a straight jacket escape for a LONG time. I have a friend whom I’ve known for 25 years and he does a standard straight jacket escape. He does it in a very stripped down, concise manner, similar to a lot of working pros, including Jeff McBride’s wife, Abbi Spinner McBride.
Frankly, I’ve always considered it boring as hell. To me, there’s no hook, no reason for the escape.
Copperfield did the only straight jacket escape I ever liked, because it had real drama – he dangled upside down from burning ropes! I was captivated. There was a reason for the escape: Get out or die!
Most of us don’t have the staging or ability to pull off true danger, so as soon as you’re locked in a straight jacket (and you’re just going to escape, with no consequences if you do not), you’re in an anti-climax position. If you get out when you say you will, no one is surprised. If you do not, well, you’re a tool… in your audiences’ eyes.
With all of that in mind, I swore I’d never do a straight jacket escape unless I could write a really good script. One that was dramatic or funny…or preferably both!
After struggling with the concept for years, I put the straight jacket escape idea on hold until Bill emailed me about the suit jacket escape, so I got my grubby hands on this before it was even available at Hocus Pocus.
Upon review, I immediately thought, “That’s the answer I’ve been looking for.” I love it because it’s delightfully absurd! The plot is silly, which I love. It involves volunteers throughout the routine, not just for the locking business. The comedy is what gives the journey, the road to the successful escape, a way to hook the audience. Really, no one cares if you can escape ANYTHING. You’ve got to engage them in some way, and laughter is a way to hook any audience into any routine.
I only point all of this out because if I, an ardent anti-straight jacket guy, can appreciate this routine, then anyone can.
MY THOUGHTS: First of all, the routine is very funny. That being said, Anthony has stripped this routine down to make it the most travel-friendly ‘big’ routine possible. By his own admission, he left a lot of possibilities out.
This is a great routine because if you do it exactly as Anthony does it, you’ve got a winner…but if you’re the least bit creative, you’re going to start going through this and come up with ways to really add bits of business, additional sight gags, props and more… and whatever else from your own personality. This is a good thing – no, correction, this is a great thing. As Anthony runs it, this is roughly a 5 minute routine. A 5 minute routine that I can drop right into my act for sixty bucks? That’s a steal, in my book.
However, because this routine and premise is so open to possibilities, I can see me easily stretching this to 10-12 minute routine and still leave the audience begging for more. This routine is a blank canvas…
I personally don’t mind a bit of setup, so with me, once this goes into my set list, I know I’m going to expand, change it, and truly nurture this until it’s my own. The possibilities are endless and I haven’t been this excited about a new product in a LONG time.
A 10 out of 10.
Next week, due to reader request, I’ll be reviewing another DVD, this one called “Thread.” Yup, it’s the one where Criss Angel swallows and then pulls thread out of his eye. Kinda brings me back to my old Bizarrist roots with Tony Andruzzi…
Until next week, send all questions, comments and additional review requests to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Best,
Cris Johnson
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Brad Manuel's Buckethead
Yo, what up, readers?
OK, that was SAD. Just wanted to change things up a bit....
Cris Johnson here with another review! A few housekeeping things...
First, my new audio CD prediction effect, The Mother of All Predictions, continues to sell like hotcakes! This uses an UNGIMMICKED CD player (any CD player on the planet) will work and you can predict ANYTHING. The ad mentions my own presentation, but really, you're only limited by your imagination. Here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=13021
My ezine, "Cause & Effects" features an article examining David Copperfield's live show and just a few things magicians could take from it to improve their act. Sign up is FREE! Shoot me an email to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Today's review will be a bit of a departure for me as this is unabashedly a kids' effect. On to the review...
Today's review is Bad Manuel's Buckethead. It's available for $149.95 from Hocus Pocus. Here's the link to the info: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=1816
EFFECT: Bring a child or adult spectator on stage to help you with your next trick. But before they are to help, they must expand their mind a bit. And you have just the way to do it. A bucket-like container with a flat oversized top hat is placed over their head. Next you insert a tube into the side of the bucket and attach an oversized bellows style pump. Now the fun begins. You begin to pump and squeeze the bellows, each time you do, the top hat begins to inflate atop the bucket. Your audience will die with laughter as the hat slowly becomes fully inflated. But wait! The best is yet to come! Open the front hatch of the bucket, and the spectator's actual head is seen inflated several times its normal size! They look just like a human cartoon!
WHAT YOU RECEIVE: The pump, the special bucket, the hat, written instructions.
QUALITY OF PROPS: The pump is very rugged and very heavy (more on that later) and very well made. the hat is made of good solid material and the bucket is made from your usual household bucket. The clear panel that allows the audience to see the volunteer's face is a bit on the flimsy side and while strong, does scratch somewhat easily. Fortunately, it comes with that white cover to facilitate the big reveal for the effect but it also serves to protect the clear panel. Don't throw other props into the bucket for transport to your gig and this effect will hold up over time.
MARKETS: This is obviously designed as a kids' effect, although when I was performing this regularly, my wife insisted I should try it in my adult shows! I never did, but the idea is there.
Here, in the 'markets' section, I do have to address a limitation of this effect. In my experience, after having performed this hundreds of times (I bought mine back in '03 or so...glad to see it's back) I have found that this will not play too well for very large audience of 400 or so.
I believe the issue is the clear panel. Because of the nature of the effect and illusion, visibility is hampered because of the said panel. I don't think I'm ruining the effect by saying that the "secret" to the kids' heads looking so large is exactly what you think it is. It's not a weakness, just an acknowledgement.
Anyway, because of the nature of the illusion, the visibility, for me, was poor the further back the audience sat.
With that in mind, I found this to be perfect for audiences of 100 or so or less. it kills for birthday shows, daycare shows, smaller family shows, etc.
ANGLES: There are no angle considerations, although if anyone is to the sides or in back, they won't see the humor of the effect.
MY THOUGHTS: As I said, I bought this several years ago and used it constantly for 4 years or so. If I hadn't insisted on transporting the pump and other heavy props, I'd still have it today. It was my own fault that the clear panel got scuffed up and not a reflection on the quality of the prop. DON'T transport things by using the bucket and it will last quite a few years.
Also, the clear panel is covered by the white panel that is inturn held on by velcro. If you leave the bucket in your car, the velcro on the white panel may come off if it gets too hot. that's a limitation of velcro and the "sticky" stuff and not a reflection on the quality of the prop. try not to let it sit in your car for days at a time.
Also, I do not recommend putting the bucket on anyone younger than 5 or 6 as they may become frightened. It's not a scary effect, but some kids are scared of their own shadows.
Is this effective? In my experience, it kills. It's certainly not a "fooler," as even the smallest child knows what's causing the illusion, but in this case, it's played strictly for laughs. This is a sight gag and nothing more, but do not let that sway you away from the effect. When I was using this, I constantly had both kids and adults telling me it was so funny and was their favorite parts of the show.
This effect is a lesson worthy of study: It does not matter what you do, as long as you entertain your audience.
If you're looking for something to make your audience laugh, I can think of nothing stronger. Based on my experience and having performed this hundreds of times, I give it a 10 out of 10.
I know this review may be shorter than what I normally write, but this is a much simpler effect and there is not as much "secret stuff" to dance around.
Until next week, send all questions, comments and gripes to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Best,
Cris
OK, that was SAD. Just wanted to change things up a bit....
Cris Johnson here with another review! A few housekeeping things...
First, my new audio CD prediction effect, The Mother of All Predictions, continues to sell like hotcakes! This uses an UNGIMMICKED CD player (any CD player on the planet) will work and you can predict ANYTHING. The ad mentions my own presentation, but really, you're only limited by your imagination. Here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=13021
My ezine, "Cause & Effects" features an article examining David Copperfield's live show and just a few things magicians could take from it to improve their act. Sign up is FREE! Shoot me an email to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Today's review will be a bit of a departure for me as this is unabashedly a kids' effect. On to the review...
Today's review is Bad Manuel's Buckethead. It's available for $149.95 from Hocus Pocus. Here's the link to the info: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=1816
EFFECT: Bring a child or adult spectator on stage to help you with your next trick. But before they are to help, they must expand their mind a bit. And you have just the way to do it. A bucket-like container with a flat oversized top hat is placed over their head. Next you insert a tube into the side of the bucket and attach an oversized bellows style pump. Now the fun begins. You begin to pump and squeeze the bellows, each time you do, the top hat begins to inflate atop the bucket. Your audience will die with laughter as the hat slowly becomes fully inflated. But wait! The best is yet to come! Open the front hatch of the bucket, and the spectator's actual head is seen inflated several times its normal size! They look just like a human cartoon!
WHAT YOU RECEIVE: The pump, the special bucket, the hat, written instructions.
QUALITY OF PROPS: The pump is very rugged and very heavy (more on that later) and very well made. the hat is made of good solid material and the bucket is made from your usual household bucket. The clear panel that allows the audience to see the volunteer's face is a bit on the flimsy side and while strong, does scratch somewhat easily. Fortunately, it comes with that white cover to facilitate the big reveal for the effect but it also serves to protect the clear panel. Don't throw other props into the bucket for transport to your gig and this effect will hold up over time.
MARKETS: This is obviously designed as a kids' effect, although when I was performing this regularly, my wife insisted I should try it in my adult shows! I never did, but the idea is there.
Here, in the 'markets' section, I do have to address a limitation of this effect. In my experience, after having performed this hundreds of times (I bought mine back in '03 or so...glad to see it's back) I have found that this will not play too well for very large audience of 400 or so.
I believe the issue is the clear panel. Because of the nature of the effect and illusion, visibility is hampered because of the said panel. I don't think I'm ruining the effect by saying that the "secret" to the kids' heads looking so large is exactly what you think it is. It's not a weakness, just an acknowledgement.
Anyway, because of the nature of the illusion, the visibility, for me, was poor the further back the audience sat.
With that in mind, I found this to be perfect for audiences of 100 or so or less. it kills for birthday shows, daycare shows, smaller family shows, etc.
ANGLES: There are no angle considerations, although if anyone is to the sides or in back, they won't see the humor of the effect.
MY THOUGHTS: As I said, I bought this several years ago and used it constantly for 4 years or so. If I hadn't insisted on transporting the pump and other heavy props, I'd still have it today. It was my own fault that the clear panel got scuffed up and not a reflection on the quality of the prop. DON'T transport things by using the bucket and it will last quite a few years.
Also, the clear panel is covered by the white panel that is inturn held on by velcro. If you leave the bucket in your car, the velcro on the white panel may come off if it gets too hot. that's a limitation of velcro and the "sticky" stuff and not a reflection on the quality of the prop. try not to let it sit in your car for days at a time.
Also, I do not recommend putting the bucket on anyone younger than 5 or 6 as they may become frightened. It's not a scary effect, but some kids are scared of their own shadows.
Is this effective? In my experience, it kills. It's certainly not a "fooler," as even the smallest child knows what's causing the illusion, but in this case, it's played strictly for laughs. This is a sight gag and nothing more, but do not let that sway you away from the effect. When I was using this, I constantly had both kids and adults telling me it was so funny and was their favorite parts of the show.
This effect is a lesson worthy of study: It does not matter what you do, as long as you entertain your audience.
If you're looking for something to make your audience laugh, I can think of nothing stronger. Based on my experience and having performed this hundreds of times, I give it a 10 out of 10.
I know this review may be shorter than what I normally write, but this is a much simpler effect and there is not as much "secret stuff" to dance around.
Until next week, send all questions, comments and gripes to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Best,
Cris
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
French Guillotine
Howdy, Loyal Readers!
Cris Johnson here, back with a new review earlier than normal this week. I've got an INSANE amount of driving / performing to do this week, so the earlier I can get my blog done, the better.:)
First, a few housekeeping notes...
My NEW product, "The Mother of All Predictions," continues to sell like hotcakes! Check out the ad copy here: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=13021
Secondly, the June issue of my ezine, "Cause & Effects," is ready to go and will be emailed tomorrow. If you aren't already on the list, shoot me an email: crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net. This issue is all about what David Copperfield can teach any magician. Good stuff!
OK, onto this week's review...it's the French Guillotine, available from Hocus Pocus for $695. Here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=2614
EFFECT: Invite a spectator on stage and reveal the GUILLOTINE. This alone will garner lots of laughs! Lock their head into the stocks and bring out a small trash can and place it in front of their head (just in case). Finally, when you pull the release, the blade comes careening down (which will garner screams from the audience) and CRASH! The blade goes completely through the spectator's neck and comes out the bottom! What a visual! The spectator is then released from the stocks safe and completely unharmed!
WHAT YOU GET: The Guillotine, removeable 'feet,' written instructions and (apparently) a wooden carrying case.
BACKGROUND: I've been using this for about 7 years, having bought it the first year I went 'full time' and as such, there MAY be a few differences in mine compared to the new ones, based on the ad copy, but I'll get to that a little later.
QUALITY OF PROP: First of all, this thing looks absolutely lethal onstage. It's gorgeous, even up close. They really did a good job with the looks of the prop. Secondly, my unit has been through hundreds or thousands of performances and it continues to work like a dream. The action of the blade dropping, as the ad copy claims, is smooth as silk.
ANGLES: As long as someone's head (or more accurately, neck) is in the stock, you can do this surrounded, as there's nothing to see.
That's the good news...now onto to a few 'quibbles' I have...
AD COPY: The first thing wrong with the ad copy is that they claim the unit stands a full 7 feet high. Not true, It stands 6 foot, maybe 6 ' 2" at the most. I stand 5' 7" and the unit is roughly 6 inches or so (maybe less) taller than me, so no way is this 7 feet. Quite frankly, the prop is so attractive and looks so great on stage that I do think this is a very minor flaw in the ad copy.
Secondly, the ad copy states you can test the blade by letting it drop before putting someone's head/neck into it. Well, let me clearly state that unless there is something (whether it's a person's neck, a watermelon or a basketball) then you CANNOT drop the blade without revealing the 'secret' to your audience, so the ad copy is wrong on that count.
Finally, the ad copy states that the prop comes with a wooden carrying case - when I bought mine years ago, it did not come with such a case. Now, in all fairness, I honestly cannot remember whether the ad copy mentioned a case back then or not. I'm guessing it did not, because back in 2003 when I bought it, money was VERY tight and I read over any ad very carefully (as we all do) before deciding on such an investment.
I'm going to give the ad as well as the makers the benefit of the doubt and assume that the addition of the wooden case is a recent addition. BTW, this effect needs such a case. The finsh of the prop looks fantastic and having a case will certainly help keep things in tip-top shape. I wish I had gone to the trouble of getting a case, any case, years ago for my prop, as it's been scratched and scuffed a LOT over the years, but that's my fault. It still looks great from a mere 4 feet away.
PROS & CONS: First, the pros. OK, the best thing about this prop is the fact that it looks so deadly. I haul it out during my show under cover of a large dark cloth. I then slowly pull the cloth off and the audience gasps when they see the large blade.
Secondly, this thing is totally safe. Obscenely safe. There's no way possible this thing can hurt you. More on that later, but even if you were to slam the blade down onto yourself, it's not heavy enough or sharp to hurt you. You could turn a 5 year old loose with this thing and the only way he could hurt himself is if the prop toppled over on him. Totally safe.
Thirdly, despite being 6 feet tall, the prop folds in half, to around 3 feet in length, meaning it fits into any car. Also, while the ad copy claims 3 minutes to set up, I can do it in one minute. You unfold it, screw the feet on and stand it up. Easy.
Now the cons...
The fact that this is so safe is also its biggest downfall. In my way of presenting an arm chopper effect, I first use the prop to cut a carrot or some such food in half and then I get the person to place themselves in harm's way. Therein lies the problem with this effect...
You can NOT cut anything with this prop, making the 'buildup' a little tougher.
Now, I probably should have asked about this before I bought the thing, but once I got it, I fashioned a way to make use of it which I'll share: I do my side-splittingly funny armchopper routine with a small arm chopper (The routine will be released soon in a NEW book I'm releasing - cheap plug) and, claiming that the audience in the back couldn't see the arm chopper, I then bring from the back the 6 foot guillotine as a way to allow maximum visibility.
This plays great, and because I try not to focus on the negative, I'm giving the readers of this review a way to use this prop effectively even though it does not cut anything.
OVERALL REVIEW: Out of necessity, I took what was a sub-standard prop (only in functionality, in my view) and crafted a winning routine out of it. The fact that this prop is so incredibly safe is a major, major positive in my book. Still, to those out there who want a prop that cuts things, you simply can't with this. I'll give it a 6 out of 10. It looks fantastic, does what it was designed to do very well, is well-built, but ultimately has limitations to keep in mind.
Until next time, send all comments, questions, etc to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Best,
Cris Johnson
Cris Johnson here, back with a new review earlier than normal this week. I've got an INSANE amount of driving / performing to do this week, so the earlier I can get my blog done, the better.:)
First, a few housekeeping notes...
My NEW product, "The Mother of All Predictions," continues to sell like hotcakes! Check out the ad copy here: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=13021
Secondly, the June issue of my ezine, "Cause & Effects," is ready to go and will be emailed tomorrow. If you aren't already on the list, shoot me an email: crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net. This issue is all about what David Copperfield can teach any magician. Good stuff!
OK, onto this week's review...it's the French Guillotine, available from Hocus Pocus for $695. Here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=2614
EFFECT: Invite a spectator on stage and reveal the GUILLOTINE. This alone will garner lots of laughs! Lock their head into the stocks and bring out a small trash can and place it in front of their head (just in case). Finally, when you pull the release, the blade comes careening down (which will garner screams from the audience) and CRASH! The blade goes completely through the spectator's neck and comes out the bottom! What a visual! The spectator is then released from the stocks safe and completely unharmed!
WHAT YOU GET: The Guillotine, removeable 'feet,' written instructions and (apparently) a wooden carrying case.
BACKGROUND: I've been using this for about 7 years, having bought it the first year I went 'full time' and as such, there MAY be a few differences in mine compared to the new ones, based on the ad copy, but I'll get to that a little later.
QUALITY OF PROP: First of all, this thing looks absolutely lethal onstage. It's gorgeous, even up close. They really did a good job with the looks of the prop. Secondly, my unit has been through hundreds or thousands of performances and it continues to work like a dream. The action of the blade dropping, as the ad copy claims, is smooth as silk.
ANGLES: As long as someone's head (or more accurately, neck) is in the stock, you can do this surrounded, as there's nothing to see.
That's the good news...now onto to a few 'quibbles' I have...
AD COPY: The first thing wrong with the ad copy is that they claim the unit stands a full 7 feet high. Not true, It stands 6 foot, maybe 6 ' 2" at the most. I stand 5' 7" and the unit is roughly 6 inches or so (maybe less) taller than me, so no way is this 7 feet. Quite frankly, the prop is so attractive and looks so great on stage that I do think this is a very minor flaw in the ad copy.
Secondly, the ad copy states you can test the blade by letting it drop before putting someone's head/neck into it. Well, let me clearly state that unless there is something (whether it's a person's neck, a watermelon or a basketball) then you CANNOT drop the blade without revealing the 'secret' to your audience, so the ad copy is wrong on that count.
Finally, the ad copy states that the prop comes with a wooden carrying case - when I bought mine years ago, it did not come with such a case. Now, in all fairness, I honestly cannot remember whether the ad copy mentioned a case back then or not. I'm guessing it did not, because back in 2003 when I bought it, money was VERY tight and I read over any ad very carefully (as we all do) before deciding on such an investment.
I'm going to give the ad as well as the makers the benefit of the doubt and assume that the addition of the wooden case is a recent addition. BTW, this effect needs such a case. The finsh of the prop looks fantastic and having a case will certainly help keep things in tip-top shape. I wish I had gone to the trouble of getting a case, any case, years ago for my prop, as it's been scratched and scuffed a LOT over the years, but that's my fault. It still looks great from a mere 4 feet away.
PROS & CONS: First, the pros. OK, the best thing about this prop is the fact that it looks so deadly. I haul it out during my show under cover of a large dark cloth. I then slowly pull the cloth off and the audience gasps when they see the large blade.
Secondly, this thing is totally safe. Obscenely safe. There's no way possible this thing can hurt you. More on that later, but even if you were to slam the blade down onto yourself, it's not heavy enough or sharp to hurt you. You could turn a 5 year old loose with this thing and the only way he could hurt himself is if the prop toppled over on him. Totally safe.
Thirdly, despite being 6 feet tall, the prop folds in half, to around 3 feet in length, meaning it fits into any car. Also, while the ad copy claims 3 minutes to set up, I can do it in one minute. You unfold it, screw the feet on and stand it up. Easy.
Now the cons...
The fact that this is so safe is also its biggest downfall. In my way of presenting an arm chopper effect, I first use the prop to cut a carrot or some such food in half and then I get the person to place themselves in harm's way. Therein lies the problem with this effect...
You can NOT cut anything with this prop, making the 'buildup' a little tougher.
Now, I probably should have asked about this before I bought the thing, but once I got it, I fashioned a way to make use of it which I'll share: I do my side-splittingly funny armchopper routine with a small arm chopper (The routine will be released soon in a NEW book I'm releasing - cheap plug) and, claiming that the audience in the back couldn't see the arm chopper, I then bring from the back the 6 foot guillotine as a way to allow maximum visibility.
This plays great, and because I try not to focus on the negative, I'm giving the readers of this review a way to use this prop effectively even though it does not cut anything.
OVERALL REVIEW: Out of necessity, I took what was a sub-standard prop (only in functionality, in my view) and crafted a winning routine out of it. The fact that this prop is so incredibly safe is a major, major positive in my book. Still, to those out there who want a prop that cuts things, you simply can't with this. I'll give it a 6 out of 10. It looks fantastic, does what it was designed to do very well, is well-built, but ultimately has limitations to keep in mind.
Until next time, send all comments, questions, etc to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Best,
Cris Johnson
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Dead Ringer by Tim Wisseman
Howdy, folks!
WOW, I cannot believe how crazy-busy I've been! I slow down quite a bit in July and August, so until then, I'm just going to enjoy the ride!
On the product front, I'm happy to report that my newsest release, The Mother of All Predictions, continues to move briskly. It's an audio CD prediction, mailed in advance, that allows you to predict ANYTHING. Best part? There's NO electronic gimmckry involved!! Check it out: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=13021
Also, it's nearing the end of the month and my newest issue of "Cause & Effects," my ezine for magicians, will be releasedc very soon. It's going to be David Copperfield inspired and will also incude a story I told to Penn (of Penn & Teller fame) that made Penn bust out laughing.
Join by shooting me an email to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net. Best part? The ezine is FREE!
On to this week's review...
I'm tackling Dead Ringer by Tim Wisseman. It's available for $299.95 and is available at Hocus Pocus. Here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=10658
EFFECT: A crystal clear bell is hung from a metal hook. Without anyone being anywhere near it, it rings! Your audience can see the clapper inside suddenly start swinging back and forth, ringing the bell. It's under your control at all times.
WHAT YOU GET: An antique-looking aged wooden box, the wooden base that holds the bell, the metal hook that sits upright in the base, the bell itself, written instructions, remote control and more.
INSTRUCTIONS: The instructions as written are sparse, but serviceable. Interestingly, they reveal the fact that when the metal hook from which the bell stands must be placed at a certain angle and it's up to the user to determine what that is and then always remember to insert the hook at that angle. If you're looking down at the base from a bird's eye view, think of the agle of the upright hook as the hand on a clock and you must remember that the BEST bell movement occurs at 1:00, for example, Truthfully, the "sweet spot" of the bell in my case was almost perfectly head-on, as pictured o the website, and I'm sure yours will too. It takes a little experimenting to find this "sweet spot" but once you do, you're golden.
QUALITY OF PROPS: I want to state up front that I'm not a collector of magic - everything I buy is bought with the intent of putting it into a show of some kind in a way that will earn me money. (Paul Gross, for example, has this thing for Ball & Vases. I don't get it.)
So, I don't collect things to put them on a shelf. That being said, Dead Ringer is a work of art. It looks gorgeous. I cut my teeth on Bizarre (Tony Andruzzi, anyone?) Magic and appreciate the look of strage old boxes, weird, arcane symbols and more. This bell fits the bill perfectly. The box really looks like it was buried in a tomb for a hundred years. The bell itself looks very old. The wooden base from which the bell hangs looks authentic.
Looks-wise, this is beautiful...something collectors would love to put on a shelf.
ANGLES: Keep the remote hidden and you can do this anywhere, from any angle.
QUALITY / DURABILITY OF OPERATION: I've flown to gigs with this thing and with careful packing it will come out just fine...as long as you pack on your carry-on. Don't let TSA near this thing - LOL! All joking aside, this prop is very hardy, with proper care. The bell is crystal, so don't drop it. However, the quality is good and the electronics are rock-solid - treat it right and it will treat you right.
AUDIENCE SIZE: This is intended for intimate settings, and in fact when I bought it, Ken at Hocus Pocus told me the bell's sound was delicate, not intended for stage work. That being said, I've used this little bugger for as many as 100 people (so far) and when the mood is right, it can clearly be heard. Focus your audience's attention and bigger audiences can hear it just fine.
The way the clapper moves and causes the bell to move is uncanny. When I first started working with this, I called Paul and exclaimed it was the most amazing thng I'd ever seen. It was so cool to just activate it and do its thing.
THE REMOTE: I can't stand toe switches. This uses a remote with a toe switch for hands-free use. I tried all kinds of things to keep the toe switch in the correct place yet still allow me to walk around. I couldn't get it to consistently work, so my feeling is this toe switch is best for a seated performance, such as a seance. Farir enough. I simply stuff the remote in my pocket and use it that way. My point is, if you're a standup performer, know that you do not HAVE to use the remote as a toe switch.
BATTERIES: This uses four AAA sized batteries, which is a standard size, meaning you can buy rechargeables, if you desire. I went to all rechargeables about a year ago and it's saved me so much money. In this case of the Dead Ringer electronics, the unit is "on" and drawing battery power as soon as the batteries are installed. Because this is intended as a closeup prop, there's no way to hide an on/off switch, so I get that. That's why I went the rechargable route - knowing this prop was going to burn through batteries (If you're doing an hour long show, the unit is "on" the entire time) using rechargables saves me a ton of cash each year.
By the way, I don't consider the lack of on/off switch to be a flaw - Tim wanted to create an authentic looking prop and so sacrificed the on/off switch to acheive that goal. If I had built this thing, I would have done the same thing.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I love this thing. It works reliably and beautifully. About the only thing I don't love is that little matter of finding the "sweet spot." For me, this means I had to put the metal hook into the wooden base rather than let the spectator do it. It's a minor point, but a noticeable one. You can, however, let a spectator hang the bell itself, as there's no "sweet spot."
Again, it only takes a few tries to find the sweet spot and then it's consistently wonderful.
I'll give this a rock-solid 9.5. I ove it and I'm sure you will, too.
Questions? Comments? Send all thoughts to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Best,
Cris Johnson
WOW, I cannot believe how crazy-busy I've been! I slow down quite a bit in July and August, so until then, I'm just going to enjoy the ride!
On the product front, I'm happy to report that my newsest release, The Mother of All Predictions, continues to move briskly. It's an audio CD prediction, mailed in advance, that allows you to predict ANYTHING. Best part? There's NO electronic gimmckry involved!! Check it out: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=13021
Also, it's nearing the end of the month and my newest issue of "Cause & Effects," my ezine for magicians, will be releasedc very soon. It's going to be David Copperfield inspired and will also incude a story I told to Penn (of Penn & Teller fame) that made Penn bust out laughing.
Join by shooting me an email to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net. Best part? The ezine is FREE!
On to this week's review...
I'm tackling Dead Ringer by Tim Wisseman. It's available for $299.95 and is available at Hocus Pocus. Here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=10658
EFFECT: A crystal clear bell is hung from a metal hook. Without anyone being anywhere near it, it rings! Your audience can see the clapper inside suddenly start swinging back and forth, ringing the bell. It's under your control at all times.
WHAT YOU GET: An antique-looking aged wooden box, the wooden base that holds the bell, the metal hook that sits upright in the base, the bell itself, written instructions, remote control and more.
INSTRUCTIONS: The instructions as written are sparse, but serviceable. Interestingly, they reveal the fact that when the metal hook from which the bell stands must be placed at a certain angle and it's up to the user to determine what that is and then always remember to insert the hook at that angle. If you're looking down at the base from a bird's eye view, think of the agle of the upright hook as the hand on a clock and you must remember that the BEST bell movement occurs at 1:00, for example, Truthfully, the "sweet spot" of the bell in my case was almost perfectly head-on, as pictured o the website, and I'm sure yours will too. It takes a little experimenting to find this "sweet spot" but once you do, you're golden.
QUALITY OF PROPS: I want to state up front that I'm not a collector of magic - everything I buy is bought with the intent of putting it into a show of some kind in a way that will earn me money. (Paul Gross, for example, has this thing for Ball & Vases. I don't get it.)
So, I don't collect things to put them on a shelf. That being said, Dead Ringer is a work of art. It looks gorgeous. I cut my teeth on Bizarre (Tony Andruzzi, anyone?) Magic and appreciate the look of strage old boxes, weird, arcane symbols and more. This bell fits the bill perfectly. The box really looks like it was buried in a tomb for a hundred years. The bell itself looks very old. The wooden base from which the bell hangs looks authentic.
Looks-wise, this is beautiful...something collectors would love to put on a shelf.
ANGLES: Keep the remote hidden and you can do this anywhere, from any angle.
QUALITY / DURABILITY OF OPERATION: I've flown to gigs with this thing and with careful packing it will come out just fine...as long as you pack on your carry-on. Don't let TSA near this thing - LOL! All joking aside, this prop is very hardy, with proper care. The bell is crystal, so don't drop it. However, the quality is good and the electronics are rock-solid - treat it right and it will treat you right.
AUDIENCE SIZE: This is intended for intimate settings, and in fact when I bought it, Ken at Hocus Pocus told me the bell's sound was delicate, not intended for stage work. That being said, I've used this little bugger for as many as 100 people (so far) and when the mood is right, it can clearly be heard. Focus your audience's attention and bigger audiences can hear it just fine.
The way the clapper moves and causes the bell to move is uncanny. When I first started working with this, I called Paul and exclaimed it was the most amazing thng I'd ever seen. It was so cool to just activate it and do its thing.
THE REMOTE: I can't stand toe switches. This uses a remote with a toe switch for hands-free use. I tried all kinds of things to keep the toe switch in the correct place yet still allow me to walk around. I couldn't get it to consistently work, so my feeling is this toe switch is best for a seated performance, such as a seance. Farir enough. I simply stuff the remote in my pocket and use it that way. My point is, if you're a standup performer, know that you do not HAVE to use the remote as a toe switch.
BATTERIES: This uses four AAA sized batteries, which is a standard size, meaning you can buy rechargeables, if you desire. I went to all rechargeables about a year ago and it's saved me so much money. In this case of the Dead Ringer electronics, the unit is "on" and drawing battery power as soon as the batteries are installed. Because this is intended as a closeup prop, there's no way to hide an on/off switch, so I get that. That's why I went the rechargable route - knowing this prop was going to burn through batteries (If you're doing an hour long show, the unit is "on" the entire time) using rechargables saves me a ton of cash each year.
By the way, I don't consider the lack of on/off switch to be a flaw - Tim wanted to create an authentic looking prop and so sacrificed the on/off switch to acheive that goal. If I had built this thing, I would have done the same thing.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I love this thing. It works reliably and beautifully. About the only thing I don't love is that little matter of finding the "sweet spot." For me, this means I had to put the metal hook into the wooden base rather than let the spectator do it. It's a minor point, but a noticeable one. You can, however, let a spectator hang the bell itself, as there's no "sweet spot."
Again, it only takes a few tries to find the sweet spot and then it's consistently wonderful.
I'll give this a rock-solid 9.5. I ove it and I'm sure you will, too.
Questions? Comments? Send all thoughts to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Best,
Cris Johnson
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Crush DVD
Hello, all!
Cris Johnson here, back with a new review for this week. Before I get to it, a few housekeeping notes...
1. My NEW book of routines, "Cause & Effects," continues to fly out the door. This is very gratifying to me because these are routines I use to make a living. They can do the same for you. Here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=12964
2. My newest product is the best thing I've created. It's called "The Mother of All Predictions" and it's a heck of a routine! It's an audio CD type prediction that allows you to predict ANYTHING and uses NO gimmicked CD players, so budget wise, this is within everyone's reach. The link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=13021
3. The upcoming June issue of my FREE ezine will feature aspects of David Copperfield's stage show that I feel any performer can and should incorporate into their professional work. I'm NOT talking about ripping off tricks or scripts, but aspects of performance and professionalism. It's going to be a good read! Sign up by sending me at email to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net. It's FREE!:)
Today's review is Crush, a DVD and gimmick available for $29.95 from Hocus Pocus. The link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=12903
EFFECT: Cause a water bottle to crush! Slowly, as you hold the bottle, the bottle begins to crumple in a most eerie fashion. A non-gimmicked version allows you to do this with a spectator holding the bottle or the bottle sitting untouched on a table.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE: a DVD with both live and studio performances. You also receive a gimmick, which is not made clear in the ad copy. I was surprised when my review copy came with a gimmick.
QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION: The street demonstrations look as though it was filmed by Martin Scorsesee - visually, nicely done. It looks like a feature film.
The creator explains the handling well enough. Personally I found the creator to be thorough enough, although I was personally put off by the whole 'street magic' thing. This movement of street magic just is not my cup of tea.
Many proponents of this style of magic seem to believe that the effect is enough. There's no presentation and the entire success of the effect relies on the trick itself. In my opinion, this reduces any effect of magic into an oddity, a puzzle.
While the physical movements are taught well enough and the effect's choreography is effective enough, there is no motivation for this as presented on this DVD. Magic has enough of an uphill battle appearing to be relevant without disembodied effects being presented on a whim. There are other problems, but I'll address them later.
The point is, despite the absence of any sense of presentation whatsoever, the mechanics are taught very well. When I first looked at the supplied gimmick, I thought, "No way is that going to fly." I'm happy to report that the set-up is quite "do-able" for the real world...with some caveats which I'll cover.
ANGLES: The DVD would have you believe this is a close-up effect. Personally, I feel this is best suited for formal standup presentations because of the reset factor, but the fact is, the angles are good on this. There is some "dirty work" which needs to be done at the exact moment the bottle collapses, but with proper audience management, this should blow past spectators..as long as you are aware of your audience and manage them effectively.
RESTRICTIONS: Here's where this effect gets "sticky." The way the demo is shot and the overall 'feel' is that it's implied that you can walk up to a group of strangers and bang this effect out. The fact is, you must have a specific preparation based on the bottle you use.
Without giving anything away, let's just say that different bottles have different characteristics and you're really only ready to make this work with one specific bottle at a time. Don't get me wrong - you can do this with virtually any bottle...but it's not impromptu.
Another consideration is the fact that in order to provide "motivation" for the physical movements for this to work, it's best and most natural to start this effect each time with the bottle full of water. The act of emptying the bottle acts as cover for much of the 'get ready.'
You can technically do the effect without water in the bottle at the start, but again, you lack that acting/theatrical term - "motivation." The end result is this really isn't good for repeat performances in a restaurant situation. If you want to do a "one off," you're fine. And the fact is, i think this works better in a standup situation.
When I say standup, it doesn't have to be a corporate banquet or even a kids' birthday...it could be a busking (sp?) event where the performer on the street performs a 'set' and passes the hat. In this setting, I can envision an eagle-eyed performer keeping an eye out for the type of bottle he/she is prepared for and ask to borrow it from a spectator - bam! Instant miracle.
The other, non-gimmicked version is impressive and relies on science - there's no sleight of hand or gimmicks, as advertised. However, there is a certain preparation...and that preparation only has a shelf life of a few minutes at most. Without revealing anything, let's just say for reasons I can't get into that you can't prepare this before your show and do it more than 5 minutes (tops) into your show unless you have an assistant do the preparation for you right before you're scheduled to do this. Again, in a 'street setting,' I could see an assistant innocently handing a prepared (though completely innocent looking) bottle to you seconds before you launch into this.
MY OVERALL THOUGHTS: This has a lot going for it, as it's unique and well thought out in terms of physical actions. i can't stand the street type of performances with no context as magicians seem (according to various effects' demos) to just ambush spectators and 'show them something.'
However, the silver lining here is the buyer is forced to work a presentation out for themselves as this DVD gives no presentational framework or insight into scripting. That being said, physically this works as advertised.
I'll give this a split rating: For close-up repeat users such as restaurant guys, I give this a 1 out of 10. It's NOT suited for strolling - either version.
For a thing to freak out your friends, I give it an 6 out of 10...with the severe warning that at least in my experience with friends, people I'm friends with are more apt to poke and prod at me to find out "what I'm hiding." Politeness often goes out the door in informal situations, so while this will likely kill in an informal setting, be mindful of friends' busy hands! You're gimmicked up the wazoo when you perform the gimmicked version. With the ungimmicked version, again, you've got severe timing limitations.
For formal stand-up performers (street, banquet, etc) using this in a "one off" way, I think this has a lot of promise and despite the lack of presentational hook, I'll give it a 7 out of 10.
Again, I only give a split rating because of the fact that the way the demo was shot and the style of performing would seem to endear itself to guys who want to walk up to a group and do this over and over. It's great for a one-off, but it's not repeatable as taught. You'd need to do some serious work to eliminate the emptying of the water from the bottle as justification for the physical movements in this effect.
Until next week, send all questions and comments to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Best,
Cris Johnson
Cris Johnson here, back with a new review for this week. Before I get to it, a few housekeeping notes...
1. My NEW book of routines, "Cause & Effects," continues to fly out the door. This is very gratifying to me because these are routines I use to make a living. They can do the same for you. Here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=12964
2. My newest product is the best thing I've created. It's called "The Mother of All Predictions" and it's a heck of a routine! It's an audio CD type prediction that allows you to predict ANYTHING and uses NO gimmicked CD players, so budget wise, this is within everyone's reach. The link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=13021
3. The upcoming June issue of my FREE ezine will feature aspects of David Copperfield's stage show that I feel any performer can and should incorporate into their professional work. I'm NOT talking about ripping off tricks or scripts, but aspects of performance and professionalism. It's going to be a good read! Sign up by sending me at email to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net. It's FREE!:)
Today's review is Crush, a DVD and gimmick available for $29.95 from Hocus Pocus. The link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=12903
EFFECT: Cause a water bottle to crush! Slowly, as you hold the bottle, the bottle begins to crumple in a most eerie fashion. A non-gimmicked version allows you to do this with a spectator holding the bottle or the bottle sitting untouched on a table.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE: a DVD with both live and studio performances. You also receive a gimmick, which is not made clear in the ad copy. I was surprised when my review copy came with a gimmick.
QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION: The street demonstrations look as though it was filmed by Martin Scorsesee - visually, nicely done. It looks like a feature film.
The creator explains the handling well enough. Personally I found the creator to be thorough enough, although I was personally put off by the whole 'street magic' thing. This movement of street magic just is not my cup of tea.
Many proponents of this style of magic seem to believe that the effect is enough. There's no presentation and the entire success of the effect relies on the trick itself. In my opinion, this reduces any effect of magic into an oddity, a puzzle.
While the physical movements are taught well enough and the effect's choreography is effective enough, there is no motivation for this as presented on this DVD. Magic has enough of an uphill battle appearing to be relevant without disembodied effects being presented on a whim. There are other problems, but I'll address them later.
The point is, despite the absence of any sense of presentation whatsoever, the mechanics are taught very well. When I first looked at the supplied gimmick, I thought, "No way is that going to fly." I'm happy to report that the set-up is quite "do-able" for the real world...with some caveats which I'll cover.
ANGLES: The DVD would have you believe this is a close-up effect. Personally, I feel this is best suited for formal standup presentations because of the reset factor, but the fact is, the angles are good on this. There is some "dirty work" which needs to be done at the exact moment the bottle collapses, but with proper audience management, this should blow past spectators..as long as you are aware of your audience and manage them effectively.
RESTRICTIONS: Here's where this effect gets "sticky." The way the demo is shot and the overall 'feel' is that it's implied that you can walk up to a group of strangers and bang this effect out. The fact is, you must have a specific preparation based on the bottle you use.
Without giving anything away, let's just say that different bottles have different characteristics and you're really only ready to make this work with one specific bottle at a time. Don't get me wrong - you can do this with virtually any bottle...but it's not impromptu.
Another consideration is the fact that in order to provide "motivation" for the physical movements for this to work, it's best and most natural to start this effect each time with the bottle full of water. The act of emptying the bottle acts as cover for much of the 'get ready.'
You can technically do the effect without water in the bottle at the start, but again, you lack that acting/theatrical term - "motivation." The end result is this really isn't good for repeat performances in a restaurant situation. If you want to do a "one off," you're fine. And the fact is, i think this works better in a standup situation.
When I say standup, it doesn't have to be a corporate banquet or even a kids' birthday...it could be a busking (sp?) event where the performer on the street performs a 'set' and passes the hat. In this setting, I can envision an eagle-eyed performer keeping an eye out for the type of bottle he/she is prepared for and ask to borrow it from a spectator - bam! Instant miracle.
The other, non-gimmicked version is impressive and relies on science - there's no sleight of hand or gimmicks, as advertised. However, there is a certain preparation...and that preparation only has a shelf life of a few minutes at most. Without revealing anything, let's just say for reasons I can't get into that you can't prepare this before your show and do it more than 5 minutes (tops) into your show unless you have an assistant do the preparation for you right before you're scheduled to do this. Again, in a 'street setting,' I could see an assistant innocently handing a prepared (though completely innocent looking) bottle to you seconds before you launch into this.
MY OVERALL THOUGHTS: This has a lot going for it, as it's unique and well thought out in terms of physical actions. i can't stand the street type of performances with no context as magicians seem (according to various effects' demos) to just ambush spectators and 'show them something.'
However, the silver lining here is the buyer is forced to work a presentation out for themselves as this DVD gives no presentational framework or insight into scripting. That being said, physically this works as advertised.
I'll give this a split rating: For close-up repeat users such as restaurant guys, I give this a 1 out of 10. It's NOT suited for strolling - either version.
For a thing to freak out your friends, I give it an 6 out of 10...with the severe warning that at least in my experience with friends, people I'm friends with are more apt to poke and prod at me to find out "what I'm hiding." Politeness often goes out the door in informal situations, so while this will likely kill in an informal setting, be mindful of friends' busy hands! You're gimmicked up the wazoo when you perform the gimmicked version. With the ungimmicked version, again, you've got severe timing limitations.
For formal stand-up performers (street, banquet, etc) using this in a "one off" way, I think this has a lot of promise and despite the lack of presentational hook, I'll give it a 7 out of 10.
Again, I only give a split rating because of the fact that the way the demo was shot and the style of performing would seem to endear itself to guys who want to walk up to a group and do this over and over. It's great for a one-off, but it's not repeatable as taught. You'd need to do some serious work to eliminate the emptying of the water from the bottle as justification for the physical movements in this effect.
Until next week, send all questions and comments to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Best,
Cris Johnson
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Extended Thoughts on Gremlins, A New Product and More!
Hi everyone!
First of all, today's BEST news was the fact that Paul is back at Hocus Pocus. He's improving more and more from his recent ordeal. That's awesome.
Secondly, if you read my last post about Gremlins in a Box, be sure to check it out again. I just edited it, actually added several more paragraphs of thoughts. I was going on 2 hours of sleep when I wrote the review and now that I've recovered, I wanted to add some thoughts. It's an awesome prop and I really recommend it.
Finally, I have launched my NEW product, called The Mother of All Predictions. This is an audio-CD style prediction that uses NO gimmicked electronic equipment, NO sleight of hand and NO stooges or assistants. You can use it to predict ANYTHING, even headlines. I personally use it for a delightful "Mad Libs" style of prediction. I think it's my BEST creation ever and it plays wonderfully for me.
Check out the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=13021
I'll be back in a day or two with a new review, but I really wanted to expand my thoughts on the Gremlins.
Be back soon...
Cris
First of all, today's BEST news was the fact that Paul is back at Hocus Pocus. He's improving more and more from his recent ordeal. That's awesome.
Secondly, if you read my last post about Gremlins in a Box, be sure to check it out again. I just edited it, actually added several more paragraphs of thoughts. I was going on 2 hours of sleep when I wrote the review and now that I've recovered, I wanted to add some thoughts. It's an awesome prop and I really recommend it.
Finally, I have launched my NEW product, called The Mother of All Predictions. This is an audio-CD style prediction that uses NO gimmicked electronic equipment, NO sleight of hand and NO stooges or assistants. You can use it to predict ANYTHING, even headlines. I personally use it for a delightful "Mad Libs" style of prediction. I think it's my BEST creation ever and it plays wonderfully for me.
Check out the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=13021
I'll be back in a day or two with a new review, but I really wanted to expand my thoughts on the Gremlins.
Be back soon...
Cris
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Meeting David Copperfield & Magic Gremlins in a Box!
Sorry this blog is late - been a CRAZY week! I only work in the U.S. and Canada. People who work all over the world, well, I can't imagine how they keep their sanity!!
A few housekeeping notes...
First of all, to those of you who have helped make my new book, "Cause & Effects; Volume 1" a huge success, THANK YOU! I just sent the second order out to Paul & Ken today, so if any of you are waiting on it, it will be in your hands shortly. Secondly, I'll be on the road for the next two weeks straight, so if you're considering ordering this, I recommend doing it now as they are going fast and if you delay, you may be faced with a backorder situation til I get back into the office at the end of this month.
If you want to check it out, here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=12964
Thirdly, my ezine, "Cause & Effects," (A FREE ezine of magic philosophy & road stories) is getting more signups each week. To that I say thank you! Signing up is free - just shoot me an email to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Finally, June's edition of the ezine will focus on what I learned while watching David Copperfield live last night. I was heavily influenced by Copperfield...to my teen and twentysomething readers, Copperfield was my generation's Criss Angel...only better.:)
David still performs 500 sellout shows a year all over the world. I saw the show two months ago and wound up seeing it again last night. Long story short, at one of my recent shows, I met a guy who is friends with Copperfield. He loved my show and offered to arrange a quick backstage meeting with Copperfield. I got my picture taken with him and as soon as I can figure out how to upload photos to this blog, I'll post it.
Unfortunately, it was only a brief 60second meeting, but hey, when you're internationally famous on a level of most A-level movie stars, you've got people pulling at you from all directions.:)
I introduced myself, we shook hands and David asked me, "So, where are you from?"
"Niagara Falls," was my answer.
Copperfield wryly said, "Oh, I went there once."
To those of you who have followed Copperfield's career, THAT was FUNNY, because he understated it.
The next ezine is going to full of observations of Copperfield's operations and the things ANY magician can adapt to his own business. I am NOT, repeat, NOT talking about tricks or even specific scripts, but things that can be used to influence all of us. I had another topic planned, but I just can't let this go. Plus, you'll get to read about the VERY funny story I told to Penn Jillet (Penn & Teller fame) that caused him to bust out laughing when I had the opportunity to meet him after a show. Good stuff!
On to this week's review...
This week, I tackle Magic Gremlins in a Box, by Peter Loughran. It retails for $499.95 and is available from Hocus Pocus. Here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=9410
THE EFFECT: The performer begins by inviting a spectator on stage to share something very unique with them. The performer introduces a small brown cardboard box to the spectator with a label on it that says Magic GREMLINS in a Box. The label resembles that of the old vintage comic book ads for such things as X-Ray Specs or Sea Monkeys to name a couple.
The performer begins to tell his audience that he acquired his Magic GREMLINS by ordering them from an old comic book he had lying around in the attic... and low and behold this is what he received and for only $2.98 plus shipping and handling of course.
He tells the spectator that the box is indeed full of Magic GREMLINS, however they are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye but they are so powerful that they can lift and move objects 1 million times their own body weight.
Now the magic begins! The performer asks the spectator to stand back and hands them a pair of sunglasses to wear, the performer also wears his own pair, and carefully opens the lid to the box and a green radioactive glow emits from within, gaining hilarious reactions. The performer now places the box on a near by table and steps away as he says the Magic GREMLINS can be very unpredictable if handled incorrectly. He calls over to the GREMLINS to see if they are awake and ready to play.
The box then begins to shake and rock from side to side and moves all by itself on the table top proving that the box is indeed full of real live Magic Glowing GREMLINS. The performer states that unlike Sea Monkeys, these small and adorable creatures can actually be taught how to perform real tricks. They are so intelligent that the performer tells his spectator that he has actually taught the GREMLINS how to perform not just a trick but an amazing MAGIC trick. A deck of cards is introduced and a card is selected.
The chosen card is replaced, lost inside the deck and shuffled by the spectator. The entire deck is now placed inside the glowing box full of Magic GREMLINS. After some comical by-play, the performer now asks the GREMLINS to also shuffle the deck, and the box begins to shake and rock sided to side etc, as if the cards are actually being shuffled. He then asks the GREMLINS to search for the spectator’s chosen card.
The box begins to move once again and then amazingly the box leans forward slightly toward the audience by itself and a card pops up out of the top of the glowing box. The performer takes the card and shows it to the spectator and the audience, and incredibly it is indeed the chosen card! AMAZING! But the routine isn’t over just yet.
The magician puts the card back into the box and brings out a Sharpie and says “The amazing Magic GREMLINS will now sign the card for you as a souvenir”. The Sharpie is placed inside the box, and after some more comical by-play the Sharpie begins to move. The end of the Sharpie is seen sticking out of the top of the box as it wiggles around inside the box apparently as if the GREMLINS are really signing the chosen card! The Sharpie then stops, and the performer asks the GREMLINS if the card is signed, and then tries to take the Sharpie out of the box but each time the GREMLINS move it just out of the reach of the magician, creating a hilarious interaction. “It’s so hard to find good GREMLINS these days,” the performer says.
He asks the GREMLINS to play nice, and they abide by letting the performer finally remove the Sharpie. The Sharpie is removed and the box tilts slightly forward as the card pops back out, but this time it has a signature across the face that says: THE MAGIC GREMLINS
The card is then given to the spectator to keep as a souvenir. The performer now asks for a big round of applause and the GREMLINS tilt the box forward once again for a final bow!
WHAT YOU GET: The specially constructed box with all of the electronic goodness you can expect from Loughran and especially Sean Bogunia (Sean built the electronics). You also receive a CD-ROM that plays a nearly 60-minute instructional video in which Peter walks you through the routine, the workings, programming, and much more.
You also receive a remote control, meaning you can activate the Gremlins while standing waaayyyyy far away. Great!
Additionally, you receive a Sharpie, some duplicate cards (Bicycles) and a couple of other goodies.
INSTRUCTION: The video is not the best when it comes to lighting. It's dim and the sound quality is somewhat on the low side. That being said,Peter takes a very thorough approach to the instruction and the sound/lighting issues do not hurt your learning of the effect. Peter's a good teacher and comes off as very friendly.
Oh, and his last name is pronounced "Lock-ran." I'd been saying it wrong for years.:)
The most intersting part of the instructional video was the way Peter helps viewers get used to coordinated programming along with scripting. This is very cool, and much appreciated from my end.
DURABILITY: The electronics are housed separately in a sort of brick-shaped unit that can if necesary be removed. This is extremely durable and adds to the protection. The box itself is extremely well built for a cardboard box. You won't want to spill coffee on it or throw it in the tub, but with care it will last years.
Peter explains that each box is specially built due to the gimmicked nature of the box and especially the required measurements to house the electronics, allow the movements of the box, allow room for the card work and more. Frankly, the box looks great and looks like a pain in the ass to build.:) Great stuff. Despite being cardboard in construction, it's SOLID cardboard and not shoebox stuff. This is built to last.
Side note: I immediately ran out and bought a thick, foam-lined case for storing microphones just the right size for this effect. It has pockets for cards, batteries, etc. Protect your investment!
The electronics themselves are almost identical to another effect by Peter, one I've owned for years. With that in mind, it should last a LOOONNNGGG time.
ANGLES: You could do this surrounded and it would play fine. The only issue to keep in mind is being careful to have this prop on a table higher than your audience's eye level, as when the box bows, someone may be able to see inside. This really is only an issue, by the way, for parlor-type performances, like a birthday party, for example. For stage, you should be OK.
VISIBILITY: It's true that the box is small, but I know guys who do spongeballs on stage. hundreds of people can see the box moving and when the marker starts moving or the selected card is held up by the gremlins, it's easy to see. Additionally, one might consider using a red or blue sharpie, because the brightly colored cap may be more visible from a distance. Just a thought.:)
MY OVERALL THOUGHTS: This is a delight. It's got a grat backstory, it's charming, it's nearly angle proof, and you can program the movements for your own personality. What more could you want?
Another monster benefit is that this gives users the ability to have conflict onstage - someone or something with whom you can have interaction with. Additionally, for guys like me who use little to no live animals in my show, a routine like this helps tremendously.
Finally, adults would appreciate the backstory of such a prop and the kids enjoy the silliness, so this plays on two levels. This is a great creation.
I quibbled a bit about the quality of the sound & lighting on the CD, but in the end, is this a good product and most importantly, does it play?
Both answers are a huge "YES." When I performed this for the first time, it was in front of 200 kids in a school. The moment the box started to move, the kids went crazy. The unit performs perfectly and is a totaly original way to do a card trick.
What's nice about an effect like this is I can fly anywhere and I can do an "animal trick" without the hassle of animal.
FINAL WORD: A perfect 10 for me. I love it.
Questions? Comments: send an email to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Until next week...
Best,
Cris
A few housekeeping notes...
First of all, to those of you who have helped make my new book, "Cause & Effects; Volume 1" a huge success, THANK YOU! I just sent the second order out to Paul & Ken today, so if any of you are waiting on it, it will be in your hands shortly. Secondly, I'll be on the road for the next two weeks straight, so if you're considering ordering this, I recommend doing it now as they are going fast and if you delay, you may be faced with a backorder situation til I get back into the office at the end of this month.
If you want to check it out, here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=12964
Thirdly, my ezine, "Cause & Effects," (A FREE ezine of magic philosophy & road stories) is getting more signups each week. To that I say thank you! Signing up is free - just shoot me an email to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Finally, June's edition of the ezine will focus on what I learned while watching David Copperfield live last night. I was heavily influenced by Copperfield...to my teen and twentysomething readers, Copperfield was my generation's Criss Angel...only better.:)
David still performs 500 sellout shows a year all over the world. I saw the show two months ago and wound up seeing it again last night. Long story short, at one of my recent shows, I met a guy who is friends with Copperfield. He loved my show and offered to arrange a quick backstage meeting with Copperfield. I got my picture taken with him and as soon as I can figure out how to upload photos to this blog, I'll post it.
Unfortunately, it was only a brief 60second meeting, but hey, when you're internationally famous on a level of most A-level movie stars, you've got people pulling at you from all directions.:)
I introduced myself, we shook hands and David asked me, "So, where are you from?"
"Niagara Falls," was my answer.
Copperfield wryly said, "Oh, I went there once."
To those of you who have followed Copperfield's career, THAT was FUNNY, because he understated it.
The next ezine is going to full of observations of Copperfield's operations and the things ANY magician can adapt to his own business. I am NOT, repeat, NOT talking about tricks or even specific scripts, but things that can be used to influence all of us. I had another topic planned, but I just can't let this go. Plus, you'll get to read about the VERY funny story I told to Penn Jillet (Penn & Teller fame) that caused him to bust out laughing when I had the opportunity to meet him after a show. Good stuff!
On to this week's review...
This week, I tackle Magic Gremlins in a Box, by Peter Loughran. It retails for $499.95 and is available from Hocus Pocus. Here's the link: http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/inc/product_detail.cfm?item=9410
THE EFFECT: The performer begins by inviting a spectator on stage to share something very unique with them. The performer introduces a small brown cardboard box to the spectator with a label on it that says Magic GREMLINS in a Box. The label resembles that of the old vintage comic book ads for such things as X-Ray Specs or Sea Monkeys to name a couple.
The performer begins to tell his audience that he acquired his Magic GREMLINS by ordering them from an old comic book he had lying around in the attic... and low and behold this is what he received and for only $2.98 plus shipping and handling of course.
He tells the spectator that the box is indeed full of Magic GREMLINS, however they are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye but they are so powerful that they can lift and move objects 1 million times their own body weight.
Now the magic begins! The performer asks the spectator to stand back and hands them a pair of sunglasses to wear, the performer also wears his own pair, and carefully opens the lid to the box and a green radioactive glow emits from within, gaining hilarious reactions. The performer now places the box on a near by table and steps away as he says the Magic GREMLINS can be very unpredictable if handled incorrectly. He calls over to the GREMLINS to see if they are awake and ready to play.
The box then begins to shake and rock from side to side and moves all by itself on the table top proving that the box is indeed full of real live Magic Glowing GREMLINS. The performer states that unlike Sea Monkeys, these small and adorable creatures can actually be taught how to perform real tricks. They are so intelligent that the performer tells his spectator that he has actually taught the GREMLINS how to perform not just a trick but an amazing MAGIC trick. A deck of cards is introduced and a card is selected.
The chosen card is replaced, lost inside the deck and shuffled by the spectator. The entire deck is now placed inside the glowing box full of Magic GREMLINS. After some comical by-play, the performer now asks the GREMLINS to also shuffle the deck, and the box begins to shake and rock sided to side etc, as if the cards are actually being shuffled. He then asks the GREMLINS to search for the spectator’s chosen card.
The box begins to move once again and then amazingly the box leans forward slightly toward the audience by itself and a card pops up out of the top of the glowing box. The performer takes the card and shows it to the spectator and the audience, and incredibly it is indeed the chosen card! AMAZING! But the routine isn’t over just yet.
The magician puts the card back into the box and brings out a Sharpie and says “The amazing Magic GREMLINS will now sign the card for you as a souvenir”. The Sharpie is placed inside the box, and after some more comical by-play the Sharpie begins to move. The end of the Sharpie is seen sticking out of the top of the box as it wiggles around inside the box apparently as if the GREMLINS are really signing the chosen card! The Sharpie then stops, and the performer asks the GREMLINS if the card is signed, and then tries to take the Sharpie out of the box but each time the GREMLINS move it just out of the reach of the magician, creating a hilarious interaction. “It’s so hard to find good GREMLINS these days,” the performer says.
He asks the GREMLINS to play nice, and they abide by letting the performer finally remove the Sharpie. The Sharpie is removed and the box tilts slightly forward as the card pops back out, but this time it has a signature across the face that says: THE MAGIC GREMLINS
The card is then given to the spectator to keep as a souvenir. The performer now asks for a big round of applause and the GREMLINS tilt the box forward once again for a final bow!
WHAT YOU GET: The specially constructed box with all of the electronic goodness you can expect from Loughran and especially Sean Bogunia (Sean built the electronics). You also receive a CD-ROM that plays a nearly 60-minute instructional video in which Peter walks you through the routine, the workings, programming, and much more.
You also receive a remote control, meaning you can activate the Gremlins while standing waaayyyyy far away. Great!
Additionally, you receive a Sharpie, some duplicate cards (Bicycles) and a couple of other goodies.
INSTRUCTION: The video is not the best when it comes to lighting. It's dim and the sound quality is somewhat on the low side. That being said,Peter takes a very thorough approach to the instruction and the sound/lighting issues do not hurt your learning of the effect. Peter's a good teacher and comes off as very friendly.
Oh, and his last name is pronounced "Lock-ran." I'd been saying it wrong for years.:)
The most intersting part of the instructional video was the way Peter helps viewers get used to coordinated programming along with scripting. This is very cool, and much appreciated from my end.
DURABILITY: The electronics are housed separately in a sort of brick-shaped unit that can if necesary be removed. This is extremely durable and adds to the protection. The box itself is extremely well built for a cardboard box. You won't want to spill coffee on it or throw it in the tub, but with care it will last years.
Peter explains that each box is specially built due to the gimmicked nature of the box and especially the required measurements to house the electronics, allow the movements of the box, allow room for the card work and more. Frankly, the box looks great and looks like a pain in the ass to build.:) Great stuff. Despite being cardboard in construction, it's SOLID cardboard and not shoebox stuff. This is built to last.
Side note: I immediately ran out and bought a thick, foam-lined case for storing microphones just the right size for this effect. It has pockets for cards, batteries, etc. Protect your investment!
The electronics themselves are almost identical to another effect by Peter, one I've owned for years. With that in mind, it should last a LOOONNNGGG time.
ANGLES: You could do this surrounded and it would play fine. The only issue to keep in mind is being careful to have this prop on a table higher than your audience's eye level, as when the box bows, someone may be able to see inside. This really is only an issue, by the way, for parlor-type performances, like a birthday party, for example. For stage, you should be OK.
VISIBILITY: It's true that the box is small, but I know guys who do spongeballs on stage. hundreds of people can see the box moving and when the marker starts moving or the selected card is held up by the gremlins, it's easy to see. Additionally, one might consider using a red or blue sharpie, because the brightly colored cap may be more visible from a distance. Just a thought.:)
MY OVERALL THOUGHTS: This is a delight. It's got a grat backstory, it's charming, it's nearly angle proof, and you can program the movements for your own personality. What more could you want?
Another monster benefit is that this gives users the ability to have conflict onstage - someone or something with whom you can have interaction with. Additionally, for guys like me who use little to no live animals in my show, a routine like this helps tremendously.
Finally, adults would appreciate the backstory of such a prop and the kids enjoy the silliness, so this plays on two levels. This is a great creation.
I quibbled a bit about the quality of the sound & lighting on the CD, but in the end, is this a good product and most importantly, does it play?
Both answers are a huge "YES." When I performed this for the first time, it was in front of 200 kids in a school. The moment the box started to move, the kids went crazy. The unit performs perfectly and is a totaly original way to do a card trick.
What's nice about an effect like this is I can fly anywhere and I can do an "animal trick" without the hassle of animal.
FINAL WORD: A perfect 10 for me. I love it.
Questions? Comments: send an email to crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net.
Until next week...
Best,
Cris
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