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First Impressions. Limited Edition (More utility Devices for the Working professional)

Where to buy
Direct from Scott Creasey.
£70 plus £4 postage UK, £9 postage worldwide (Limited to 150)

What Do You Get?
A 23 page set of instructions/Notes.
A pocket sized Gimmicked Pad (11.5cm by 7.5cm), plus refills, plus duplicate
An A5 sized Gimmicked Pad, plus refills, plus duplicate

Pre-amble.
Before I start I would like to direct everyone to my previous review for the original First Impression Pad because it will save me repeating an awful lot of background to Impression Pads in general, plus part of the limited edition includes the original pad and in that review I go into a lot of detail about my thoughts on that particular pad.

I should also mention that since buying the original pad, it is the one thing I always carry with me. It not only works with an endless number of effects, but is simply the best thing I own for that all too common challenge of “Read my mind”.

Simply put, I can’t imagine being with out it and you have to remember that I also own (and love by the way) The Stealth Assassin Wallet. However as I use pads such a lot in my act anyway, it seems very natural to use the same one for obtaining information when I need it.

So What’s New?
Well, in short there are four notable changes.

a) The Pads now have a much more innocent looking cover
b) There is now an A5 size Pad included (complete with the usual refill pad and duplicate handout pad)
c) The instructions have been totally reworked to include more colour photographs, some new improved handling ideas and several of Scott’s favourite effects.
d) The Utiility Switch

Let’s take these changes one at a time…

A. The Cover
One of the few things that some people complained about with the original pad was that the cover, a glossy red affair, looked “suspicious”

Personally it never bothered me. I have never had anyone mention either the cover of the pad or the pad in general looking as being suspicious. On a couple of occasions I have had people flick through a few pages looking for carbon paper, but of course there is nothing to find. This in itself is one good reason why I prefer this pad to many of the others on the market.

The new cover is, simply put a standard Pukka Pad cover, and as such will never arouse any suspicion. This does of course also make it much easier to obtain a new pad for switching if you so desire, but I have to say even though Scott provides a duplicate normal pad, so far I have never needed to use mine and as such no longer carry it. I think that it is because people can so freely handle the pad from the start and that the peek is so invisible that they dismiss the pad as being at all suspect.

Still, that being said, well done Scott for listening to feedback. Something that doesn’t always happen.

B. The A5 Sized Pad
For me this was the main reason for this purchase. I wanted a pad that I could use in a parlour/stage environment and as I am already comfortable using the smaller sized one, this one seemed ideal.

I do already own a James Bliss Impressionable Mind Board, an excellent Clipboard (Not yet reviewed – but one day I will), and I freely admit that the IMB doesn’t suck. In fact it is great and before Scott’s A5 pad came out it was what I used most of the time.

I also admit that there are features about the IMB that I like more than the A5 FIP, the main one being it is A4 in size, and you can use a sharpie. Much better for stage visibility.

Having said that though the peek on the FIP is (imho) much better and the pad itself is that much more innocent looking and examinable. I will not stop using the IMB completely as it still has its place, but for much of what I do I will now start using the A5 Pad instead. It is a work of Art.

C. The Instructions
What can I say? 23 pages of all the information you could possibly ask for, Clear, colour photographs where necessary and extremely well explained information of how to do the dirty work.

Throughout the manuscript there are also some very nice subtleties that you really don’t fully appreciate until you start performing with them.

I am not going to say too much about the four routines that Scott supplies with the manuscript for the obvious reason that a major part of the method is known.

What I will say though is that they are all rather nice. Certainly worthy of being in a book, least of all given away free like this. Actually I will go one further than that. The Yellow Book Test is the icing on the cake. This would have made an amazing standalone effect that by itself is worth the cost of the Limited Edition FIP.

D. The Utility Switch
Wow. This was a bonus I wasn’t expecting! I think I will save this for anyone buying the Limited Edition to discover for themselves, but I tried it out with an Autome routine the other day and it was a dream…

Anything Else?
There is one difference I did note between the new version and the old version, and that is the peek for the pocket sized pad has changed. Scott now gives two excellent methods for revealing and peeking, both very innocent and very invisible.

I have to say though that I still like the method he suggested in the original manuscript and as such I thought he would have done well to have also included that in the new 23 page booklet. For the most part I will probably still use the original method taught (when using the pocket book) as I believe that the thinking behind it is devilishly genius.

To be honest though that is the ONLY thing I can think of to say against this product, which doesn’t really count as the other methods provided are pretty damn good.

Difficulty. 3/5
1=Even I can do it, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
It isn’t really a sleight, but it is a move and it needs to be done. Scott’s instructions make it very simple, but nevertheless it should be practiced until it can be done without looking. The fact that it is rated a three is merely to reflect that a sleight is involved. It shouldn’t put anyone off. Not even someone completely new to magic.

Refills
Because I use the pad throughout my act – not just for peeks, I have a tendency to get through an awful lot of refills. The easiest way to buy refills (in the UK) is to just pop in to a local staples and buy duplicate Pukka Pads. They are available in both the A5 and the smaller pocket sizes.

However although I never did find anywhere that sold the original pocket size pukka pad online, I did speak to Pukka directly and have found that I can buy the refill pads in bulk at a fraction of the price.

The last order I put in was with Chris Stott, his email address is “Chris @ pukka-pads.co.uk” (obviously without the spaces). The address is…

6 Endeavour Park, Witney Road, Poole,
Dorset BH17 0GJ
United kingdom.
Tel. +44 (0) 1202 649174
Fax. +44 (0) 1202 649175

The price he gave (for the pocket sized pads) was £27 for a box of 48, which included delivery (in the UK).

I haven’t yet got through the refills Scott provided for the A5 Pad and I believe that refills may be a little more difficult to obtain, although Scott himself may be able to supply refill packs for these pads, which in the long run could easily be the simplest option.

Current Rating.
Effect/item: 10/10, Quality of goods: 10/10, Value for money: 9/10

Bottom Line.
Since I genuinely used the original pad such a lot and since it now it includes the A5 pad plus some tremendous routines, I have to give this one 10 out of 10.

I don’t give this rating lightly either. Like most people, in my time I have purchased some real rubbish items, some good items, that nevertheless didn’t get used much and some items that were both good and used all the time. This set easily falls into the later category.

The fact that Scott includes four of his own favourite routines with this is a bonus, but the real beauty comes from thinking up your own routines. Remember these pads are not an effect they are a utility device that can be used with a near infinite number of effects, effects limited by your own imagination. My personal favourite routine is currently my own working of a Magic Square, but I daresay next month it will be something different.

A great review. I shall look into this.

Thanks Si, spanking review!

I love the FIP and this sounds like the "nectar-drinking, buzzing, stinging insects' middle-leg-joints" alright!

Just one thing... where's a link showing the prop?

I can find Scott's single page ad for himself but can't seem to find the pad, details on the pad (like price, how to order, etc.)

Maybe I'm missing something (it does happen).

Craig Browning wrote:Just one thing... where's a link showing the prop?

I can find Scott's single page ad for himself but can't seem to find the pad, details on the pad (like price, how to order, etc.)

Maybe I'm missing something (it does happen).

I believe you have to email him to place an order.

You're right Scott has no products page on his website - I suspect that it is still a work in progress as I know he has other nice items that he sells as well.

However, the price is detailed in the review - the pocket size pad only he sells at £30 (plus postage), the special edition - that includes both pads is £70.

As to what they look like, well they look like a standard reporters pad. pukka 160 page pads in fact.

Can anyone tell me if this uses the same sort of technology as the Thought Transmitter? Does it give you the info in real time? Do you have to take it from the spectator before you find the info or can they keep it - even place it inside a sealed bag like the Thought Transmitter? You can PM me if you want to discuss this without giving anything away. Am very keen to buy an impression pad of some sort but I want something that can be used without me having to take the pad from them, ideally... Thank you for any help!

I don't have either but I wouldn't have thought so. The Thought Transmitter doesn't leave an impression.

They take the pad.
They draw their picture/write the name etc.
They tear off the page and fold it up and keep it.
You take back the pad back and put it away.

What could be fairer than that...

What could be fairer than that...

They take the pad.
They draw their picture/write the name etc.
They tear off the page and fold it up and keep it.
You don't take back the pad.

Hi, Long time listener first time caller and all that. Wanted to ask; I hear that the IMB is not suitable for close up work. Is that just a recommendation or is it wholly usable for this purpose?
You certainly seem to love this product, your review and my subsequent purchase of the 'steel fist in velvet glove' effect that is Scott's B.I.P. 2.0 has me very excited about this pad, I came across your review by chance just as I was about to choose between a Janus and the new Mind Spy.

Compared to the Janus and the Mind Spy the First Impression Pad is by far the superior product (IMO) and is designed for close-up.

When you refer to the IMB I assume you are talking about James Biss's Impressionable Mind Board, which is also a good product but designed for stage applications. Personally I wouldn't use it for close up. The IMB is an A4 clipboard. At a push and with a lot of audience control you could use it in some close up situations, but the Creasy pad would be IMO more suitable and more natural.

bananafish wrote:When you refer to the IMB I assume you are talking about James Biss's Impressionable Mind Board, which is also a good product but designed for stage applications. Personally I wouldn't use it for close up. The IMB is an A4 clipboard. At a push and with a lot of audience control you could use it in some close up situations, but the Creasy pad would be IMO more suitable and more natural.

I must admit Mr B that I have used the mind board in walkabout situations and with a wee bit of sightline awareness and positioning it actually works surprisingly well... The main downside is you're left lugging around a clipboard for the rest of the gig (unless you're feeling brave and ditch it somewhere you hope no-one will inspect it).