Luke Jermay - Central Reservation

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Luke Jermay - Central Reservation

Postby Demitri » Jul 17th, '06, 05:56



Central Reservation - Luke Jermay

Available from: Alakazam-usa.com - Downloads section

http://www.alakazam-usa.com/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ealakazam%2dusa%2ecom%2facatalog%2fDownloads%2ehtml&WD=central%20reservation&SHOP=%20&PN=Downloads%2ehtml%23a28#a28

Price: $18.49


The Effect:

The Magician hands a small packet of cards to three separate members of his audience. Each spectator spreads their cards and merely thinks of one. They then each shuffle their respective packets, shuffle the packets into one another and replace the cards into the centre of the deck. The first spectator is asked to name their card. The Magician spells the name of the selection out loud, dealing one card for each letter. Despite the impossible circumstances, the card on the final letter is their selection.

To avoid any accusation of tricky dealing, the Magician hands the deck to the second spectator, who names their selection and spells the name, again, dealing one card for each letter. Once again the final card of the deal is their mental selection.

To finish, the final spectator is handed the pack and asked to deal, but to spell the name of his card in his head rather than out loud. Despite the unnamed card being freely mentally selected, the Magician reveals the name of the thought of card with 100% accuracy and no fishing.

For good measure, the final card also rests in the correct spelling position.


Difficulty:

2 - Rudimentary "moves" used - all of which should be well within the abilities of any level card worker.

Review:

This does do exactly as it says it will. This is very easy to pull off from a technical standpoint. This and the fact that any moves are done casually and completely under the radar, allows you to focus solely on performance and selling the effect.

Just by reading, you can immediately understand just how powerful an effect this can be. The entire selection process is so brilliantly open and fair that it makes each revelation seem utterly impossible. Every aspect of the presentation is carefully constructed to instill this sense of fair play. The fact that the performer rarely has control of the deck makes the effect even stronger, in my opinion.

The effect can play well in almost any environment. Stage, parlor or close-up - it will work anywhere.

I have always enjoyed Card at Any Number and Spelling style effects - and this one is a particular winner for me, since it pulls both of these styles into one powerful bit of magic. The rule of three is used to perfect effect, with each successive revelation being more powerful than the last, leading up to a killer climax. What also makes it great is each phase continues to make the effect more baffling and impossible. Just when the audience might think it's sleight of hand, you give the deck to the spectator to deal it themselves. Before they can even begin to connect the dots, you hit them square in the face with simple, direct, 100% mind reading to finish it. When you name the card the final spectator just LOOKED at - it will kill. When the description says "no fishing" it's true. As soon as that final card is dealt to the table, you immediately name it (you can draw it out a bit if you like, but you CAN instantly reveal the identity of the card)

After only a handful of performances, I've seen some of the strongest reactions from that finale.


Cons:

It's not without a few minor hiccups - but I have to point out that any of these potential "problems" are really covered (and by the nature of the presentation, more or less eliminated) and kept in the dark.

1 - The effect is not clean - and the deck is not examinable. (The spectators' selections are examinable, and they can keep them if you'd like to give them away). As powerful as it is, this makes it lose a point or two - but solely from a personal perspective. Luke is not a fly-by-night performer, and as such - his brilliance shines through by way of the presentation. Remember what I said just before. The deck is not examinable. At NO POINT can the spectator examine the entire deck? And yet - for 2/3 of the effect, the deck is in the spectators' hands!!! The presentation makes everything seem so fair and open, that any kind of funny business or trick deck (it's not a trick deck, btw) seems out of the question. To prove that, I had one spectator claim it must be a trick deck - only to have that argument shouted down by spectator #2, who reminded him that they both dealt the cards. I quote - "They don't just hand out trick decks, you moron". It was nice to have someone else quell the "trick deck" defense.

Even though it loses points for being a little dirty, the fact that you can do this right under their noses (and 75% of the time, right under their fingers), makes the effect even more enjoyable to perform.

2 - The effect requires a bit of time to reset and go again. As such, it is not repeatable (nor should it be. I can guarantee you WILL get more than a few "do it again" requests - but just smile and revel in the fact that you just performed powerful magic.

3 - Cost - Nearly $20 for one effect is a bit pricey. You get two minor bonus techniques (one in the form of a utility/tool, the other in a sleight) which are interesting and could be a source of further inspiration. However, the cost could probably be lower.

These are really the only drawbacks to it (neither one really being enough to not recommend it). That it isn’t examinable is a marginal drawback, I just felt it was necessary to mention it.


Final Thoughts:

Though I prefer effects that leave you clean at the end, I can't complain too much - especially if I use this as a closing effect. The audience is too busy picking their jaws up off the floor to ask if they can look at your cards. Even if they did... well..... We all know what's possible. This is a wonderful piece of mental magic that is sure to get you some great reactions.


Overall: 9/10

Simple and direct - what more can you ask for? Brings multiple plot lines into one astounding effect. Spelling effect, Card at Any Number, Mind Reading - it has a little bit of everything. I would highly recommend this if you want a bit of mental in your card magic.

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Postby bronz » Jul 22nd, '06, 11:09

That does sound very good, one question though before I run off and download it, I'm assuming from the review that it's an ordinary deck that's been stacked in some way rather than you requiring special cards of any sort. Is this so?

The artist who does not rise, descends.
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Postby Stephen Ward » Jul 22nd, '06, 11:13

i am a big fan of Luke's work, i may need to get this. Great review, thanks!

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Postby Zero000 » Jul 23rd, '06, 18:59

arrrgh! i wanted to get a contact juggling dvd but another dose of CUPS is kicking in. my credit card is in my hand!!! and its a Instant dl :?

?!~

For crying out loud, the msn button under my name is to talk about magic with me, NOT A FREE MAGIC GIVEAWAY LINK. dont abuse it
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Postby Mahoney » Sep 26th, '06, 01:01

I've had this since this review, but I left it until recently to start performing it.

I just want to say that this is an absolutely amazing trick. It all seems so very fair, there is virtually no sleight of hand involved, which gives a very fair impression. I like how each revelation gets more and more impossible. The fact that they merely mentaly selcet one of their cards each, makes this a real killer. The issue of inspection of the deck should not even come up since the spectators handle the cards for the majority of the effect.

The set up is lengthy, so you would only be able to do this once, but the effect is really worth it.

So yeah I think it is great, don't pass it up!

Andrew
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Postby Kobra » Sep 26th, '06, 09:28

I guess I have got an idea about the trick, Bannon teaches it where it is a normal deck but the top half has to contain certain cards. This variance does sound interesting though :lol: cups

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Bannon

Postby DrTodd » Sep 26th, '06, 09:31

Is that the one in Dr Mr Fantasy?

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Postby Demitri » Sep 26th, '06, 19:05

Yes, Dr. Tood - I believe the effect Kobra is talking about is Bannon's Dead Reckoning from Dear Mr. Fantasy.

However, Kobra - these two effects are completely different. I figure you already know the Bannon effect, and as such - you should realize that in Dead Reckoning there is only ONE selection made, whereas Central Reservation has three selections by three spectators. Already the effect is vastly different.

As well, at no point in Dead Reckoning do you know the identity of the card BEFORE it is revealed by the spectator. Yes, you wind up there, but until you turn the card over (or it's named by the spec) you have no clue what it is. In Central Reservation YOU name the final card, not the spectator.

Also - the method is entirely different. So, while there are one or two similarities, the effects are not at all alike. Knowing Bannon's effect won't really get you to the method of Central Reservation.

Let the cups take you, Kobra!! :D

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Postby Kobra » Sep 26th, '06, 21:43

:)

Tis the trick I was thinking of, I was just throwing ideas about.
Fraid Im gonna have to order this

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