Tricks for Beginners. Floating Credit Card

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Tricks for Beginners. Floating Credit Card

Postby bananafish » Jul 2nd, '03, 13:50



Tricks for Beginners.

Floating Credit Card
£13.95 from www.emagictricks.co.uk
http://www.emagictricks.co.uk/product_i ... ts_id=3541

The Effect.
You place a credit card in the palm of your hand and make it levitate up to about an inch without any (or at least very little) movement of the hand.

You can then wave another card over the top and even underneath – to show there is nothing holding it up from below or above.

With a wave of the wand/hand the card will gently float back down and you can put both cards away again.

Difficulty. 1/5
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)

Very easy, although there are angle issues (It only really works if viewed from above) and it needs to be held in the hand just right…

Review.
My first impression of this trick wasn’t that great. You get two identical credit cards, one gaffed one not. They are very “toy townish” in appearance so in my mind immediately look cheap. In saying this it is fairly easy to move the secret on to an old “real” credit card, which personally I think is a must.

The gimmick also looks very obvious to me. I admit this could have a lot to do with my lack of ability – but even so it only works undetected when viewed from above – and by viewing from above you lose some of the levitation effect. I am also not totally convinced that the right hand photo (http://www.emagictricks.co.uk/product_i ... ts_id=3541) hasn’t been edited in some way. I hasten to add though that this is surely unlikely and could be me needing more practice with using it.

As it comes it is not really examinable – well not examinable at all, however I suspect that by using a little magicians wax and a real credit card it could be. I haven’t played with this idea yet (no wax) but I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work.

I’ve come to change my feelings a little on this. I think that if it is switched to a real expired card – and magicians wax is used it not only looks more like an every day object, but it can also be examined afterwards (hopefully).

I don't think that I will be generally using it as part of a performance (and I use that term very loosely indeed :) ) but rather in a more "off the cuff" way in a restaurant – or a pub, or somewhere where the credit card is out anyway so it can be done in a much more casual manner.

I still need to experiment with the wax idea a little – but you know if it works – it could conceivable be done with a borrowed credit card – which could make it a whole lot more usable.

Rating. Effect/item: 6/10, Quality of goods: 7/10, Value for money: 6/10

Bottom Line.
Will I still use it? Probably – I certainly am going to experiment with it some more as it would become much stronger if it could be used with a borrowed card.

The bottom line is I still don’t think it is great value for money. When you consider you can pick up a floating match effect for £3.95 (http://www.emagictricks.co.uk/product_i ... ts_id=3084) which incidentally I think is a truly wonderful effect (makes me wonder why I didn’t review that instead) and is very cheap (and contrary to what it says, it does come in Bikes).

Talking of floating matches – I read somewhere (on this forum I think) that “Cosmosis” is the one to go for, and cheaper versions should be avoided – Well, am very happy with my cheapo version (and I couldn’t find anywhere that sold Cosmosis at the time), but I would be interested if someone knows the differences…(looks at Seige 8) "the font of all magic knowledge" expectantly)

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Postby seige » Jul 2nd, '03, 14:32

Never tried Osmosis... I've got my own floating match routine which fits the same bill - and I assume uses the same technology!!! Any card can be used, and any match can be used - or even a coin!

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Postby bananafish » Jul 2nd, '03, 14:36

you can float a coin? I'm impressed.

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Postby seige » Jul 2nd, '03, 15:09

Yes indeed. Anything up to a new 10p - only very briefly, as to not arouse suspicion...

Incidentally, must re-order the TIES kit... (clue)

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Postby jabba01 » Jul 2nd, '03, 15:11

Try ordering from Penguin, they are getting rave reviews.

J

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Postby seige » Jul 2nd, '03, 15:17

Indeed they are!

And for good reason. I'm having a tussle with them at the moment - but I'll place an order as soon as we kiss and make up...

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Postby vats » Aug 12th, '03, 15:11

bananafish

Did you get any further with this (use of different credit card, wax etc)...

I also have this trick, and must admit shared the same initial view as yourself.... in fact I was so disappointed I have have never even picked the trick up again since spending two minutes opening it in the first place.

I don't want to be over critical (as I wouldn't have ever thought up an idea like this)... but I might have felt more satisfied if it had been priced under a fiver... and although there are some wonderful effects out there for less than £5 (pena coin, floating match, disappearing card case etc).. I just don't think I'd have felt so let down with this trick.... and I suppose for me as I initially choose this over "NFW" which is the same price you can get a sense of my disappointment. There is no way I would ever put the two effects in the same universe.

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Postby bananafish » Aug 12th, '03, 18:27

Tom - I'll swap it for one of your okita boxes :) (I know, only in my dreams! :( )

To answer your question vats - it was easy to swap to a real credit card - and that helped, and it was also easy enough to attach the gimmick so that it can be stealed away and the card examined - but quite frankly I personally (and it is just my opinion) still feel that it isn't the strogest trick around. I carry it in my wallet anyway, and sometimes when at the bar, I'll get it out and float it for a bit - but I am not currently using as part of any routine.

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