OddBall - Marc Oberon

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Postby Lownatic » May 22nd, '07, 15:34



This has just received a damming review from Wayne Kowamoto at "About Magic". I was recently going to purchase this item and having seen it demoed at a recent convention, and examined the props, I have to agree 100% with Mr Kawamoto. The props are not brilliant and the method is far too subtle for me to be sure of success. I'm sure £15 can be spent better

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Postby seige » May 22nd, '07, 15:48

Blimey.

I cannot see how the 'subtelty' can lead to failure. It's pretty much 100% dead-cert, unless you have a nervous disorder or somesuch.

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Postby IAIN » May 22nd, '07, 16:00

well....i liked it, i still like it, i suppose its just a matter of taste and fancy eh...

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Postby greedoniz » May 22nd, '07, 16:08

In a way I can see peoples point if you are a performer who performs in an overtly high brow manner; wearing a tux, making flamboyant gestures...generally verry classy. Then oddball would a bit odd in that scenario but for the casual performer or indeed most walkaround workers I think this should be fine.
It's only £15 notes? I certainly wasn't expecting mahogany. It's a great little thing and if you find the method hard to use I suggest going to your doctor and having a check up

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Postby Lownatic » May 22nd, '07, 16:22

I just found it difficult to be absolutely sure who had the black ball each time I tried it, and its obvious from Mr Kawamoto's review that I am not alone. The problem is that (without giving anything away) the easier you make it for yourself, the more obvious it would be for the participants.

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Postby Farlsborough » May 22nd, '07, 17:16

:shock: Of the few issues people have had with this, I never thought that would be one of them! Kawamoto claims "there are other versions of this effect that use mysterious looking stones and other objects that can lend to a mood, and they rely on methods that are stronger and far less prone to error."

Hmm... didn't happen to mention that they also either:
a)require sleight of hand and much more skilful audience management or
b)Are much more expensive, gimmick heavy and in some cases less examinable.
I couldn't disagree more. If it's "too subtle to be consistent", how does he manage things like DLs or any of the other thousand techniques that require a relatively fine sense of proprioception? As for "not subtle enough to avoid detection by the spectator examining the balls" - I'm sorry Mr. Kawamoto but if you give all the balls to one single spectator for a thorough examination, you are an idiot sir.

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Postby Renato » May 22nd, '07, 17:20

Farlsborough wrote:a)require sleight of hand and much more skilful audience management or
b)Are much more expensive, gimmick heavy and in some cases less examinable.


Except for Kurotsuke of course :wink:.

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Postby Farlsborough » May 22nd, '07, 17:40

Yes, except for Kurotsuke :wink:

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Postby Lownatic » May 22nd, '07, 18:51

Perhaps, Farlsborough, your sense of proprioception is particularly refined compared to mine , Mr Kawamoto's and his fellow magician friends. The fact remains that some of us have trouble with this. Whats more and this worried me just as much, my wife sussed the method as soon as she put her hand inside the bag!!!

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Postby magicofthemind » May 23rd, '07, 10:19

The difference between black and white in Ali Bongo's golf ball sized version is very obvious - or at least it was when he explained it. The participants and audience didn't seem to notice during the performance.

Barry

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Postby seige » May 23rd, '07, 10:33

Lownatic wrote:Perhaps, Farlsborough, your sense of proprioception is particularly refined compared to mine , Mr Kawamoto's and his fellow magician friends. The fact remains that some of us have trouble with this. Whats more and this worried me just as much, my wife sussed the method as soon as she put her hand inside the bag!!!


I think this just about sums it up.

Some people will have trouble, some won't.

It's exactly the same with many magic effects. For instance, the recently talked of 'PK Touches'... a fantastic effect in the right hands, but absolute cack in the hands of others.

I personally have had no problems with OddBall, but I am sure that many have... which is becoming evident.

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Postby Lownatic » May 23rd, '07, 10:35

Or were they just too polite to say? I made up a golf ball version which I found acceptable for my "perception level" and my wife spotted it straight away. Better to have someone who is honest with you rather than a host of polite people who dont say anything in order not to rock the boat and then whisper about it later. Sooner or later a stroppy spectator will spot it and try and embarrass you.

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Postby I.D » May 23rd, '07, 12:20

Well me, an amateur compared to most I guess, have performed oddball at work, to a group of young guys who love nothing more than to try and catch me out, not through want of spoiling the fun, but more because they never have to date.. and they couldnt fathom how in the world I guessed which hand the black ball was in, espeially as my back was turned the whole time and they held the balls behind their back lined up against a wall ( a nice little 'usual suspects' storyline where they had to deliver the line 'I have the black ball you CSMF' )

I even let them inspect the my balls and ballbag!!

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Postby Lownatic » May 23rd, '07, 12:36

Each to his own I guess, and if it works for you all well and good. However I perform close up at weddings, dinners, balls etc most weekends and the risk factor with this one was just too high - for me at least.
I have since come up with a new routine involving coins, picking the 2p from a bag of 10ps (Copper/Silver) which is 100% certain, and pack absolutely flat - ideal for close up

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Postby seige » May 23rd, '07, 13:00

Lownatic wrote:I have since come up with a new routine involving coins, picking the 2p from a bag of 10ps (Copper/Silver) which is 100% certain, and pack absolutely flat - ideal for close up


Don't they feel the 'attraction' ?

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