talkmagic.co.uk

The Effect

You put a coin in your eye, monocle style. Then you rub it in with your hand and hey presto! No coin. You can show both hands truly empty, no threads magnets or DF cards etc etc.

Cost

£19.99 from Alakazam.

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

2-3

Review

I saw this about a month ago but left off buying it as I feared it would be purely CUPS. Then I saw the demo and after an intense grilling of the Alakazam staff as to whether it was something I'd actually use I went ahead and bought it. I'm very happy I did. If you watch the demo you'll see how astonishing and clean it looks and I'm pleased to report that it isn't purely a case of the demo being set up for optimum conditions that you won't encounter in actual performance. To make it better there's actually three separate methods taught on the dvd that are each completely different and have their own pros and cons, plus a couple of little routines that put the move in context.

This is where the effect comes into it's own. Some vanishes are appropriate as effects in their own right whereas iVanish is better as an application that you can put into a longer routine, practical though it is. The reason for this is mainly over retrieving the coin from where it goes, it's no secret that when an object is vanished it has to go somewhere and with the exception of the iDitch method taught you're going to have to get the coin back within 30 seconds to a minute in practice, for different reasons. That's where I have a slight issue with the dvd, not enough emphasis is given to ditching the coin naturally which is strange as it's an integral part of the sequence.

Ben Seidmann who teaches the effect is a youngish chap, about my age I'd say, but he certainly seems to know his stuff and gives detailed explanation and credit where it's due. He even teaches a couple of handy palms that most coin workers should know already but ensures beginners will be able to do the effect without having to get any other resources. The other routines are good indicators of where you can go with the sleight, one where you vanish the coin into one eye and pull it out of the other and a bit of a geek magic type trick wherein you vanish the coin into your eye then pop your eyeball with a fork to get it back. Nice.

Overall

I expect once I've got this down I'll use it a lot. It's an excellent impromptu sleight with many applications.

8/10 from me.

Could you comment on the warning that is missing from the advert.?

I didn't realise they had missed a warning from the ad to be honest. Ben does go into detail on why you should make sure any coin you do this with is in a sanitary condition, cos, you know, you're putting it in your eye. He also covers this in the fork routine where he points out (no pun intended!) that it is A Bad Thing to actually poke yourself in the eye with a sharp object. Common sense stuff really, but I suppose he has to mention it to avoid the inevitable lawsuits.

Since getting this I've realised it's a bit harder than they' have you believe. Still only a 3/5 but needs real practice to get it natural, not the case as I initially thought of going 'Oh that's how it works' and standing in front of the mirror for 10 minutes. Again I have to emphasise that you'll want a proper routine to stick it into for maximum effect.

more like warning: CHOKING HAZARD :O

ive said too much:P

Oh great. I do love spending a little time putting together posts which both answer the question to those who know but don't reveal anything to those that don't. Obviously I'm a bit old fashioned and the cool new way to converse on secret subjects is to announce the secret, with the addition of capital letters in case anyone reading is an absolute imbecile and didn't get it the first time.

By the way to anyone who doesn't own iVanish and now intends to run off and do the effect without buying it, the method alluded (!) to above is but one of the three taught, all of which are different. So there.

'ere 'ere!

i just read the effect came up with that idea,it was actually only a joke,i never saw the effect even.....but like if its essential to have a clean coin while doing it...........

i seriously don't think that was exposure, I mean it was immediately obvious to me the first time watchig the demo.

as you said , we all know that when you vanish something it must go SOMEWHERE

same for iDitch... the warning/review should have included clothing requirements no?

am i the only one who thinks how un-natural it is?

why if you were really able to vanish a coin would you do it by running it in your eye?

this is a copy of a old move with cigarette magic.

I've seen some youtube videos where you shove the cig into your eye and when you pull your hand away the cig is "magically" back dangling in your mouth.

so, apparantly we're bordering on exposure here, but there isn't anything too new about this effect.

sounds cool to me but i think ill pass, on buying this trick

thank u man

I did not like this effect, I got given it second hand and I thought I would have a look. The vanish is unnatural, I do not feel comfortable using a borrowed coin and iCream is just a bit disturbing and I feel is a let down because there is no real follow through.
This effect could work in a street or possibly a nightclub where there are going to be people more likely to find this funny, however I would not recomend this for children (Go on Little Timmy copy the magician and put things in your eye...), stage (unless you are performing mainly geek magic) or with anyone in a suit.

Anyway thats just my two pennies (never understood that phrase).

Chris