talkmagic.co.uk

The Effect

A mini deck (supplied), is shown and shuffled, then a card is selected and returned to the deck. While the spectator mixes the cards, the performer brings out a small paper bag, claiming he has a pet alligator inside. If this weren`t outlandish enough, he also claims the alligator can do a card trick. He reaches inside the bag and slowly lifts out a chain, on the end of which is an alligator clip. The mixed deck is dribbled into the bag, then the Gator is lowered in. After only a second or two of sniffing, Gator is raised out of the bag with a card in it`s mouth! Unfortunately, it`s the wrong card! The performer asks the spectator to concentrate harder as he lowers Gator back into the bag. After only a short instant, Gator comes out of the bag again, this time with the correct card!

http://www.dudethatscoolmagic.co.uk/cgi ... TB=A&SHOP=

Cost: I bought mine from Dude That's Cool Magic for £10.99, it's also available from Merchant of Magic for £9.99

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) officially this would be a 3, but if you know

Review:
A nice little comedy routine, that you can have plenty of fun with. You're supplied with the paper bag (similar size and shape to the one you might get a prescription in in the chemist), and the 'Aligator' which is an aligator clip on a chain. You also get a mini deck of cards, and the necessary gimmick to make the trick work.

The instructions are clear enough, and also detailed enough to give you a basic routine outline, and talk you through how to reveal the chosen card. The trick is such that you could reveal two chosen cards, or adapt it to reveal other items, anything that would fit on an aligator clip, and that isn't too heavy (card or a note or something like that). Ideal for use close-up, in a parlour setting for adults or children, and resets quick enough.

The aligator clip and chain will last as long as you need it to, but you may need to source a new paper bag if you're using this a lot. There would be nothing to stop you 'acquiring' a few sick bags the next time you're on a plane, or paper bags out the chemist or the like though, without having to buy the trick again. It would have been better if the bag had been made out of a stronger material, like a Dream Bag (flower box production), but heyho.

Also, you'll need to be able to do a basic card sleight using a mini deck of cards, and if butterfingers here can manage it, anyone can. The nature of the sleight is such that you can substitute your own preferred method to make it as easy as possible, and there's lots of options here (without giving too much away).

Overall: I'd give this a solid 7/10. The mechanics are quite straightforward, so you'll only really have to concentrate on the presentation, and provided you can think of a way to introduce your 'pet' aligator, this is a nice, different way of revealing a mini card, and one that can be adapted to reveal other similar sized items if desired.

I quite like the sound of that, I'm not really sure about the whole alligator thing though. It sounds like a good kids presentation trick but they might not quite get it?