talkmagic.co.uk

The Effect

A dice is shown in your hand. You slam your hands together. When you open them the dice has been flattened.

A demonstration of the effect, not me performing, but shows the effect.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1305846/pop_dice/

Cost

Mine was £4. Found it online for £5.99 on http://www.nearmiracles.co.uk/new_closeup.htm

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)

I'd say probably a two. It involves some very minor sleights. The gimmicks mechanism can be a bit fiddly though.

Review

Its a trick that I'd seen in the shop for a while now and just wanted to know what method they'd use. While trying not to expose too much it works in a similar way to the raven. Thus why the mechanism can be a bit fiddly. I figure it'll come in use teaching as we do a lot of dice games with the kids and figured I could do it at the end of the game as a minor novelty. The gimmick could be used to just make a dice vanish if the splat isn't your thing. I doubt it would really be that suitable for a full routine unless you just did at the start.

Overall

6/10

The mechanism is bit problematic and the dice can't be examined or used as part of a routine leading up to this unless you did a switch. This is probably what I'll be doing, so I'll be needing to find a similar dice now. Not the most impressive trick in the world however presented, but a nice enough cheap thrill.