Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

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Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby Johnny Bravo » Jul 12th, '13, 17:17



The Effect

A spectator is shown a small envelope, just large enough to accommodate a playing card. In fact, it contains a single playing card. This prediction is left in full view on the table (or in her hand). This is the final prediction. It will never be switched!

The spectator is handed a normal deck of playing cards to carefully examine. In fact, you can use ANY deck - nothing is added or taken away. She can see the deck is normal, well mixed, and there is truly nothing out of the ordinary - nothing to hide!

It is explained that you will not touch the cards again - as a matter of fact, if you would like, she can keep the deck - you will literally never touch the cards!

She is told to deal cards into a pile one by one, from the top of the deck, face-up onto the table (or another spectator's hand if you would like). She is told to stop whenever she wants. It couldn't possibly be more fair!
But what if she doesn't stop where we want her to, ok in the instructions you are told to make sure you pick someone who is manageable but still "manageable" people do like to delve deep into decks.

Eventually, she stops dealing on a particular card. It was a truly free choice!
No it isn't. She stops where we want her to stop, hopefully!

With empty hands, and with no sleights of any kind, the envelope is opened. There is a single card within - the same card that has been there from the start. The envelope is shown to be otherwise empty - as it truly is. THE PREDICTION MATCHES HER CARD!
Their is a slight involved, a minor sleight but if the term sleight is used to conceive something then a sleight is involved.

This feels like REAL magic!

It is so much fun, so easy to perform, and truly devastating!

Any deck is used.

No duplicates.

Envelope has only one card.

The single card in the envelope is the one that will be revealed at the end.

Envelope is not gaffed.

No sleights of any kind.
Pah

Cost: £14.16 + VAT

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
So I was on the internet machine looking for PK Rings when I got a reply back from Mark at Merchant Of Magic. He couldn't supply me with what I was after but I replied.
"Well in that case, seeing your working late also & I want to blow around £30 recommend me a brilliant, very little memory work involved mentalism effect ???"

Inexplicable was recommended & as it hadn't been released, their were no reviews, although there was discussion on the magic cafe about it, I took Marks word & ordered.

Got the effect yesterday & as soon as I realized it I groaned & knew I had wasted £15.00,

Masses of memory work involved, s*****d d**k involved, a sleight involved, can't freely show the finished card 50% of the time.
The whole effect is similar to one I got from Dick Barry a few years back of which I forget the name, that one used four envelopes hidden around the body but the principal is the same.

Anyway for me disappointment, particularly as I asked for something that involved little memory work.

This is up for grabs for what I paid for it & I'll chuck in first class post.

Overall
Don't bother.

2/10 :? :?

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby moonbeam » Jul 12th, '13, 20:21

Looks like another one of those that's too good to be true.
When the blurb says you can use a borrowed deck, I was under the impression that you grab the borrowed deck and away you go, but if you're using a s*****d d***k, you're gonna have to set things up (unless I've misinterpreted what s*****d d**k stands for ??).

QUESTION:
If we can sue McDonalds for making us fat and cigarette companies for giving us cancer; why can't we sue Smirnoff for all the ugly gits we've sh*gged ??
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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby DrTodd » Jul 12th, '13, 22:10

The review is unfair on many levels. An experienced performer can use a borrowed deck with no problem. There is not a sleight and this is very powerful.

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby Johnny Bravo » Jul 12th, '13, 22:19

I beg to differ, there is certainly a sleight involved.

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby Johnny Bravo » Jul 12th, '13, 22:23

but if you're using a s*****d d***k, you're gonna have to set things up (unless I've misinterpreted what s*****d d**k stands for ??).

I think you've understood what s*****d d**k equals. :wink:

You couldn't do this on a borrowed deck without having to twiddle around with it for at least 20 - 40 seconds.

I know the whole pricipal in magic is not too reveal the secret but it does annoy when good money is wasted on an effect that is similar to an effect I bought years ago that I didn't like. Grr!! :evil:

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby FTHO » Jul 12th, '13, 23:11

Also, why do the adverts, descriptions and reviews of the effect keep referring to it as an "Open Prediction"?
The open prediction is my favorite plot, I'm constantly researching and learning new methods, and refining my own method. Based on that I feel fairly confident in saying that the whole point of an "Open Prediction" is that the prediction is "open" from the start, everyone in the audience knows what the prediction is before the dealing starts - that's the beauty of it.

Having a prediction hidden in an envelope and revealed after the spectator has selected her card is NOT an "open" prediction at all.

Quotes taken from the Merchant of Magic website:

When the Merchant of Magic was approached to handle the UK release of Inexplicable, the team were really excited. Card magicians and mentalists have been working on methods for the "open prediction" for many years, but now, we feel that this is the out and out best method for predicting a playing card to been released.


"Steve Shufton is known for his lateral thinking and clever application of a variety of principles from magic and mentalism. Inexplicable is just that! An incredible open prediction that is fair, straightforward, and seriously baffling! This is a real worker that will go straight into the repertoire of the serious professional." -Dr. Todd Landman, PhD, AIMC, FRSA


"Inexplicable is an ingenious method. The hands off approach and open prediction seems impossible. I'm going to have to get a couple just to have backups. If you keep the prediction in your wallet, you can borrow a deck and pull out your prediction made before you arrived at a party for an impossible impromptu effect." - Kenton Knepper



Todd and Kenton, are greater minds than I, so perhaps i have missed something here, can anyone shed any light? My best guess is that it uses a similar dealing approach to the standard open prediction and this has caused people to link and compare them.

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby moonbeam » Jul 14th, '13, 19:02

I don't have this, so I'm simply going off Johnny's review, but if the spec doesn't stop at the card we want them to - what then ??
This just looks like some kind of f***e ...... in fact, if I wanted to do this, I'd prob f***e a card and have the matching card face down on the table and let the spec turn the card over.
This would be just as strong, as most laypeople are not familiar with the concept of f*****g a card, they see it as a free selection ...... assuming it's performed well of course :)

QUESTION:
If we can sue McDonalds for making us fat and cigarette companies for giving us cancer; why can't we sue Smirnoff for all the ugly gits we've sh*gged ??
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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby mindpaul » Jul 15th, '13, 15:03

Yeh I got this and was very disappointed . I could do the same effect in a much cleaner way.

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby Johnny Bravo » Jul 15th, '13, 21:13

I don't have this, so I'm simply going off Johnny's review, but if the spec doesn't stop at the card we want them to - what then ??

There is a way to more or less guarantee they will stop where required, but this involves more set up / memorization.

I think my main gripe is with merchant of magic as I mentioned in my review, I asked for a little memory work involved mental-ism routine. I was recommended this straight away.
Not something I would have considered had I seen a video or read reviews.

First time I've bought without doing proper research & probably the last.

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby FTHO » Jul 16th, '13, 10:24

I just received an email from the Merchant of Magic:

You recently purchased Inexplicable by Steve Shufton. I wondered if you could spare a moment to let me know what you thought of the item, and your experience of shopping at The Merchant of Magic?

I've created a form for you to easily leave a review of the trick. It's just a couple of quick questions, but it will really help us get feedback about which products magicians are enjoying and how we can improve our service to you.


Did you receive the same email? perhaps you could provide some feedback

The questions on the feedback form are:
Write a review of Inexplicable
How likely are you to recommend to other magicians
Review your experience shopping with the merchant of magic - it might be a good idea for you to provide some feedback here

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby Johnny Bravo » Jul 16th, '13, 19:57

I didn't get a feedback form email, unless it ended up in Spam?

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby Shufton » Jul 20th, '13, 16:39

Hi Gang,

No, it is not too good to be true, and I stand by the ad copy. This is a very strong effect that has been field tested by several individuals, both amateurs and professionals, for over a year before it ever went into production. It couldn't be simpler to perform, and the effect baffles lay audiences and magicians alike. If you have it, I would suggest performing it! I receive positive reviews daily from those who actually perform it. Tom Frame, the reviewer for the online Genii Forum, posted one of the strongest reviews he has ever posted - he is a reputable magician, and when he first saw this it completely floored him:

"I made a hefty deposit in my diaper and sobbed inconsolably until he taught me how it was done." You can see the review here:

http://forums.geniimagazine.com/viewtop ... 27&t=42472

Tom Frame does not do any favors - he can be quite rough and he loves this effect. Those who have endorsed it, like Dr. Todd Landman, were very honest in their appraisals. They have no reason to lie, I was not paying them, and most of them I have absolutely no association with, Like Dr. Todd.

Here is a comment I received yesterday from a gentleman I do not know and have never met:

"Want to thank you for a very practical and strong effect. I have performed the effect a dozen times for magicans and college students. A Home Run Every Performance! It is a pleasure to perform. Easy instructions and info .Received high praise from many who have compared this to other ACAAN's (seen in past performances) and your Inexplicable was by far the favorite of many of them. Thanks again. Keep up the good work and congratulations on an excellent and baffling card effect." - Steve Koonce, Anaheim, California

The Merchant of Magic, Dominic, added this to his professional repetoire, and performs it with great frequency and satisfation. Here is a man who has access to every available trick, and is a storehouse of magical knowledge. He added Inexplicable to his professional repetoire and absolutely loves it, and loves performing it.

And so it goes. I have yet to receive a negative comment from anyone who actually performs the effect.

In my almost 50 years of presenting magic, I too have sought strong effects of this type, and I very well might have tried most of them if not all. I have performed the 5 Star prediction, and many others of the same ilk. I stand by this effect as one of the strogest I have done, and continue to do often in my own repetoire, instead of the myriad other options available to me.

If you own this effect and need any tips or suggetions, feel free to contact me directly: steve@shufton.com.

Best wishes to all,

Steve

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby Johnny Bravo » Jul 21st, '13, 16:46

No, it is not too good to be true, and I stand by the ad copy.


Well you would say that wouldn't you :lol: :lol:

And so it goes. I have yet to receive a negative comment from anyone who actually performs the effect.


Sorry but I don't want to perform this, I don't want to have to learn how to do the effect correctly because as I own the effect I know how it's done & I don't like the effort that is involved in doing it nor the memory work nor the gimmick.
Just not for me, bit of an unfair review from me I guess as I only bought this trick on recommendation.

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby MagicShop » Jul 21st, '13, 20:36

Hi Johnny, Dominic here.

No it's a good review and all feedback is very welcome!
Sorry to hear you are unhappy with Marks recommendation. I spoke to Mark about it to make sure this was followed up. To be fair, I would have probably recommended this to you myself as well, as it has no sleight of hand, and fits the mentalism brief and budget you gave him.

I really enjoy this because of the envelope. It fits nicely into an empty wine glass which a spectator can hold. That isolated the envelope, draws attention around the table and creates a nice 'photo opportunity' for the photographers.


Ref memory work: You do need to remember the instructions, but apart from that, there's not much to remember really. A normal practice drill should get this like second nature very quickly. i think there is far less to remember than an ID for example. However, I can definitely help you with that! Drop me an email at the shop as I've a great, easy tip for you that will help you remember how to work the trick.

Hope this helps
Dominic

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Re: Inexplicable by Steve Shufton

Postby MagicShop » Jul 21st, '13, 23:24

Here's a good presentation idea for Inexplicable from Martin Hille and Lucas Grabow:

Use the prediction card together with a coin envelope.
To rip open the coin envelope helps to make it look more organic and natural.
You just need to cut a small (invisible) slit at the pre creased end and you are good to go.

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