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Doc Eason’s Out to Dinner

Available from most magic retailers

Price £12.00 (GBP) / $14.95 (USD)

Magic / Mentalism utility

Difficulty: 2 out of 5 You need to set your props up well and learn a basic handling but there are no hardships at all.

They say:
This elegant accessory allows you to perform effects based on the "Out to Lunch" principle while maintaining your image as a classy performer. Just follow the simple directions, and soon you, too, will be wowing them with style.

History: The "Out to Lunch" principle comes from the 1800s and was originally applied to slates by spirit mediums. Often attributed to Bagshawe, it was actually William Larsen, Sr., who first published a magic version with paper cards. His effect, "Finger Prints," can be found in the July 1923 issue of The Jinx. Our literature is now littered with effects based on the simple principle of a half-card covering a whole card in a stack.

It is a question of style.

"Out to Dinner" is a specially designed clip for your business cards that is functional as well as fashionable. It is an elegant accessory that makes the "Out to Lunch" principle work like a charm and won't diminish your image as a class performer.

Along with his custom made "Out to Dinner" clip, Doc Eason is releasing one of his favorite routines and several other cutting-edge ideas for its use.

Clip Length: Approximately 2" (7cm)

I say:
I wanted to get Out to Dinner because it seemed, as the advertisement states, a more tasteful option for the usual method of the classic “out to lunch” effect…and it is. So why was I not jumping for joy?

Was it the advertisement? Finding advertisements for magic effects a bit, umm... "over enthusiastic" and bubbling with superlatives is old news. This item’s advertisement is enthusiastic and spins the “elegance and style” angle hard, but it’s not misleading in any way, so again, where was that funny feeling coming from, why did I feel a bit…unexcited?

Well, having pondered this I think I have come up with the answer…it’s me. I was expecting something “utterly amazing“. More fool me.

In a market where many of the latest “must-haves” are “all-singing, all-dancing electronic, no-skill-required” wonders that “will fool other magicians” or “looks like real magic“ (huh?), perhaps I was expecting a panacea. In a weak moment I overlooked the fact that the principle here is the fooler…that and a killer presentation.

You get what you see in the ads. Out to Dinner comes in a plastic bag with a hefty, one page, well printed, black and white document. The “gimmick” is a metal clip that you put your cards in.

I think I remember looking at it with my mouth hanging open... I was expecting more. Why? I don’t know. What more? I’ll answer that with another question. What more do you need? The answer is simple…nothing. That’s it, you need nothing more than this to do any “out to Lunch” routine.

The clip looks classy, not too classy, “just right” classy. It is very well shaped and has a clean, polished surface. It looks something like a tie clip and perhaps that is where it’s inspiration came from, but it’s more than that. The shaping of the clip encompasses the card in a very tidy manner and gives you a surface to “gaff with” as one does with “Out to Lunch” props.

You do need to pay attention to the last part of the advertisement...

Clip Length: Approximately 2" (7cm)

…this is where my face dropped a little. The “length” in this case means the smaller of the two measurements of a business card or in playing card jargon, “The short edges” of your business card. This measurement is 2’’ or 50mm (NOT 70mm). If the short edges of your card are ANY greater than 2” or 50mm they will NOT fit the clip. You will need to trim your cards to fit.

Having said all of that, you don’t NEED to use business cards. The instructions suggest you could fill the clip with blank card stock but (in my opinion) that could be tougher to “sell”.

The documentation has you using the back of your cards as the writing/drawing area and all the “gaffing” work and actions are performed on the back side of the clip, the side without the gap in it.

The information on the “Out to Lunch” principle and set up is there but is not dwelt upon. More space is devoted to the history of the effect, the card specifications and one full routine. This routine is not something I would enjoy performing but who cares? I’ll do something else with this tidy utility. There are other ideas for “Out to Dinner routines” but these offerings are suggestions on basic themes or drawings you might use within the effect.

“Out to Lunch” is a very cool trick and an even better principle. You will find variations of it in many different props and accessories in the market today. “Out to Lunch” has traditionally been a main stay of close up magicians but I know of at least one fantastic, up to date mentalism effect that the “Out to Lunch” principle and this clip will fit perfectly with, especially for dinner and corporate environments.

Overall:
This is a nice looking, well made tool that allows you a more elegant solution when setting up your own “Out to Lunch” effects. You are not given a wide range of effects to perform but it is the clip you are buying and it will do the job very well. The price is fair for a quality tool of ones trade or craft. If you use “Out to Lunch” in your performing, you will never need to buy another clip, Out to Dinner will last for lifetimes.

Rating out of 10: 8/10

For all of you that want a very good routine with spectator involvement that uses this principle, look at "22 Blows to the Head" by Sankey.

I personally just bought a money clip from ebay £5, plain, perfect

Cheers

Shanester

I'm not convinced about this one. To be honest you can't go far wrong with an elastic band. It looks innocent and does the business...

Yes it does the trick.
However it's all about continuity. If you wear a smart suit, all your cards are new, your nails are well clipped, you're well groomed and then you pull out your business cards wrapped in an elastic band?!? Looks a little incongruous don't you think (you probably don't or else you wouldn't have posted what you did).

That's my reasoning anyway.

Cheers

Shanester

If you wear a smart suit, all your cards are new, your nails are well clipped, you're well groomed and then you pull out your business cards wrapped in an elastic band?!? Looks a little incongruous don't you think (you probably don't or else you wouldn't have posted what you did).

He doesn't, in fact I have seen Simon performing, barefooted, in dirty hessian sack cloth with rancid lard as hair gel and leaving a small trickle of wee behind him wherever he hobbled with his one good foot.

In fact he often uses a pig as an airfreshener and I have no problem in saying so...in fact I'd look him straight in his eye (not the glass one) and tell him so!

Innat' right Si?

Wha?! What'd I say?! :wink:

Sorry, I had a very weird and intense day and I went a bit (more) mental!

Sorry mate....

Let it be known from this day forward that Simon doesn't actually :
- Smell bad
- Wear sacking
- Use lard for hairdressing
- Suffer from incontinence
- Have a gammy foot

...and his glass eye isn't bad at all..

Just to CHANGE THE SUBJECT you can see the clip here. I can see the problem - I don't understand why they didn't just make a clip that would fit any size card.

Kati

I must admit I am starting to warm to the idea of this thing...

If you are looking for a really good OTL effect, then my favourite is in a little wonderful e-book called Mandrakes Greatest Secrets revealed.. Seriously I have been performing the "star of the show" now for a couple of years and it gets wonderful reactions. So perhaps it is time for me to retire my trust elastic band (sorry - japanese elasticated transmorphing device).

you can see the clip here. I can see the problem - I don't understand why they didn't just make a clip that would fit any size card.

Kati - I am not sure what problem you are refering to. No doubt I am being thick (no comments Tom - you have said enough already my friend!) - but I thought the clip actually looked good.

tom,
would you be able to shed some light on the fantatastic mentalism routine that you do usng this otl principle?
thanks mate
matt
pm me if you prefer
cheers!

Ahhhh...yessssss..

One Mr. "B. Fish" might well offer this gem in a collection of routines if all of us beg & ask nicely enough.... and wave wads of dirty fivers under his nose!

Sorry mate, it's to good to keep a secret!

Believe me, it's worth money! It is one of those "DOH!..I shoulda' thought of that" deals.

you mean Mandrakes Greatest Secrets revealed ?
i got it earlier today !
i like the "star of the show" routine
is that the one you find works well?

Anyone who has 'The Stockholder Wallet' will have found some great routines for the 'Out to Lunch' effect included.

ok thanks tom
my cards are 50mm wide so i should be ok...
where can i pick these up in the uk?
cheers
matt