talkmagic.co.uk

The Effect

A box set that includes the box, two tarot card effects and a mini scroll with a disturbing poem on it and all scripts and performance rights.

Damnation

You get a very creepy story with it. The basic effect is that 2 piles of tarot cards are placed face up the table. The person is challenged to a game for their soul. If they match 3 pairs then their soul belongs to the Devil. If not then they win.

Curse of The Black Death.

Once again you get a very creepy script with this. Tarot cards are shown to be threaded on a piece of Black ribbon. A card is choosen and the packet is shuffled. The ribbon is threaded back onto the cards. The spectator gently holds the cards. You pull the ribbon and one card (theirs) is left in their hand.

The Devil's Due

This is a poem to add to your act. Very creepy and the paper is aged really well.

Cost

£35.00 Exclusive to Black Hart Productions http://www.blackhart.co.uk/page10.html

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)
1


Review

The first thing That struck me when i opened the packaging was how stunning the wood box is. This is ideal to keep props in and is great for walkabout. The box measures 25 cm x 15 cm x 6 cm. It has a hand carved lid and sides with a brass inlaid pattern on the lid. The floor and the lid of the box are lined with purple velvet.

What you get is a 15 minute act. The props are very well made and i cannot praise this enough. All of the effects are very easy to learn. They are almost self-working. Damnation does have an optional 'move' but this is not needed and it is so well explained that you will pick this up with ease. Most senior members here will know the move anyway.

The more experienced amoungst you are going to say that these effects are too simple. I will dispute that as i know that these effects combined with the excellent (and creepy) scripts provided will get a great reaction. I can imagine this act being performed on a Dark cold night in a old pub. Just get some candles on the table and you will really unsettle people.

The service i received from Keith Hart was amazing. I ordered on the Monday and got the package on the Tuesday. Amazing fast and friendly service.

Performance Rights

Please take note that if you purchase any of Keith's effects you are not allowed to loan it, hire it or resell the product. You get performance rights granted for you only (see ordering section).

So to finish, i love this and i will use using this a lot. If you are looking for something a bit different then check out Keith's website http://www.blackhart.co.uk


Overall


10/10

Hello

Thank you Stephen for your excellent review. All feed back is very useful and it is good to know what people who have actually parted with their own money think.

Please let me explain a little about the 'Licence Agreement'.

Firstly the purchaser rceives FULL performing rights. I've always thought it rather odd that many dealers sell effects with 'television rights reserved'. What do they intend? To charge you extra to perform it on the TV? If you buy an effect then I feel you should have the rights to perform it wherever you wish.

I first brought in the Licence Agreement after the first wave of TV exposures with the Masked Magician. Magicians world-wide were up in arms about this and trying to stop the programmes. It occured to me that they were way too late.

I had recently purchased some computer software and the package was sealed. It was explained on the packaging that if you broke the seal then you agreed to the licence agreement not to copy the software etc. I realised that this could be the answer to TV exposures of magic. The TV company must first get hold of an effect but if it was restricted by licence it would be illegal for them to divulge the secret. Now I know that many production companies do not have much by way of scruples but if they purchased one of my effects then they would have to deliberateley break the licence agreement to expose it on the TV. This would leave them open to being sued and therefore it would be likeley to cost them money.

So if you buy a Black Artefacts effect you have the rights to PERFORM it wherever you want, however you DO NOT have the rights to divulge the 'secret' to any third party.

As far as I am aware Black Artefacts is the only magic dealer in the world to have the protection of this licence. Other dealers have chosen not to do this. Perhaps they think that it is not worth the trouble. I don't know. Any way I feel that at least Black Artefacts is doing its bit to protect the investment that our customers make in our products.

So Stephen, if you ever get the chance to perform Damnation or Curse of the Black Death on the television you have the full rights to do so, but please let us know when so we can all tune in.

Regards

Keith Hart

I tried both effects last night at an early evening private party. They freaked . Damnation (with my altered patter) went down very well.