Good point!
Most of this sort of knowledge is what one discovers just by reading the forums and various product reviews that are "out there" as well as in the physical magic clubs. For an example, the Vernet styled TT has been considered one of the industry's top devices for decades. But, since the mid-90's there have been some new soft rubber variations that look much more natural and are readily adaptable to the many different flesh tones we have in the world; the "bests" being made to order by private makers and cost a great deal of both, cash & time to make happen. Commercially however, it's more of a matter of trial & error; go with the devices you hear the most about, experiment with them and maybe some of the lesser known versions, until you find the gimmick that works best for you. Let me give you one important example...
Boon or Scarab styled Swami devices while practical for some, don't work well for all simply because of how our thumb structure differs. Too, the design of one manufacturer might work for us while the more expensive version doesn't. With such things in mind, an accurate review on each make of a single device will prove a thing of the reviewer's liking rather than what may be true for you.
The other problem with doing item specific reviews in a forum is the fear so many moderators and members have around the idea of "exposure"... just try to use the term T H U M B T I P without modifying it... it will be translated by the language filters to TT most every time, which I find rather annoying, given how many bartenders around the globe know about the famed
plastic thumb... Magicians tend to give the laity credit for knowing things sometimes, as well as the fact that though they may have suspicions or even a basic knowledge around a device/ technique, they will rarely recognize it or even believe that's what you're doing when the "act" is presented properly.
One of my areas of specialty is Grand Illusion; can you imagine how difficult it would be to describe the various nuances between say, an Abbott version of the Thin Model Sawing and one made by Owen or John Gaughan? The differences are huge and yet, to explain them would require me to detail a tremendous about that would be deemed "trade secrets"; most folks know how the trick more or less works, but when it comes to construction and how certain gimmicks are set into play and taken out, they are totally oblivious (for that matter, so are the majority of magicians, because how how each builder has evolved the prop).
The point being, to make a legit "review" on such products, even something like thread, would be to reveal too much. So I must encourage you to simple ASK when you have a question on this or that product AFTER you've used the forum search functions to check and see if or not posts already exists on said topic... right now we have at least a dozen threads on TARANTULA because people didn't check to see if or not a thread already existed, so do check! Then, if you can't find the information you're looking for, ask. If there are subtle things that can't be said, someone will probably PM you with details that will suit your needs.
Hope this helps clarify things
). Does anyone have any of these things that they would like to review? I was just thinking that maybe there should be a new category for these things.
