The Raven

Review area devoted to tricks and effects where props are involved.

Moderators: nickj, Lady of Mystery, Mandrake, bananafish, support

World-Of-Magic, Suppliers of quality Magic Worldwide Web Design for Magicians Manufacturer of modern & unique magic apparatus! UK's Online Magic Tricks and Jokes Shop offers kids and beginner magic tricks and jokes. Best prices around! A web site set up to sell my book, THE STRIPPER DECK, and future magical/mentalism titles.

The Raven

Postby Stephen Ward » Mar 24th, '05, 14:53



The Effect

The Raven allows the user to vanish coins and make them disappear, as used by David Blaine


Cost
Varies from £21 to £28 from all magic shops


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)

3

Review

The Raven comes complete with the gimmick, full instructions and ideas, you also get a small USA coin shell. Although you can use UK coin shells (some stores have a £1 shell). When you get yours open you will need to adjust it to fit you. The set up is fairly easy so you should not have any problems. The main issue that many people have with the Raven is that you may hear a 'click' as the coin vanishes. This is not a trick that you will be able to do straight away, it does require practise.

There are several different Ravens on sale, the Raven X2 has 2 heads so you can for example bend a key or switch coins.




Overall

8/10

Stephen Ward
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 5848
Joined: Mar 23rd, '05, 16:21
Location: Lowestoft, UK (44:CP)

Postby Sonny Vegas » Mar 29th, '05, 18:17

The Raven is a great trick, resetting is the only problem. You must have the correct length from where you attach the device, otherwise it's a tough find when your ready for the next raven trick.

There is also a great move where you can show both sides of the hand while the Raven is actually set and ready. It's a thumb move that can set up raven on either side of the hand. A little work with this move and the audience will never expect anything.

PM me if you need the special move and I will detail it out for you. I will not give the secret away, but just help you with the killer move.

Sonny Vegas
Junior Member
 
Posts: 22
Joined: Mar 22nd, '05, 01:46

Postby Mandrake » Mar 29th, '05, 18:49

Chuck Leach's Raven Video gives full chapter and verse on this sort of 'empty hand' move and I found his demo of how to set things up made it all very easy to understand.

User avatar
Mandrake
'
 
Posts: 27494
Joined: Apr 20th, '03, 21:00
Location: UK (74:AH)

Postby Garyz » Mar 30th, '05, 12:33

I found the raven too bulky to have on me all of the time, its good at its job though. Also if you arm goes near anything like knife/fork/spoon etc well....... :!:

User avatar
Garyz
Junior Member
 
Posts: 48
Joined: Mar 29th, '05, 11:19
Location: wirral

Postby Stephen Ward » Mar 30th, '05, 12:39

The Raven X2 is worse for that and don't get me started on the awful (IMHO) :x universal Raven

Stephen Ward
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 5848
Joined: Mar 23rd, '05, 16:21
Location: Lowestoft, UK (44:CP)

Postby magicdiscoman » Mar 30th, '05, 18:15

also on the dvd is the shirt setup which iliminates a lot of the sleave problems. :wink:

magicdiscoman
 

Postby katrielalex » Mar 30th, '05, 18:40

Is it possible to use the Raven (practically) without the DVD? Getting them both would push my order over £50, and that's a bit much for me.

To be exact, what comes with the Raven? Can you show your hands empty without the DVD? Use short sleeves?...

Kati

In hibernation but half awake - will stick my nose in every so often!
User avatar
katrielalex
Elite Member
 
Posts: 2545
Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 22:32
Location: 16:AH (in hibernation! will try to check up here every so often though)

Postby Mandrake » Mar 30th, '05, 18:47

There's a very good booklet with the Raven which explains everything you need to know. The Vid/DVD just has Chuck Leach demoing it all and perhaps giving a bit more information that a booklet can contain. If you read through the instructions carefully you'll have no problems. It's not easy to say what comes with the Raven as that would give too much away but you get everything you need apart from your choice of coins which have certain 'attractive' qualities and which can be found in your pocket change! Anything else required can be easily sourced or borrowed - wait until it arrives then you'll see the full story.

User avatar
Mandrake
'
 
Posts: 27494
Joined: Apr 20th, '03, 21:00
Location: UK (74:AH)

Postby Stephen Ward » Mar 30th, '05, 18:55

Great advice from Mandrake there. you get what you need to start. But please remember that this will take practise. You may not be very smooth doing this at first. When i purchased mine i had it for 2 weeks before i perfomed it in public.

I also like 'The Bat' as well, that is very useful :lol:

Stephen Ward
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 5848
Joined: Mar 23rd, '05, 16:21
Location: Lowestoft, UK (44:CP)

Postby katrielalex » Mar 30th, '05, 19:45

Just to confirm, the Raven comes with a pamphlet that shows the empty-hand move and so on?

Kati

In hibernation but half awake - will stick my nose in every so often!
User avatar
katrielalex
Elite Member
 
Posts: 2545
Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 22:32
Location: 16:AH (in hibernation! will try to check up here every so often though)

Postby Stephen Ward » Mar 30th, '05, 19:52

yes you get the leaflet. I notice someone has offered to tell you the empty hand move so don't worry if that is not included. Good leaflet with several suggestions.

Stephen Ward
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 5848
Joined: Mar 23rd, '05, 16:21
Location: Lowestoft, UK (44:CP)

Postby katrielalex » Apr 1st, '05, 18:06

OK. I will almost certainly order this from Penguin the moment it comes back in stock (I gave up on Deep Astonishment after waiting for over a month :().

Kati

In hibernation but half awake - will stick my nose in every so often!
User avatar
katrielalex
Elite Member
 
Posts: 2545
Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 22:32
Location: 16:AH (in hibernation! will try to check up here every so often though)

Postby MagicIain » Apr 1st, '05, 18:58

Try a different magic retailer Kati... Penguin aren't the be all and end all of magic shops.

Go on. You know you want to.

User avatar
MagicIain
Advanced Member
 
Posts: 1438
Joined: Feb 11th, '04, 14:53
Location: Colchester, Essex (30:WP)

Postby crayfishuk » Apr 4th, '05, 09:17

I've always found the guys at MagicBox http://magicbox.uk.com very reliable, value for money, and faster than penguin....

No connection - just a satisfied customer...

-C

User avatar
crayfishuk
Junior Member
 
Posts: 37
Joined: Mar 4th, '05, 14:46
Location: Beds, UK (37:AH)

Postby nickj » Apr 15th, '05, 13:25

This has already been discussed, if you use the search function you should find it, though since the raven has been talked about a lot you might have to sift through quite a lot of threads to find the relevant one.

Cogito, ergo sum.
Cogito sumere potum alterum.
User avatar
nickj
Elite Member
 
Posts: 2870
Joined: Apr 20th, '03, 21:00
Location: Orpington (29:AH)

Next

Return to Reviews - Tricks 'n Props

Aeternum Servare Secreta Playing Cards for Magicians Best prices around! Sorcery Shop - Home of the ITR Dude That's Cool Magic Visit Magicbox for all the latest and best effects! MagicWorld Magic Shop for Magic Tricks

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests