talkmagic.co.uk

ACE T wrote:Oh - and can you use different coins than the ones provided?

1p works well

Alec Kobain wrote:
Would it be possible on each review to have a vote at the top numbered 1-10 where by people who own the effect can give it a mark and we can take the average? Just a thought.

Alec

I was actually thinking of knocking up some sort of review table for similar reasons and hosting it on my webspace.

I thought this would then let us have a "Top ten card effects", "Top 25 coin gimmicks".

It should only take me about a week to knock it up so let me know if you think it's worth pursuing. I could even hand it over to be hosted on TM if that was preferred.

Ste Porterfield wrote:

Alec Kobain wrote:
Would it be possible on each review to have a vote at the top numbered 1-10 where by people who own the effect can give it a mark and we can take the average? Just a thought.

Alec

I was actually thinking of knocking up some sort of review table for similar reasons and hosting it on my webspace.

I thought this would then let us have a "Top ten card effects", "Top 25 coin gimmicks".

It should only take me about a week to knock it up so let me know if you think it's worth pursuing. I could even hand it over to be hosted on TM if that was preferred.

Like!

Well after a week or so procrastinating, I finally caved to my CUPS (me?? Never!!!! ), and my Rattled arrived this morning.

Despite my misgivings, Rattled really is everything it's makers claim it to be (a refreshing rarity in the 'latest/greatest/most amazing must-have' magical effects culture); in short, this is NICE in the extreme - and, YES, 100% examinable, exactly as claimed.

In respect of a previous comment, suggesting that there is a part of the routine where an over-eager spec could mess up the performance, this is HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

Sure, it could happen, but only in the same way that a grabby spec could wreck pretty much any performance, if they had a mind to. In short, if you have any presentational skills or semblence of confidence, you'll be fine so long as your specs aren't screaming drunk, or out to wreck anything you perform anyhow (not that we'd ever choose those type of specs now, anyway, would we?! )

The provided gimmicks are beautifully-made and take up very little pocket space, whilst the DVD and provided routines are just about spot-on.

All-in-all, I'm really very pleased that I got this, and would have no problem in recommending it!


Rob

kaala wrote:* When you first receive your gimmick it won't work as seen on the DVD. I
tuned mine with sandpaper to solve it.

Can you elaborate on what you sanded? Did you do this to relieve some tightness? Mine came with some instructions on how to tighten it up a little, although I've found it fine. If a spectator tried hard they could reset it, or worse!, by hand, so I might follow the included advice to tighten them up.

My 8yo daughter, the ultimate grabby spectator from hell, did manage to reset one whilst inspecting it.

teknohippy wrote:

kaala wrote:* When you first receive your gimmick it won't work as seen on the DVD. I
tuned mine with sandpaper to solve it.

Can you elaborate on what you sanded? Did you do this to relieve some tightness? Mine came with some instructions on how to tighten it up a little, although I've found it fine. If a spectator tried hard they could reset it, or worse!, by hand, so I might follow the included advice to tighten them up.

My 8yo daughter, the ultimate grabby spectator from hell, did manage to reset one whilst inspecting it.

Yes i did it to relieve tightness, mine were way too tight. Sanded the smaller part. Not all the gimmicks people have received have been the same i guess, i had no instructions like that. Its pretty hard to reset it without a bottle though, unless its way too loose.

I bought this after hearing some seriously good buzz about it, and I was surprised at just how brilliant and practical it is. The type of method I expected was far more convoluted than what it actually is and I was delighted by the fact that it's totally self contained and the 'vanish' of the coin or similar object from underneath the bottle cap is legitimately self working. The fact that the spectator, without knowing it, operates the gimmick makes me giddy every time.

At first I was worried about the hands-off nature of it all... I didn't expect it, but the spectator merely shaking the cap around is enough to convince them that the coin is really under there. I've never had anyone lift the thing up to check. So many possibilities and I'd love to create something trly unique and awesome when I have the time.

Never got on with this one, could not find a bottle that would fit the cap in England,never used it, this is in my box of no good.

I bought this, then sold it, as I didn't feel comfortable with the fact that the bottle caps don't actually look or feel like real bottle caps. The props are way too suspicious.

It's also really, really easy for spectators to guess the method.

Ok first lets go through the idea of the effect. Firstly you present two identical bottle caps to the table and place a coin under one of the caps in full view of your audience member, you show to the audience member that the coin is under the cap by shaking the cap. As the cap is shaken you can attually hear the coin rattling! You can even invite your audience member to rattle the cap should they wish. Now you ask your spectator to cover the cap so you have no way of getting to the coin and in a split second you make the coin vanish, and the spectator shakes the cap and the coin is gone... and appears under the other empty cap!



Ok now for my personal review. First thing i have got to say is WOW! i really like this effect and it does stand up to the hype/ is exaclty as its shown on the promo video. There are some effects you see on a video which look amazing and then when you get it theres 50 moves or sleights been used, however this routine is exaclty as its shown in the promo.



Lets first start with the gimmick caps. Without giving away the "secret" the gimmicks are very well made and as far as i can tell with good care an attension they will last for ever. The caps are slightly oversized in my option, i have not yet had chance to see if they fit on normal UK water bottles, however i think as its an american product that they are the normal size for US bottles so i would guess they are pretty much the same for UK bottles. What i mean by oversized is they appear very thick, also they are heavier than normal bottle tops, however i dont think this is an issue as this would only be noticeable if you had normal caps to compare with (Which obviously you wont when performing)



As well as the caps you get supplied with two coins. There is nothing really special about the coins apart from them having a "magic" property to them . Now this is where a small issue appears to me and not an issue i feel can be blamed on the effect/creator but one that i feel needs to be mentioned. The coins supplied are indian coins which may look slightly out of place when doing the trick, After all you have "normal" bottle caps why have you got out of place coins? Now i think this can be overcome by using coins with the same magic property from your own country.



And lastly lets discuss the training material supplied. You are supplied with a training DVD which is outstanding, it teachs many different routines that can be used with these caps and also gives you ideas of ways you can create your own effects. The training is simple and makes sense (after all most of the magic is done by the device so there is very little to learn wise of special moves)



The other issue i will discuss is the 100% clean statement. Yes i would agree this can be handed out and examined and it will not be worked out, however as standard it is 95% examinable at first, but with the dvd it advises how to make it 100% clean. What i like to do with "examinable" tricks is open the effect up and before watching the dvd try and work the gimmick out, this way it gives me an idea of how "clean it is" well after 1 minutes of playing around with it i could not work it out so i feel it is safe to hand out. After watching the DVD i did notice the only flaw, however like i said you can cover this flaw up.



Overall i would give this trick a 9/10 with its only draw back been firstly the coins supplied and 2ndly the oversized look. However i would 100% recommend this to anyone intrested in close up magic with natural objects.



If you want any more information or wish to discuss then post your comments below. Thanks for reading.

Already been reviewed, although a 2nd opinion is always nice:

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moonbeam wrote:Already been reviewed, although a 2nd opinion is always nice:

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And merged for neatness