talkmagic.co.uk

Mandrake wrote:Excellent news, thank you!

.... does that mean we can expect a review anytime soon ??

Not from me as I don't yet have this effect but there must be someone out there ready to review - c'mon folks, let's hear all about it!

I would write a review, but as I haven't performed this yet, I don't feel that I'm in a position to...

Well, that's not strictly true. I did try and make use of it a couple of nights ago. "Watch the paperclip," I said. And the lass I was performing for watched the paperclip. And watched it. And watched it... And the paperclip did exactly what you'd expect a paperclip to do. It just sat there and did nothing!

I've found this trick to be rather problematic. The first clip I tried this with worked perfectly. It opened up 180 degrees, and I sat there thinking "This is great! Why are people complaining about this?" So I carefully refolded it and then it opened to about 90 degrees. And then it broke the next time.

I want to use this, but the clips are a bit to flimsy and very unreliable. The DVD suggests that you keep them stored opened in your front pocket and discretely set them up as you bring them out. For me this just doesn't work. The little part of the clip that makes this work is far to weak for that. And when the paperclips do work, I've found they only work 3 or 4 times at the most, and then they give up the ghost. Unfortunately, you don't know when they are going to stop working, leaving you very vulnerable to a paperclip that doesn't do anything!

Also, if I was to write a review, then I'd have to comment on the performances on the DVD. Whilst it's nice to see this being performed live, I really am not a fan of the style of performance shown! (There is one idea there that I really like though... the clip is placed on a table, and the spectator places her hand on top of it, and as she lifts her hand, the clip slowly opens. I think that could really be made to work... If the paperclip worked more reliably!)

On the up side... When it calls itself a self bending paperclip, it actually is! And every now and then, it does work very nicely

So... I want to be able to use this, and I do like the idea... but unfortunately, it's just going to let you down a little to often!

.....

I'm posting this hoping that others will have had better luck with it! Any advice will be gratefully received

Here in the States I got the clips at Walmart, which I imagine is like your Tesco. I paid 5.75 for a thousand of them. They came in two different sizes. The problem with the effect is it is not easy. And getting the bend to a 90 degree angle is a challange, I can't imagine making the clip bend 180. But I'm working on it.

Once you've done the clip 'set up', it helps if you pull each half apart slightly. That stops constrictions that could impede 180 degrees.