talkmagic.co.uk

It is indeed worth the purchase. Also Kevin sent me a free effect for posting the first review on here! What a generous chap he is!

All thanks to me Tommy lol. Which effect did you go for in the end?

I went for a psychic card effect that isn't listed on his site. It's a bloomin' good one aswell!

My own opinion of Passing Thru by Kevin Parker
available from: http://www.kevinparkerproductions.com/p ... 0thru.html

I firstly want to add to and clarify what Tommy C had said in his review so as not to mislead some people. He had rated this effect as:
"1 - Really easy. On the same level as Coin in Soda"

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)

I would inititally give this effect a 3 but it can be brought down to a 1 or a 2 if you take advantage of the misdirection available.

I do agree that this effect is reasonably easy to achieve but not “really easy” as stated. There are sleights and they are quite easy but they still require practice for those who are not used to them. Tommy C’s comparison to Coin in Soda clarifies this somewhat for those who already know how that effect is achieved, but for those who don’t, I would personally give this trick a 3 initially, as far as sleights go, but as I said this can be reduced to a 1 or 2 due to the abundance of misdirection you are automatically given when performing these sleights because of the way the effect is presented.

Review
I purchased this product even though I had figured out for the most part of how it was done. Nonetheless, this is a great effect and I did not want to spoil it by some half-witted attempt. I also thought that I should pay credit to where it was due.

After receiving the video I was not disappointed with my purchase. I did learn several important things on top of what I had assumed which further enhanced my handling and I was able to improve the gimmick I had been testing my theory with. My only issue is that the video could have been produced better (a little reminiscent of “The Blair Witch Project”) which at times had the potential to bring me close to motion sickness (I am very sensitive to constant motion ). It would have also been nice to have a live performance included with this video (apart from the advertised one). But in saying that I think Kevin Parker's teaching is very good. It is seemingly unscripted and unplanned but nonetheless he comes across as very natural and he basically covers all the important things.

Do I need special bottle or coin? You should be able to do this trick with several types of bottles (not all, but let’s not be picky). You should also be able to perform this with almost any type of small coin it doesn’t matter what currency.

Does the coin have to be signed? Why would you want to bother? Spectators will actually see the coin slowly and clearly go straight through the bottle - for a trick like Sinful having the coined signed would be important because a spectator does not witness the coin visually going through the can.

How impromptu is this trick? As long as you have the gimmick on you, set up takes a few seconds. So if you think it is not impromptu by your definition I can tell you it is the next best thing.


Overall
My advice to Kevin Parker is:
Obviously you have a brilliant mind for being able to think outside the box and come up with effects of this calibre. Now all you have to do is invest in a couple of good cameras and some professional lighting - don't sell yourself short. Give your effects the production they deserve because with a head like yours, it looks like your going to be in this business for the long run.

My advice to all you fellow members is: definitely add this effect to your book of tricks, as the secret and the effect are gold! Practice it well (even though the handling seems easy) and then shock the hell out of people!

Gimmick: 10/10 - The gimmick is an everyday object; it is dirt cheap and easy to obtain.

Difficulty: 8/10 – The sleights are quite easy to achieve. Most of you who have been performing for a while should know them by now but for someone who has never done even the simplest form of sleight of hand I recommend getting an introductory book or video that covers basic magic or sleight of hand.

Teaching: 8/10 – The teaching gets straight to the point and pretty much covers all the important things you need to know.

Video: 5/10 - The quality of the camera work and lighting could have been a lot better and an included live performance would have not gone astray.

Effect: 10/10 – Hey, you just inserted a coin through solid glass, slowly and visually with absolutely no cover! And both items can be inspected in the beginning and at the end of your performance. How close to true magic do you want to get?

Value for money: 9/10 - Because the secret and the effect are gold!

Ok one quick question, which I think will be yes judging by previous answers but just to clarify... If you're sitting in the pub and you've just finished a bottle of beer can you borrow a coin then set up and go from there? If so I'll be getting this.

it looks great
but no signed coin
no good trick

MiniMindFreak-

it looks great
but no signed coin
no good trick

Not neccesarily. Costas clearly explained why. If the coin is borrowed, and is seen visually pushed through, then there is not point in signing the coin. A signed coin would not improve this trick.

bronz wrote:Ok one quick question, which I think will be yes judging by previous answers but just to clarify... If you're sitting in the pub and you've just finished a bottle of beer can you borrow a coin then set up and go from there? If so I'll be getting this.

I have never tried it with a beer bottle so I can't give you an honest answer but I can see a potential problem using a beer bottle. Large glass juice bottles should work well. To be honest with you, the bottles that work the best with this effect are not always the most common to find randomly on the street. But I consider this a plus at times. The reason I say that is because not every man and his donkey will be doing this every chance they get, which I believe will help leave the effect remaining original and strong and it's secret more safely guarded as opposed to some of those overly performed bar tricks.

So my advice would be if you are desperate to show it to your buddies or to a larger group of people on a particular day. Just bring your own bottle of drink and finish it off as you walk into a bar or party (or wherever) leave it on the side somewhere and perform the effect when your good and ready (you can even pull it out and drink it at a party! No one will ever know where you got it from.) Then leave the skeptics with the bottled coin in their hands and as they spend their time desperately scanning for secret openings and other foul play, head off and chat up all the best looking women

By the way, empty jars can also work a treat

ouch-kabibble wrote:MiniMindFreak-

it looks great
but no signed coin
no good trick

Not neccesarily. Costas clearly explained why. If the coin is borrowed, and is seen visually pushed through, then there is not point in signing the coin. A signed coin would not improve this trick.

ouch-kabibble is right. MiniMindFreak, you could do this effect with a signed coin if you really wanted to. But I would choose not to because it would seem pointless and redundant. If you were going to perform a trick where you could visually and very clearly walk through a wall, would you get your spectator to sign your forehead to prove it is really you on the other side and not your twin brother?

Just something to think about.

It can be done with a signed coin but is quite hard to do.

costas wrote: If you were going to perform a trick where you could visually and very clearly walk through a wall, would you get your spectator to sign your forehead to prove it is really you on the other side and not your twin brother?

Damn, that's that idea down the tube then (does anyone know a magic supplier which sells twin brothers by the way).

What if I pass my forehead through a glass bottle? Should I sign it then?

Flash wrote:What if I pass my forehead through a glass bottle? Should I sign it then?

Hahaha that could actually be a really ingenious way of revealing a card smash your head into a bottle and the pieces embed in your forehead into the shape of their card...

Cheers for the feedback Costas. I'll be getting this by the sound of it.

Flash wrote:

costas wrote: If you were going to perform a trick where you could visually and very clearly walk through a wall, would you get your spectator to sign your forehead to prove it is really you on the other side and not your twin brother?

Damn, that's that idea down the tube

Sorry, I think I foolishly just exposed another trick with that comment!

Flash wrote:then (does anyone know a magic supplier which sells twin brothers by the way).

I think you can find them at penguin magic. Here is the link: www.penguinmagic.co.uk/twinbrothers8717 ... ght=#87176
They are selling them dirt-cheap, but take note, they are only imitation twin brothers because from what I hear they are selling ripped off versions of our actual original twins. You’re going to have to settle for an Oz or Jay look-alike.

Flash wrote:What if I pass my forehead through a glass bottle? Should I sign it then?

Once again I would have to advise you against that idea as I think you will be bringing unnecessary attention and suspicion to your forehead.

EckoZero wrote:

Flash wrote:What if I pass my forehead through a glass bottle? Should I sign it then?

Hahaha that could actually be a really ingenious way of revealing a card smash your head into a bottle and the pieces embed in your forehead into the shape of their card...

Make way, Wayne Houchin with your Stigmata and your feeble little red marks! This is EckoZero’s broken glass in the head!