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Name of Trick: Ash Pen

Lowest price found: $18.00 at www.themagicwarehouse.com

Ease of use: 9/10 (if you can write you can do this effect)

Effect: Important info of spectator ends up on your arm written in ash ala David Blaine style.

Review: The concept is out there in some older magic books labeled as the Devil's Ash and other similar names. If you liked the tricks David Blaine did on TV with the card name on your arm than this is a good investment. The gimmick involved makes it easier to perform impromtu than the older versions which I used previously. Just have the gimmick in your pocket and you are all set. The effect comes with two gimmicks, an address for more gimmicks, and some very brief instructions which are pretty adequate due to the simplicity of the effect. The gimmicks supplied will last hundreds if not thousands of performances. If you are interested in more info on presentation tips/ angles or if you are wondering if this might be right for you email me at chop_dog_1777@hotmail.com .

Hi Brenton

I would love to know a little more, but if you don't have access to the MO section of this forum, I appreciate you can't give too much away.

Just tell me one thing though...

Do you need to do the "Oh no, that isn't right, here, let me tear that up and I'll walk away whilst you try again" technique... if you know what I mean.

If it is, that's a shame, because I believe even your average spec' knows how that's done now, thanks to the "Masked @rseh@le".

... Tony

The oh no technique is the only one I have right now for the name style. As far as the card revelation goes, here are my two fav's. Step one: You have to force the card that is going to appear on your oh so willing specatator. The force that I find that works great for this and adds to the suspense is the hankie force (you know it, where the spectator cuts to an anything but RANDOM card while under the hankie supposedly not able to be manipulated by you). I then have them place the cards backunder the hankie and never bring them out again, can have a spec hold or just toss them aside. I then walk away and have them write on a piece of paper the name of the card (still keeping my back turned to further sell it). They are then instructed to fold it up tightly and burn the paper in an ashtry (whilst I'm still far away (this is where if you don't have the effect ready you can do the final prep work thus being almost impromtu). Once they inform you that it is totally burnt up, go to the ashtray make some comments about them concentrating on their card and then give some glares and a little magical pass at the ashtray and then as if possessed by the devil, vigorously rub the ash on your arm or where ever you have it set up and viola there is the name of the card. You will be surprised at how this simple force, simple setup, and simple acting can just totally blow the specs minds.
As for the alternate method I use when I don't have so much time (aka at work sometimes) I use a simple book force (thumb rifle over corner of deck and then show the card that is face down when they tell you to stop, tell them that it would be to easy for you to use that card and at the same time sliding the top card of the deck onto the top of the bottom packet (that'll be the card you tell them to look at and memorize). After that obtain some ash, a lit cigarette works great, you can tell them that the card is barely on their breath and you need the cig to help you capture the name of it. The rest is just presentation and dramatics. Suspense in both versions helps build to the climax and make the impossible seem so real. Have fun. Would like to hear any other methods that one might have.