talkmagic.co.uk

The Effect

A T&R card effect

Cost

I bought mine from www.magicshop.co.uk for £17.99

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)

2-3

Review

The T&R effect seems to be the current trend, with so many different versions around and different twists on the classic.

The Holy Grail requires a gaffed card which is easily made via the full instructions on the DVD.

The DVD itself shows you the performance, how to make the card, the basic handling and an advanced handling.

Jordan explains the creation of the card step by step with close ups along the way, making the explanation very clear. He also shows you how to handle the moves needed during performance in case you don't already know them.

The performance requires a couple of slights, but I suspect the majority of you know them already.

If you're after a T&R effect in your routine that looks like the classic, but without 'the extras' (hopefully that makes sense), then this is for you. It's very visual.

The card CAN be signed and handed out afterwards.

During restoration (depending on if you've rushed creating the gaff or taken your time!) I suggest the audience aren't right next to the card - when I say this, I mean their nose isn't right next to your hands.

All in all, I think Jordan has created a superb effect, which is visual and appealing to lay people.

Overall

9/10

Is it difficult to make the gaff? Will i spend weeks making it and then never performing or does it take some time but nothing too drastic?

Can you show the signature during the tearing/restoring part?

And is the signature on the face of the card or the back?

Hi dimabbq,

If you've never s***t cards before, then it may be a little tricky at first - but Jordan takes you through how to do this bit by bit. Also, there are some materials you may not lying around, especially if you're in the UK, but is easily obtainable via ebay or some magic shops. (I got mine at a convention and it's lasted a long time).

On the DVD, the spectator's signature is on the back and there are a couple of reasons for that, as explained on the DVD. It can be 'shown' throughout the effect and at the end it really is their signature.

Hope that helps?

How workable is this timlic, really?

I'm really very, very sceptical about this... the market is totally swamped at the moment with "visual, piece by piece restoration" T&R effects, and as far as I can tell, almost all of them involve spending hours cutting, splitting, gluing and generally prepping cards that you are going to burn through in 2 minutes flat.

They seem to get good reviews from someone because they keep being made, but I have yet to hear from anyone who actually works as a magician for real people use them regularly

Hey Farlsborough,

This does take a bit of prep to create the gimmicked card (as, like you say, a few of the others on the market do) and I totally understand where you're coming from with it's uses...

I have used this effect for 2 corporate events. It isn't something I would put into a stroll-around routine, as you'd have to have a few to hand.

So, I would say this effect is good for a one-off performance, but not best for walk-around. There are plenty of T&R effects around - I'm a big fan of the classic version, so if you like that, stick to that one?

Hope that helps?

Yeah, cheers

Just got the DVD and have been putting it all together. If you like torn and restored card plots this is a very visual one. I preform everything I do to my girlfriend first. She has no experience in magic and is like someone just off the street. I preformed This and TORN back to back and asked her which she preferred. She said they both looked impossible...and that she couldn't choose one. So,... for the work involved I'm going to just stick to Torn by Daniel Garcia, it's very user friendly and doesn't require a large amount of time to set up. Hope that helps,

Thanks everyone.

I did buy the DVD and was a bit disappointed with the amount of prep and certain "things" i need to find as i live in the UK...

I think i'll perform this once in a blue moon and stick with other TnRs for now.

I was looking for something a bit easier than Torn by DG because i am awful at performing it after practicing for ages, maybe i'll keep practicing till i finally get it right without flashing or slowing down.

There's too much preparation work for my liking. I still prefer the old classics of impromptu ungimmicked torn and restored.

I purchased this just the weekend gone, and have some mixed opinions on it.

I feel that it is definately one of the most unique torn and restored cards out there on the market.
From a magicians point of view the torn and restoration is amazing, you fairly tear the cards without having to fold them, and you can put them back together piece by piece (an alternative I like is restoring the two halves seperately then putting the 2 halves together at once).

It is also very angle friendly, it can be done surrounded (I mean a full 360), as there are no extra pieces to hide and nothing to cover, but as timlic said depending on your work in creating the gaff then the spectators may see something.

Once you've got the idea and workings down you can vary the set-up and technique a bit (included is an advanced method, which has more prep but you can visually remove each crease at a time).
I've already thought of a method that is easier to set-up and a lot less risky to perform, and that involves tearing the card in half and not into quarters (inspired by Gared Crawford's "Bits and Pieces" "Quickie") then to restore it.