talkmagic.co.uk

Name: Black Box Mystery

Price: 69,95 EUR

Where to buy: http://www.my-magicshop.com/magic-trick ... ystery.php

Packaging Quality: The whole package comes in a clear plastic bag with the box itself in a small cardboard box with foam lining.

Instructions Quality: You are supplied with an A4 sheet of instructions that explain the moves and two routines.

Contents: You are supplied with the black box, the instructions and an accessory.

Prop Quality: The black box is a really nice looking small wooden box with a soft lining, similar to the sort of box that jewellery is supplied in. Mechanics work smoothly and reliably every time.

Initial Thoughts: this box achieves a similar effect to the ‘John Kennedy Mystery Box’, however the method is different. With the black box mystery a folded prediction can be put in the box at the start of the routine, instead of “already being there” making things look more natural.

I like the possibilities that this box offers although I don’t think I would use it for a folded card as I think that a folded piece of paper or something similar would look more natural and less ‘magicky’.

After Playing for a while: when you first start playing with the black box mystery it feels a little clunky but when you find the hand positions that suit you, everything flows very smoothly. I would like to find a use for the black box mystery however I would like to put in more time to finding ONE use that really has a strong and apparently organic impact.

First Performance: As I haven’t yet decided on the effect that I would use with the black box mystery I decided to use the box as a climax to the Ambitous Card.

Overall Audience Reaction: This does have actually have a very strong reaction on spectators and the fact that either a magician or spectator can put the folded prediction in the box at the start makes it much stronger.

Pros: Very well made prop, easy to operate with a little practice.

Cons: Not really a con but the box is quite small so you can only really switch folded cards, billets and other small objects.

Value for Money: Does what it needs to very well so if you need a small switching box then this won’t disappoint.

Wow, 14 reviews in 26 minutes. All from the same supplier and not one negative review. I admire your loyalty to this shop and envy the luck you've experienced in buying such an unbroken run of fantastic effects.

T.

Ted,

That wasn't very nice was it!

I ordered a load of magic from them and another supplier and spent the weekend writing reviews, whats wrong with that?

In actual fact there were around 30 items that I received from them, but some I am not happy with at this stage. I will probably review them but I think I need time to work on them to see if I can adapt them to suit my performance style.

I have been in Magic for 19 years and I have worked with several dealers, my passion really is in the 'product' side of magic as I work in Marketing as my full time job.

Keep an eye out for more reviews coming as there will definitely be negative ones.

Gary

garysumpter wrote:That wasn't very nice was it!

What did I say that was not nice? I simply congratulated you on your luck and loyalty.

I made absolutely no reference to the fact that today's 14 posts might be construed by suspicious individuals as being blatantly biased reviews. And I certainly did not wish to infer that you may in fact have a financial relationship with the sole supplier mentioned at the start and finish of each review.

I feel quite misunderstood.

T.

Ted wrote:

garysumpter wrote:That wasn't very nice was it!

What did I say that was not nice? I simply congratulated you on your luck and loyalty.

I made absolutely no reference to the fact that today's 14 posts might be construed by suspicious individuals as being blatantly biased reviews. And I certainly did not wish to infer that you may in fact have a financial relationship with the sole supplier mentioned at the start and finish of each review.

I feel quite misunderstood.

T.

Wow. TalkMagic certainly has changed.

May I ask, why did you buy black box mystery, and crystal switch box and dream prediction box and miraculous card box?

They're the same * effect! If you are legit explain to me why you spent over five hundred damn Euros on buying the same trick but in different colours?

If I'm honest, I bought things with a 'display' in mind. Im moving soon to a larger house and I will have a room set aside for office and magic, so I want to set up a display wall with lots of things that you would 'expect' to see in a magic shop. I have LOADS of other stuff coming from places like Tora Magic.

The effects I reviewed arent the same at all.

Black Box Mystery - This is something I wante dto own as it allows you to do the 'card to box' effect, but with the spectator putting the prediction in at the start.

Crystal Switch Box - This is a super quick billet switch device. This was added to my order for a friend to use in his act but we reviewed everything at the same time.

Dream prediction box is NOTHING like the other two, not even close. I cant say too much obviously, but I saw one at the local magic club and wanted to own it, tis is the product that first got me looking at 'display items'.

Miraculous Card Box is also very different. Think D**E P*N but for a deck of cards.

I am not going to argue about this, but as you can see, they are completely different styles, different methods and COMPLETELY different effects.

Gary

Wow. TalkMagic certainly has changed.

Not really, part of the problem is that since your last post in December 2008 several of people have flooded this forum with Reviews or other mass postings and I think you can understand why concerns are raised. In retrospect it might have been wiser to post your reviews with longer intervals between. The double mention of the site seems more like advertising than usual so one reference has been removed. Finally, we have a Review Template which isn't too far away from the style of your reviews so if you'd care to tailor your thoughts to that layout it would be much appreciated.

Mandrake wrote:

Wow. TalkMagic certainly has changed.

Not really, part of the problem is that since your last post in December 2008 several of people have flooded this forum with Reviews or other mass postings and I think you can understand why concerns are raised. In retrospect it might have been wiser to post your reviews with longer intervals between. The double mention of the site seems more like advertising than usual so one reference has been removed. Finally, we have a Review Template which isn't too far away from the style of your reviews so if you'd care to tailor your thoughts to that layout it would be much appreciated.

No problem. To be honest I was going to post a couple each day but I had a window and decided to get them all done.

The double linking is force of habit from my Day job

I shall use the review template in future. I have lots more stuff coming from different suppliers so I will review them too, I just hope I dont get this kind of response each time

Gary

I think we all understand each other well enough now so there shouldn't be any problems .

Right I apologize, as Mandrake said your multiple posts set of alarm bells in my head.

garysumpter wrote:If I'm honest, I bought things with a 'display' in mind. Im moving soon to a larger house and I will have a room set aside for office and magic, so I want to set up a display wall with lots of things that you would 'expect' to see in a magic shop. I have LOADS of other stuff coming from places like Tora Magic.

So are you starting a magic shop? Or is this more like setting up a kind of stage in the house?

As for the effects being different, I'm not going to disagree with you because I don't actually know what the effects are. It was just from your description of them they sounded the same (i.e. prediction ends up in box.) I had no doubt the method was different but I felt the overall effect from a specs point of view would be the same.

For future reviews could you describe the effect as the spec sees it first, rather than just explain what it's for?

Once again I apologies for being so aggressive, apparently I have misjudged you.

Also you should probably still do an introduction.

Jean Eugene Roberts wrote:Right I apologize, as Mandrake said your multiple posts set of alarm bells in my head.

garysumpter wrote:If I'm honest, I bought things with a 'display' in mind. Im moving soon to a larger house and I will have a room set aside for office and magic, so I want to set up a display wall with lots of things that you would 'expect' to see in a magic shop. I have LOADS of other stuff coming from places like Tora Magic.

So are you starting a magic shop? Or is this more like setting up a kind of stage in the house?

As for the effects being different, I'm not going to disagree with you because I don't actually know what the effects are. It was just from your description of them they sounded the same (i.e. prediction ends up in box.) I had no doubt the method was different but I felt the overall effect from a specs point of view would be the same.

For future reviews could you describe the effect as the spec sees it first, rather than just explain what it's for?

Once again I apologies for being so aggressive, apparently I have misjudged you.

Also you should probably still do an introduction.

No problem, I actually meant to copy the effect description and put it into each review but I completely forgot!

Not a magic shop no, a room full to the brim with magic stuff, somewhere I can disappear to away from the kids!!

Gary

garysumpter wrote:a room full to the brim with magic stuff, somewhere I can disappear to away from the kids!!

You could make serious money renting that room out to other magicians in need of sactuary!

Mandrake wrote:

garysumpter wrote:a room full to the brim with magic stuff, somewhere I can disappear to away from the kids!!

You could make serious money renting that room out to other magicians in need of sactuary!

Indeed!

I have no doubt that it will become a 'place to jam' for myself and my fellow magi!

Gary