My Creature is dead !

Struggling with an effect? Any tips (without giving too much away!) you'd like to share?

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My Creature is dead !

Postby Hodgkinson » Jul 29th, '05, 18:58



I was on holiday about four months ago and stumbled across a small magic shop. I was having a browse around when I was shown something by the owner and I knew I just had to own one. It was Keith Arlen Lack's Creature.
It was the only one he had left and seemed a little dark but CUPS set in and I bought it anyway. I overcame the problem of the colour by performing it in dimly lit settings and had some great reactions. It's amazing how much people freak out when he pops up from an ordinary pile of leaves :twisted: I loved just finding him in someones pocket or bag then putting him back, they would search for him for ages afterwards.
But alas, as the subject title suggests, my creature has passed on and I have had to dispose of him. The problem began when the thinner side of the gimmick started cracking and a certain something came off in small sections. This left me with a gimmick I could not use as it looked like I had had a bad hand accident, even in poor light (Anyone that has one will know what I mean :wink: ). So I have had to throw it away.
Does anyone else own this and if so have they had similar problems with their creature ?
Should you have to replace your Creature after such a relatively short life span or did I get a bad one ?
I loved my creature dearly and I am missing him like hell. Looks like I will have to replace him but £24 after every four months of use does seem a lot to pay out :cry:

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Postby Stephen Ward » Jul 29th, '05, 19:07

I was going to buy one of those, are they really that good?

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Postby Hodgkinson » Jul 29th, '05, 19:20

YES !!
You can use him in many situations.
For a while I was showing people mine during a card routine. I would say that I did not really find their card, it was my little helper, then have him appear and disappear from under the deck. I found it better if only a few of the spectators saw him. It's amazing to hear what they tell the others they have seen :twisted:
As I bought mine while at the coast I found that digging up creatures from the sand got a great reaction. I had about 30 kids all searching for them, it was great :D

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Postby Stephen Ward » Jul 29th, '05, 19:43

Thanks, i am now going to order a creature of my own :P

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Postby Mahoney » Jul 31st, '05, 14:39

do you have any links for this? Sounds interesting.

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Postby Stephen Ward » Jul 31st, '05, 14:43

Many dealers sell this, i have ordered one

http://www.emagictricks.co.uk/product_i ... ts_id=4900

Keith's official site http://www.arlenstudio.com

If you visit his site, scroll down the home page and check out signed card through chest :shock:

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Postby It_Came_From_Space » Jul 31st, '05, 22:34

could somebody post a video of this as i cant find one on he net anywhere but would love to see it.

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Postby Hodgkinson » Jul 31st, '05, 22:48

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Postby kems » Aug 1st, '05, 08:47

not sure I like it, or the video does it no justice, :? is the gimmick more envolved than I am tthinking? :wink: also I saw creature 2 someware, looks like they have tails.... this would be better!! :)

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Postby Stephen Ward » Aug 1st, '05, 09:26

Creature 2 (Parasite) for sale on Keith's official site.

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Postby Mahoney » Aug 2nd, '05, 00:49

HAHA it's hilarious! :D

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Postby Michael Jay » Aug 2nd, '05, 13:37

Prepare yourself for a rant....

Keith A. Lack is a hack. This "monster" that you're paying 50 dollars for (or about 26 pounds) is an effect that has been gone over by many magicians and the explanation of the effect can be found in either "Magic for Dummies" or "The Idiots Guide to Magic" (I'm not sure which, but one of them). Brother Shadow also explained the effect (using a little hand, which was the hand of an elf that he caught) in an issue of "Linking Ring."

For less than 2 dollars, you can make your own.

But, if you really want to throw your money away, then go ahead and buy Keith's monster. Or, you can equally waste your money getting his bending half dollar, which also becomes useless after several performances.

Nevertheless, you're going to spend your money any way that you please.

Mike.

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Postby leviticus » Aug 9th, '05, 19:35

Ok I have to first state that I am an absolute novice and use
a lot of self working and gimmicked stuff. I am actually learning some
real stuff but I find palming and basic moves such as shuttle passes
and false drop impossible. As its just for family and friends at BBQ's
and mainly my own amusement I'm happy.
So I bought Creature ( a set of three ) and now here we come to
the place where I am master and most of you are novices
I'm a caster in a pottery the gimmicks are cast resin similar in
action to slip ( the liquid clay ) . The magic effect is not being questioned
here Its great if you can do it I alas cannot. Its the quality of the items
1 out of ten tops mine are filled with air bubbles and air locks the finger holes are drilled off center giving a thin wall as already mentioned one of mine was so off set the hole actually come through the side wall and the
remaining thin wall was already cracked not to mention the weathering paint job.. Very nasty worthless Junk. Mike I wish I had read your post before buying once again its not the effect thats bad its the quality of the gimmicks
Andy

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Postby Hodgkinson » Aug 13th, '05, 15:53

Arter a recent chat with a Magi friend (who also has a Creature), he seemed to think that the one I recieved was sub-standard. He has had his for over a year now and it still looks as good as new.
He suggested emailing Keith to let him know about the trouble that I had with mine and see if anything can be resolved.
I have sent Keith an email this morning so I will let you know if I get a reply and what he has to say.

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