talkmagic.co.uk

by **Tom Lauten** » Mar 14th, '06, 21:53

Ultimate Floating Match by Steve Shufton

Available from most magic retailers

Priced around $24.95 (USD) / £24.99 (GBP)

Close up magic

Difficulty: 1.5 out of 5

They say:
Steve Shufton's Ultimate Floating Match takes close up levitations to new heights! Endorsed by Ben Harris, creator of the original floating match, "After twenty years I am thrilled to see such wonderful advances with my little floating match concept. Great job Steve!" This is the Cadillac of close up levitation effects!

Display an open book of matches. After removing a match, demonstrate that by simply rubbing it on the other matches in the pack it becomes charged and will resist the other matches. The match rises into the air a full inch above the book! Freely suspended and completely under your control! You can even set the matchbook down and the match will still float! By waving a toothpick under, behind, over and ALL AROUND the floating match, the magician demonstrates that there can be no possible means of support!

A duplicate matchbook makes it possible to let the spectator inspect everything! If desired, the matchbook, match, and toothpick can be handed out for examination!

This effect is completely self-contained, can be done anywhere, anytime, and is very EASY to do! This is perhaps the best, most compelling, and simplest close-up floating match effect on the market today!

• Completely self-contained system!
• No magnets, bulky apparatus, or hook-ups.
• Custom matchbook with classy design.
• Floating match finally makes sense!
• Do anywhere, extremely easy!

Every time Steve Shufton shows this effect, it leaves the audience spellbound! Each one is meticulously hand made with close attention to every detail. Each one is inspected and tested to make sure it's perfect! These are sturdy, and with proper care, they will last indefinitely. After hundreds of performances, we can assure you they are built to last!

Please note that this is not the cheaper match on a playing card effect. There are no suspicious moves, no bending of cards, or other out of place manipulations. The time put into each unit and the careful meticulous construction and attention to detail will not be found in any similar effect. Most importantly, this will stun your audiences!

I say:
Steve Shufton deserves a medal. He is a braver man than I. Well, he's either brave or out of his flippin' tree…actually I suspect both.

Steve makes each of these gimmicks himself… by hand. When you get one you will see just how much work goes into each gimmick.

If you like the look of a floating match over a playing card, you’re going to LOVE “UFM“!

You receive a white letter size envelope bulging with goodness. There is a small sticker on the front of the envelope with Steve's face peering out at you from over his glasses.
Inside the ‘matchbook’ envelope you will find five sheets of paper (six in the matchbox set) with full handling instructions, warnings, and routine pointers. These are as complete as you might need although the routine pointers are fairly simple. A full routine is up to you, heck, you are in possession of a gravity defying match…you MUST be able to make something of THAT!

Also within the envelope you will find two smaller pay/coin envelopes (only one extra envelope with the matchbox, the un-gimmicked matchbox is loose in the main packaging). The larger contains a matching un-gimmicked matchbook. The envelope with the gimmick inside is sealed with a small security sticker. This warns you to read the instructions before delving into the envelope to fetch out your gimmick…DO THAT. If you damage the gimmick by mishandling it you will be out of luck. The sticker tells you that your gimmick has been tested and was in full working order upon packing into the envelope.

The logos on the covers of both matchbook and matchbox sport the name "Shufton's - Finest Quality Since 1958"…a small concession to ego perhaps…and why not? The text on the covers aids in handling. You also get a loose match and a toothpick with the matchbook …no detail left out. With the matchbox you will utilise one or two of the loose matches from the gimmicked box.

The gimmicks themselves handle very well. The floating effect is a joy to see. . Spectators will "Ooo" and "Ahhh" at all the right places if you set it up well…your patter and performance that is, the matches are always ready. That brings me to reset…there is none, well a tiny bit if you want to be technical but nothing really to speak of.

Obviously this is not actual magic so you will need to learn a handling procedure but it is no hardship. Most angles are OK to view the effect from but you may want to avoid back lighting and overhead fluorescents. The effect is best in subdued lighting and without grabby spectators. It plays out as advertised and you can offer the un-gimmicked extra book or box for inspection after a simple switch, or not…the choice is yours.

If you get the handling wrong you could end up with broken gimmick so do your homework and get everything clear in your head first. The props are not exactly fragile but if used outside the parameters for which they were designed you will break them.

Overall:
I think both of these effects are tasty indeed. I have had the luxury of trying both and I'm glad I didn't have to decide which to have. I can imagine using both. I find the matchbook a bit easier to handle but I think anyone could become proficient with either in a matter of a day without breaking sweat.

You don't need a playing card…HOORAY! These look like everyday items and they are all you need, no excuses need to be made to the punters.

The illusion itself is fantastic! It really looks like a miniature stage effect, dramatic and visually magical. It is genuinely very difficult to see the workings even when you are the one performing it…that’s very unusual and satisfying.

The price is a little bit lofty especially in the UK but I don’t mind…in fact, it’s totally fair. Imagine how much it costs to have a matchbook and a matchbox designed and printed. Then you have to pay for your minimum order of 5 billion sets, now you HAND MAKE every single gimmick and check it, not forgetting to purchase the extra bits involved in the gimmicking. Next write and print out five or six pages of text for each set. Head off to the office supply store and buy all the different envelopes…oh yes, print out the stickers and put the whole lot together. This is a professional quality bit of close up work from Steve Shufton’s personal repertoire and we SHOULD pay a fair price for the fruits of such labour and inventiveness.

If you like fun close up magic…full on fanciful magic…buy one…or both. It’s so much fun to watch, you will perform it for yourself. I dare you not to be tempted!

Rating out of 10: A solid 9 out of 10. You wanted a floating match effect that looks real…you got it.