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The Vault – Breakers by Ade Rahmat – A Review

The Vault – Breakers by Ade Rahmat – A Review

The Vault – Breakers by Ade Rahmat – A Review
Video Download

This is the Ad Copy:

A playing card, key, coin, or even a borrowed credit card melt right through a solid deck of cards!

After doing a card trick with a regular deck of cards and with no switches you offer to show them an amazing optical illusion. You borrow a key or credit card, drivers license etc. and make it melt right through your solid deck of cards.

As soon as you show the illusion you can show them every card in the deck one by one and they can see the cards are real and that there are no holes in them.

The gimmick is easy to load on and off the deck which allows you to hand the deck out for examination if you would like, or to continue with other effects using the same deck of cards.

Easy to build. Fun to perform. Download it today!

My Thoughts:

I have a soft spot for pocket illusions. If I can take an illusion that fits in my hands.. and fool you with it.. there’s room for it in my repertoire. Since my principle performing venue is a restaurant, BREAKERS is an ideal effect.

I also have a real appreciation for inexpensive magic that works. BREAKERS is very inexpensive and does everything advertised..

Ade Rahmat has created a very functional illusion. You can seemingly pass a selected card completely through a deck of cards. Actually, you can apparently pass any small, flat object through the deck.. including keys, coins, business cards.. and whatever else inspires you.

Notice the key word is ‘apparently’. That’s where the illusion portion comes into play.

Ade’s effect is a download. That means to create the illusion, which in this case is another word for a prop, you’ll need a bit of DIY. Although the prop is reasonably complex.. it’s not complex to construct. Ade uses almost the entire sixteen minute tutorial carefully constructing the prop/gimmick, and walks you through each twist and turn in real time. All you’ll need is a sharp razor and clear double-sided tape. You’ll also need a straight edge (ruler) to assist with accurate cuts and a pencil. That’s it…

You’re taught the basic handling and positioning. There is a bit of angle required.. but your hand should conceal most of the gimmick. Ideally, perform BREAKERS straight on and you shouldn’t have a problem. The gimmick is designed to, basically, fold flat to aid in concealment and ditching.. although you don’t have to ditch it.

The video tutorial is well filmed and wordless. The video image is quite sufficient to construct your gimmick..

For eight bucks.. you can’t beat the price. Go watch the demo video and see how it looks. If this is your type of magic.. you’ll appreciate all the effort Ade put into BREAKERS.

$8.00 .. Available from Murphy’s Magic and their Associates..

https://murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id/72763

Review by Rick Carruth

 

BOUNCE – by Juan Luis Rubiales – A Review

BOUNCE – by Juan Luis Rubiales – A Review

BOUNCE – by Juan Luis Rubiales – A Review
Magic download (video)

This is the Ad Copy:

This is the type of hyper visual effect that makes you stop in your tracks. The type of magic that you just can’t help but smile when you see. “Bounce” is a super fun and innovative technique for making playing cards seemingly appear out of thin air with the bounce of a ball.

“Bounce” by Juan Luis Rubiales (the creative mind behind our bestseller “Debajo”) allows you to add a super visual element to all your favorite card magic tricks. It is one of the most memorable ways to find a selected card, produce a four of a kind and so much more. While “Bounce” is designed to be visual, it can also be performed with face-down cards. That means you can also use it to secretly add on cards in the innocent action of bouncing the ball.

Here’s the craziest part…”Bounce” doesn’t use any fancy gimmicks or special cards. It’s all sleight of hand using a novel technique that can be done with any regular deck of playing cards. While it will take a little practice to get down smoothly, it’s way easier than you might think. Well within the range of any card magician. Multiple ideas are included with your download to get you started.

My Thoughts:

I truly appreciate effects that make you think and expand your creative reach. BOUNCE does just that.. and for the price.. you can’t beat it.

Juan Luis Rubiales has created not just an effect, but a method. You can use his method to reveal cards in any number of ways. Produce four Aces. Turn a face-down card face-up in a group of face-down cards. Secretly add a card to a group of jumbled cards. Reveal multiple cards. All from a simple bounce of a rubber ball.

I know this is a review, but sometimes the best way to get an idea of ‘how’ an effect looks to an audience is to watch the demo video. I encourage anyone with curiosity to watch the video on the Vanishing Inc. site to get a grasp of how good this looks. I can’t truly do it justice with my words… and I’m hard-headed enough I’d certainly try if I thought I could pull it off. I hate to say ‘..just go to the site..’, but sometimes it’s best.

OK.. now that you’ve watch Juan magically produce Aces, I can talk about the fine print.. Juan readily admits learning this is not instantaneous. There’s a bit of a ‘knack’ to releasing four Aces in single file. Releasing one is not hard at all, and you’ll quickly add the others.

I don’t think you have to be a genius to figure out the basics. What Juan teaches you is the subtle nuances to make Bounce look like real magic. For $11.95 you certainly can’t complain about the price. You get a fourteen-minute plus download that teaches several effects and explains the proper type ball to use/buy. Vanishing sells the balls separately.. but I’ve noticed they are out of stock.

Technically, the rubber ball is a juggler’s bounce ball… 140 grams weight and 60 mm diameter. The size of the ball and the composition of the rubber matters. The proper size helps conceal the hidden cards.. and the composition provides the proper surface tension to ‘drag’ the hidden cards into play.

The download itself is a well-filmed, better than most, video. Nothing negative to write about. Juan doesn’t over explain, and makes good use of his 14 minutes of instruction time.

Again.. if you watched the demo, you have a good understanding of what to expect. Personally, I can do one card OK.. with only minutes of practice. My magic cohort, who has practiced somewhat longer, is looking good producing multiple cards. I will definitely recommend BOUNCE to my friends and readers. It’s a great utility move, with a flair, that opens a new avenue to produce or reveal selected cards.

$11.95 .. From Vanishing Inc. and Juan Luis Rubiales

https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/close-up-magic-downloads/bounce/

Review by Rick Carruth for Vanishing Inc. & The Magic Roadshow

Haunted Key Deluxe – A Review

Haunted Key Deluxe – A Review

Haunted Key Deluxe – by Murphy’s Magic – A Review
Gimmicks and Online Instruction

This is the Ad Copy:

Description:
Murphy’s Magic is proud to present the Haunted Key Deluxe! 

Effect:
Imagine placing an old Key on the palm of your hand and without any strings, wires,magnets, electronics, etc. the key starts to move on its own!!! Turning 180 degrees right in the palm of your hand!! A seriously spooky and mystifying effect that can be handed out at any time for complete inspection. You need NO body-hook-ups, NO extra gimmicks and there are NO lighting issues.

The problem with most haunted keys is that they don’t look old or “Haunted”… The Haunted Key Deluxe looks and feels the part.

BONUS!
Also, included is a full tutorial on bonus effects that can be performed with the Haunted Key Deluxe. With some of these effects you may need extra items to perform with.

The Haunted Key Deluxe fits right into your pocket and can be performed in many different environments, making this one of the most versatile gimmicks you can have on you.
Aged Patina
Perfectly Balanced
Large Size
Multi-Effect Tutorial
Fits in Pocket
Take Anywhere

My Thoughts:

The Haunted Key is a classic.. and this is a review of the classic. Seeing as how Halloween is right around the corner, I thought this would be appropriate. I think most of you understand -how- the HK (haunted key) works. There are no electronics, strings, pulls or magnets. It works totally via the power of telekinesis… sort of. Well, saying it APPEARS to work with telekinesis might be more appropriate.

You lay an old-fashioned skeleton key on the palm of your hand.. and with the proper amount of mental power and finesse.. the key slowly begins to turn. It will roll over a full 180 degrees with zero apparent physical help from the magi.

Just for the record.. the three parts of a skeleton key are:
Bow
The bow is the “handle” of the key. Often, antique keys will have a circular shape or design to them.

Barrel
The barrel is the longest part of the key; it’s the component that connects the bow to the bit.

Bit
Bit and teeth go hand and hand. The bit of a key is the teeth at the end, which are inserted into the lock.

Generally, you place the key across the palm of your hand, with the Bit facing you. As you focus your concentration on the key, you’ll see the bit start to move. Slowly, the bit, (and the rest of the key of course..) will begin to turn, and the bit will go from facing you to facing away from you.

How does the key turn? It’s called the ‘ideomotor effect’. If you aren’t sure the meaning.. google it. Let’s just say it’s self-powered. It works, and it REALLY looks good with a little bit of practice.

Murphy’s Magic ‘Haunted Key Deluxe’ is the perfect key for this effect. It is a large key.. which makes it extend the full width of your palm.. and then some.

It is aged properly.. to look like a really old, really spooky accessory.

It is balanced better than any other haunted key I’ve ever used.. and that’s very important.. as you’ll see.

And it drops neatly in your pocket.. to use at a moments notice.

You’re also provided all the instructions you’ll need to get the most use out of your key.

You can’t beat the bang for you bucks. This is so little to spend on something that will bring you such satisfaction as a performer. This isn’t just a Halloween effect. You’ll use this throughout the year, although Halloween gives you a great reason to perform it..

I highly recommend the Haunted Key Deluxe… it’s one of my very favorite bits of magic and mystery.

$14.95 .. From Murphy’s Magic & their Associates

https://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=64377

Review by Rick Carruth for Murphy’s Magic & The Magic Roadshow