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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

spRING – by Joonas Mengel – A Review

spRING – by Joonas Mengel – A Review

spRING – by Joonas Mengel – A Review
Props and Online Instructions

This is the Ad Copy..

spRing is a long-forgotten puzzle that’s been reworked into one of the most classic and iconic plots in magic – the linking rings.

Imagine being able to effortlessly melt a solid ring into the very coils of a tightly wound spring with a visually pleasing and buttery smooth penetration that’s done without any help of the methods typically seen in the traditional linking rings.

In fact, there is nothing to ditch or hide, and you can hand out spRing immediately before, after, and even during your performance if you so choose.

spRing is incredibly easy to perform – it will take you minutes to understand the secret and only hours to master. It’s also suitable for any type of performance and venue.

Here’s what you get:
2 high quality props
45 minutes of expert instruction that includes a multi-phase routine and many alternative handlings to craft a performance suited for you.
Peace of mind of knowing that you’ll never have to hide any gaps or extra rings.
spRing has not been made for everyday carry in mind but this is something you’ll want to carry every day!

My Thoughts:

You have to love old things made new, and the nostalgia that comes with it. I remember playing with a ‘ring on a spring’ when I was in single digits. Now, Murphy’s Magic, creator Joonas Mengel, and presenter Javier Fuenmayor have reintroduced the Ring on a Spring with a little more sophistication and handling.

The premise is… a solid metal ring, approx. 3 1/2 inches, is handed out for inspection. A solid metal spring is also shown and inspected. With little fanfare, the magician links the ring onto the spring, appearing as if he melted the ring onto the spring. He then hands the ring and spring, still linked, out to the spectators for examination.

Although the basic method is super simple, the creators have gone to the extra effort of creating a tutorial, complete with three different full performances, to demonstrate the nuances needed to make this seem to be more of a ‘linking’, as in linking rings, than a puzzle. The extra effort makes this something you can perform close up and during walk arounds. It becomes an effect.

I’m slightly torn because I like quick and easy effects that actually fool a spectator.. but.. You’re going to need to pick your audience carefully. I’m afraid the ring on a spring may be available at too many online locations and you’re going to encounter a lot of folks that are familiar with it. I suggest simply asking a spectator.. ” Are you familiar with the ring on a spring effect?”… and if they say ‘No’.. go for it. If they say ‘Yes’, change course.

If you present it as a linking effect, you may avoid the puzzle crowd altogether. I think that’s the strength of spRing, and that’s the point they teach in the tutorial. They have repurposed a classic puzzle into a new effect.

For the price.. you are paying for two quality props, and primarily, the almost one hour online tutorial. The props can be bought for a few dollars at varying places online, but all you’ll receive is perhaps a minute and a half of instructions. So… decide what the additional instructions are worth to your performance.

I know some of you would like a firm recommendation.. or rebuke.. but you’re not getting that today. Like so many other effects, your satisfaction will depend on whether you USE spRing.. or toss it in your ‘magic’ drawer. If you take time to develop your moves and patter.. it has plenty of potential in the hands of a dedicated magician. If you aren’t willing to give the time to spRing, you’re better off moving along.

spRing, although very simple, isn’t going to do all the work for you in the real world. Our audience is way more sophisticated than audiences forty years ago.. and you have to provide a well-polished effect.

Pros: Nice props. Much larger than normal spring and ring. Easy to learn. Fully examinable. All the dirty work performed under the spectator’s nose and nothing to ditch or conceal.

Cons: The only statement I disagree with in the ad copy is.. “spRing is a long-forgotten puzzle..” Considering the number of video tutorials I found on a certain online video platform.. I don’t think it’s long forgotten. Some spectators will be familiar with this effect beforehand. Price tag.. I’m starting to get comfortable with thirty dollar price tags on magic products.. and I’m guessing that’s the whole point.

This effect can be performed by any skill level magician. You’ll be performing spRing’s basic handling in ten minutes. The Video and sound quality are typical Murphy’s Magic, nothing negative to write about, and you can either watch the tutorial online or download it. Either way, you’ll have no trouble learning this easy-to-perform effect.

$29.95 .. From Murphy’s Magic and their Associates

https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=71077

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

ORBIT by Mark Parker & Jonathan Fox – A Review

ORBIT by Mark Parker & Jonathan Fox – A Review

ORBIT by Mark Parker & Jonathan Fox – A Review

This is the Ad Copy:

This is exactly the type of magic effect that peaked your interest and served as the gateway to the art. Why? It’s super visual, super fun and pulls people in like a magnet. Even better it’s EASY to perform allowing you to focus on the most important aspect of any effect – the performance! It also has the advantage of quick reward – which makes it perfect for street magic, strolling. It gets right to the point.

Imagine making – Mobile phones, glasses, dishes, wine glasses, credit cards, CD’s any suitable object float between your hands! Orbit is a revolutionary levitation device!

-Super Visual
-Easy to do
-One size fits all
-No threads or magnets
-Completely self-contained
-Robust and heavy duty (THIS IS NOT A TT)
-No set-up, the gimmick is always ready
-Comes with special gimmick ready to go

Please note angle considerations during performance.
Every detail is covered in a step by step online instructional video. Nothing is left out.Now go out there and blow your spectators away!
Idea for Orbit by Illusion Designer Mark Parker brought to life by Jonathan Fox and Global Magic Shop..

My Thoughts:

ORBIT is a levitation gimmick device. You can ‘levitate’ almost anything with weight.. from cell phones to packs of playing cards to glasses of wine. Thankfully, Orbit does NOT employ threads or magnets, and can be brought in and out of play with almost a moment’s notice..

There was a time twenty years ago when I performed my ‘magic’ in a public setting.. for anyone who would watch. One of my favorite devices was a suction cup attached to a thumb tip. I would attach it to a cola can and casually wait until I thought someone was watching. The can would suddenly ‘get away from me’.. and I’d try to reel it back in, indiscreetly, as if I hoped no one saw my misfortune. I’ve had literally dozens upon dozens of folks walk up to me, perplexed, and want to know how my cola can ‘appeared’ to take flight.

I loved it…

Well.. it’s been long enough that it was time for someone to bring this cool little device back for a new generation. Illusion Designer Mark Parker and Jonathan Fox with Global Magic Shop have done so.. and I’m glad.

I’m not going to tell you this is a thumb tip, because, in the traditional sense, it’s not. But it does go on the thumb.

Orbit works on the same principle as the original device. Fortunately, Orbit is adjustable to fit different size thumbs, and comes with shims to make it customizable. It is NOT latex or soft plastic.. but a very hard plastic to last a very long time. It also features ball bearings between the connection points, joining the thumb holder to the suction cup. This is a very important feature, as it allows for hand movements far outside the boundary’s of the original.

Jonathan Fox goes into considerable detail in the almost 50-minute tutorial, teaching how to properly handle the gimmick to get the proper balance and appearance to make your performance ‘magical’.

Special sections are included for attaching to playing card boxes, cell phones and wine glasses. Quick note: To attach to a card box, you need a box with the cellophane wrapper.

ORBIT comes with a heavy-duty gimmick holder for easy retrieval and ditching. The holder has a clip to attach to your pocket or belt. The holder is also close-able to simplify carrying the gimmick.

The last two sections of the tutorial include a section on maintenance and a bonus section on early prototypes and the thought processes that went into designing the new version.

Jonathan doesn’t call ORBIT a stand-alone effect, but an enhancement device to add an additional level of sophistication to your performance. Knowing me.. I’m just a step away from 2002 all over again.

There isn’t a real skill level. Even a beginner, if you watch the instructions and pay attention to your positioning, will be able to perform in short order. Obviously, you cannot perform surrounded. So a little audience management will be necessary.

As I mentioned.. the tutorial is approx. 50 minutes and you can watch it online or download it to your desktop. The quality is good, the sound is good, and you’ll have zero problems with the video.

The performance visuals are something special, and ORBIT is definitely a device you need to give serious consideration to purchasing. If the price seems a tad steep, it’s not. It’s built to last. And once you’re comfortable with the handling, you’ll be glad you listened to me. You’ll find yourself using ORBIT over and over… I promise.

I recommend it…

$39.95 .. From Murphy’s Magic and their Associates..

https://murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=71843

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

The Vault – Moving Pen by DingDing – A Review

The Vault – Moving Pen by DingDing – A Review

The Vault – Moving Pen by DingDing – A Review
Video Download

The Ad Copy states simply… 

“This is a visual effect: a pen through a hole on the card and moves freely.

No magnets, no thread, easy to learn!”

My Thoughts:

DingDing is a young performer/creator who to date has created about 20 different effects for The Vault. This is his latest.. and definitely one of my favorites.

The magi shows two cards with a small hole punched in the middle of both cards. The two cards are shown front and back, and then one card is placed on top of the other with the holes aligned. A pen is stuck through the holes and, again, shown front and back. The magi then moves the pen up and down. As the top card moves with the pen, the bottom card remains stationary… which
-should- be impossible. Afterwards, the magi removes the pen and again shows only two small holes in each card.

DingDing has published about 20 Effects with Murphy’s ‘The Vault’, including…

Hijack
Hijack 2.0
Sink Coin
Ink Permeation
Amazing Straw
Dice Through Card

Each effect ranges in price from $6 to $12 and involves a bit of DYI.. but not too much DYI.. as I am not a fan of creating your own gimmicks and probably wouldn’t review Moving Pen if I were “put off”.. Actually, it’s not a bad idea to know how to create your own gaff from scratch.. providing it doesn’t take hours to construct.

The Moving Pen tutorial video carefully explains everything you need to know in about 13 minutes. You will need a hole punch, some repositional glue, an Exacto knife or razor blade, and a couple of playing cards. The tutorial uses two Queens and a blank card, but you do not have to use a blank.

The gimmick can be created in 20 to 30 minutes. DingDing does a good job explaining and demonstrating everything you need to know. The video is a single shot and not overly sophisticated, but it doesn’t need to be. No problems with the video or the sound.

Can you hand the gimmick out for inspection..? After your performance, you can openly show both sides of the gimmick.. but you cannot hand it out for close inspection.

Should you buy it..? Since this is a quick, visual effect.. I suggest you go to the Murphy’s link and watch the video performance. It gives you everything you need to decide whether this is something for you. If you perform effects like the pen thru dollar, you’ll enjoy performing Moving Pen. Remember, there’s NO threads or magnets involved, and you can easily create several of these gimmicks at a time and they should serve you well through many performances.

$12.00 .. From Murphy’s Magic and their Associates..
https://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=72180

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