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ninepine New user 27 Posts |
This is an interesting concept and claims to work with any wallet. It allows you to apparently pull a chosen card from your wallet. The blurb says "The Wallet Transformer allows you to show a single playing card tucked inside your wallet. In the cleanest manner imaginable you pull the card out to show that it is the signed card belonging to your spectator that everyone believed was lost in the deck".
The packaging also says "The gimmick can be fitted into ANY wallet". As with all BigBlindMedia productions the packaging, DvD and other materials are well produced. Having purchased the trick I'm somewhat torn. In many ways this is (to me) a new design of gimmick but is is also a potentially flawed one too. I need to be very careful here. For many of you the method may prove a workable way of performing the effect. My issues are all around the gimmick and the claims that this can be used in any wallet. Like many tricks today what you receive is not a fully functioning effect but the materials to make one. This is not a criticism of this particular effect but more a comment on magic today. What you get are clear instructions on how to use the materials supplied to make a gimmick that will fit in your wallet. Also some instruction on the moves to make the chosen card disappear from between two other cards. The gimmick is printed with a Bicycle red Back but bizarrely this is immaterial to the effect and you could use any poker sized card of any back design. The effect. A card is selected and signed. It is placed between two other cards and vanishes appearing in your wallet. You pull the signed card from your wallet and hand it to the spectator. The trick relies on the fact that a poker size playing card can be pulled from a credit card slot. Some wallets will have slots large enough to allow this. Others will require some adjustment (to the gimmick). Although other presentations are given this is essentially a single trick DvD and one where, in my opinion, the gimmick is still a work in progress. If you want a card in wallet effect you can do with a normal wallet then this might work for you but not every wallet is equally suitable for the effect. Neither are the materials supplied to construct the gimmick necessarily the best solution for the problem. I would rate this 55%. An interesting concept but one where more work is required. |
Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
Thanks for the review.
Couple of things: The red backed gimmick does serve a purpose. It is used for another trick on the DVD called 3 Card Money. Also, we thought people might enjoy coming up with their own ideas for it which is why two gimmicks are included. In terms of the gimmick being a work in progress, well, not sure how to respond to that. The materials provided were chosen for durability (the gimmick won't wear out) and customization. If anyone has better ideas for what materials to use, please let me know. I can always pass on new ideas to customers. The gimmick could not have been pre-made. It needs to be customized to fit into your particular wallet. A little history, I came up with the original concept for this effect 6 years ago and have since played with a lot of variations. The final version has been living in my wallet for two years and seems to be the most practical, durable method for this illusion. This was not slapped together at the last minute. A lot of thought went into it. I am always open to suggestions. If anyone has any ideas as to how the gimmick could be improved, let me know. But I'm stumped as I thought I had reached the best solution in terms of practicality and ease of use. Bottom line is, it does what it says on the tin. The illusion works. If you like the illusion on the demo, then you'll probably like the trick. Looks like that in real life, too.
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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Jamie Ferguson Inner circle Alba Gu Brà th 3640 Posts |
Wow, that was quite a negative review for one of Cameron's products. I'm surpised.
The video pretty much shows what you're getting. It seems like the DIY aspect is off-putting. This is on my Blackpool 'to buy' list. I'm still looking forward to getting it despite the bad review. I think it will be good.
When the chips are down, the duvet is uncomfortable.
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Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
Well, I'll say this, I sold out at Magi Fest. Demmed it like crazy. People knew exactly what they were getting when they bought it from me. I even showed a lot of guys the gimmick once they purchased it and they loved it. I also showed it to a lot of other dealers and performers and they loved it. A lot of really smart, well known magicians thought it was really good and got pretty excited about it.
I guess what I'm saying is that the overwhelming opinion from people who saw it in action and purchased it has been very, very positive. While I appreciate constructive criticism, I will say again that this took a long time to develop and I cannot imagine what other materials would be better suited for the gimmick. As it is, the gimmick looks good and will not wear out. To me, those are the most important aspects. The illusion also looks very good. I do not know how to make it look better using this gimmick.
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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Feral Chorus Elite user CA 495 Posts |
I agree with Jamie that the video lets you know exactly what you are getting. The versatility and practicality of the gimmick seems very strong and ideal for informal situations. I am looking forward to more reviews.
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Chessmann Inner circle 4242 Posts |
Heck of a lot better than the days of only being able to look through a catalog and make a choice based only on a description and a drawing!
My ex-cat was named "Muffin". "Vomit" would be a better name for her. AKA "The Evil Ball of Fur".
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Jamie Ferguson Inner circle Alba Gu Brà th 3640 Posts |
I like your new picture Chessman, what's the story?
When the chips are down, the duvet is uncomfortable.
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Chessmann Inner circle 4242 Posts |
Thank you, Jamie. I was in a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta last year called "The Yeomen of the Guard". I played Col. Fairfax, under penalty of death in the Tower of London (unjustly, of course), but with the help of friends, escapes and disguises himself as one of the Yeomen of the Guard. It was lots of fun!
My ex-cat was named "Muffin". "Vomit" would be a better name for her. AKA "The Evil Ball of Fur".
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Jamie Ferguson Inner circle Alba Gu Brà th 3640 Posts |
Great story Chessman, sounds like it was a blast!
When the chips are down, the duvet is uncomfortable.
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crestfallenLyric Veteran user 307 Posts |
I wanted to chime in on the review because I disagree on some points with the original review. Obviously all this is just my opinion.
Like Mr. Francis already said, there is no way this could have come with pre-built gimmicks. It simply doesn't make sense. I have I trifold wallet with vertical slots on the outer ends. If it had been prebuilt as seen in the demo, it would not work in my wallet. Then I would have had to find my own materials to replicate the same thing and change it for my wallet, and given the gimmicks required, it wouldn't have been impossible but it would definitely have been annoying. Plus, this kinds of arts and crafts with the provided materials took me under 2 minutes to put together and fit into my wallet. The gimmick being printed on Bicycle back isn't relevant to the main effect, the DVD has 2 effects, the second of which explains why one would use the back. Even though he doesn't show it, I still end it with a the wallet gimmick just like Chris Congreave's sexy 3 card monte. I'm not sure in what wallets this wouldn't work in (except those without credit card slots). I'm also not sure what materials would be better suited for the gimmick. You want something that's very thin and flexible that won't break. I can't think of better materials to use. Maybe gimmicks that were thin plastic instead, but I don't see what immediate advantage that provides. The great advantage of what's provided is that they are pretty easily attainable again if something breaks which doesn't seem likely. In my opinion, 55% for this is far too low. I would be more apt to give it somewhere around a "hella good buy". The gimmick does exactly what it says, it looks really convincing, and it was easy to adjust the gimmick for my oddball wallet. I have a safe card-to-wallet now and I couldn't be happier.
"It is better for a man to honor his profession, than to be honored by it." - Robert-Houdin
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Zombie Magic Inner circle I went out for a beer and now have 8733 Posts |
We're all different in what we love or don't care for. Good for ninepine sharing his feelings on it. We learn more when we have different views.
For me, Cameron has come up with a killer method. He supplies everything and it's so easy to make up. Since all wallets are different, it was best to be able to customize this by the user. Yes, the gaff are red Bikes. BUT...you can use any cards, brands, colors. I made it up in Mandolins. Penguin has this in stock now: http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S15139 |
daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
I wonder how it stacks up next to Joshua Jay's "Transporter" ? The effect sounds quite similar.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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CaMagic51 New user 77 Posts |
I really appreciate both the negative and positive reviews. Being honest and candid are key. I am seriously thinking about this, but haven't bought it. It reminds me of a portable version of Mark Mason's Mirage Wallet. A very nice illusion and very well performed by Cameron. Thanks for a new temptation for my money [smile].
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Yup! Agreed! Cards to wallet are always tempting!
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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Zombie Magic Inner circle I went out for a beer and now have 8733 Posts |
I LOVE Wallet Transformer!
The genius of what Cameron came up with is that you can "set it" it as you close it. When it's reopened...there is a card inside now! I take out my wallet and open it, clearly there is no card ( I have patter to justify the wallet ). I put it down on a table or have an audience member hold the wallet. Now when the wallet is opened, there is a playing card. You will get gasps from this. People can connect the dots where this is going, but they struggle with their intelligence, because they know that is not possible ( even if they love Star Trek;-) Tommy Wonder was not a fan of card to wallet because it was introduced at the end of the routine. He felt that was a weakness. With Cameron's gimmick the wallet can be shown open, with no card seen and put on the table. I have it set up in my Paul Harris/Tim Trono Super Slim Hip Pocket Mullica, so now I have a double card to wallet. |
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