Anyone have a review on this effect. I usually don't care for Michael Close that much, but this effect sounded interesting. Here's the description.

A wonderful, comical tale of science and cloning. Nine cards are introduced, all blank on both sides. A tenth card has the face of a clown. The clown card is placed into the blank packet and instantly "cloned!" As the comedy builds, the spectator gets involved in the "cloning" process and the cloning gets out of control! For the climax the audience looks up to find a big red clown nose has magically appeared on your face!

It sounds interesting, but could be dissapointing. I was just wondering if anyone knows whether this effect is worth carrying for walk around? Is it good for kids and adults? Is just going to sit on my shelf?

Thanks in advance.

CJ,

I purchased this effect a long time ago hoping it would be great for my walk around gigs. Perhaps it was just me...but I never seemed to get that much of a response from this trick...again maybe it was just me? I "worked" it for a few months then sold it.

Another reason for selling it was that the routine requires you to lay out 9 cards on the table...I never like to take up too much table space when I am strolling. I actually had to purchase this effect twice...due to some cards getting accidentally "wet" from laying them on a table.

I guess for the right environment and the right performer this could be a great little routine...it just didn't work for me in the real world.

A little off the subject: I will say that Mike's pothole trick was a complete success...I have been doing restaurants magic for 11 years now and the pothole trick kills!

I hope this helps,
Cody S. Fisher

Thanks for your help. And by the way. I do have the DVD that has his Pothole trick on it. I like the effect, but I haven't tried it out on a lay audience. I also like his Ooh Ahh Bird and, of course, Dr. Strangetrick.

I have seen a few of his other DVD's as well. My problem with Michael Close is that his "workers" don't work for me. Many of them require a memorized deck or involve carrying around "20 sets of cards with common mens' names on them. I don't think most of his stuff is practical which is a shame because that's the biggest thing his advertises.

However I don't want to sound like I'm bashing Mr. Close. He has a lot of experience in magic and has had a lot of success. I'm just a beginner compared to him. I am by NO means trying to sound like I'm better than he is. His routines work for him and he entertains his audience. That's the important thing. I just don't think that most of his stuff fits my paricular style.

Anyways, thanks again for the help.

I tried this on my family recently and all agreed it was the best and funniest thing they ever saw me do. (And they have seen it all.) The clowns growing out of control is good, but the climax ending is what makes this essential.
I do agree with you, CJ, in that I am not a big fan of Mike Close's stuff, but this is hysterically funny.

I have this effect (close's clones) if you want to purchase it for $10. That includes shipping.
I don't use it anymore. It's in perfect condition.

Frank

I got this and am thinking of revamping the handling.
Show as 5 cards with blank faces, clowns on the backs.
Do some gestures toy have each blank magiCALLY turn blank then show if you press his nose, the clowning happens, how clowns all over the place.
I guess you could even use the gypsey curse stack to show one clown and 3 blanks and then reveal, but I am not all that thrilled with original handling.
Then again, I have never seen close perform it.

I watched the video with this on it. I liked it alot. I bought the cards and thought the way it was described in the instructions was kinda dull. I think seeing Close perform it himself is helpful with this one. I haven't performed it yet. I've been working on Pothole which looks great to me.

When I worked restaurants, this always played HUGE. The corny joke at the end always went over well. I guess it depends on what's you. For me, this one is a winner.

FC

In the instructions for this effect, Close mentions that the "kicker" was added by Mike Weber..To me the "kicker" is the whole effect. I do a wild card type routine (based on Bob Farmer's Headhunter) with clown faces(which takes up far less room and is IMNSHO better, at least for me) but the real reaction and large laughs come with the finish.

I am somewhat of a fan of Close. It was posted, "I don't think most of his stuff is practical which is a shame because that's the biggest thing his advertises." He only releases and publishes effects that he performs or has performed for laymen on a regular basis, it may not be practical for you, but it was or is practical for him.

Close's Clones is an effect that is generally not considered to be a hard hitting effect, it gets a great laugh and good reaction, but hardly not exactly the strongest peice of magic on the market. I believe Close defended the effect a little bit in Closely guarded secrets explaining that in that right venue for the right crowd it generates big laughs with minimal work. (not an exact quote)

On a person note, the effect does take up some table space (as previously posted), that may or may not be an issue for you. The effect, at least I feel, plays better for children than adults, I do think of it as something to perform for children at a table, but adults will enjoy the performance. Personally I think the effect is worth picking up. I generally do not perform for children, but whenever I am stuck in a situation in which I have to, I feel I can always rely on the effect.

Wondering if anyone has a link to Michael's performance of this effect? Would love to see how he does it as I've recently received my one

I thought I would share my sons performance of this routine. He is Severn years old and this is one of his favourites package tricks.

Bottom line it’s an awesome routine.

https://youtu.be/bOIsmHB9a8k

So cute. Thanks, Craig.

Very impressive that the little boy did that trick so well.

Thank you so much.

Impressive. Very. But don't call him a "kid magician" - going by his performance, he is a proper magician who just happens to be a kid. And congrats to you too for all the training you must have put into him. Great !!

Cute kid. good trick. fool us?

Great job Ryland!