|
|
TheReviewer New user 11 Posts |
Hello, this is my first of a series of reviews on here. I wish to remain anonymous and all the reviews I publish will be as fair as possible. My sole reason for reviewing the things I have chosen is that I could have saved a lot of money if someone else had done the same. I work every evening in the real world and have been doing so for a few decades. I know what works and what doesn't and will not make a review until the item has been tested properly and fairly.
The Review... Gaeton Bloom has created quite an ingenious effect with this one. The idea is extremely clever and upon watching the video I was very badly fooled! Like I said, the idea is very clever and I’m sure in certain performing situations it will be an amazing effect. My own experience however is slightly different. I saw the video of the trick and was fooled badly so I thought it was a good idea to spend the £60 the magic shop was asking for. A good friend of mine also bought the effect at the same time but he received it before I did. I asked him to perform it for me, and this is what I saw: He removed from his pocket a pack of cards contained within some kind of box. I had to laugh! As a magician constantly using cards, the size of the box looked ridiculous. This is kind of a moot point as the average laymen wont recognize the difference in size, especially not in England, as most people haven't even seen a deck of Bicycle cards. Even so, the purist that I am, the size and feel of the box in unacceptable. Moving on the actual effect. He placed the cards in the box and had my selected card placed to the top, still sticking out from the box. From here the effect began. Now, I’m sure anyone who sees this effect in person is going to be watching extremely closely, it's just that type of effect but that’s the problem! I can't imagine anyone being fooled by this one unless they are standing a particular distance away for reasons I can't give without revealing the secret of the trick. With regards to the value for money on this product, I would have to say it's not best pricing for what you get. A good price for the item would be about £15 or $25. I know you are paying for the secret, but whilst the secret is clever, the effect when unless seen from over five feet away, or on a scrappy quick time video, is NOT a fooler by any means. Perhaps I'm missing something, or perhaps I have really good eyesight. In closing, I will say that there is someone like me who is reading this and my advise to them is there are better ways to blow £60. It is a novel and clever idea, however I can't imagine it working in the real world. If I had known what the effect looked like in person and the method upon which it is achieved, I definitely would not have purchased the Escalator Card. The Reviewer |
runawayjag Inner circle 1085 Posts |
Having actually performed this for the paying public on dozens of occasions now, I would have to respectfully disagree with this review. The trick plays well and it is very effective to laymen even up close. One must use care in the handling and, yes, the case is larger, but like a thumbtip or one card showing twice during an Elmsley count, if your presentation and misdirection is done well, it goes by unnoticed. I only do it once. That is, the card is placed face up on the bottom of the deck and "rises" up to the top, where the deck is removed from the case and the audience sees that the card truly IS on top.
Nope, I disagree. I think this is an excellent effect. In an earlier thread I said it was not well made, but I think I got a fluke. My "defective" one was replaced in a very timely manner by the dealer and I've had no problems since. To each his own, but I think it's excellent and priced right. |
James Watkins Elite user 412 Posts |
I don't know if it is just me, but these types of things scream mechanical to me. I am not a fan of the Rising Card deck either. That is just me though. I am mostly a purist, so maybe that is it..
Later, James |
TheReviewer New user 11 Posts |
Perhaps I have also received and seen faulty ones. This is very strange. To me the effect is awful, I was fooled on the video, but seeing it done in person the method was painfully obvious. Several professional magicians I know have also experienced this when watching the effect and out of 6 of us who purchased the effect, 5 are looking for buyers to relieve us of this trick the other hasn't actually received his yet, but we'll see.
After speaking with magicians personally and comparing their feelings on the trick with reviews on this forum, it's beginning to feel like I'm living in a parallel universe. I haven't heard a good review from any of the professional magicians I know, yet I haven't read a bad review for the trick in this forum. My problem isn't the fact that the cardbox looks like a big tub with cardbox sides glued to it. My problem is that if you watch the effect closely you can see exactly whats going on! Believe me the first time I watched it in person I wanted to be fooled, mine was on its way after all! Hell if I just put a close-up picture of the trick in progress, it would tip the gaff straight away! Don't forget, these are only my opinions and the opinions of a few of my close friends and to be honest I don't care if you disagree. The point to this post is to inform people of things that I was not informed of before I bought the trick. If it works for you GREAT, you must smother this thing in misdirection! The fact is it isn't for every performer, it isn't for every audience and it isn't for every situation. If I had read this posts a month ago I could have saved £60 and I'm fed up of wasting my money! The Reviewer |
Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-03-14 23:55, TheReviewer wrote: When you make this type of statement, it would be nice to know what pro didn't like ti.
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
runawayjag Inner circle 1085 Posts |
The purpose of YOUR post may be to "inform people of things you weren't informed with before you bought the trick.." but the purpose of this entire forum is to give magicians ALL points of view, not just yours. So, I don't care that you don't care that I disagree; I am entitled to my opinion and to so state it on this forum.
I'm sorry the trick didn't work for you. You say "the fact is this isn't for every performer, it isn't for every audience, and it isn't for every situation.." Can you name a trick that IS for every performer, every audience and every situation? And, no, I don't smother it in misdirection. Those on this site who know who I am know that I have performed close-up magic for a living for 35 years now, so I know the difference between intelligent misdirection and overkill. In any case, you, too, are entitled to your opinion and I'm sorry the trick disappointed you. I'm sure it would disappoint some others, too, as well as finding a place in the repertoires of many. Finally, posting a close-up photo of the trick in progress would be so out of context, it's ludicrous. That would be like putting a close-up photo of the $100 Bill Switch in progress and the thumbtip showing! Of course it would tip the gaff. You don't stop the movement and bring it right up close to the spectators when you do the trick. As I said in my first post, I respectfully disagreed with you, intending no insult nor offense, but simply offering my thoughts which presented another point of view. You deserved no disrespect and neither do I. In any case, good luck with your reviewing. |
Steve Oxford Regular user Churchville,MD. 155 Posts |
Reviewer and Runawayjag;
First off thanks for two very good opinions. When I first saw this advertised, I passed on it. While I have passed this by, after reading both of your comments, I am going to look at it more seriously. This is what I feel a discussion board should be. S. |
TheReviewer New user 11 Posts |
Hmmm, you can hardly compare this trick to that of a thumb tip. At no point during a trick with at thumb tip is the thumb tip under such scrutiny as in the Escalator card. The audience is starring straight at the gaff, all they need to do is focus and all becomes obvious. The trick is happening so slowly that showing a photo of the effect in motion is not such a silly idea.
I am a purist yes and I feel the possibility of being caught out with this effect is unacceptable. Sorry, didn't mean to sound snappy, I just felt this point of view needed to be put across. Like I said all the members of this forum have all given this trick great reviews... I just don't understand why!? I MUST be missing something... The Reviewer |
nitram Veteran user London U.K. 308 Posts |
I have the Escalator. At first I thought about the money. I thought just what have I bought !
This would not be the first time that I have thought this either about something that I have ordered. But once I watched the DVD that came with it and the HANDLING tips, I quickly realised why it cost what it did. This item is obviously Handmade in order for it to work smoothly so hence the cost. It is not an effect on it's own but can be used within a card routine. I especially liked the use of the omni deck (solid plexiglass deck)for a finale on the dvd. It is made with solid parts that can be updated reasonably easy when things wear or break. It does require some more imaginative uses though in order that it does not become stale. Sometimes we magicians get too involved with the mechanics of a trick and forget it's purpose. How many times have you seen something and know how it is done ? This does not mean that the lay audience knows how though, but we worry about it constantly. The number one thing about any 'show' is presentation and enjoying what you do. The choice is simple really. If you do magic for 'fun' on a small budget, do not get this. If you are going to use this often, the cost long term is small for an item that will last. Of course parts will wear out but they can be replaced as per the dvd instructions. If you just want to present ungimmicked card tricks only, then good on you. All I think is that this just adds an unusual ending that very few people have ever seen. Regards Nitram UK |
emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
I'll finally chime in on this effect. I've read all the posts in this and other threads and I've seen the demo video. I was impressed initially but after 20+ years of buying magic, I make it a rule now to never buy a trick until I see it performed. As luck would have it, I attended the MagiFest where the Escalator was being demo'd. (I believe by Stevens). Anyway, over the course of 3 days, I watched the trick be performed 5 times (maybe more but I lost count).
I had no real idea how the trick was done going in so I was excited to be fooled. Unfortunately, I wasn't fooled in the least. Angles seem to be a major problem to be considered when performing this. I stood slightly to the side on 4 of the 5 performances, and on every one, the method was blatantly obvious. I made my fiance watch it once and she laughed out loud because she immediately figured it out. Does this mean the trick is bad. Heck no. It may have just been a poor demonstrator. (unfortunately the days of Rich Bloch and Paul Diamond are long gone). But for those considering a purchase like I was, just thought I'd mention that you have some angles to deal with so your handling has to address this. |
BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
I have had this effect since it first came out, and I have yet to be busted by Magician or Spectator.
Properly handled, the effect offers excellent angles of performance, and appears to be a genuine miracle. I recently perfromed this for a local very closed weekly magic group. These guys are the guys you want to critique your performance as they are long time magicians and technicians of the art. And they are also drop dead honest, and give real constructive advice. We were all seated (6 of us) around a large round table, I stood up at my place got the box out of my pocket, dumped the cards into my hands and set the box down on the table. I then began a conventional ambitious card routine with the cards, and brought the card back to the top a couple of time. Then I recounted what had happened and lamented that it was unfortunate that that the ambitious card kept coming back to the top, which was pretty impressive, but unfortunately nobody could actually see it happening since the ambitious card is also shy. Then I took the deck back and put it back in the box, leaving the ambitious card out, and told the spec (who was a magician) that I would make it more interesting, and have the ambitous card go down thru the deck and return visibly, so I inserted it face up on top of the other cards in the box, halfway with half of the card sticking out. The card went down, and came back up, and nobody, not even the person still seated at my right, saw anything but the card going down and back up. The box sat on the table the whole time I did the conventional ambitious card routine, and drew no heat at all. Sit it next to another card box, and yes, you will see a difference, but all by itself, the box is innocent enough. If someone is performing it and the spectators see what they shouldnt see, then the perfromer just shouldnt be performing it. It isn't very hard at all to do. But like any other magic trick, a bad performer can made a good trick look bad. And a good performer can make a bad trick look good. I am not the best performer in the world, but I get an awful lot of compliments, and bookings, as a result of doing the excalator. Anonymous reviewers have absolutely no credibility anyway. How do we even know that a self proclaimed reviewer is even a magician... And if so, are they working pros, or hobbyists. But what value can a review have if you don't know the credibility of the source. And based on the review, I really have to wonder if this reviewer even actually owns one. Regardless of whether these people who so freely offer their opinions actually own one or not, for real workers this effect will set you apart. BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
|
latentimage Elite user No More Room In Hell.. 440 Posts |
I have not bought this yet, but a friend of mine has it and maybe its just his handling, but it looks incredible to me. Even after knowing how it works and all, I still think this is a killer effect even close up if you know what you are doing. I, Personally, cannot wait to get mine.
My Best, Allen
"Come to the edge," he said, They Said "We Are Afraid," "Come to the edge," he said, They Came, He Pushed Them...And They Flew. -Apollinaire
"If there be a skeptical star, I was born under it. Yet I have lived all my days in complete astonishment." -W. MacNeile Dixon |
Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
I think with the right roputine, which puts no heat oin the card box, it's a fooler. I admit I didn't like the video when ti first came out, but when folks started coming up with ideas that put zero heat on the box, I liked it. It's not soemthing I'd buy, however. I don't use a card box, except for my color changing deck routine, so it would be an extra item for me. But, in the right hands....
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
nitram Veteran user London U.K. 308 Posts |
As I said in my review, the DVD gives HANDLING advice. Amateur or Pro, does n't matter, if you study the HANDLING on the dvd. Angles are covered if you hold it correctly.
|
GKurtz Regular user 139 Posts |
Escalator Rules, I love this trick and use it all the time in my act, I perform to magicians and laymen and have fooled both, the box should never be the question, and as for the size, you never have the side of the box facing them really anyway, the angles are great, and you get your moneys worth, the secret and mechanics, I dint think anyone could make 1 as good for not much off the price, I give a 9/10, nothings perfect. If that is the reviwers views, he either did it wrong or hasnt had it long enough
|
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
I did it for several well informed magicians at the Magic Castle when I first got it and it KOd them... no clues.
You just have to think it out, how to present it, how to stage it, when to do it and HOW to do it. You can't just buy it, open the box and run out and do it without some serious thought. It isn't difficult at all skill-wise, but it is something you need to have a good presentation for. Buy it. It is incredibly well made and with care should last a very long time.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
|
Kjellstrom Inner circle Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe 5203 Posts |
It exists NO bad magic tricks.
It exists ONLY bad performers. that's my experience! |
GKurtz Regular user 139 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-03-17 02:35, Kjellstrom wrote: Can you explain please, I don't understand? |
paulduggan Regular user 131 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-03-15 22:39, BroDavid wrote: I don't know anyone else who posts here personally and I don't know if they are who they say they are. In effect every post I read here is anonymous, but an opnion is an opnion. I usually judge 'credibilty' based on how well a post makes sense, how much experience is apparent in what's said and whether or not punctuation is abused (e.g. I ignore people who routinely use three or more excalamtion marks in a row). Btw, is your real name BroDavid?
It was a good battle, and they nearly won.
|
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Kjellstrom says something of value. How many times have you seen a terrific performer take a trick you thought was junk and knocked 'em dead with it.
It is the performance that makes magic.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Tricks & Effects » » Gaeton Bloom, The Escalator Card. A full review (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.05 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |