Thought of Card in Balloon:

I remember when Titanas first sent me the teaser for TOCIB. It was one of those moments when I was really fooled - He must have done this, but then, what about that?

It's a truly great effect and while the concepts in place have been explored in the past, Luca has brought them together in perfect harmony to create a very effective sequence.

There are several effects taught throughout the DVD, nearly all with a mentalism feel, bar the signed card in balloon transposition, which is very nice.

The quality of the video is good, very simple and commercial with not too many fancy cuts or edits to take away from the content. This is an instructional DVD and EVERYTHING is gone over with the utmost in attention to detail. Volpe is a fantastic teacher and I look forward to seeing his future offerings.

Anyone on the bench really should take the plunge, it's a fantastic effect that does exactly what it says on the tin and more.

A great DVD from some wicked cool guys teaching some phenomenal, commercial, impossible magic.

www.TitanasMagic.com

D.

Review: Thought of Card in Balloon and Other Mysteries by Luca Volpe

Ok so I downloaded this earlier today and took a look at it.
First off Luca goes over Confaballonation.
This is like Confabulation but instead you predicted long before, and the prediction is inside the balloon.

Next Luca goes over Thought of Card in Balloon.
This is good, but I have other ways of acheiving the thought of card then what Luca explains in the download.
Luca PM me, I have some ideas about this part that can make it better.
It is fine the way it is, but everyone is different, and I got a lot of ideas to incorporate on this one part.

Next Luca goes over a Bonus called Extra Sensory Balloon, this is also really good!

Then Luca goes over how to make it appear that a card thought of and the spectators name ends up in the balloon.

Lastly, he goes over how the thought of card can have the spectators name printed on it from the getgo and appear inside the balloon.

All in all, this was a good purchase well worth the $30.00.

Like Luca said, even if you find one item in here that you can use, then its worth it.

I will definately add one or two pieces from this download as an opener to my mentalism show.
These items are Confaballonation or Thought of Card in Balloon with my variation.

Just from these two effects alone, its worth the download in my opinion.

Thanks

Alex

Title: Luca Volpe’s Thought Of Card In Balloon and Other Mysteries.
Medium: Routine DVD instructions
Arena: Parlor, stand up
Available: Any shop, distributed by Murphys Magic Supplies

Thought of card in balloon is basically a routine where….get ready… the spectator thinks of a card and it is found in a balloon! Ah, the beauty of clarity. What you get with Thought of Card in Balloon and Other Mysteries is a DVD of various presentations with the same basic method of having a spectator hold a balloon and shake it so they can determine that something is in the balloon and when the balloon is popped a folded card is found or a prediction, things of that nature. The DVD is well produced and well shot on good equipment and the sound is good except for a little echo in some scenes. Over all it was well done and I like what I’ve seen from this Titanas fellow, who produced the DVD.

The routines are actually pretty good and well thought out as far as presentation goes. Basically the balloon is just the impossible location where a card or billet is found but from a performance angle it is a good way to do it. First a balloon is known to everyone and the audience has that anticipation of the bursting to keep them on their toes and finally people know you cannot get something into a tied balloon without letting the air out. It is darn good theater if presented well. I will say this is not a magician fooler, well, maybe at a SAM meeting, but most magicians won’t be fooled but then again that isn’t the goal of most magic. The main routines are the card in balloon, and there is no force, which makes use of the method you would guess it makes use of and also a nice mentalism bit where the prediction is found in the balloon. The bonus routines are various versions of the same and also a predictable version with a transparent routine where the card is seen inside the entire time. The method here, again, was not a real fooler.

Though as a magician this is not a mystery I can see how this routine would work really well for the parlor or stand up performer. I enjoyed the routines and these are for workers and won’t be used in the high school hallways or by street assassins. Overall a well done project and some good routines.

Thanks guys for your reviews!
I had some good feedback from people that have performed the effects already and this make me really happy!
many thanks to everybody again!
:)

I did it the other night using the prediction (in the casino I was at the duty manager doesn't allow cards out) and it went over really well. I let the spectator pop the balloon (one of your tips) and it made it more fun and folks liked it.

Hi Magic Santa, Im really happy to hear this from you! This is a real "worker" effect and always get good reaction!
Thanks again!
:)

One question, is there anything to find on the floor in the parts of the balloon? Or are they clean for the spectator to examine immediately? I know what happens with the dart hand but I am not sure about the balloon and the "card" inside it. This definitely interests me.

There's nothing else to find, just the pieces of the balloon!!:)

D.

Nice, thanks. I will be ordering.

Yes..just one card on the floor...the spectator's thought of card!
;)

Oh geez, it just hit me what Brad is asking about. The method used to avoid the situation you ask about is straight forward and so obvious it is amazing people didn't think of it before the person who came out with it did (the method is credited properly).

Yeah that is what is what I was wonderng about. It is tough to seee the whole picture via video because you are not there, so I wanted to be sure. Most effects I already know the secrets to before I buy, or at least most of the details; but I don't buy effects based on whether they fool me, but rather based on whether they have strong entertainment value and will fry an audience, the former being more important. I am looking forward to this one.

If you are the same sirbrad as years ago, good to see ya! This is a fun routine to do and you can come up with various ideas to go along with it.

Here is an offer for all the guys here:
If you have a camera, film a performance of any effect from the "Thought of card in balloon" DVD, put it on youtube and place the link here. We need atleast 5 performances. The winner which will be voted from the Café members will receive a full range of Titanas Magic products.

So, if you find the idea good, take your camera out of the case

Best,
Titanas

Hi,

late in the day as I know this was released a few months back but I wanted to say thanks and congratulations to Luca and Titanas for this product.

I was only expecting one stage effect and was pleasantly surprised to find the first effect on the video 'Confaballoonation' takes place in the spectators hands.

Runs like any other confab except the three thoughts are on a card inside a balloon. I have only performed this a few times but have had great reactions from it - no one sees it coming.

The attention to detail in the other variations of the effect is great and as Luca has pointed out this is a great stage piece and very simple.

The possibilities for how to play this are endless.

Excellent video, great teaching style. Definitely worth buying and will suit magicians as well as mentalists

Thanks again.

Anthony

I've been doing signed card to balloon using the exact method taught in this DVD for years. I originally planned on publishing it, but after consulting with a few of my magi buds, the feeling was that the effect was too similar to Mark Jenest's original routine, so I never published.

Bummer.

This is the closest thing to me publishing the effect that I've got:

Look at the ninth post on this thread.

I've got a copy of the DVD, I'll be writing up a review soon. I'll try to not be too harsh for getting beat to the punch.

Also, as a pre-review, I will say that there are a ton of ideas on this DVD that I never thought of that have a lot of potential.

Hi Anthony,many thanks for your review,this menas a LOT to me!
:)

Jstone,
Im glad that you apprecciate the bonus also!
hope to read your review soon...
;)

OK I just ordered this finally, can't wait!

Thanks Sirbrad!
hope you will enjoy the routines!
:)