Price$40.00
Media TypeOne-Trick DVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedAug 10, 2010
Mash Pack
Thomas, Garrett
Hugh Phoric, Inc.
(Based on 2 reviews)
What they see: You're holding a solid bicycle card case. The case instantly and visibly morphs into 52 single cards! (We use the words "Instantly and Visibly" in their truest, most Instant and Visible sense). As you square these single loose cards they Instantly and Visibly morph back into a solid case!
What you see: You look down and see a solid card case in your hand, just your basic bicycle card case. Your fingers "spread" the card case...and the case automatically transforms into a spread of 52 single cards, No flaps, No moves, Just the rare experience of being the performer and the audience at the same time.
Garrett entertains himself by doing Mash Pack transformations over and over for his smart magician buddies. They always have the same conversation: "Where's the flap?" "There is no flap." Where's the ditch?" "There is no ditch." "Then where does the box go?"... This cycle repeats until his magic buddies are completely mashed and unable to make any more sounds.
- Instantly resets
- A great opener
- No flaps. No extra pieces.
- Completely self-contained
- Very easy to do.
- Includes routines that leave you with a normal ungaffed deck and case.
- Designed for use with a red Rider Back bicycle deck.
AND FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY (until they run out) A FREE BONUS DECK! Paul Harris has allowed Garrett to include the PH Box-Back Deck. This free second custom deck is a completely different animal that opens up yet another brave new world of deck and case Astonishments! USPC will not re-print this very special Bicycle Rider Back deck ever again...so get it while you can.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
I'm reviewing this right after writing my review of Freedom Pack. It's another cards-to-card-box method. As mentioned in my previous review, you need to consider three things when looking at a method for this effect: freedom with the cards, ease of getting the case feke into play and freedom with the cased deck.
I have to say that this is the most clever method I've come across. I really wish I could tell you what it is, but that's not how we roll here at MyLovelyAssistant.
Here's the skinny on the three criteria:
One of the cool features is that you can go from case to box to case very quickly. It's quite startling. The DVD even includes a routine where the box and cards change places.
But wait... there's more!
In addition to the Mash Pack, you get a Box Back deck. This is exactly what it sounds like: a deck of cards with backs matching a Bicycle Rider Back case (the Ace of Spades side, obviously). The DVD teaches a couple of routines using the deck. Box Back Betty is basically a color-changing deck routine. Monster Mash takes it step further and ends up with a box with the Ace of Spades side replaced with a chosen card. Of course, further adaptations are up to your imagination. In fact, you're really paying for the decks. The routines are good examples of what you can do, but I'm hoping you'll find even more creative uses for them.
Overall, I think Mash Pack is better used for a card-case-to-cards effect. If you're going to be doing a wild card sequence, you might have to follow up with a deck switch after another routine or two.
I have to say that this is the most clever method I've come across. I really wish I could tell you what it is, but that's not how we roll here at MyLovelyAssistant.
Here's the skinny on the three criteria:
- The deck can be handled fairly... if you're careful. There's some "work" in it that will require you to keep a parts of it away from the audience's gaze.
- The "case" can actually be kept in play during some card routines. If you need to ring it in at a later time, you can do so right in front of the audience (assuming a modicum of skill with cards).
- The cased deck cannot be examined. In fact, you don't want people really scrutinizing the case... at least not without a deck switch.
One of the cool features is that you can go from case to box to case very quickly. It's quite startling. The DVD even includes a routine where the box and cards change places.
But wait... there's more!
In addition to the Mash Pack, you get a Box Back deck. This is exactly what it sounds like: a deck of cards with backs matching a Bicycle Rider Back case (the Ace of Spades side, obviously). The DVD teaches a couple of routines using the deck. Box Back Betty is basically a color-changing deck routine. Monster Mash takes it step further and ends up with a box with the Ace of Spades side replaced with a chosen card. Of course, further adaptations are up to your imagination. In fact, you're really paying for the decks. The routines are good examples of what you can do, but I'm hoping you'll find even more creative uses for them.
Overall, I think Mash Pack is better used for a card-case-to-cards effect. If you're going to be doing a wild card sequence, you might have to follow up with a deck switch after another routine or two.
(Top ▲)
This is literally a one-trick pony. You can "vanish" a card box and have the deck appear, then have the box reappear if you'd like. Unfortunately, the deck cannot be used for a trick itself as the sides are marked too much for use. Garrett does a good job of showing how to ditch the deck for one you can move into with your act, but you'll need to be wearing a jacket in order for this to be effective (deck switch only as he shows it...you can do the disappearance of the box without it). It seems a little limiting for a card trick like this.
The follow up using the other included deck isn't much more impressive, though in its defense it is an effect you can slip into your routine as a closer (since the entire deck has the card box's face on it). You could use the deck for any other trick after the "transformation" though, because the backs are identical even if they are different from what the spectator is used to seeing.
There are two things I don't like about this. First, the price is far too steep for something like this. While you do get two decks and a DVD, I feel this could easily have gone for $20-$25 and been more in line. Second, the performance on the DVD is less than impressive. At one point he's going to vanish the deck into a hat and have it switch places with the box. Unfortunately, while he's holding the box and deck in the same hand he's got it positioned so it plainly shows the marks of the deck parallel with the box (making it painfully obvious to the spectator and us what's going on). Likewise, his performance with the other deck is unimpressive. He does the effects with two different audiences, and the two ladies he chose to use in the pool hall are completely under-whelmed at everything. They look like they know they're supposed to be acting impressed, but are either too nervous to act natural or just aren't impressed with what's going on. I'm not asking for some Criss Angel crowd screaming and fainting here, but he might have done better using a more enthusiastic pair.
This isn't the worst effect I've bought this year, but it's definitely not one I'd feel comfortable performing.
The follow up using the other included deck isn't much more impressive, though in its defense it is an effect you can slip into your routine as a closer (since the entire deck has the card box's face on it). You could use the deck for any other trick after the "transformation" though, because the backs are identical even if they are different from what the spectator is used to seeing.
There are two things I don't like about this. First, the price is far too steep for something like this. While you do get two decks and a DVD, I feel this could easily have gone for $20-$25 and been more in line. Second, the performance on the DVD is less than impressive. At one point he's going to vanish the deck into a hat and have it switch places with the box. Unfortunately, while he's holding the box and deck in the same hand he's got it positioned so it plainly shows the marks of the deck parallel with the box (making it painfully obvious to the spectator and us what's going on). Likewise, his performance with the other deck is unimpressive. He does the effects with two different audiences, and the two ladies he chose to use in the pool hall are completely under-whelmed at everything. They look like they know they're supposed to be acting impressed, but are either too nervous to act natural or just aren't impressed with what's going on. I'm not asking for some Criss Angel crowd screaming and fainting here, but he might have done better using a more enthusiastic pair.
This isn't the worst effect I've bought this year, but it's definitely not one I'd feel comfortable performing.