Price$29.99
Media TypeTrick
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedOct 17, 2013
Vanishing Pen
SansMinds
SM Productionz
(Based on 3 reviews)
you vanish a pen WHILE THE SPECTATOR HOLDS IT.
Doing magic with pens has built-in appeal, since everyone carries them, you can borrow them anywhere, and they are uniformly recognized. How AMAZING it is, then, when you can take a pen and wrap it in a napkin. The spectator holds the napkin with the pen VISIBLY dangling beneath. You clap your hands together and...instantly...the pen disappears. This is a practical, astounding illusion with the simplest of objects.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
PROS
My review ratings are not based on ad copy, although I will warn the buyer about ad copy issues. My reviews are based on my opinion of the magic potential with the product.
This is really a very nice prop that could be used in a very strong routine. The prop is similar to the disappearing bottle effects already on the market. However, this is a pen, which in itself creates a unique opportunity for magic.
The pen writes, and when it runs out of ink, you could easily replace the writing tip if you can find a matching pen.
The effect comes with an un-gimmicked pen and a gimmicked pen. This lends itself very well to a routine where the participant uses the un-gimmicked pen and then the gimmicked pen is made to disappear. The gimmicked pen is very high quality and looks very realistic.
CONS
The ad copy talks about the effect happening in the spectators hands. I think it would be possible to wrap the pen in a tissue, place it in the participant’s hand, in a controlled way, they could verify it is a real pen and then you could make it vanish in front of their eyes, in a similar way you would make a disappearing bottle in a paper bag disappear. However, the participant can't handle or examine the gimmicked pen
The instruction is very short and doesn’t go into details on routine ideas. You are on your own for that.
VERDICT
The instruction is very brief, but if you can visualize a routine for this, then rest assured the prop is good quality. I downgraded the rating from 5 to 4 because of the scant instruction in the DVD, but this could be a good purchase for you if you can supply the routine.
My review ratings are not based on ad copy, although I will warn the buyer about ad copy issues. My reviews are based on my opinion of the magic potential with the product.
This is really a very nice prop that could be used in a very strong routine. The prop is similar to the disappearing bottle effects already on the market. However, this is a pen, which in itself creates a unique opportunity for magic.
The pen writes, and when it runs out of ink, you could easily replace the writing tip if you can find a matching pen.
The effect comes with an un-gimmicked pen and a gimmicked pen. This lends itself very well to a routine where the participant uses the un-gimmicked pen and then the gimmicked pen is made to disappear. The gimmicked pen is very high quality and looks very realistic.
CONS
The ad copy talks about the effect happening in the spectators hands. I think it would be possible to wrap the pen in a tissue, place it in the participant’s hand, in a controlled way, they could verify it is a real pen and then you could make it vanish in front of their eyes, in a similar way you would make a disappearing bottle in a paper bag disappear. However, the participant can't handle or examine the gimmicked pen
The instruction is very short and doesn’t go into details on routine ideas. You are on your own for that.
VERDICT
The instruction is very brief, but if you can visualize a routine for this, then rest assured the prop is good quality. I downgraded the rating from 5 to 4 because of the scant instruction in the DVD, but this could be a good purchase for you if you can supply the routine.
(Top ▲)
This product is quite well produced, comes with 2 gimmicks and a DVD, and is only $29.99. It all sounds good until you mention that the DVD is only 8 minutes and 17 seconds long (not joking!) and the gimmick constantly falls apart!
Let's start with the DVD. As I said, it is only 8 minutes long, which I would be fine with if it explained everything I needed to know about the effect on there, but it didn't! They could have gone into more than one possible routine for the effect, or maybe a live performance of them performing it. The DVD does include a tips and troubleshooting section, which tells you that if your pen starts falling apart, then you should glue it back together again. Isn't that helpful! This shouldn't be a problem in the first place, the gimmick that comes with the product should be well made, and should not have to be stuck together again!
The gimmick as I previously mentioned is not very well made, but they do go on about how it can actually write, and you will be pleased to know that it can write, it is just a completely pointless function because if you write with the "special" pen then it will completely ruin it for the spectators, however you can write normally with the other one and it is useful that it does that. There isn't really much more to say about the gimmick, so that is it.
And now we get on to the ad copy. Wow! I have never seen such a misleading ad copy in my life! (However saying that I haven't spent most of my life reading ad copies.) I quote: "It's this simple: you vanish a pen WHILE THE SPECTATOR HOLDS IT. " WRONG! It actually isn't that simple. The spectator cannot hold the pen otherwise the effect will be over. Yes, they can hold a napkin that has the pen in it, but hey can't physically hold the pen themselves. In the DVD they recommend getting your spectator to gently touch the end of the pen, but this is just asking for trouble, and doesn't really add to the effect anyway.
Overall, I wasn't too impressed with this product, and I am not sure that I would recommend it. It is an OK effect, and sometimes gets a good reaction, however sometimes it doesn't.
Let's start with the DVD. As I said, it is only 8 minutes long, which I would be fine with if it explained everything I needed to know about the effect on there, but it didn't! They could have gone into more than one possible routine for the effect, or maybe a live performance of them performing it. The DVD does include a tips and troubleshooting section, which tells you that if your pen starts falling apart, then you should glue it back together again. Isn't that helpful! This shouldn't be a problem in the first place, the gimmick that comes with the product should be well made, and should not have to be stuck together again!
The gimmick as I previously mentioned is not very well made, but they do go on about how it can actually write, and you will be pleased to know that it can write, it is just a completely pointless function because if you write with the "special" pen then it will completely ruin it for the spectators, however you can write normally with the other one and it is useful that it does that. There isn't really much more to say about the gimmick, so that is it.
And now we get on to the ad copy. Wow! I have never seen such a misleading ad copy in my life! (However saying that I haven't spent most of my life reading ad copies.) I quote: "It's this simple: you vanish a pen WHILE THE SPECTATOR HOLDS IT. " WRONG! It actually isn't that simple. The spectator cannot hold the pen otherwise the effect will be over. Yes, they can hold a napkin that has the pen in it, but hey can't physically hold the pen themselves. In the DVD they recommend getting your spectator to gently touch the end of the pen, but this is just asking for trouble, and doesn't really add to the effect anyway.
Overall, I wasn't too impressed with this product, and I am not sure that I would recommend it. It is an OK effect, and sometimes gets a good reaction, however sometimes it doesn't.
(Top ▲)
Vanishing Pen by SansMinds Review:
Eight Minutes, 2 props, 1 DVD and $30 bucks. Is it Gem or is it Rubble?
Effect
A Bic style pen is placed in a napkin and vanishes as you crumple up the napkin.
Method
Think Norm Nielsen Vanishing Bottles. It's the same thing, but it's a pen. It's a gimmicked pen that does the work for you. The method is very simple, but requires a little bit of finesse with the handling. Due to the nature of the gimmick, you have to be a little bit careful after you've effected the vanish. If you don't "peek" before showing just the balled up napkin in your hands, you might expose something.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy would be better if they left off the very first phrase, " . . . you vanish a pen WHILE THE SPECTATOR HOLDS IT." That's not true. The spectator cannot hold the pen. They cannot handle the pen. They can hold the napkin while the pen is inside the napkin, but that's it. It's also mentioned that you can borrow pens anywhere. That's true, obviously. Just understand that you have to switch the borrowed pen for the gimmicked pen. So it's not false advertisement, but I felt a little clarity is needed.
Product Quality
The gimmicked pen is made well enough, and will likely last a very long time. The DVD is well lit and well mic'd and well beyond too short. It was 8 minutes long; way too short. Due to the nature of the method, at the end, you may need some slight modification to the way you're holding the napkin to protect the secret. This is one of many, many, many tips and pointers that were left out of the DVD. They should have spent a few minutes explaining how to handle the napkin once you've crumpled it up.
Further, they should have spent more time on some tips regarding how to handle the pen when writing with it. You can write with it, but it's a little awkward. Some pointers here would have been valuable. Also, there never is a full performance shown. It would have been good to see how they switch the pen in and out. Claiming that you can borrow and do the routine is fine, but show me. Let's see an uncut performance from start to finish. I understand that you can't do that on the ad trailer, but you can certainly do it for those of us who own the DVD.
Final Thoughts
I'm ok with a $30 price point if it includes gimmicks and a thorough exploration of the gimmick. However, this one falls short. The second you open the package and handle the gimmick, you'll know exactly how the effect in the trailer was performed. That's basically all that Will Tsai covers in the DVD . . . the obvious stuff. How 'bout some finer points? How 'bout some tips from a real pro who claims this is in his working repertoire.
The gimmick is well made and does what they claim. It's also very easy to use, but when you combine everything, it's hard to give this a super great review. The main problem I have with this product is that they don't really teach you how to use it. They just very briefly show it, but nothing in depth. I could live with that if I didn't run into some handling problems. But because the method does lend itself to very particular handling that's not discussed on the DVD, I feel that it's not a complete product. If this were better explained and taught, I would give it a 3.5 to 4 ish star rating, but as it is . . .
Final Verdict:
3 Stars with a Stone Status of gem with a super small g.