Price$24.95
Media TypeTrick
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedDec 17, 2014
Sharp This
Bonfadine, David
Vanishing Inc.
(Based on 2 reviews)
There is a secret telescoping "line" that retracts into the tip of this custom marker, and this makes "Sharp This" a HIGHLY VISUAL magic gag easy to perform. As an interlude between tricks, "Sharp This" is the perfect way to elicit laughter and even screams. This belongs in every performer's bag.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
“Sharp This” by David Bonfadini is an updated prop that allows the performer to draw a line on anything or anyone, and then magically make it vanish. It’s a very well made prop with a handmade tip designed to look like a sharpie tip, and the gimmick can be tightened if the elastic ever becomes loose.
“Sharp This” comes with an online instructional video that covers maintenance, basic technique, as well as a rising/moving pen effect, plus a “disappearing” moustache routine. The video is very useful and the subtleties taught dramatically improve the appearance of the effect. It should be noted that the disappearing moustache effect is very much a “one off” effect, and has to be the first thing one performs, so it isn’t particularly practical.
If you’d like the ability to draw with a sharpie, then make the line vanish, this gimmick is a no-brainer. It’s a gag dating back to the 80’s, but has been updated and improved. The prop is well made and the video instruction teaches you everything you need to know. You already know if you’ll have use for this prop. If you do, this is a great purchase. If you don’t, you probably aren’t reading this review.
“Sharp This” comes with an online instructional video that covers maintenance, basic technique, as well as a rising/moving pen effect, plus a “disappearing” moustache routine. The video is very useful and the subtleties taught dramatically improve the appearance of the effect. It should be noted that the disappearing moustache effect is very much a “one off” effect, and has to be the first thing one performs, so it isn’t particularly practical.
If you’d like the ability to draw with a sharpie, then make the line vanish, this gimmick is a no-brainer. It’s a gag dating back to the 80’s, but has been updated and improved. The prop is well made and the video instruction teaches you everything you need to know. You already know if you’ll have use for this prop. If you do, this is a great purchase. If you don’t, you probably aren’t reading this review.
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: (I'd Be) A Legend in My Time by Ronnie Milsap
David Bonfadini: Sharp This Review
One gimmicked sharpie, six minutes of streaming video and $25 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
Apparently draw a black line on someone's shirt, pants, etc., and magically make it vanish.
Method
The method is actually exposed in the ad copy. It's a retractable line of elastic that looks like the ink. It's easy to handle, and is very deceptive.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is also 100% accurate. As mentioned, it goes as far as tipping the exact method.
Product Quality
The gimmick is well made and does what it says. However, in the teaching video it shows David Bonfadini removing the gimmick from the pen and adjusting the tension. I could not remove the gimmick. Luckily, mine doesn't seem to need adjusting, but if it did, I wouldn't be able to do it.
Also, the streaming video was nearly pointless. It did show quickly how to operate the gimmick, but it was so quick and no detailed handling tips or pointers were given. For example, when doing this on someone's skin, there's a chance that you may actually scratch their skin with the marker, and retracting the gimmick is a little trick on bare skin. A few pointers on this would have been useful.
There was also a very young kid on the video who taught a trick he came up with. It's actually pretty clever, but there's a major flaw in the method that, again, was not covered in any depth. The effect is that you draw thin two-piece mustache on your face. Then it vanishes. It uses the pen and something else. The something else has to be pre-loaded on your face before doing the trick. The problem is that it's not something that is hidden. It has to be boldly right on your face. Then you hide it by holding the marker up to your face.
So, what . . . you walk in the room with a marker held up to your face, and then you do the trick? No details on how to get in this position were given. The entire video was only 6 minutes. Give me a break folks. Put some effort into your instructions.
Final Thoughts
If you like the basic gag/effect of drawing a line on someone and having it vanish, then you'll like this product. If you want ideas or detailed handling points on how to use this gimmick, you'll get none, and likely not be happy with your purchase.
Final Verdict:
3.5 Stars with a Stone Status of gem.