PROS

I just love this one! The DVD presents this as the quickest magic trick ever and the quickest explanation ever. On the plus side, the explanation is short and to the point, but in the “CON” section, I will explain why the short explanation is also a negative.

The method is very good. There is a gimmick and you can’t hand out the box for examination. However, in the very short explanation DVD, he shows how you make the magic happen, produce a card box, remove the cards, pocket the box and proceed with a card trick.

In the real world, I would think that this is not very angle sensitive because the audience has no idea what is about to happen. Technically, you could have an angle problem from behind, but you are likely covering that angle with your body. I wouldn’t worry about angles with this product.

This is really suitable to the most beginner of performers. You can watch the DVD, perhaps even not watch the DVD and perform the effect within minutes.

The effect is true to the ad copy. The ad copy says you come out with a note pad and pen and the pad turns into a deck of cards.

CONS

The explanation could have been more comprehensive. There wasn’t much discussion about ditching gimmicks or handing stuff out for examination. Also, I think it would have been nice to explore different ways of presenting this. The ad copy has a suggestion for perhaps a restaurant approach. However, that idea is not on the DVD. For me, sometimes I break out a DVD perhaps months or even a year or two after purchasing it and revisit the idea. At that point, I am likely not going to go back to the ad copy to see an idea. It’s good to give magicians different ideas to inspire them to come up with their own variation. In the Suggestion section, I will cover one such idea.

If you are performing close up, you probably shouldn’t spend a lot of time with the note pad or draw to long of attention to the gimmick before doing the magic change. The gimmick looks very much like a spiral note pad at casual observation, but would not hold up under close scrutiny.

VERDICT

An excellent little gimmick that hides in plain sight and makes for a great quick opener.

Suggestions

Chris presents this as the "fastest magic trick ever". That’s not bad, but I think there are many creative ideas. Here is a little idea as an opener: Come out with the pad and pen or pencil and pretend like you are in the wrong room, but you don’t realize it. You are there to study the audience and takes notes. “Doctor Schweitzer explained your condition, so I have been fully briefed. Everyone just go about your business…" Turn to one of the audience members and say: "OK, so, what are you here for?” When they say “magic”, you do the magic move and go on with a card trick.