Price$34.99
Media TypeTrick
CategoryClose Up, Comedy
Date AddedMay 25, 2024
Just a Joker?
Crazy Jokers
(Based on 1 review)
From a shuffle deck, one spectator selects a card. Then, you show your prediction (inside of an envelope, of a card box or wherever you want), showing a Joker.
But everybody knows what people says about Jokers, so your visual changes to some random cards wishing that the spectator's card is one of them, but of course, it is not there. The cheeky clever magician seems to be in trouble, until... The spectator names his card and then, the magicians proudly turn back his cards and on the back of all of them, an impossible prediction is "printed", the name of his selected card.
And the best part... it is almost automatic to perform it and it is always ready to go!
You will receive a special gimmicked Joker ready to do it, you will only have to choose your favorite card to write it on the back and that's it! Also, in the tutorial you will learn different ways to perform it, and ideas on how to use the same gimmick for different cards, being able to re-use the same gimmick with different predictions on it without the needing to buy any more units or refills!
Add a fun touch to your card magic set, make your walk around magic fun and powerful, allowing you to worry only to create a connection with your audiences, once you discover the power of "Just a Joker?".
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Overview
One funky little prop, 25 minutes of training, 1 crazy joker, and one Just a Joker magic review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.Effect
A fun variation of the magi-in-trouble plot. A card is "picked." A Joker is (wrongly) shown to be the prediction. Then the Joker instantly and visually turns into a cascade of 15-ish mini cards, none of which is the selection. The mini-card chain is flipped over to reveal that on the backs of the cards is written the name of the selection. Watch the trailer for clarity.Method
The method is simple. It's a clever gimmick that functions exactly as it appears to in the trailer. A special full-sized Joker that instantly turns into an accordioned chain of 15-ish mini cards.The above gimmick along with the spectator "picking" a card, if you know what I mean. That's it. This is 100% practical, easy to do, and packs flat, and plays big. This works in close up and larger venues including stage.
And the sucka resets instantly.
Product Quality
The gimmick is well made and works exactly as shown in the trailer. The teaching video is excellent, and covers everything you need to know including a few little pointers that can only come from someone who has done this trick on a frequent and regular basis. The video is the perfect length of time to give you exactly what you need with no extra fluff. It's also well lit, mic'd, shot, etc.Ad Copy Integrity
Unfortunately we have a little bit of snag here. This saddens me because there was no need for said snag. First, the trailer states that "ANY CARD IS CHOSEEN FROM THE DECK." The typo on "chosen" is actually in the video trailer. Maybe "CHOSEEN" is Spanish for "a specific card is chosen from the deck"?This one is mostly forgivable because in the written ad copy it does state that you have to decide in advance what card you want to be written on the back of the mini cards.
The next part that is starting to bark up the tree of unforgivable is that in trailer (in a couple of places) the way the Joker is handled as it's being removed from the envelope (or card box if you prefer) it's clear that this is not the gimmicked Joker. It's a regular Joker. In the tutorial they do show you a way to show a normal Joker first, and then later use the gimmicked one, but that's not what's happening in the trailer. This misrepresentation takes place from 22 seconds in up to 27.5 seconds in. At 29 seconds, the handling is honest and accurate from that point forward.
But . . . this next one is either an outright lie, or I somehow missed it in the tutorial. Here's the quote from the ad copy: "You will receive a special gimmicked Joker ready to do it, you will only have to choose your favorite card to write it on the back and that's it! Also, in the tutorial you will learn different ways to perform it, and ideas on how to use the same gimmick for different cards, being able to re-use the same gimmick with different predictions on it without the needing to buy any more units or refills!"
It's that last part about "being able to re-use the same gimmick with different predictions on it without the needing to buy any more units or refills!". That is simply just not true. Or if it is, I somehow missed it in the tutorial. The ink is permanent ink. The only way that I can imagine you could do what they claim is buy a mini-deck of cards and make another set. The problem with that, however, is that there are other things involved than just simply a mini deck of cards. If anyone saw something I missed on this, feel free to share, and I'll update the review.
Final Thoughts
- Effect:Fun. Engaging. Powerful.
- Method:Easy. Fun. Instant Reset.
- Product Quality:Excellent.
- Ad Copy Integrity:Correct to Misleading to Dishonest.
This is such a bummer to me, because the product itself, were the ad copy accurate, is easily 5 stars. But, alas, the pressures fooling you in the trailer caused some unfortunate events. When considering everything . . .
Final Verdict:
3 stars with a Stone Status of gem with (regrettably) a little "g."