Price$14.95
Media TypeTrick, Book
CategoryBizarre, Stage
Date AddedApr 30, 2005
RazorWire
Andrew Mayne
(Based on 1 review)
Andrew Mayne presents the latest effect in the Illusion Impact series. The magician stands behind an audience-examined barrier of razor-sharp barbed wire. He raises a cloth in front of him with the top of the barrier still visible. He takes a step forward and lowers the cloth revealing that he has passed through the barrier unscathed.
Razorwire is a one-person illusion that can be built for under $100 and can even be made to fit inside a briefcase. Just a few tools are required and only basic carpentry skills are necessary.
Razorwire is described in a 12-page 8.5 x 11 manuscript with scaled blueprints and photographs. Step-by-step construction and performance instructions are included.
- The illusion can be inspected by the audience
- No assistants are required
- Everything can pack into a briefcase
- The entire effect can be built in just a few hours
- The total cost to build is under $100
Reviews
(Top ▲)
One of the main claims of the Razorwire ad is that this prop can fit into a briefcase, this is very misleading. Based on using the 3" PVC pipe listed in the plans you would need a much larger trunk style carrying case. In addition to the PVC, you have a large curtain and pipe that fits into the top of that, making the carrying case needed even larger.
The statement that the prop can be built in just a few hours is somewhat true if you were only talking about cutting the PVC and stringing the wire, however everything you need to construct the prop can not be found at your local hardware store. You will need fabric, and a secret something from a well stocked magic supplier. It took me almost two weeks just to get together the raw materials. The prop also will need to be painted and aged and that takes several more days for several coats of paint to dry.
The statement the total cost to build is under $100.00 is also not quite accurate. To get a quality version of the secret something that is critical to the illusion from a magic supplier is around $50.00, the proper light weight curtain fabric is at least $10.00 a yard at 4 yards, quality paint is another $25.00, and the PVC and hardware is another $50.00, this is a total of $165.00 + tax. Additionally I needed to have my special magic something shipped which was another charge. I am into the prop for almost $200.00, that's twice what the ad stated.
Having said all of the above I think even with the $200.00 price to construct, this illusion is still a good value and has promise, if it fits your performing style.
If you are a performer who primarily works silent with music and illusions this is probably not for you. The Razorwire takes some extensive scripting and a very convincing psychological verbal presentation to set it up for success. The routine that I do lasts around 7 minutes, the actual illusion is under 30 seconds.
The secret itself is not the type that can sell itself as just a visual illusion, in fact the secret something used for the illusion has been exposed in comedy throw away routines for years. Performing the Razorwire is simple in physical execution and takes less than 30 seconds to demonstrate but if performed as a straight forward illusion would have very little impact.
For this prop to amaze, putting the audience in the right frame of mind and creating the right atmosphere, with the correct music and staging is everything.
The prop may be simple to construct, but it will take a great deal of time to develop the correct presentation and gain the right timing to have any impact on an audience. Ultimately this is a heavily performer driven illusion, and requires a seasoned professional to sell it to an audience.
The statement that the prop can be built in just a few hours is somewhat true if you were only talking about cutting the PVC and stringing the wire, however everything you need to construct the prop can not be found at your local hardware store. You will need fabric, and a secret something from a well stocked magic supplier. It took me almost two weeks just to get together the raw materials. The prop also will need to be painted and aged and that takes several more days for several coats of paint to dry.
The statement the total cost to build is under $100.00 is also not quite accurate. To get a quality version of the secret something that is critical to the illusion from a magic supplier is around $50.00, the proper light weight curtain fabric is at least $10.00 a yard at 4 yards, quality paint is another $25.00, and the PVC and hardware is another $50.00, this is a total of $165.00 + tax. Additionally I needed to have my special magic something shipped which was another charge. I am into the prop for almost $200.00, that's twice what the ad stated.
Having said all of the above I think even with the $200.00 price to construct, this illusion is still a good value and has promise, if it fits your performing style.
If you are a performer who primarily works silent with music and illusions this is probably not for you. The Razorwire takes some extensive scripting and a very convincing psychological verbal presentation to set it up for success. The routine that I do lasts around 7 minutes, the actual illusion is under 30 seconds.
The secret itself is not the type that can sell itself as just a visual illusion, in fact the secret something used for the illusion has been exposed in comedy throw away routines for years. Performing the Razorwire is simple in physical execution and takes less than 30 seconds to demonstrate but if performed as a straight forward illusion would have very little impact.
For this prop to amaze, putting the audience in the right frame of mind and creating the right atmosphere, with the correct music and staging is everything.
The prop may be simple to construct, but it will take a great deal of time to develop the correct presentation and gain the right timing to have any impact on an audience. Ultimately this is a heavily performer driven illusion, and requires a seasoned professional to sell it to an audience.