Price$25.00
Media TypeTrick
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedOct 11, 2007
Bunko!
Jim Steinmeyer
(Based on 2 reviews)
Jim Steinmeyer's remarkable shortchange effect is a no - sleight, Fully routined mystery: $20 Becomes $19, then $14, then $20...$19 again, and finally $24! For the climax, the sucker ends up getting $13 instead of $20!
Two seperate patter stories are included. In one, Al Capone himself gets taaken by the infamous Florrie Ireland, a sweet little old lady, candy shop clerk, and shortchange artist.
Dimensions Approximately 6.5" x 3.75" (16.5cm x 9.5cm)
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Overview
If you are one to enjoy presenting “the con game” type of magic, then you may enjoy presenting Bunko by Jim Steinmeyer and Richard Kaufman. This is a story based trick which takes places in Chicago circa 1930’s. Although there is a supplied script, if you are clever enough, you can create your own.Effect
The premise of the trick is based around an interaction between a “shortchange artist” and the notorious Al Capone. As the story goes, Al Capone ask for change of a $20 and things he got swindled (which he did). However, the shortchange artists beats him several times for more and more.Method
The method uses gimmicked bills and clever handling. By using gimmicked bills Steinmeyer eliminated complex sleights. Although no sleight of hand is required, the routine does require multiple counts and turnovers for the magic to happen.Product Quality
The “bills” provided are heavy paper stock (thin cardboard) and do look like play money. The reasoning behind this is so the bills can glide easily, last long and are rigid enough to perform properly. The instructions are very thorough and clearly written although quite extensive. There are 14 pages of written instructions and photographs which take you step by step. There are a lot of steps in this routine for it to come off wellAd Copy Integrity
There isn't much claimed in the ad copy. There is nothing overstated or underdelivered.Final Thoughts
There are suggestions on how you can use real bills for the effect. I personally do not like the appearance of the provided bills and would go to the effort of using real bills if I wanted to present this. I also think a video would have been helpful as the directions are quite extensive.(Top ▲)
I love Jim Steinmyer's work. I was expecting nothing less than the best from this product. I wasn't disappointed.
In typical Steinmeyer fashion, the script is interesting, the method is devious and there's no fat to be found anywhere.
The effect is basically self-working. If you can count cards from one hand to another, then you can do this. It comes with specially-printed (and high-quality) “bills”. The description is extremely clear, with plenty of photographs, all printed on high-quality paper with a nice layout.
I really can't come up with any negative criticisms of this product.
One note: It's marketed as a close-up effect. But the $5 and $1 bills are very easily distinguished from one another. There's no reason you couldn't do this in a stand-up situation. However, if you choose to, you might want to have the bills covered with a matte finish. The glossy finish is great for close-up, but you'll likely have problems with glare if you're under the hot lights of a stage.
In typical Steinmeyer fashion, the script is interesting, the method is devious and there's no fat to be found anywhere.
The effect is basically self-working. If you can count cards from one hand to another, then you can do this. It comes with specially-printed (and high-quality) “bills”. The description is extremely clear, with plenty of photographs, all printed on high-quality paper with a nice layout.
I really can't come up with any negative criticisms of this product.
One note: It's marketed as a close-up effect. But the $5 and $1 bills are very easily distinguished from one another. There's no reason you couldn't do this in a stand-up situation. However, if you choose to, you might want to have the bills covered with a matte finish. The glossy finish is great for close-up, but you'll likely have problems with glare if you're under the hot lights of a stage.