Name: Smart-ass
Price: £41
Creator: Bill Abbott
Demo: See Video
Packaging Quality: This package comes in what appears to be an oversized plastic DVD box. The cover and DVD SEEM to be home printed, very simple in design.
Instructions Quality: The instructions are supplied on a basic DVD.
Contents: This package contains the DVD, the Jumbo Prediction card and a specially constructed deck of bicycle cards.
Prop Quality: The jumbo card is as you would expect. The special deck of cards is well made.
Initial Thoughts: When I read the effect, I felt a little deflated. The idea of a prediction on or under a chair matching a selected card is far from new and there are countless ways of achieving the effect (which I wont go into here!) However I was more than happy to see what Mr Abbott had to offer.
After Playing for a while: I sat down to watch the DVD on my laptop. I enjoyed the first live performance on there, although the spectator looked extremely bored.
As I watched the DVD further, something clicked with me. It was a strange moment. What Mr Abbott has done is make the effect a nice, fun thing to perform.
Anyone with the relevant knowledge can force a card and reveal a prediction. What this package allows you to do is to show the face up mixed deck of cards to the spectator / audience. You can then have the spectator give the cards a mix! The cards are cut in half and half the deck is thrown over their shoulder (or into a bucket / bag etc). This is repeated until only a handful of cards remain. The spectator selects one and guess what, it matches the jumbo card prediction.
This is a SIMPLE but WELL THOUGHT OUT way of achieving a very fair looking selection. The idea behind the forcing deck isn't new, but using it for this kind of effect is smart thinking (smart-ass!!)
First Performance: This is something that can play for small audiences in parlour/standup situations, or in a larger set in front of hundreds.
I tested it out in front of 6 family members and one friend. With this effect you can really relax and have fun with it and there's really nothing to go wrong or think about.
Overall Audience Reaction: I dont feel that this is a wow-maker. The performance went fine and the spectators enjoyed the trick. It has a certain air of cleanliness and impossibility about it, but it doesn't smack them round the face with excitement.
I would say that this is a good choice of effect if you want something simple to perform, that can give you bit of time for jokes and comedy 'bits'. Perhaps for a compere or after dinner speaker this would fit the bill!
I will probably use the effect, but I would want to spend some good time working on a routine that really builds up the effect to miracle status!
Pros: Clean, Direct effect. Nothing to think about, just enjoy performing it.
Cons: Nothing particularly BAD, but I think this is designed for a certain type of performer that likes to get the time out of their effects. I like it, I will keep working on it......
Value for Money: Hmmmm, pretty expensive really.
