Greg

The Best Just Got Better

Just when you thought high quality couldn’t get higher, Magic Wagon has gone and outdone themselves. The Chin Chao Color Blocks along with Magic Wagon’s latest group of offerings once again proves that this company has a mission in mind. That mission is to show the magic community how far quality props can be pushed, and still be attainable. High priced? Yes. High quality? You have to see it to believe it.
This is an old effect, done to perfection by Alan Warner, Mel Babcock, and Clarence Miller to name a few. But Magic Wagon in my opinion, has taken this potentially pedestrian trick and turned it into a parlor masterpiece. It is just that pretty. The color palette, finish, hardware…everything, makes it feel like something special. My only criticism – and I believe it’s valid – is that this piece is so precious that it’s hard to take it out of its box to perform. But, I guess if you ‘re going to have a fault, that’s a good fault to have.

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Amazing in Effect. Amazing in Quality.

I am so impressed by the quality of workmanship that is coming out of Magic Wagon, especially with their Collector’s Line. This effect is no exception. As a matter of fact, it may be their best effort to date.

When I heard that Howard at the Trickery – whom I’ve always admired for his attraction to hand crafted magic – was working with Magic Wagon to raise the bar on this classic effect (remember Tenyo’s version?), I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I was not let down. This piece is quality from ground up, with attention paid to every aspect of the assembly and finishing. The effect looks magical and works perfectly. I want to use it, but I’m afraid to take it out of its packaging for fear of damaging it.

Don’t worry, I’ll use it. But my hesitation just proves how beautiful this mini-illusion is. If you appreciate proven effects that are crafted with pride, don’t pass this up. It looks wonderful, works flawlessly and makes people crazy when they see it performed.

Costly? Yes. Over-priced? No. When I see this much effort and care put into any product, I consider it an investment, not a purchase.

Stop reading this and buy one now. It’s that good.

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Pity of a Paddle

This paddle looks good, feels good, and the effect sounds good. Unfortunately, it simply doesn’t work good. The handle of the paddle is basically the same dimensions as a popsicle stick, and just too thin to successfully maneuver and perform the classic paddle move. At least not with any degree of confidence.

Without giving away the method, I can see why the paddle was designed the way it was. The construction allows the paddle to appear the same at the beginning of the routine as it does at the end. Still, one has to wonder who, if anyone, actually performed with this item before it was produced en masse.

As the old adage states, "form follows function." Unfortunately in this case, this form doesn’t function.

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A Lot of Chop For the Money

Like most magician/collectors, I own quite a few chop cups. Some are the more traditional metal or wood variety, while others are "themed" and designed to resemble dice cups, billiard pockets, trash cans, soda cans, rice bowls, cocktail shakers and the like. I held off on purchasing the Buddha Chop Cup for fear that it was yet another attempt at reintroducing this familiar effect using an unfamiliar theme. And, that is exactly what the Buddha Chop Cup is. However, It wasn’t until I finally gave in and purchased the effect that I realized how superior this chop cup is to some of the dozens of inferior models that preceeded it.

The Buddha Chop Cup is a first-class outfit all the way. The quality of workmanship is evident the minute you see, and feel, the beautiful carrying bag. The cup itself is a hefty, easy-to-manipulate prop covered in what feels like antiqued leather. The exterior detailing of the container is distressed just enough to open the door to a wide-range of story telling regarding how and where you may have found the cup. The balls are high-quality as well, but the final Buddha statue load is what really made me smile. Without giving anything away, the Buddha statue is manufactured in a way that opens up a variety of options for customizing and producing the final load.

If you are a collector you will be proud to add this set to your chop cup inventory. If you are a worker, you will enjoy the versatility the Buddha Chop Cup offers in both handling and performing.

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Incredible, Do-able Magic for an Affordable Price.

If you don’t already have this series of DVDs, drop whatever you’re doing and go buy them right now. Michael is an engaging performer who not only keeps his audience in awe, but is so inviting in his delivery that you want to pick up a deck of cards and perform right along with him. All volumes in this series are well-worth the cost, although I must confess a preference for volumes 1 – 6, with number 6 being my favorite.

As the series’ title suggests, these effects are by no means knuckle-busters, but the magic is strong…very strong…none the less. If you’re into pulling muscles with difficult sleights that only fellow magicians can appreciate, give your hands a break and try these DVDs on for size. You can spend less time practicing the hand-crobatics and more time practicing your presentation.

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