Title: Vice
Creator: Jeff Prace   
Publisher: Murphy's Magic
MSRP: $ 30
Skill Level: all
Video Run time: 43:18

Type of effect: Magic with mints

Manufacturer's Write Up:
 
Handing out an impossible object as a souvenir is one of the most memorable things you can do to close a routine. But, can you eat it? Usually, no, unless Jeff Prace is performing Vice.

Vice allows you to take out a simple Lifesavers hard candy mint, gently hold it between your fingers and slowly squeeze the candy until it is fully compressed and distorted. This is where most tricks stop, but with Vice, you can instantly hand out the crushed mint as a souvenir. Your spectator can even taste the mint to verify that it is, in fact, real!

Ridiculously easy to perform, yet so bewildering to spectators. You'll love the stunned looks on their faces as they hold it in their palms wondering how you made a hard candy easily bend and suspend its new shape.

Includes everything you need to start performing immediately and you can learn & perform in minutes.

How accurate is the ad copy? I'll say it's "Ridiculously easy to perform" provided you're comfortable with palms and ditches and switches.
 
What's in the box?

- Reusable performance gimmicks
- 50 real, edible crushed mints to hand out (extra refill mints available)
- Online video instructions jam-packed info including performance ideas, handlings, tips & ideas
- PDF label templates to print your own favorite mint labels
- The pieces necessary to construct your own mint hold out device

Key points: Did I mention you can eat the gimmicked mints!
 
How are the production values: Everything is good and well shot, you get multiple angles and cameras, Jeff is well mic'd; and it's all wonderfully shot and edited.
 
Is it well made: What Jeff give you is good, but you will need to do some arts n crafts on your own.
 
Is it well taught: A large portion of the video is "arts n crafts" and gimmick setup. But for the rest of it Jeff gives you basic handling tips and a few extra bonus routines like a linking mint effect as well as a "Karate Mint" stab.
 
My thoughts (what I personally liked/disliked): In a nutshell Jeff has taken the classic spongeball routine and given it plastic surgery. Spongeballs are not a "real world" item, everyone knows they are a magic prop, but mints are universal. This is a wonderful application.
 
Storage? Does it "pack flat?" It's the size of a role of mints
 
Does it "play big?" I think once the spectator sees (and tastes) that the mints are real, it will really "click" in their minds what took place.
 
Difficulty / Skill level required: Like I said above, this trick only requires basic sleight of hand that Jeff will cover.
 
How much arts and crafts are involved? Maybe 10-15minute provided you have all of the necessary items.
 
How practical is this in the real world? (can it really be done?) Jeff performs this live for a trio of girls at a local restaurant and you're able to get a clear picture of how clean this looks.

Overall score: let's toss out the traditional score of 1-10 and make this something that we all can appreciate and understand.
 
   X     Very Satisfied
_____ Somewhat Satisfied
_____ Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied
_____ Somewhat Dissatisfied
_____ Very Dissatisfied
_____ No Opinion
 
This has been a pet project of Jeff's since his first write up of his effect Gummy in 2010. This is the final version.
 
+ Hey do you want to see my full review with even more of my opinions and ideas? Visit this link for my video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFcJRFDzNnc
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Title: The Creative Element 
Creator: Scott Olgard
Publisher: self published
MSRP: $ 30
Skill Level: all
Page count: 90 pages

Type of effect: magic book

What's in the book?
 
Chapter 1: A Borrowed Deck

Catch Yourself Catching Yourself (Sandwich)
Imaginary Enemy (Vanish)
Tyrion Crimp (IMPromptu crimp)
The Calm Cop (Cop technique)
By George! (Prediction)

Chapter 2: The Nowhere Vanish

The Nowhere Vanish (Utility move)
SleepWave (Impromptu brainwave effect)
False Art (An exposé of skill)
Shadow Moses (Vanish)
Box Car(d) (Card to box)
Locked In (Sandwich)
Breathe (Card Vanish)
Imagine (Colour changing prediction)
Final Thoughts on the Nowhere Vanish

Chapter 3: Some Assembly Required

Shuffle Me Up (Multiple selection)
Zitro (Skill demonstration)
Bloc Party (Hypnotic deck)
Bonus: Head Club (Coin flip)
Final Thoughts

Is it what I thought?
 
Its more than a book, Scott has made some video explanations that work alongside a program you can download to your phone and when you hover the phone over the book - a video starts playing IN the book !!!
 
Positives: It's always nice to get a peek into a creative mind like Scott Olgard, The Creative Element is a wonderfully adventurous approach to magic books and card magic
 
Negatives:  Some of the tricks are kind of gnacky and they may work for Scott and his performance, but I didn't feel confident they would work for me in mine.

Overall score: let's toss out the traditional score of 1-10 and make this something that we all can appreciate and understand.
 
_____ Very Satisfied
    X     Somewhat Satisfied
_____ Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied
_____ Somewhat Dissatisfied
_____ Very Dissatisfied
_____ No Opinion
 
+ Hey do you want to see my full review with even more of my opinions and ideas? Visit this link for my video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOn07MLycCw​
​

Title: Smooth Prediction
Creator: Other Brothers
Publisher: Vanishing Inc.
MSRP: $ 25
Skill Level: all
DVD Run time: 22 mins

Type of effect: Card prediction

Manufacturer's Write Up:
 
In this intriguing routine, you predict two cards, one thought-of and one freely cut to! This is clean, direct magic at its best.

The Other Brothers have devised an ingenious deck of cards that facilitates the cleanest possible approach to this effect and you can reveal the predictions in your pocket, a wallet, or just about anywhere. The subtly-prepared pack allows the spectator to simply think of any card she sees, and a second spectator to cut absolutely anywhere she likes. This is the kind of trick that cannot be contained in a written description. In the trailer watch how casual, fair, and amazing the sequence looks in the performance.

How accurate is the ad copy? no deception

What's in the box?  A cleverly full gimmicked deck which allows you to perform this incredible routine. Access to an instructional video which teaches everything in depth as well as bonus handlings! (it's a VIMEO file that you can't download)

Key points: this is a classic mentalism principle combined with a classic card magic deck - married and giving birth to this  wonderful idea
 
How are the production values: This is well shot and well mic'd, but it's all a studio instruction. Daryl and Darryl teach you everything from the studio there are no live performances. The camera follows the action (not a steady cam) and you will get a table cam as well as a waist high shot. Yes, there are some "studio" performances, but with 6 effects taught, plus a gimmicked envelope construction, plus a deck set up instruction in only 22 minutes, they can't take the time to hold your hand through everything.
 
Is it well made: this is a Bicycle made prop. Yes you "could" make your own from local magic store parts, but at $25 it's cheaper to get it from Vanishing Inc.

Is it well taught: Yes, Daryl and Darryl even teach you all necessary sleights.  Smooth Prediction can be the 2 card to pockets effect you see in the trailer, or it can be modified to a 1 card to pocket (obviously) You can also adapt this to your favorite card to wallet or card to envelope, but if you don't have a favorite the brothers will teach you one. You will also learn a card to tuck case and a card to "spectator's underfoot"
 
My thoughts (what I personally liked/disliked): I love how powerful this is as mentalism and yet how easy this is to the Magician of all skill levels.
 
Storage? Does it "pack flat?" It is an entirely gimmicked deck, there are no cribs or indexes, but you will need the full deck for performance and the deck is not "good" for anything else.
 
Does it "play big?" This deck kicks booty
 
Difficulty / Skill level required: Easy - any magician at any skill level should be able to pick this up and adapt it to their routine.
 
How much arts and crafts are involved? One time "set up" that involves your own handwriting. The prediction cards come blank and so you will be able to write the prediction (or picture) that fits your style.
 
How practical is this in the real world? (can it really be done?) this is a real world worker - I'm keeping mine! This will not see the bottom of a drawer.

Overall score: let's toss out the traditional score of 1-10 and make this something that we all can appreciate and understand.
 
   X     Very Satisfied
_____ Somewhat Satisfied
_____ Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied
_____ Somewhat Dissatisfied
_____ Very Dissatisfied
_____ No Opinion
 
I can't think of a single negative with the "product" - I do wish the video was allowed to be downloaded. If I "purchase" a product I should be allowed to own it and take it with me if need be, Oh and  I hate my own handwriting. So be very patient with your prediction writing, you don't want to ruin any of your cards with a typo.
 
+ Hey do you want to see my full review with even more of my opinions and ideas? Visit this link for my video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSURFk7ZCBo