Title: Decon
Artist: Danny Weiser
Producers: Magic Tao
Link: Available At Your Favorite Murphy’s Magic Dealer
Retail Price: $30.00 USD
Learning Difficulty: Easy
Length of Video: 28 Minutes (approx)
Includes:
· Download to Video Instructions
· Gimmick
· Extra Gimmick Stuff
· Extra Card (for routine explained in video)
A magician visually pulls out the jokers, or any other packet of cards, from the deck leaving behind the rest of the deck perfectly boxed.
Danny Weiser has created a number of effects using his favorite method for making gimmicks but nothing I’ve seen yet has made me as excited for a project from him as Decon. Finally he’s found a way to use his favorite gimmick that is both practical and commercial.
What Decon does best is give you a visual magical entrance into your favorite card routine, be that a packet trick or a trick that uses the entire deck. The visual change happens so fast that it’s almost a throw away. I really love this for table hopping or strolling magic. It’s a super visual way to introduce myself and get into doing a card trick. What Decon doesn’t do well is work as a standalone magic trick onto itself. They include an additional card with some special stuff prepared on it that allows you to use the Decon gimmick to do sort of an alternative ambitious reveal with a signed selected card that you somehow pull clean out of the deck while making the cards instantly re-box themselves in the process. Trust me, this sounds way cooler than it actually is to perform. The handling is finicky, the gimmick temperamental, and overall it’s a lot of work to justify using the gimmick as anything more than a throw away opener. In the end I say keep the gimmick, toss the extra card, use it as an opener and don’t try to force it into being anything more than what it is.
The video is really long for what this trick is. Nearly 30 minutes for something that should occupy maybe a paragraph or two of printed instructions. The gimmick will not lock open and will snap shut with the slightest loss of pressure. It is directional sensitive, so you’ll need to pay attention how you hold it. While it is open and deployed on the card box it’s practically invisible, and pretty fun to use. This is a great way to get into a four ace routine, a packet trick, or what not. It resets near instantly, and the gimmick will outlast the card box you attach it to. If the gimmick breaks, and depending on how heavy handed you are in its use it may, then there’s extra special stuff included that will allow for a quick repair.
The price is a bit expensive though. At $30 dollars you’re paying a lot of money for a playing card, small cardboard gimmick that will eventually break or wear out, and some extra special gimmick stuff. I think Magic Tao knew they were over charging too- hence why the instruction video is pushing a full half hour. They’re trying to build value into something that doesn’t need that much explanation. If you can justify the thirty dollars, then you’ll be okay. I probably wouldn’t pay thirty dollars for this again. I could justify $15. But not $30.
Overall this is a fun little opener. I think if you do card magic you’ll probably get some use out of it. Check out Decon by Danny Weiser when you get the opportunity. I think you’ll be happy with it.
When I give my product scores below I am measuring them on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 Being absolute the worst score possible, and 10 being the absolute best, making a score of five average. The four points that I grade upon is Product Quality, Teaching Quality, Sound & Video Quality and Overall Quality.
Product Quality: 7
Well built, and good use of the special gimmick method. It is over priced.
Teaching Quality: 8
The video is way too long. They’re trying to build extra value when they don’t need to. The gimmick is easy to use.
Video & Sound Quality: 9
The video and sound are both good.
Overall Quality: 7
Danny’s got a solid opening bit of magic with Decon. It’s not really a magic trick with a lot of substance, but it’s super visual and it gets people’s attention.
Have a product you want reviewed? Want to see if it will stand up to the Draven Seal of Approval? Contact me directly at draven@williamdraven.com to find out how your product could be on the next Draven Reviews! Don't forget to like my blog where all my reviews are posted at www.williamdraven.wordpress.com.
Artist: Danny Weiser
Producers: Magic Tao
Link: Available At Your Favorite Murphy’s Magic Dealer
Retail Price: $30.00 USD
Learning Difficulty: Easy
Length of Video: 28 Minutes (approx)
Includes:
· Download to Video Instructions
· Gimmick
· Extra Gimmick Stuff
· Extra Card (for routine explained in video)
A magician visually pulls out the jokers, or any other packet of cards, from the deck leaving behind the rest of the deck perfectly boxed.
Danny Weiser has created a number of effects using his favorite method for making gimmicks but nothing I’ve seen yet has made me as excited for a project from him as Decon. Finally he’s found a way to use his favorite gimmick that is both practical and commercial.
What Decon does best is give you a visual magical entrance into your favorite card routine, be that a packet trick or a trick that uses the entire deck. The visual change happens so fast that it’s almost a throw away. I really love this for table hopping or strolling magic. It’s a super visual way to introduce myself and get into doing a card trick. What Decon doesn’t do well is work as a standalone magic trick onto itself. They include an additional card with some special stuff prepared on it that allows you to use the Decon gimmick to do sort of an alternative ambitious reveal with a signed selected card that you somehow pull clean out of the deck while making the cards instantly re-box themselves in the process. Trust me, this sounds way cooler than it actually is to perform. The handling is finicky, the gimmick temperamental, and overall it’s a lot of work to justify using the gimmick as anything more than a throw away opener. In the end I say keep the gimmick, toss the extra card, use it as an opener and don’t try to force it into being anything more than what it is.
The video is really long for what this trick is. Nearly 30 minutes for something that should occupy maybe a paragraph or two of printed instructions. The gimmick will not lock open and will snap shut with the slightest loss of pressure. It is directional sensitive, so you’ll need to pay attention how you hold it. While it is open and deployed on the card box it’s practically invisible, and pretty fun to use. This is a great way to get into a four ace routine, a packet trick, or what not. It resets near instantly, and the gimmick will outlast the card box you attach it to. If the gimmick breaks, and depending on how heavy handed you are in its use it may, then there’s extra special stuff included that will allow for a quick repair.
The price is a bit expensive though. At $30 dollars you’re paying a lot of money for a playing card, small cardboard gimmick that will eventually break or wear out, and some extra special gimmick stuff. I think Magic Tao knew they were over charging too- hence why the instruction video is pushing a full half hour. They’re trying to build value into something that doesn’t need that much explanation. If you can justify the thirty dollars, then you’ll be okay. I probably wouldn’t pay thirty dollars for this again. I could justify $15. But not $30.
Overall this is a fun little opener. I think if you do card magic you’ll probably get some use out of it. Check out Decon by Danny Weiser when you get the opportunity. I think you’ll be happy with it.
When I give my product scores below I am measuring them on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 Being absolute the worst score possible, and 10 being the absolute best, making a score of five average. The four points that I grade upon is Product Quality, Teaching Quality, Sound & Video Quality and Overall Quality.
Product Quality: 7
Well built, and good use of the special gimmick method. It is over priced.
Teaching Quality: 8
The video is way too long. They’re trying to build extra value when they don’t need to. The gimmick is easy to use.
Video & Sound Quality: 9
The video and sound are both good.
Overall Quality: 7
Danny’s got a solid opening bit of magic with Decon. It’s not really a magic trick with a lot of substance, but it’s super visual and it gets people’s attention.
Have a product you want reviewed? Want to see if it will stand up to the Draven Seal of Approval? Contact me directly at draven@williamdraven.com to find out how your product could be on the next Draven Reviews! Don't forget to like my blog where all my reviews are posted at www.williamdraven.wordpress.com.