Title: Phantom
Artist: Peter Eggink
Producers: Peter Eggink
Link: Available At Your Favorite Murphy’s Magic Dealer
Retail Price: $34.95 USD
Learning Difficulty: Easy
Length of Video: 35 Minutes (approx)
Includes:
· Download Link to Instructional Manual in PDF Form
· Secret Link to Instructional Video & Video Password
· Gimmick
Phantom is a new tool by Peter Eggink to help recreate classic card tricks like the rising card or haunted deck with a near gimmickless impromptu approach that can be done with a borrowed deck. And let me add that this tool is pretty damn slick.
Haunted decks, and rising cards have usually relied on heavily gimmicked props or complicated setups to get into and out of. Peter has revisited this concept with a new approach that leaves you both clean and open to exploring these old plots with a spectators borrowed deck of cards. The Phantom gimmick is cleverly concealed inside of a rather ordinary looking Sharpie marker making it invisible to the spectator’s eye. With minimal setup and magical monkey business you can make a selected card rise visibly from a deck of cards, the pack cut itself in your hands revealing the selected card, or even cause an empty bottle to unscrew itself from its cap right before the spectators eye. I’m sure there are more applications for this gimmick but those are the big three covered in the instructional video. So all the marketing copy aside let’s have a closer look at this product and see how it holds up when put to practical use.
The packaging isn’t anything spectacular. When I received my Phantom in the mail it came in a small plastic shell. A single staple held the cardboard back on. Once the staple is removed the packaging actually doubles as a nice holder for the gimmick when it’s not in use. The only drawback is the instructional manual link is printed on the back of the packaging meaning anyone with a smart phone and halfway decent cell data plan can view the PDF, get the instructional video link, and password, and see the tutorial video all without having to purchase the gimmick. Not sure this was thought thru that well on the production end of things, but it is what it is.
The gimmick itself is a nice looking Sharpie pen. It doesn’t write so if you’re going to do any signed card work, and the effects that can be done with this gimmick kind of lends itself well in that direction, you’ll need to switch out the real marker for the gimmicked one. That’s easy enough. The gimmick is strong, and sturdy. It’s well built and will last a long time with care and proper use. The reset is instant, and given how easy it is to use it lends itself well to minimalizing the amount of sleight of hand that is normally required by these kinds of tricks making it ideal for the beginner. The only drawbacks that I can find is the draw length of the gimmick and the sound it makes when being used. The draw length (and this makes more sense after you’ve owned and worked with the gimmick a little) feels a little short. It works, don’t get me wrong, but I’d personally feel more comfortable with a longer pull, and on that note the pull isn’t 100% silent. When performing I’ve never found the sound to be louder than ambient noise thus I’ve never had the gimmick expose itself to my spectator, but it’s something to take note of.
Overall I think this is a pretty reliable device for strolling magic. How many times have you wanted to do a haunted deck or rising card but not wanted to mess with complicated setups or specialty decks? Your performance angles are solid, and for table hoppers the instant reset will be a valued selling point. If you like doing haunted decks, or rising card effects, then you’ll probably love Phantom. Check it out!
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: 8
Well constructed gimmick. It will last a long time. Wish the gimmick had a longer pull, but it works for what it is.
Teaching Quality: 8
The video is easy to follow and learn from.
Video & Sound Quality: 8
The video and sound are both good for an online download.
Overall Quality: 8
A solid product. I recommend this.
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: Peter Eggink
Producers: Peter Eggink
Link: Available At Your Favorite Murphy’s Magic Dealer
Retail Price: $34.95 USD
Learning Difficulty: Easy
Length of Video: 35 Minutes (approx)
Includes:
· Download Link to Instructional Manual in PDF Form
· Secret Link to Instructional Video & Video Password
· Gimmick
Phantom is a new tool by Peter Eggink to help recreate classic card tricks like the rising card or haunted deck with a near gimmickless impromptu approach that can be done with a borrowed deck. And let me add that this tool is pretty damn slick.
Haunted decks, and rising cards have usually relied on heavily gimmicked props or complicated setups to get into and out of. Peter has revisited this concept with a new approach that leaves you both clean and open to exploring these old plots with a spectators borrowed deck of cards. The Phantom gimmick is cleverly concealed inside of a rather ordinary looking Sharpie marker making it invisible to the spectator’s eye. With minimal setup and magical monkey business you can make a selected card rise visibly from a deck of cards, the pack cut itself in your hands revealing the selected card, or even cause an empty bottle to unscrew itself from its cap right before the spectators eye. I’m sure there are more applications for this gimmick but those are the big three covered in the instructional video. So all the marketing copy aside let’s have a closer look at this product and see how it holds up when put to practical use.
The packaging isn’t anything spectacular. When I received my Phantom in the mail it came in a small plastic shell. A single staple held the cardboard back on. Once the staple is removed the packaging actually doubles as a nice holder for the gimmick when it’s not in use. The only drawback is the instructional manual link is printed on the back of the packaging meaning anyone with a smart phone and halfway decent cell data plan can view the PDF, get the instructional video link, and password, and see the tutorial video all without having to purchase the gimmick. Not sure this was thought thru that well on the production end of things, but it is what it is.
The gimmick itself is a nice looking Sharpie pen. It doesn’t write so if you’re going to do any signed card work, and the effects that can be done with this gimmick kind of lends itself well in that direction, you’ll need to switch out the real marker for the gimmicked one. That’s easy enough. The gimmick is strong, and sturdy. It’s well built and will last a long time with care and proper use. The reset is instant, and given how easy it is to use it lends itself well to minimalizing the amount of sleight of hand that is normally required by these kinds of tricks making it ideal for the beginner. The only drawbacks that I can find is the draw length of the gimmick and the sound it makes when being used. The draw length (and this makes more sense after you’ve owned and worked with the gimmick a little) feels a little short. It works, don’t get me wrong, but I’d personally feel more comfortable with a longer pull, and on that note the pull isn’t 100% silent. When performing I’ve never found the sound to be louder than ambient noise thus I’ve never had the gimmick expose itself to my spectator, but it’s something to take note of.
Overall I think this is a pretty reliable device for strolling magic. How many times have you wanted to do a haunted deck or rising card but not wanted to mess with complicated setups or specialty decks? Your performance angles are solid, and for table hoppers the instant reset will be a valued selling point. If you like doing haunted decks, or rising card effects, then you’ll probably love Phantom. Check it out!
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: 8
Well constructed gimmick. It will last a long time. Wish the gimmick had a longer pull, but it works for what it is.
Teaching Quality: 8
The video is easy to follow and learn from.
Video & Sound Quality: 8
The video and sound are both good for an online download.
Overall Quality: 8
A solid product. I recommend this.
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.