Title: The Doohicky Switch
Artist: Nate Hickey
Producers: Paper Crane Magic
Link: http://papercranemagic.com/doohickey.htm
Retail Price: $5.95 USD
Learning Difficulty: Moderate
Length of Download: 12:02 min
Notes: This effect is a video download.
Includes:
• Instant Download Instructional Video
• Introduction
• Presentation
• Explanation
• 3 Card Routine Presentation
• 3 Card Routine Explanation
• Utility Switch Explanation
The Doohicky switch is a three for three utility switch that is practical, original, and clean.
Nate Hicky has managed to create a beautiful utility move that can be used to, as the product description says, switch out three cards for three cards. The switch is visual, as it is sudden, but will leave you with some little cleanup work to do after words. I wouldn’t worry about that too much though, the cleanup isn’t difficult or unmotivated.
This download gets strait into business as Nate seamlessly transitions from introducing his move, into showing you what it looks like before teaching it. No flash, fluff, or flavor here. Nate gets strait down to business. Nate first teaches you how to perform the switch, which will require a little playing with to master it if you are not used to doing reverse fans. The movie is a bit knacky so take your time with it. After you learn the move he shows you a three card routine he does using his switch. Nate’s three card routine is a nice way to find the ace’s if you are getting ready to do a four ace plot such as twisting the aces etc. For that matter it’s a nice way to find four of a kind in general. The basic plot is you as the magician reveal the top card, and ask the spectator to point to any three face down cards trying to find the rest of the cards that match the top card. The spectator of course fails to do this so you use magic to cause all three face up cards to instantly become matches to the top card. Since Nate has already taught you how to do the switch by now you can easily fill the blanks in for yourself on how his three card routine works. If you can’t don’t worry, he’ll spend the next minute or so explaining it. Lastly he explains a utility switch he’s created using his move. With the utility switch you display four of a kind, and then place them back into the deck individually weaving them through the deck as you go. A quick cut later, and all four are back on top.
The thing I love about utility moves is not only are they practical, but they allow you to be creative with your own applications. Probably more so than other effects, or gimmicks on the market that are designed to do just one thing. This sleight can be done with any deck, and at any time with minimal preparation. For a price that is less than what most of us pay for a fancy custom deck of cards, this is a must have.
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
The Doohicky switch is a neat move, visual effect, sleight of hand based, somewhat easy to learn, and cheaper than a cup of coffee. This product is made of win.
Teaching Quality: 7
Nate teaches this as well as he can. It’s pretty easy once you get the idea behind what he is doing. The tough part can be getting the pressure just right to do the switch invisibly, that will take some practice.
Video & Sound Quality: 7
The video has the typical Paper Crane music in the back ground. The same repetitive beat can get annoying if you focus on it too long.
Overall Quality: 8
I loved the Doohicky switch, and would encourage anyone who works with cards a lot to download it, learn it, and use it! This product is approved.