Title: Triage
Artist: Danny Weiser
Producers: Shin Lim
Retail Price: $34.95 USD
Learning Difficulty: Easy
Length of DVD: 53 minutes (approx)
Notes: Instant Instructional Video Download
Triage by Danny Weiser is a variant on the classic Torn and Restored card plot with a highly visual, self working gimmick that you’ll need to assemble yourself. The trick comes in a very nice box that magnetically seals and is accompanied by a downloadable instructional video that will run about 53 minutes. The video is split up between talking about the background of the effect, a couple of different handlings of the trick, and teaching you how to prepare/ build the gimmick. Performing with it is very easy. The gimmick is self working, and with a little release of pressure it snaps from being a card torn in for pieces to being restored back together as a single playing card in an instant. The reset is also instantaneous and you’ll be able to make more gimmicks with the provided secret stuff as time goes on because you’ll eventually wear them out with use.
If you are familiar with any of Danny’s previous releases then you’re not going to be shocked to see how Triage works. Danny is quickly becoming a one trick pony with his relentless reliance on the same mechanical principle on everything he releases. And this is where the rub is. People are going to see the trailer and they’re going to think to themselves “holy $%@#! That’s magical!” but when you actually make the prop you realize that you’re insanely limited in performance. You can’t show the face of the card because of how the gimmick is made, it’ll expose the working, and you can’t let the card be examined, making it difficult for close up or strolling without having to ditch or switch for a non gaffed version. Signed TNR is right out because they won’t see their signature during the destruction phase.
Where Triage does excel though is on stage, or for camera work like Youtube or maybe Vine. The restoration is very quick and very visual and within the confines of a stage routine where objects don’t need to be vetted, and examination is impractical to impossible, I find is ideal. It’s a quick visual punch which could add to a larger routine but by itself I find lacking in sustenance for anything stand alone. It also is another delicate prop that you’re going to have to carry around and take care of. So yeah it does pack small but it’s a single use effect.
At the end of the day I was sure I was going to end up hating this trick but I find myself acknowledging the potential it has. In the right hands, and in the right routine, this could be something that helps create some really awesome magic, but by itself I just don’t find it practical for close up. Not since there are other methods out there of doing a TNR plot that I would favor over this. Great for stage, wonderful for TV/Camera/Internet, and you’re on your own for anything else.
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: 5
It has its limitations, but it is visual under the right conditions.
Teaching Quality: 8
The tutorial was good.
Video & Sound Quality: 8
The audio and the video were both good for a download.
Overall Quality: 5
This is going to be hit or miss. If you plan to use it for stage or camera stuff then you’ll have no issues. If you plan to use it for anything else you’re going to either need to switch, or ditch. And that may cause some people to ditch the effect all together too.
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: Shin Lim
Retail Price: $34.95 USD
Learning Difficulty: Easy
Length of DVD: 53 minutes (approx)
Notes: Instant Instructional Video Download
Triage by Danny Weiser is a variant on the classic Torn and Restored card plot with a highly visual, self working gimmick that you’ll need to assemble yourself. The trick comes in a very nice box that magnetically seals and is accompanied by a downloadable instructional video that will run about 53 minutes. The video is split up between talking about the background of the effect, a couple of different handlings of the trick, and teaching you how to prepare/ build the gimmick. Performing with it is very easy. The gimmick is self working, and with a little release of pressure it snaps from being a card torn in for pieces to being restored back together as a single playing card in an instant. The reset is also instantaneous and you’ll be able to make more gimmicks with the provided secret stuff as time goes on because you’ll eventually wear them out with use.
If you are familiar with any of Danny’s previous releases then you’re not going to be shocked to see how Triage works. Danny is quickly becoming a one trick pony with his relentless reliance on the same mechanical principle on everything he releases. And this is where the rub is. People are going to see the trailer and they’re going to think to themselves “holy $%@#! That’s magical!” but when you actually make the prop you realize that you’re insanely limited in performance. You can’t show the face of the card because of how the gimmick is made, it’ll expose the working, and you can’t let the card be examined, making it difficult for close up or strolling without having to ditch or switch for a non gaffed version. Signed TNR is right out because they won’t see their signature during the destruction phase.
Where Triage does excel though is on stage, or for camera work like Youtube or maybe Vine. The restoration is very quick and very visual and within the confines of a stage routine where objects don’t need to be vetted, and examination is impractical to impossible, I find is ideal. It’s a quick visual punch which could add to a larger routine but by itself I find lacking in sustenance for anything stand alone. It also is another delicate prop that you’re going to have to carry around and take care of. So yeah it does pack small but it’s a single use effect.
At the end of the day I was sure I was going to end up hating this trick but I find myself acknowledging the potential it has. In the right hands, and in the right routine, this could be something that helps create some really awesome magic, but by itself I just don’t find it practical for close up. Not since there are other methods out there of doing a TNR plot that I would favor over this. Great for stage, wonderful for TV/Camera/Internet, and you’re on your own for anything else.
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: 5
It has its limitations, but it is visual under the right conditions.
Teaching Quality: 8
The tutorial was good.
Video & Sound Quality: 8
The audio and the video were both good for a download.
Overall Quality: 5
This is going to be hit or miss. If you plan to use it for stage or camera stuff then you’ll have no issues. If you plan to use it for anything else you’re going to either need to switch, or ditch. And that may cause some people to ditch the effect all together too.
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.