Dan Hauss, the creator of Flow, has created an eerie card illusion that literally brings your magic to life.
The spectator is shown a queen of spades that can be thoroughly examined. She is asked to place her hand over the queen and imagine her going to sleep. When she removes her hand, seconds later, the queen is sleeping! The magician waves his hand over the deck and the queen begins to wake up from her sleep. This happens slowly and the spectator sees the eyes gradually open. At the end of the effect the spectator can keep the card as a souvenir.
Video and Quality: The video is top notch; it covers everything really in-depth; quality was great, no problems hearing or seeing what was being said or done. The video is very well edited, put together and produced.
Teaching: The instructions given where done in a professional manner, illustrating the points clearly and very directly. In this 50 minute video Dan's leaves no rock unturned, he teaches everything step-by-step and how to perform this effect to its fullest. His teaching is taught with the upmost precision, very detailed; with all tips, tricks and subtleties.
Method: The concept is excellent, and the trick itself is decent. It's such a simple clever, yet ingenious method and yes it delivers. My first impressions upon finding out the method were, "Silly", but I was wrong once I started playing with the effect and principle and learner that you could more than what Dan taught.
Gimmick: Now the gimmick is very versatile, you can carry the gimmick around in your pocket and set-up when wanting to perform this effect... It will last you about 500 performances, they are inexpensive and can be found at any retail or craft store.
Set-up: Should take you no more than 30 seconds, although it does require a lot of concentration and can take a while the first few times, it's very easy. The only downside, and I believe that Dan also states, is that this effect must be performed within the 30 minute time period once set-up for the best results.
Performance: A LOT of impact, the spectator is allowed to touch the closed eyes and the sudden moment when the queen awakes is very open and visual. Super practical and very fun to perform, as well as easy.
Handlings: Dan teaches two handlings of the effect, one where the selected card cannot be signed, although another item is need to accomplish this performance, and one where the card can be signed, which is my favorite and doesn't need the extra item as in the original handling.
Applications: This is a principle that will allow for many new effects not just an animation of the eyes. It can be applied elsewhere and to a bunch of different ideas, not just limited on this one effect alone, here are some ideas; Maybe making the queen 'wink' or what about a vanishing sword on the King of Spades.
Thoughts: The method is very clever as well, but the downside is that you must make a gimmick every time you perform this, which can take a couple of minutes. Once that is done, you're ready and set to perform.
Thoughts: I like this gum trick better than the re-wrapped one. This gum trick is so amazingly casual. Now, this one is also really well thought out. The gimmick is simple to make and should take about a minute to make, once that is done you're ready to perform as well. Now the position to set-up takes about 3 seconds.
Difficulty: Out of 10, I would give all 3 tricks a 3, not too hard to do at all, but some practice is required. All you need to learn are some very simple moves.
Overall: Dan has included some very creative and visual effects here, that are very practical, fun and very easy. My favorite release from Dan Hauss.
I HIGHLY suggest picking up a copy, or at least checking it out.
http://papercranemagic.com/sleepingqueen.htm
Effect:
The spectator is shown a queen of spades that can be thoroughly examined. She is asked to place her hand over the queen and imagine her going to sleep. When she removes her hand, seconds later, the queen is sleeping! The magician waves his hand over the deck and the queen begins to wake up from her sleep. This happens slowly and the spectator sees the eyes gradually open. At the end of the effect the spectator can keep the card as a souvenir.
Video and Quality: The video is top notch; it covers everything really in-depth; quality was great, no problems hearing or seeing what was being said or done. The video is very well edited, put together and produced.
Teaching: The instructions given where done in a professional manner, illustrating the points clearly and very directly. In this 50 minute video Dan's leaves no rock unturned, he teaches everything step-by-step and how to perform this effect to its fullest. His teaching is taught with the upmost precision, very detailed; with all tips, tricks and subtleties.
Method: The concept is excellent, and the trick itself is decent. It's such a simple clever, yet ingenious method and yes it delivers. My first impressions upon finding out the method were, "Silly", but I was wrong once I started playing with the effect and principle and learner that you could more than what Dan taught.
Gimmick: Now the gimmick is very versatile, you can carry the gimmick around in your pocket and set-up when wanting to perform this effect... It will last you about 500 performances, they are inexpensive and can be found at any retail or craft store.
Set-up: Should take you no more than 30 seconds, although it does require a lot of concentration and can take a while the first few times, it's very easy. The only downside, and I believe that Dan also states, is that this effect must be performed within the 30 minute time period once set-up for the best results.
Performance: A LOT of impact, the spectator is allowed to touch the closed eyes and the sudden moment when the queen awakes is very open and visual. Super practical and very fun to perform, as well as easy.
Handlings: Dan teaches two handlings of the effect, one where the selected card cannot be signed, although another item is need to accomplish this performance, and one where the card can be signed, which is my favorite and doesn't need the extra item as in the original handling.
Applications: This is a principle that will allow for many new effects not just an animation of the eyes. It can be applied elsewhere and to a bunch of different ideas, not just limited on this one effect alone, here are some ideas; Maybe making the queen 'wink' or what about a vanishing sword on the King of Spades.
Bonuses:
Dan has also decided to include two effects with packs of gum, Rewrapped and Gum through Wrapper. Both of these effects are visual, practical, and easy to perform and have been in Hauss's working repertoire for years.ReWrapped:
You offer a spectator a piece of gum from your opened gum. With a simple, quick shake, the gum pack has rewrapped itself. You open the gum pack to show everything clean and fair and offer the spectator to keep the pack if they wish.
Thoughts: The method is very clever as well, but the downside is that you must make a gimmick every time you perform this, which can take a couple of minutes. Once that is done, you're ready and set to perform.
Gums through Wrapper:
You show a pack of gum on both sides, with a flick of your wrist you instantly see a piece of gum penetrate and jump through the wrapper. You open the pack to show that a piece is missing.
Thoughts: I like this gum trick better than the re-wrapped one. This gum trick is so amazingly casual. Now, this one is also really well thought out. The gimmick is simple to make and should take about a minute to make, once that is done you're ready to perform as well. Now the position to set-up takes about 3 seconds.
Difficulty: Out of 10, I would give all 3 tricks a 3, not too hard to do at all, but some practice is required. All you need to learn are some very simple moves.
Overall: Dan has included some very creative and visual effects here, that are very practical, fun and very easy. My favorite release from Dan Hauss.
I HIGHLY suggest picking up a copy, or at least checking it out.
http://papercranemagic.com/sleepingqueen.htm
, what I love about the gum tricks are the organic feel to them, again, using another general normal object which are fun to perform as well.
