The actual moment when the ring grows is a great visual. (I had assumed, by the way, from the promo video, that the "growing" portion involved just pushing a large ring upward on your finger. But no, it's better than that -- you can show the "ring" snug around your finger in the moment before the diameter starts to expand before the spectator's eyes.)

But there are so many limitations that I don't see myself performing this very often. It's probably not a spoiler to say that there's some palming and switching involved, and it's a lot harder to get away with palming and switching in a trick that practically screams "palming and switching" because that's the only way it can be done.

In fact, the beginning of the DVD shows a demo of Dan doing the trick from start to finish, seated across the table from a spectator. Normally, those demos also appear in the online promo video for the trick -- that's why they're created -- but in this case, it wasn't included in the promo. This looks suspiciously like the sellers realized that a complete start-to-finish demo of the trick would make it obvious that the trick relied on ditching stuff in your pockets or under the table, so they left it out of the online video. (The promo video even says, "Everything's clean, everything ends clean". Hey guys, every trick "ends clean" if you're allowed to ditch your gimmicks under the table!)

It's also very angle-sensitive. The online ad says it's "good for street, parlor, close-up", but then on the DVD Dan says it's really only good for up to about 3 people.

If you haven't bought Dan Hauss's "Rattled", you'll probably like that one better -- angle-proof, examinable, gimmick does all the work. I could only ever really see doing "Growing Ring" for a small group sitting across a table from me.

Here's a really interesting idea that falls down in actual use. The rings provided are good quality and Dan Hauss has several excellent ideas for using the jumbo ring for growing effects that don't require the gimmick. My main complaint is with the gimmick. It looks good in a dim bar setting but does not hold up in normal lighting. The actual "growing" is convincing to a point and the final clean up is adequate at best. You will have better results in dim light and seated at a table, which is a situation I don't often find myself in as a strolling corporate performer. If you like ring magic, save your money and apply toward any of Garrett Thomas' fine videos and gimmicks, including "Banded".

This looks incredibly visual. But there's a few drawbacks.

1 - Don't expect to be performing this surrounding or to more than 5 people at once due to angle issues
2 - You'll be carrying on you more than just a ring...
3 - The 'gimmicks' included isn't enough

That said, the thinking behind it is creative. Also if you're just planning to perform this on the occasion or just planning to film yourself performing it, it's great.

The Magic, Routines, Teaching and Extra Ideas for this Effect is 5-Stars. Some of previous critiques about angles are exaggerated. I can totally picture using this regular in Restaurant or Strolling. The DVD gives so many options for producing the effect, that you can choose the version you desire for the angle constraints called for your situation. None really allow being surrounded, but also many great effects can't be surround too, so just be aware of your venue and choose your opportunity.
The REAL negative that costs 3 stars off my review is the supplied props. The rings do NOT match and the rings aren't different sizes to show any difference!...
1) The Regular ring is plain and polished and shiny. Size 9.
2) The "Jumbo" ring has 2 grooves and is Brushed Satin.
3) The "Jumbo" ring isn't jumbo. Obviously smaller than on DVD. The version on the DVD is easily DOUBLE the diameter of the regular ring. Some effects on the DVD require putting the Jumbo ring onto Two fingers. The Jumbo supplied ring is only 1-1/4 size of my ring finger (I wear a 10). The Jumbo is just big enough for the regular ring to fit inside with a little wiggle.
I WANT to live this effect, and WANT to use it, but the props do not to allow me to do that! I will use it, but I will have to buy rings the sizes shown on DVD. A good Quality Check before marketing could have made this a 5-star great deal! 🙁

I do not like the gimmick, put it in your pocket and it's pretty much ruined. Angles are terrible, great idea bad execution, this one goes in the drawer.

I did not expect the method to be like this. It works but i don't really like the method.

I agree with the other reviews on the general practicality of doing the main growing ring effect before live audiences. However there is another effect you can do with the two rings, one is finger size and the other about 1 inch in diameter, that is not mentioned in the demo video. Dan showed this additional effect during a lecture in the Baltimore area about 1 1/2 years ago, and I am not sure off hand whether or not it is in the product video. I do perform this additional effect, so I did get something out of this magic product.

This is nice. The only failing is the lack of sizing on the ring itself. It is a trade off and can be easily got around but still it could be nicer.

It looks nice, and I have not tried it infront of people yet. I do not think it would make it in my normal set. BUT I could see doing it here n there... TV Spots etc. SO not bad just not a real worker.

I bought this effect from the Open Box, otherwise I never would have purchased this.

As with most reviewers, there are too many limitations to perform this in the real world. However, I gave this 3 stars because you get a bonus effect from Marcus Eddie that uses the ungimmicked rings, and it is far superior (and realistic to perform) than Dan's Growing Ring routine.

I wouldn't recommend buying this for the full price, but if you can get it for a bargain, grab it for the bonus effect.