I sent a negative review to the company that markets this "trick" (Vanishing, Inc.) and they REFUSED to publish it. They said my facts were incorrect!! Talk about stacking the deck!! Anyway, there are several reasons you should seriously consider not buying this. First, it is much too expensive for what you get(5 envelopes, a paper "gimmick", and an instruction booklet that is VERY poorly done). I have the yellow envelope version. Believe it or not, you can actually SEE the paper currency, or whatever you put into the envelope: it is partially translucent! Anyone asked to pick an envelope with money in it would know which one to pick, no trouble at all!!! Then, the instructions are terrible, I still have not figured them out. The booklet is filled with artists drawings, no photographs, which makes it very hard to figure out what goes where. Another thing. You have to use a special glue to put the gimmick together. They very easily could have provided it, but NO, they do not. You have to find it. Lastly, and this REALLY got my goat, there are really no instructions on how to do the routine!! They keep saying you should develop your OWN personal routine. Otherwise, if you get stumped, watch the original presentation on Fool Us. I think anyone who pays $25 for this is the real sucker. And one last thing.I have to reconfirm this, but I think that Penn and Teller really did figure out how this was done, but the magician balked and made them think they had not. As it is, I will never use this for any of my shows. I suspect that very few people will: at least until the materials you are given are greatly improved upon. Everything currently provided is of the cheapest quality: all, I suspect just to save money.

I like the Bank Nite effect, have performed the tray version for years. As mentioned most Bank Night tricks use smaller envelopes and folded bills. My main interest in purchasing this version was the large envelopes and the non-folded or creased bill. I was hoping for some ideas on the scripting, even though it has been mentioned the patter or presentation was not included; I went ahead and purchased it anyway. The reason this is so good is the presentation John Archer created, more then the method. After receiving the Blank Night and reviewing the contents, I can honestly say this is very much over priced. They could have sold it for less as all the money spent to design and print the booklet is where all the money was invested in this. They could have simply been put it in an envelope, and a sheet of instructions and sold it for $5. This version has nothing over the tray versions or the published standard routines published over the years. They could have at least included a container of glue for the price charged. I don't recommend this version if you already have a Bank Night effect you are already useing. If you don't - this version is okay to use.

The routine is 5-star fun. What you get IS NOT what the video shows. You can do the routine as in the video, but they do what they can to discourage it.

1) The instructions are in written format and can be an issue if you learn best via video. You get far better information if you buy "Further Education" DVD set.

2) There is no discussion forum on penguin for this, no "watch" no learn". It would be very handy to at least have the teaser video on the download page, but they don't and I had to get an add-on to my browser to download it.

This is especially important is the gimmick is fine, but the routine is what is exceptional, and it is like they don't want you to use the routine that advertises.

3) The envelopes are not marked as in the video. That is left to you. I imagine for the same reason as before (#3), they don't want you to use his routine.

When you try to print on the envelopes, chances are high there will be errors. There are no extra envelopes for errors. This leaves you with a whole bunch of nothing.

4) There are no links to where you can buy more envelopes that you can gimmick - do they expect you to buy this over and over again? I am currently looking for suitable colored envelopes online.

If you like this routine I recommend you buy his "Further Education" and not buy this. Download this teaser since his routine on it (Penn & Teller FU) is more fully worked out.

What other reviewers here fail to understand when it comes to purchasing magic; you are not paying for physical material as much as you are paying for the technique and the secret (not to mention, in this case, the right to perform it publicly.) I have spent thousands of dollars on effects for my show, and this routine consistently gets some of the biggest laughs. Those results, of course will depend on the patter and performance you choose to use. As far as the envelopes being translucent - that's part of the fun. John Archer himself loads every envelope (as do I) with a false bill and uses that to add to the laughs. To get the results I have for a routine that was less than 50 bucks is rare. In the process of ordering my third Blank Night as I have since worn out my previous two. Like any effect, the trick is just a small part of it - presentation is everything.

It is a very good trick and I would highly recommend this. But as far as the envelopes go, I would definitely lean more towards getting the blue set rather than the yellow. Just because it has a lower risk of seeing through the envelopes just slightly, which isn't good for any bank night routine.

But this is an incredible trick.

9/10