Criss Angel - "A great effect!!!" This classic trick has never been so F.@#$ing strong!
Jeff McBride says “CATCH is a worthy closer for your show!” “Surprising, visual and deceptive. Ben gives you the props, multiple methods, all of his ideas, and the history.”
From Ben Seidman, the creator of iVanish and magic consultant for Mindfreak on A&E.
Fan the cards and ask your spectator to concentrate on one card. THEY shuffle the deck and watch in disbelief as you throw the cards into the air, and catch their selection out of thin air!
What makes this routine so unbeatable? Your hand is completely empty before you catch their card. This is the ultimate pack-small play-big trick!
The props are included to create your own gimmick.
5 different handlings are explained to perform CATCH
on stage
on the street
surrounded
in short sleeves
impromptu
Each method has its own unique advantages. Ben has used all of them to fool thousands of people.
CATCH is a feature in Ben’s professional repertoire. Soon, it will be in yours too...
FREE BONUS: When you purchase this product from Penguin you'll
gain access to a special private discussion forum exclusively for magicians who perform this effect. This is a free feature that can be
very helpful in mastering your new magic. Please visit the Penguins
Only section for more information.
Just watching the demo video gives you an idea of how incredibly visual this appears to be. It really does happen as the video shows.
You have a spectator select a card and put it back into the deck, then you spring the cards into the air and grab their card out of mid air in the midst of the fluttering cards. It's not a bad effect, but you definitely need to be prepared ahead of time for it.
First of all, you have to be wearing a jacket. The spectator needs to be back a little way from you. You cannot let them examine the card you have plucked from the air. You cannot do this with a signed card. You must be able to do a card force, and for safety's sake you must be able to control the card and palm it from the deck before you spring it into the air (otherwise it could land face up at your feet while you're supposedly holding the one they chose). You cannot repeat this trick with another card (unless you have very roomy sleeves and two gimmicks). Once finished, you must walk away to get rid of the "caught" card because you can't lose it in front of the spectator. If you've got all that covered, you are ready to perform "Catch!".
The gimmick takes a few minutes to put together, but it's nothing major. Once it's done it'll last you quite a few times if you are careful. I have to give this two stars simply because it is indeed very visual. Done in a stage environment this would be an excellent closer. In a street magic scenario it's not as practical because you have 51 cards scattered to the wind around you, leaving you with a lot of cleanup after the payoff.
The DVD is very well done and the effect is taught clearly. Creation of the gimmick is also very carefully explained and easy to do. This isn't for everyone, but for the right magician in the right environment it can make you look impressive.
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Great concept
by Soo-Wee ONG from Australia on 04/05/2010 07:43:10
I agree with all other reviewers here. Setup is far too complicated. However, having said that, Some of the other handling and ideas are actually quite nice and fairly practical. A little pricey, but Ben does do a fantastic job teaching and spending the time going over everything.
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Buy if willing to put in the effort
[Verified buyer] by Anonymous from Gardner, MA on 04/03/2010 18:14:47
When I first saw this trick, I knew I had to buy it. Once I bought it, I was really not that pleased. The effect and method is very clever and is pretty hard to figure out. But the set up takes wayyy too long (plus cleaning up the cards would be a drag). It is definitely worth a stage closer (that is what I used for and it was an instant success). You will not be using this for close up, or even street magic (unless you're willing to sacrifice a deck of cards getting dirty when they are thrown on the ground). Previous reviews have already said this, but it's so much work! I also don't think it is worth the price. But does the trick really look that clean as shown in the trailer? Yes, it definitely does, hence 3 stars.
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Not for street!
by Anonymous from Dawsonville, GA on 09/25/2009 10:49:36
Overall, it is a very clever effect and method, but it isn't exactly practical. The set-up takes way too long. If you're looking for a decent card catch, check out the one on Jim Pace's Visu-Antics. Ben Seidman is an outstanding teacher and performer, but his other effects are much better than this one.
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Good.. but not simple or impromptu
[Verified buyer] by Anonymous from evanston wyoming on 05/07/2009 13:35:27
Beatifull trick... i love watching it performed...but way way way way too much work for me. He teaches several versions of this trick, but the original "catch" takes a lot of work and is in no way close to impromptu. But if you work on it, for a stage performance, you could turn it into something beautiful.
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(5) reviews
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