This DVD deserves 4 stars for sheer effort, but as a mental effect I am not sure how convincing is
the method. Actually this may vary for the country in which you are performing. I grew up in Britain
during a period when every magic box contained the Age Cards, and when they were frequent give-aways
in comics, and they still appear regularly in childrens' books. Consequently anything that uses the
same principle needs to be very cleverly concealed. I feel that this is just not the case here. It
needs something more subtle than misleadingly calling them business cards. I didn't buy into the
routine's justification for the process, discarding etc. and because I am uncomfortable I feel this
will transmit to my audience member.
The actual details of the working, and the construction of
the various paper gimmicks is done with true german thoroughness. One cannot fault the effort that
as been put into this.
There has also been obvious effort been put into the actual shooting of
the video - a little too obvious. The use of an overhead camera for the constructional illustration
is excellent, the repetitive cutting between virtually identical shots was painful.
The bonus
material and the suggested variations were generous. There is no doubt that Andreas wants to please
and makes every effort to do so I just wish all this effort had been applied to a less familiar
basic method.
Now I do not think the method so flawed that people will know how you do the
trick, but I do feel that the necessary "procedure" of this method will ring bells, in the minds of
some, sufficient for them to think of this as a magic trick which is not the desired response for
the mentalist.
Dear Chris,
thanks for purchasing Zodino and thank you for your honest review.
I appreciate your words about the efforts put in.
You said: "misleadingly calling them business cards". In your Zodino packet you find a folder called "English Gimmicks". In there you find a file called "English - Cards - Bar And Street Cards - Custom Front 1.pdf" and next to it another file called "...Custom Front2.pdf". Both are different business card designs. They have the exact measures of European style business cards and you can customize the files on your computer to make the front of the cards look like some business cards of yours with name, address and telephone number or anything else you that wish to write. Everything is described in the first explanation video around 1h18min. Hope this helps you to make the effect more deceptive. Also, give it try and combine it with other mentalism principles, as explained in the second download video around 47min.
Additional tips and gimmicks are in the BONUS section of the ZODINO website mentioned at the end of the video. If you have any questions you can contact me any time through the email address given during the explanation video. Now, enjoy using the routine.
Dear Andreas,
I don't think you quite get my point. When I said "misleadingly calling them business cards" it was in a complete sentence the gist of which was that something more subtle was needed to disguise the nature of the method. I wasn't accusing you of misleading me by using the wrongs size card. Your reply " They have the exact measures of European style business cards and you can customize the files on your computer to make the front of the cards look like some business cards of yours with name, address and telephone number" does not answer my point which is that handing someone a number of SPECIALLY PRINTED CARDS, and asking them to keep or discard certain ones according to their content will ring bells with anyone who has played with the old age cards. This danger makes me uncomfortable.
A second point is that business cards are understood to be printed with name address etc. to be given out on request. It seems so illogical to have something of PRINTED on the backs which can only be of occasional use, and to have DIFFERENT things printed on different cards. Surely this must seem suspicious to any thinking spectator? Perhaps it would be better to handwrite the information on the backs? In fact, if I were to use this routine I think I would not make any pretence that these were business cards but would admit they were specially prepared for the job, and call them "Focus Cards" or something similar.
But as I originally said, I would feel uncomfortable using this because I cannot believe in it and therefore would convey this to my sitter. This method just isn't for me. It obviously works well for you and I hope for many, many others. As I said in my original review I admired the effort you put into it Andreas and I certainly wish you well. Judging by the majority of the comments I feel sure you will have a success with is material.
This discussion has actually convinced me to give this a try. The creator/author sounds, by every account I've seen, incredibly conscientious and proud of his release.
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