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Random Odds by Derek Ostovani (Instant Download)


No bill switch! No setup! A BORROWED bill, borrowed phone, and borrowed deck. A polished reputation-maker with layers upon layers of deception. START LEARNING INSTANTLY.
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"This is one of those ‘event’ effects. Done well, nothing can follow it. Just walk off and become a local legend." - David Regal

"Derek took individuals methods that are incredibly strong and combined them into a single serving of awesomeness" - Ryan Shlutz

"Derek has combined a number of principles in order to coordinate an elaborate, but deceptive string of magical coincidences. It’s virtually an act in itself!" - John Bannon

"Borrow any deck, any bill, and any phone! Random Odds is a hard-hitting mentalism piece that you carry around in other people's pockets!" - Cody S. Fisher

Borrowed objects. Random numbers. Impossible coincidence. Random Odds by Derek Ostovani. is a multilayered mental mystery that will blow your audience away.

Here’s what happens: A bill is borrowed from the spectator who signs it to make sure that everything is above board. The bill is left out in plain view while the spectators cell phone is borrowed. The audience tells the magician random numbers to multiply together in the phone’s calculator. Their birth year, the first three digits of their phone number, any digits that come to mind. The audience can even enter the numbers into the phone themselves. A deck of cards is shuffled in an extremely fair manner to select a generous handful of cards which are further shuffled. The spectators read out the number on the calculator as the cards are turned over, and they order of the selected cards matches the numbers multiplied by the audience. Just when your audience thinks the trick is over we remember the bill. Not only do the cards match the generated number, but they match the serial number on the bill that was borrowed at the very beginning.

Derek has worked hard to mix methods so that this is not just deceptive, but also packs a huge punch when the final climax is revealed. This isn’t just a closer, it's a show stopper for the close up and parlor performer. This is Random Odds.

Nominee P3 Download of the Year Penguin Magic Awards 2020
Nominee Trick of the Year Penguin Magic Awards 2020

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Love, love it, love it! Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 8th, 2020
… and so will you. Random Odds is new, refreshing, fun and will be reputation making. This is a multi layered, multi reveal and multi climax effect, nothing like I have ever seen before. It’s all so random and yet the finale packs a phenomenal punch. It utilizes a phone, a bill, some playing cards and a great presentation to totally blow everyone away. Know here that it’s their phone, their bill and your spectators provide all the random numbers used in this minor miracle. You can even borrow the deck if someone happens to have one available.

There are no real sleighs to learn just a very basic and simple move. There is a little work to do but it is done all in front of your spectator, no big deal. There is a lot going on for the spectator but once the reveals are established, they won’t believe what they have seen. At each phase of this effect, your spectator/s (use one or more to involve in supplying you with the numbers you use) are controlling the randomness of all the numbers used and what order the cards are dealt down to accomplish the end result.

It is well worth the price for the small amount of time that you will spend learning it. Wait until you see their faces and hear their gasps. It is a miracle and you will certainly be remembers for it. Try it, you will like it.
12 of 12 magicians found this helpful.
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Whew!!! Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on February 19th, 2020
While admittedly, this IS a good trick. It's just TOO much process for me. Add this, deal this, count that, grrrrr!!! Enough already!!! Let's get to the MAGIC!!! There's not enough entertainment along the way to balance the amount of unentertaining process. It's seems to me this is better suited to the hobbyist, moreso than the pro. Good trick, but, in the words of the great Chuck Berry, "Too much monkey business for me to be involved in!"
9 of 10 magicians found this helpful.
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An Investment of Time & Effort With a GREAT Return Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 10th, 2020
I have to say... I’m impressed. This trick can definitely be a closer or at least a very solid arrow in your quiver. This is a multi-phase trick that can involve several participants. It can be done on a borrowed (preferably full with jokers, but not necessary) deck. You use a borrowed iPhone. There is zero prep (well, I guess there is a tiny prep but you do it right in front of them). There are no gimmicks. You can do this surrounded, except for the first minute or so. Last but not least, a fantastic kicker.

But...

If your lazy, busy, or super new, this trick is not for you. (I’m a poet and didn’t know it)

I say this because...

This trick has quite a few steps and will definitely require concentration, a little memorization (not a big deal once you’re comfortable with this trick), a few moves, and requires lots of magic.

Good things come to those who practice. And practice. And practice. This trick is well worth the investment and effort if you’re willing to commit. This trick, quite frankly, is very impressive IMO. To be honest though, I think this will end up being a trick many won’t end up doing, simply because of the investment required. To be even more honest, that includes me... for now anyway. It is definitely a trick I won’t do anytime soon simply because of my current time. There are other tricks I am working on. But yes it’s worth t and yes I plan to eventually give this the P3 treatment.

Great trick. Now let’s talk about Derek and his teaching.

Derek, you know your stuff. Guys, this guy references probably a half dozen sources at least. For your intro to Penguin, this is a great start and you’ve set the bar very high. Kudos and respect! The only constructive feedback I have for you is that I wish you would have slowed down and gone over the key moves a little slower with a little more detail. I know that, for you, this is as obvious and natural and simple as breathing and talking. But it’s not for many of your viewers. While you do teach the moves “enough”, I think slowing down and spending another couple minutes teaching and demonstrating these moves would have really benefited the viewer... especially any newbies. I felt like it was a little too fast. Yes, I can back it up. But slowing the pace during the key moves would have felt more right I think. I shouldn’t HAVE to go do more of my own research on the key moves to do this trick. It should be complete out of the box. Not everyone is at your level. In fact, I’m thinking there are a lot of newbies who have never hear the moves that you seem to be assuming they know.

Other then that though, bravo. Four stars for you!

By the way, I always try to be honest and straightforward in my reviews, while being respectful to the magician. If you appreciate my reviews, can you please click the "Yes" button below beside the question, "Did this review help you?" It's not like I actually benefit in any way by your clicking it... but it would be nice to see if my reviews are helpful or not. I hope they are. If you ever have suggestions or comments or questions about my reviews, please feel free to leave me a constructive comment. I'm just trying to be helpful. I love the Penguin community and hope that I can someday contribute my own product. :-) Thanks for reading and for any (hopefully positive, but either way, at least kind) feedback.
3 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
10 of 13 magicians found this helpful.
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Random Odds by Derek Ostovani Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 8th, 2020
My initial reaction to this illusion was that it was very complex. It is not, but I suggest watching the tutorial very carefully a couple of times through. I had to let what he was doing soak in, my ADD kicks in and I need repetition. Once you have the routine down it's a stunning trick. The kicker at the end of this trick with the dollar bill is incredible. Derek said this is his first tutorial with Penguin, I hope to see more. This one is worth learning, just make sure somebody has an I Phone before you start.
8 of 9 magicians found this helpful.
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Good trick for casual presentation Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 8th, 2020
This is a cool trick that will leave spectators wondering how such a random occurrence could happen. It has several layers to it that continue to baffle people with each reveal. The video is well done and gives a complete presentation method that is easy to follow. I also like how references are given to help learn the simple moves in case you want to go deeper.
7 of 8 magicians found this helpful.
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Random odds Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 8th, 2020
There is a lot of moves and slights taught here, that are worth learning on their own 👍 put together this does genuinely seem like “ Random Odds”
4 of 5 magicians found this helpful.
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Great Trick, Bit Too Much Downtime. Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on December 29th, 2020
I gotta say, this trick KILLED at a few casual settings. People were amazed by how not once but twice(!) the cards matched. It's easy to perform and even easier to learn! The only thing I'd say that needs improvement is the awkward downtime when you do the calculator move. Derek says to fill it in with a joke about tinder, but I know most of my friends, and that is not a joke that would be laughed at. I usually say that I'm playing Angry Birds instead, but that only fills for a few seconds. The time it takes to do the move is approx. 5-10 seconds for me, and if that is not cloaked by chatter, then it will become boring and suspicious very quickly. Overall, great trick and the downtime will, I'm sure, be easily overcome by creative magicians.
3 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
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Instant hit! Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 8th, 2020
This is a beautiful routine! The method feels a bit all over the place at first, but once you get it down, it's really quite easy.

While we are taught how to do this with borrowed items, I will be doing a b*ll sw***h and using my own deck. This will make it flow much smoother for me, and probably quite a few other performers as well.
There's nothing wrong with the impromptu version whatsoever, I just need that extra reassurance that comes with being prepared.

Another great thing about the method behind this routine is that it can be customized to your liking. Some routines just don't offer that option, but this one does.

I am very much looking forward to Derek's next release.
3 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
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Made for the US market Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on November 23rd, 2020
1) Euro’s have 10 number serial numbers , so you will tip off smarter people who look at the calculator being in scientific mode.
When holding the calculator in normal mode a 10 digit number like : 1234567891 will be presented as 12345678e9.
2) No full presentation of the trick in front of a live audience. Heavyly edited presentation. This is a fast spreading disease nowadays !
I can understand editing in promo’s but not in the bought download please !
3) Lacks a good presentation. That’s another widespread problem in the magic world , pay for my method (which is pretty good actually) and do not get my routine/patter with it. When buying this know that you have to make your OWN presentation for this ; I could not present it like Derek...so sad. I have created my own patter and presentation which makes it a worker.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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Great Routine. "Can you do one more?" Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 16th, 2020
This is a perfect routine for the spectators who say "Can you do one more" at the end of the night / session. It's impromptu, everything happens in the moment and everything can be borrowed. It can also be varied. If someone doesn't have a bill, ask them for a credit card.

Now, technically there is "set up" to be done, but you do this in front of your audience, out in the open. I personally think the most difficult element of the routine is hiding this in plain sight. Make sure you are confident with your scripting and misdirection. You will have to be confident with "the move". I started learning "the move" upon purchase of this effect. I'm getting confident with it less than 48 hours later. It wont take long to get to a standard which you are comfortable performing.

This is not a "beginner effect" in my opinion. You will need to be comfortable hiding things in plain sight, but I'm making it sound scarier than it is.

It's a wonderful Climax effect, using borrowed items. Imagine a Derren Brown stage finale that packs into your pocket. That's what it feels like.

Amazing value for money, great support from Penguin and Derek. Wonderfully filmed. Derek's performances are lovely to watch.

Buy it!

N.B USD have 8 digit serial numbers. As do UK. Euros have more.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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