Magic Tricks

After performing it about 10 times over the weekend (Jon's handling), I can firmly state that audiences do in fact love the tiny plunger!

I think the main reasons are that it's a weird object, it's "cute" and it's wacky. The playfulness really hits home with audiences. And don't think because it's light-hearted that it doesn't hit hard, because it does. They are genuinely amazed at how the plunger "knows" how to find the card or pick up the right number of cards called for.

Now why the 4 star review and not 5? Well, in terms of the routine and the value you get from the effect on people, it's definitely a 5 star product. However, there are certain requirements to effective utilization of the gimmick...

You need a cloth/close up mat (I used a paper napkin on a bar counter at one point in the night) if you're doing it at the table. It is possible to do most of the routine in the hands, but not all and I think the parts that you need a table for (like when Jon picks up four cards in a row one at a time) are genuinely interesting magical moments and losing them would lessen the "build up" of the effect. Also using a table makes everything seem more fair and you would lose that aspect doing it in your hands.

Lastly the condition of the deck you use is important. I usually perform in bars and so my deck can get dirty easily and that makes the gimmick work less reliably. If a couple of cards get dirty, the gimmick will still work but maybe you'll get a "misfire" once in a while. You can always blame the plunger if that happens (which is what I did) and get a laugh out of it (again, the personification of the plunger is one of the great aspects of Jon's routine), but it's frustrating to see it not work and be unsure if it will work the next time. If the deck is really dirty... don't even try it. Grab a new deck and the gimmick will work reliably.

Oh I didn't mention the other plunger (the one for Mathieu's routine. It's really clever. My friend was super confused by it for a long while. Great thinking!

Those criticisms aside, I still think it's a fantastic routine and is worth checking out if the two things I mentioned don't bother you. And even if those two constraints do bother you, I still think the reactions are worth finding the right time and place to overcome those issues and do the routine (if it fits your performing style that is!)