Magic Tricks

When you get this, it includes a matchbox that you need to fold and stick together with some included double-sided tape. The problem is, the tape is "packed" by exposing one of the sticky sides and pressing it against a plastic bag. The theory is it will stay with the backing covering the other sticky side when you try to peel it off. What happened for me is the tape remains stuck to the bag.

Minor point, I guess, and if I looked around I could probably find the right kind of tape (it's not the stuff you find in Office Depot, for example) and with some experimentation, I might even be able to identify the brand that sticks best to the box material supplied. But, I don't think I should have to do that.

Here we are, a few weeks later. Penguin never did send any replacement tape. I figured the folded matchbox wasn’t doing me any good, so I put it together as best I could, and it seems to be OK. Like I said above, I understand if they want to save money (and offer the product at a lower price) by having us assemble the thing, but it would have been better all-around if what was needed was also supplied.

OK, rant over, let’s move on.

And with all that, you may not need to assemble the matchbox in the first place. Here’s the deal… The effect uses a gimmicked coin. It’s easy to find such a coin in half-dollar size, and you need to make it yourself if you use a quarter. There are good arguments supporting either side/size, and that’s the reason behind the special matchbox. It will hold either size coin. If you’re OK with a quarter then a regular, store bought matchbox will probably suffice. (Though, in addition to being slightly larger, the supplied matchbox, once assembled, is a bit more durable than most matchboxes that are really matchboxes.)

Speaking of, you’re not done with arts and crafts once the matchbox is assembled. If you opt for the quarter route, then you have some additional preparation of your gimmicked coin.

Ok, we finally get to the effects. It’s several, strung into a routine. They are far from self-working with the main challenge being audience management (as with any high-touch routine). However, if your style is such that audiences are paying more attention to you than the stuff you’re fumbling with then this routine will provide a very entertaining five minutes of… entertainment.