Magic Tricks

PROS:

- I booked a $1250 strolling close-up gig last weekend as a result of this effect. She said she had watched my videos. I asked her "which video" grabbed her, and she said "You icurveball video," (obviously I'm kidding, she didn't mention it by name). This was for a tech company, so she said it would appeal to that group.
I think she mentioned one other video but this one stood out to her.
You can get a lot of mileage out of this; however, if you are a beginner and lack audience management skills, you can muck this up badly.

- Packs small. Are you effin kidding me? This takes ZERO pocket space. This means a great deal to a worker. Pocket space is precious realty to a professional. You just can't show up to a gig looking good and also having your two favorite trick decks on you, your ordinary deck, 2 trick sharpies and an ordinary one, an imp pad, a stack of business cards, your trick wallet, and on and on.

CONS:

- I had to watch the performance video closely 2 or 3 times to catch exactly what he says at the "p__k" moment. In his explanation, he does say, "This is where you take your p__k," but he said that without saying anything relevant before that point. I rewound and I was like, "What?!" He should have slowly said the words and demoed it, going through the motions, as he usually does with tricks that require technical moves, like how he does in What's in A Name. This should demand the same methodical and patient instruction.

- In his performance, he did not turn his body during the moment. In the explanation he said this should be done. This is not much of a con, but I'm pointing it out here. Maybe it was because he was performing for just two people and it didn't make sense to do a turn. But now I'm not sure where it would make sense to twist your body as you do the moment.

- Not ideal for an opener. I don't think so anyway. This is simply because it may come off as a bit uncooth asking for someone's phone when they haven't warmed up to you.

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My tips (from very limited experience):

1. On account of my great misunderstanding of his explanation, I have discovered an additional moment to glimpse in case you missed it the first time. "Wait IS it moving? Okay." Immediately after saying that, you know what to do.

2. If you have a choice between a naked phone and a phone encased in an Otterbox or something, choose the former. The Otterbox requires a lot more force to push a button.

3. Oz (pronounced "Ahz"... why would you waste the perfect name for a magician by correcting people and insisting it's not pronounced like the wizard?) mentions this in the video, but this is just showmanship that if you're not doing already when you have an opportunity like this, you're wasting a great opportunity. Have them walk well away from you. Or you walk well away from them.