What It Isn't Review

November 30th, 2011 1:47pm Rating:

Reviewed by Thomas Sciacca

What hooked me about the ad for this effect, was the name Hofinzer. I was looking forward to seeing a new approach to a classic effect-one, which has come up innumerable times in my own studies. This package comes with 2 variations on the effect-and I have used both, with great audience response. But here's why I REALLY like this trick: it throws a last minute curveball at the audience-similar to what R. Paul Wilson's 'Ricochet' does. In two other versions I've do of this plot-selection buried, which magically shows up as another selection from four of a kind-people sense whats coming. They may not know HOW, but, they sense whats about to happen, before the final revelation. In 'What it isn't', what the audience sees coming, DOESN'T-card back colors change places instead. Both gaffed and impromptu methods here, are quite user friendly. The manuscript indeed includes some moves which have many applications elsewhere. The packet changes in both versions, are very interesting-each change being different from the last. I showed both versions of this trick to my magic bartender friend, Tom Stein. He actually loved the impromptu version over the gaffed one: "in the first, you know that trick cards are used-but the second, it just kills! Especially watching the jokers change to other cards!" Further, the CF change, IS a very slippery and effective method for switching two cards, leaving one of them face up on/in the deck. I very much recommend this product-even though the proof reader was out to lunch when the instructions were printed...la missing word, here and there. Nice group of moves to make the magic, and again-a really nice twist to a classic. Is it worth 17 bucks? I don't think so-I got it on sale for 10, online. This whole area of selling secrets gets pretty relative-and 17 bucks can get you a book with lots more material than this trick. Still, I'm glad to own it, and people who've seen it thus far, seem to enjoy either version immensly.

Product info for What It Isn't

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A printing effect inspired by the Hofzinser Ace Problem.

'WHAT IT ISN'T' is absolutely perfect for the strollicng or table hopping performer. You can launch into the effect at any time during your set and the re-set is quick and easy. This is a stunning trick that is very easy to do - Cameron Francis has done it again!

Effect

From a red backed deck, a card is selected and lost back into the pack. Four blue backed cards are introduced - they all have blank faces. The magician announces: "I'm going to use these blank cards to tell me what your card ISN'T!" One by one, the magician magically prints the blanks with the faces of the mates of the selection! "These three cards, tell me what it ISN'T. This last blank is going to tell me what your card IS - it will change places with your card in the deck!" The magician gives the last blank a flick - nothing happens. "Oh, I actually only made the backs change places!" The blank card is turned over and it now has a red back! The deck is spread, and one card has changed to blue - it is of course the selected card!

INCLUDES TWO SEPERATE HANDLINGS - ONE OF WHICH USES ORDINARY CARDS AND INTRODUCES THE 'CF SWITCH' TO THE MAGIC WORLD - A METHOD FOR SWITCHING ONE CARD FOR ANOTHER WHILE LEAVING THE SWITCHED OUT CARD REVERSED IN THE DECK!

'WHAT IT ISN'T' is a 14 page manuscript illustrated with 21 photographs. The booklet version, available now comes complete with the gaff cards included.