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Jay Are Inner circle 4186 Posts |
Ok...
I have been performing now for close to 10 years. I have a wealth of experience, and have posted many honest and sometimes controversial opinions on the Café. A good friend of mine allowed me to test drive his black widow. I put in the sufficient amount of practice, etc... After use... here is what I have to say... the black widow is the biggest waste of money I have ever seen... Seriously... I think creators need to examine their standards, and reviewers need to take off the blinders. This is a gadget, nothing more. Save yourself the money -- BUY A RAVEN...
xxx
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jimbowmanjr Veteran user Inside the Bottle 320 Posts |
Jeff,
Is there anything in particular about it that would lead you to say it is the biggest waste of money you have ever seen? The Raven, Electric Touch, Ultra Smoke, a deck of cards are all gadgets and nothing more....in a sense. Sorry if I seem less than convinced based on your post. If something is junk I have no problem calling it junk but I would probably give at least a few reasons as to why I think it is junk if I wanted anyone to take me seriously. --Jim p.s. I am probably going to kick myself in the morning for even entertaining this conversation... |
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Jay Are Inner circle 4186 Posts |
1.Poorly constructed -- had several issues.
2.Why do you need such a LARGE gadget to dosuch a small effect? 3.The raven is better 4.It is JUNK.... 5.Why? 6.Why god why? 7.Whys is no one honest on the Café when reviewing product anymore? With that last point -- I can't believe this thing got ANY good reviews. One of two things happened.... Either people got them for free and felt pressured into giving positive reviews to be nice. Or they got paid... At any rate -- save the cash, get a raven, and a few good books. This is the most over priced, over rated, over hyped thing I have seen in YEARS. Anyone remember the "POCKET LEVITATOR"?
xxx
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wise owl Special user Australia 721 Posts |
Jeff Richards
You know. I may agree with you. I got BW for quiet a while now and find that it is very similar to Raven but much bigger and more difficult to handle. But since there is so many +ve reviews about it. I thought may be I am not practice good enough or something. And I just keep on trying and practice to see if some magic moment may turn up..... Until I saw your revw!!! |
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Jay Are Inner circle 4186 Posts |
If you work with your arms static and at your sides -- the black widow is perfect!
Seriously... buying this is a bad idea... I want to make sure no one else gets ripped off....
xxx
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DougNicols Special user 846 Posts |
Can't wait for your review of Ladybug.
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Robert Apodaca Special user 504 Posts |
Yes, and lets take mentalism underground while we're at it. Isn't that what you wanted as well?
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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
I have the Raven, which I think is lovely, but not particularly practical for me, as it's awkward to reset. I've also seen the Black Widow used well, and the re-set is much simpler. The BW effect is more astonishing, versatile, and can be performed surrounded unlike the Raven. I'm interested why you rate the Raven above the BW? Although the BW gimmick is bigger than the Raven, it appears that it's much more controllable. Why do you feel you need to keep your arms static whilst you use BW? Do you have problems with it whilst performing other effects, do you find it gets in the way when not being used?
Jeff, your negative comments need some backing up, after all the marvellous reviews, it's not enough to just say that buying this is a bad idea. Doug |
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Jay Are Inner circle 4186 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-03-02 02:09, Drizz wrote: :) Hey -- thanks for staying on topic!
xxx
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Ustaad Inner circle Iindia - States 6157 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-03-01 23:57, Jeff Richards wrote: Yes, The RAVEN can be very effective - including switching small objects.
MAGIC is a SECRET, without the SECRET there is no MAGIC.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke. |
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Joshua Barrett Inner circle Cincinnati, Ohio 3631 Posts |
I will say I had pre ordered the BW earily on. I used it for a day, and hated the mechanics of it. sold it day 3
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robert bianchi Regular user New Jersey 159 Posts |
Well, I do not know if this is a review, but I am selling my brand new BW for $175, if people are interested.
Even though I am selling it, I must honestly say that I was somewhat disappointed by the size of gimmick, as it was just too cumbersome for me. I know that many many others here obviously disagree, but for my act, it was clear to me that the Raven was almost as powerful and far less obtrusive. I am not bashing the product, but I too was surprised that it received such rave reviews here with this obvious limitation. But that's my opinion. So, if anyone disagrees and really wants this device, that's GREAT. Mine is brand new and I am selling it for $175 and will ship to USA. Just PM me. Bob |
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ixnay66 Inner circle Denver 1525 Posts |
I always liked the Raven but I've never sween a BW or how it works so I can't comment on it. Unfortunately it's price was out of my range. It must be a pretty amazing piece of apparatus though to be so expensive when a Raven is only $20.
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Hurleybird New user Oklahoma 25 Posts |
Thanks for keeping it real, Jeff.
***Fear the Clown***
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nikyas Loyal user Kuala Lumpur 207 Posts |
Although I love the concept, but I think BW is too big and not very comfortable to wear. Raven is much more smaller and you can bring it anywhere, plus you can do it with a short sleeve shirt.
And talking about poorly construct item, I broke my BW's mouth after few days of practice. Maybe it was partly my fault, however after a few super glue, mine is working perfectly. The positive side of BW is, you can show both hands empty before and after the vanish. After few months with it, I might say that I prefer the raven |
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Jay Are Inner circle 4186 Posts |
Who needs a bionic raven?
xxx
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silverking Inner circle 4574 Posts |
The Raven is a pull, whereas the BW is a hold-out.
You really can't compare the two in a serious review. When comparing the BW to other true hold-outs, things take on an entirely different look. |
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Joshua Barrett Inner circle Cincinnati, Ohio 3631 Posts |
I didn;t think it was all that great of a hold out tho...
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Derek Dean Regular user Monterey, CA 129 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-03-02 00:26, Jeff Richards wrote: Jeff, everybody is entitled to their opinion, that's one of the things I enjoy about the the Café, but there is big difference between listing precise reasons why a particular item didn't work for you.... and just trashing something because you didn't like it. I would like to offer counterpoints if I may. 1. Construction: I'm amazed at the elegant simplicity of the BW. Very easy to get on and off, with an easy way to activate the device when needed (especially compared to the items that have come before it). I found the design to be well thought out and well executed. To put it simply...... it works.... and combining the two features into the one head.... inspired. I also felt that the materials chosen for each element were perfect, and mine was well contructed and worked perfectly from day one. Of course, like many magic utility devices, one must learn how to use this tool. I spent more than a month working with mine, daily, before I felt ready to perform this smoothly, but it was well worth the time. 2. Large? For what it does.... and having to exist in a "real world" environment day after day, gig after gig.... I'm amazed at how small it is. Yes, the Raven is smaller, but it can only accomplish a small fraction of what the BW can do. By the way, I have a Raven, and still use and like it very much too. Different tools for diffent things..... and sometimes different tools to accomplish the same thing, but with a differnt method. 3. Saying the Raven is better doesn't help much. I can say the BW is better. What does that mean. It only means I like one better than the other. It's the reasons why you like it better that are important. Personally, I like both items..... but I feel the BW is more versatile, being able to 'leave' as well as 'take', and, being able to show my hands empty both BEFORE as well as after is a very convincing part of the illusion. But, I like the Raven too because I can use it in short sleeves, it's not quite as cumbersome, and suits some situations better. 4. "It is JUNK". Hmmmmm...... one man's junk is another mans treasure. 5. Why? Because somebody had an idea, got together with some other creative folks, spent a lot of time making prototypes, refining their design, figured out how to bring their product to market, and then did it. Quite an accomplishment going from concept to final product. Love it or hate it, I admire the effort required to bring such an innovative device into actual production and distribution. BRAVO! 6. "Why God why?". Hmmmmmm...... see # 5 7. NOBODY is honest on the Café anymore? That's a pretty broad statement. I get it that you feel the BW is not something that works for you, but to call ALL the nice folks out there that DO like it, and probably, like me, use it on a regular basis, dishonest.... well.... that is insulting to a rather large segment of the Café population. AND, to insinuate that anybody who gave a positive review either got paid by the maker, or got the item free and felt compelled to give a good review, is astonishingly naive. I was neither, and gave, what I felt, was an honest appraisel of the unit, which after having and using it for many months now, I'm even more happy that I spent that modest amount for such a versatile utility device. Remember, this isn't a one trick pony, it can go where ever your imagination takes you. Again, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but please, in the future try to avoid insulting the rest of us here on the Café when you choose to voice it. |
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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
So reality comes out after the hype dies down. :/ I stayed away from this because of one limitation my friends warned me about. I need to be free duringmy performances.
It will make many sleights absolete, hmmmm....
Yours,
Ivan |
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