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slydini62 Special user 939 Posts |
Please help with a review if you have purchased it?
Thanks Sly |
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runawayjag Inner circle 1085 Posts |
What would you like to know about Al's machine? If you have specific questions (other than, "how does it work?") I'll be happy to answer.
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slydini62 Special user 939 Posts |
How strong is the routine?
Is the effect worth $350.00 I've heard that John Mendoza uses this effect? |
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runawayjag Inner circle 1085 Posts |
The routine is very strong. Yes, I do use the routine and did it for a forthcoming video. The machine can be used as an "impromptu" effect with anyone being able to just walk up to you and ask you to do it. They can shuffle a deck and hand it to you and you go right into the trick. But, it is best used for the specific four-part full routine as it really get the potential from the effect.
Is it worth $350.00? To the person who actually uses it, yes. For the curious or the collector, no. Hope that helps. |
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cfrye Special user Portland, Oregon, USA 940 Posts |
If you saw an early version of the ad on hocus-pocus.com, you might have seen a note that they originally had four units but that there were only three left. I reduced their stock the instant I saw the description because:
o I'm a poker player and know how to explain the game to non-players. o I'm a computer guy and understand the logic behind the "work". o The calculator is in the participant's hands throughout the effect. o There's a huge range of presentations available, from "I made this" to "somebody gave this to me and I don't know how it works". o Did I mention the calculator is in the spectator's hands throughout the effect? Simply put, I will learn how to do it, then I will learn how to present it, then I will learn how to sell it, and then I will bring down the house with it. And John Mendoza's DVDs will help. |
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MagicCarisio Inner circle 1061 Posts |
From everything that I've read about this effect, I can only say WOW!! It sure would go over extremely well at the VFW club! I'll be saving up for this one.
Gerard |
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Mike Giusti Veteran user 371 Posts |
I gotta tell you, years ago, when Paul Gross asked me to take one home and figure it out, I darn near killed myself when I did it FOR myself. "HOW DOES IT KNOW?" I asked myself. The only drawback then was that the directions were pretty difficult to sift through. Not any more; John has revamped them and made it so that a twelve year-old can do it now. It really is an amazing unit! To be honest, I STILL don't know how exactly it works, but it works!
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Gianni Special user WILMINGTON, DE 993 Posts |
I have a question for Mike and runawayjag:
If someone has the machine and runs into a problem with it a few years from now (and assuming you fellows are not around to help), how would someone get help if they pushed some wrong buttons, erased something, etc.? Gianni |
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Mike Giusti Veteran user 371 Posts |
Good question, Gianni.
Rest assured, Hocus Pocus WILL be around should such a rare problem arise. Simply contact us, and the problem will get resolved. Paul has been in business for close to 30 years, and he doesn't have any plans to quit now... |
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runawayjag Inner circle 1085 Posts |
...if sonmeone had a problem....
I have worked out a simple system that can restore the machine should someone screw it up through incorrect button entries which buyers (only buyers,) can get from me if they contact me. Loss of the memory is an entirely different matter, but you can only accomplish that if you either remove both sets of batteries at the same time or if you tamper with the program in an attempt to transfer or replicate it. Other than that, it is impossible to lose it. In the instructions I do advise that I will re-set the machine for anyone at no charge one time, should they lose the memory and I don't plan on dying very soon. The machine and instructions have been considerably simplified, but it still takes a few rehearsals to gain complete confidence in your abilities (not the machine's...it never misses!) |
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bekralik Inner circle Canada 1349 Posts |
It's a pretty impressive piece of work. I just received it and walked myself through the demo in astonishment. I imagine close proximity to strong magnets would also wipe out the memory; I'd cry if that ever happened.
Brian |
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asdffdsa New user 69 Posts |
Here’s my short review for this trick.
From Pick a card…any card forum, I gave this trick to be one of the top 3 card effects that I always get a great reaction from the audiences. The routine is well thought out and logical. John Mendoza has also produced one of the most highly detailed instructions that I’ve ever read in magic. However, this is not entirely a self-working trick. You have to do things to make the trick works. Especially, the full four-phase routine does take some practice but it is well worthwhile. Well, if you are looking for the trick that pack small and play big, this one would probably fits the bill. Practicality: 9 (only because of the phase four otherwise 10) Workmanship: N/A (It’s a calculator) Instructions: 10 Effect: 10 |
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Cruise Regular user 175 Posts |
I like how you give workmanship no points! he wrote a program that still workmanship!
ask harry why he dont want people to know he makes $200 a month for all these ads! thats like $4000 a month! oh but SHHH! harry isnt a real person!
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asdffdsa New user 69 Posts |
Thanks Cruise, and you are right about this.
10 out of 10 for a brilliant piece of workmanship and ingenuity. By the way, N/A doesn’t mean “no points”. |
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MagicMarker Elite user 498 Posts |
The Hocus Pocus Ads describe the routine and claim that it's
"the exact, no-exaggeration, description of the routine John does with this" My only reason for not shelling out the money is that I don't believe this. I think the description might be exagerating by omitting certain details. It claims the deck can be borrowed. When? This implies you can grap a deck and start the trick. I don't believe this is the case and it's an exageration to give that impression. It claims that 5 cards are freely slid out of the spread. I presume these cards must be together in the spread, you can't slide out five cards from all over the spread. By omitting this detail there's a slight exageration. The second phase just sounds ridiculous: "and has a lady think of ANY card in the deck and name it aloud. Again, no force whatsoever!" To put it bluntly there is NO computer program that can name an unforced (thought of card) based on 4 other unrelated randomly selected card. I'm not saying the routine can't be presented as described but I simply don't believe the description is an unexagerated description. So before I'd spend $400 on this think I'd like more than the description that Hocus Pocus puts out. I just don't believe that it's not exagerated. I'd love to see the routine presented. It sounds amazing, and anyone who's seen it seems to be amazed. It's probably worth the money if you use it. But I just can't justify $400 based only on an Ad that I think is no more honest than any other Magic Ad. And let's be honest, Descriptions of Tricks in Ads don't have a good reputation. Can anyone set my mind at ease about just how exagerated the Ad is? (The Ad contains the same text as the description on Hocus Pocus' website.) -Rd |
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Robert M Inner circle 2482 Posts |
Runawayjag - When is the video coming out???
Thanks, Robert |
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runawayjag Inner circle 1085 Posts |
I can put your mind to rest. There is NO exaggeration. The cards do not have to be slid out of any specific area of the deck, nor do they have to be together. Don't read things into the ad that are not stated. The lady does, in fact, THINK of any card and NAME it. The machine is not a mindreader.
I just got a long distance overseas call from no less than Gaeton Bloom telling me the machine is brilliant. Since, I only distribute them and did not invent or create the machine, this is not a boast, but an actual endorsement by one of the most brilliant thinkers in magic today. I use mine all the time. There is absolutely NO exaggeration in the ad anywhere. |
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rowdymagi5 Inner circle Virginia 3613 Posts |
Rd--Seeing this little gem of a machine in action would definitly fry you. Yes, the deck can be borrowed. Yes, any five cards from anywhere in the deck can be used. Yes, anyone can merely name a card, and the machine will reveal the card.
The description is accurate. Granted, this is not a self working effect. You cant just buy the calculator and stand back and enjoy the show. For me anyway, the money was well spent. The thought process behind this is pure genious. After you realize how it works, it makes you appreciate all the more the genius behind the method. And, John Mendoza did an excellent job with the instructions! |
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runawayjag Inner circle 1085 Posts |
I have no control over the release of the video, so can't state when it will be released. I think the Machine will enjoy a resurgence of interest again once the demo is viewed on the DVD.
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Salou Snake New user 2 Posts |
All I can say is GENIUS. Get it!
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