A collection of 18 full color cards showing favorite drinks/cocktails with a 24 page Booklet featuring 18 routines... The 18+ in the title could represent the legal age at which you could sit at, but not drink at, a bar, and legitimately watch the routines in this outfit. Or it could be the number of cards you get in this outfit, or the number of routines detailed for you in this manuscript of routines. You take your pick !
Magic at the bar, or for a partying adult audience gives you an excellent performing platform. You have an audience with the time and inclination to watch, observation skills that are not at their peak, and where a little entertainment goes a long way. You have an audience that is ripe for the type of effects this outfit offers: all revolving around tipsy themes, with no exceptional skill or sleights.
Some of the routines are completely self-working, just follow the instructions. Others require a wee amount of manipulation, well within the reach of the most modest close-up performer. These effects could just as easily be performed at a restaurant table, at a hotel, garden party, or private function - anywhere magic and drinks can combine.
You get eighteen specially coated cards in this outfit. You use some of these cards for all the routines in this booklet. Simply pick up the cards, follow the instructions, and we guarantee you some great entertainment at your next party, restaurant, or pub session!
Review from: www.talkmagic.co.uk: Difficulty: 1 to 3 (1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used, 4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
Examinable: Yes. And No. Depends on which one you’re doing!
The Blurb: A collection of card cocktails for the bar magician, table hopper or close up performer. Some of the routines are self working others require a small amount of skill, comes with a 24 page booklet of routines and the 18 cards. The drinks used are: Milk, Cider, Rum, Coke, Port, Lager, Vodka, Coffee, Brandy, Lime, Orange
Review: This is actually a very nice collection of self working and easy to do card routines, some of which are taken from existing routines with ordinary cards and given a twist by using cards with the names and pictures of drinks on them – plus one card with the booze bill! As such it seems a refreshing change from doing ‘card tricks’. My main gripe would be that the cards supplied are press cut out of a sheet and have a slight lip on one side rather like a very shallow tray. This means the cards don’t slide across each other as they ought to but a little work with a piece of wet & dry paper soon smoothes them all off. The cards are supposed to have been treated so that moisture (i.e. spilt Newcastle Brown!) will wipe off but I wouldn’t bank on them resisting total immersion. Treat them with as much care as your favourite Bikes and you’ll be OK.
The routines themselves are good and are mainly self working, mathematical, or spelling type effects where you can work on a good presentation once you’ve got the basic moves sorted. A couple of gaffed cards are involved at times, others require a few sleights but nothing knuckle busting. Although some are taken from tricks with ordinary cards, since there is now a choice of perhaps up to 9 cards as opposed to just 4 suits, the tricks are expanded and therefore more mystifying. Rather neatly there are 18 cards, 18 tricks, and they’re intended for 18+ environments. Most will be just as happy elsewhere but perhaps not all would be welcome at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Various combinations of the cards are used and there are ideas and details of sleights which you might be able to use in other card effects. The booklet is well printed and the instructions are easy enough to follow. In the right hands, using this collection to entertain in a pub or bar atmosphere could mean free drinks for life!
Value for money: 8 out of 10
