Plastique

THE BLURB:
Classy, clever, and contemporary, it's the perfect choice
for stage performers, close-up magicians, walk-around mind
readers - or anybody with 60 bucks!

Predict ... the grand total of a dozen digits chosen at
random by several people, from multiple cards!

Discover...the false signature of a participant 'guilty of
identity theft' - blindfolded!

Confound...with an amazing series of coincidences while the
participants call the shots all the way!

Baffle...their brains out when a participant adds up his
choice of four digits from any card (you don't even know
which one), yet you open your hand to show that exact amount
in pocket change!

Believe...that every colorful, commercial quality card is
totally different on the front side and there are multiple
principles to handle the wise guys! There's not enough room
to list all the details, but start with instant reset,
examinable, and repeatable. Versatile? You bet!

Guaranteed!

MY COMMENTS:
This is a set of props, specifically eleven very well made
and realistic looking plastic club cards, which can be a
complete act in your pocket. There are a total of five
routines explained, with four of them being put together to
form one routine. The fifth is a bonus.

THE GRAND TOTAL is a version of Jack London's Almost Real
Prediction. With each card have sixteen digits on it in
groups of four, like regular credit cards, this lends itself
beautifully to this effect. Three participants freely take
one card. Each thinks of a group of numbers which are
called out and added up. The mentalist reveals the total.
I can be fairly certain that this was the main reason for
this effects creation, and the many other principles packed
into this set are icing on the cake. Very sweet icing, I
might add.

BAFFLE THEIR BRAINS involves a fourth spectator, who had
been doing the adding for the previous routine, and this
person concentrates on just one set of numbers on his
randomly selected card. The performer removes a bit of
change, those numbers are added up, and the totals match.
This one is really easy to do and the cards pretty much do
all the work for you.

IDENTITY THEFT involves the performer being blindfolded
while five participants sign their names on the back of the
cards. One participant, though, signs a different name.
Using the sense of hearing, the performer uses the
participants voices to detect who wrote the false name.
Incidentally, one doesn't have to use a blindfold for this
routine. There are a couple of very devious principles at
work here.

AMAZING COINCIDENCE is Larry Becker's famous "Will The Cards
Match" done with this cards. The ten cards are mixed and
dealt into two piles. The participant directs the performer
to spell each word using the cards. Actually, the
participant can do it, too. After each word, the top cards
of the piles are removed. After all the words are spelled,
the pairs are turned face up and the cards are shown to be
matched. What's clever here is that the match may not be
instantly recognized. When it is, it a great "aha" moment.

CREDIT FOR CLAIRVOYANCE involves the mixing and selection of
one face-down card. That card is signed. The cards are
mixed and turned face up. The performer holds a coin while
the participant grabs his wrist. Moving up and down the
line, the performer feels a slight hesitation over one card.
Doing it again, the coin falls out and onto one card. That
card is turned over and it has the signature.

I do have a few thoughts and concerns about this. First, I
wouldn't do all of these effects in one particular act.
That's way too much. Second, the routines mostly play for a
small group. THE GRAND TOTAL must be done with a minimum of
four people and AMAZING COINCIDENCE and CREDIT FOR
CLAIRVOYANCE both are close-up. And due to the credit card
size props, these are ideal for small group situations,
rather than one-on-one or stage.

Finally, some may be concerend that audiences will question
the cards' authenticity and thus categorize this effect as
mental magic. Sure, bringing out these props may well be
suspicious even to those performers who have solid
justifications, and then again maybe not. It will depend
entirely on whether you're comfortable using these. If you
are, you'll be able to sell the cards as real.

The package includes 4 pages of double-sided instructions
(8.5" x 11") as well as the cards. The only thing missing
is a wet-erase pen that you'll need to write on the back of
the cards. These pens are easily available from any office
supply store. Plastique is undoubtably versatile and
packed with so many principles that it will be hard not to
find a use for them. If using these plastic cards, which
are clever and contemporary, appeals to you, then I highly
recommend them.