THE BLURB:
A new comedy mental effect based on a new term UNSHOP, which
means to return something at the checkout-counter because
you bought too much and cannot afford it.
The performer invites a male participant to take an
imaginary shopping trip. He is told to imagine he has gone
to a store and is going to buy a new outfit. His new outfit
will consist of a sports coat, shirt, necktie, pants, socks,
shoes, and even a pair of boxer shorts. He is told that when
he gets to the checkout-counter, he discovers he does not
have enough money with him and has to return something to
the shelf. The participant then decides on an article of
clothing to UNSHOP and is given the chance to change his
mind. He does not tell the performer yet, the article he
returned. The performer shows a large envelope and says
inside is a prediction showing the returned article of
clothing. The performer pulls out a large barcode and says
this is the barcode for the article (an old gag, but with a
new kicker ending). The envelope is shown to be otherwise
empty. Performer then asks the participant which article of
clothing he returned.
Assume the participant said, "Pants."
Performer exclaims he was correct, insisting that this is
the barcode for a pair of pants. Finally, as a means of
self-defense, the performer says on the other side is a
picture of the store's model wearing the participant's new
outfit; minus the item he UNSHOPPED.
Upon turning the barcode around, the performer shows a
comical photo of a man wearing a sports coat, shirt,
necktie, socks, shoes and boxer shorts...however, he is
missing the pants. The performer says, "You should have kept
the pants!"
A very commercial effect that breathes new life into the old
barcode gag.
Comes with everything you need to perform the effect,
including a high-quality barcode and special photo printed
on 8.5" x 11" plastic stock so it will withstand many years
of use. Complete with the detailed and illustrated
instructions you have come to expect from Devin Knight.
"I love UNSHOP. You have taken the barcode gag into the 21st
Century! It goes right into my show!"
- Tom Craven
MY COMMENTS:
This may surprise you, seeing as how I'm usually very
enthusiastic about Devin Knight's products, but I'm not as
enthusiastic about this one as I am some of his others. Oh,
I do like the whole "unshop" theme, which is quite unusual.
And it certainly delivers what it promises, but I don't feel
it brings any improvements to this routine in terms of
methodology or streamlining the methodology, which Devin
Knight is known for doing.
More to the point, I've seen better improvements on this
gag. My favorite version is Nick Lakin's Cereal Killer. In
that, it appears that any product in a supermarket is chosen
and it just so happens that a namebrand cereal is chosen.
The performer does the barcode gag and then reveals the name
of the freely chosen cereal on the back of the card. There
are no other bits of business and it's that direct.
Devin Knight's version of this is not quite so direct or
elegant. The choices, as the blurb indicates, are limited
among parts of a men's suit. Plus, the selection of the
suit part involves cards which have the names of the suit
parts on each one. There's absolutely nothing wrong with
that as it's a very practical and effective method that I
use for other effects. Also, with this version, the outcome
is always the same, unlike Cereal Killer.
Now, this is not to say this is a bad trick, because it's
far from that. It works and it's effective. You should
consider buying this if you can fit this effect into your
act and if the theme fits your style. Since I'm sure that
there are performers whose act and style this will suit
perfectly, this is why I'm cataloging it.
The package contains the 5 page instructions (8.5" x 11",
double-sided), the 8.5" x 11" plastic-coated barcode gag
cad, a large manila envelope, the printed cards, and a
necessary accessory. There is a small one time preparation
involving this "necessary accesory" that takes just a few
minutes to do.
A new comedy mental effect based on a new term UNSHOP, which
means to return something at the checkout-counter because
you bought too much and cannot afford it.
The performer invites a male participant to take an
imaginary shopping trip. He is told to imagine he has gone
to a store and is going to buy a new outfit. His new outfit
will consist of a sports coat, shirt, necktie, pants, socks,
shoes, and even a pair of boxer shorts. He is told that when
he gets to the checkout-counter, he discovers he does not
have enough money with him and has to return something to
the shelf. The participant then decides on an article of
clothing to UNSHOP and is given the chance to change his
mind. He does not tell the performer yet, the article he
returned. The performer shows a large envelope and says
inside is a prediction showing the returned article of
clothing. The performer pulls out a large barcode and says
this is the barcode for the article (an old gag, but with a
new kicker ending). The envelope is shown to be otherwise
empty. Performer then asks the participant which article of
clothing he returned.
Assume the participant said, "Pants."
Performer exclaims he was correct, insisting that this is
the barcode for a pair of pants. Finally, as a means of
self-defense, the performer says on the other side is a
picture of the store's model wearing the participant's new
outfit; minus the item he UNSHOPPED.
Upon turning the barcode around, the performer shows a
comical photo of a man wearing a sports coat, shirt,
necktie, socks, shoes and boxer shorts...however, he is
missing the pants. The performer says, "You should have kept
the pants!"
A very commercial effect that breathes new life into the old
barcode gag.
Comes with everything you need to perform the effect,
including a high-quality barcode and special photo printed
on 8.5" x 11" plastic stock so it will withstand many years
of use. Complete with the detailed and illustrated
instructions you have come to expect from Devin Knight.
"I love UNSHOP. You have taken the barcode gag into the 21st
Century! It goes right into my show!"
- Tom Craven
MY COMMENTS:
This may surprise you, seeing as how I'm usually very
enthusiastic about Devin Knight's products, but I'm not as
enthusiastic about this one as I am some of his others. Oh,
I do like the whole "unshop" theme, which is quite unusual.
And it certainly delivers what it promises, but I don't feel
it brings any improvements to this routine in terms of
methodology or streamlining the methodology, which Devin
Knight is known for doing.
More to the point, I've seen better improvements on this
gag. My favorite version is Nick Lakin's Cereal Killer. In
that, it appears that any product in a supermarket is chosen
and it just so happens that a namebrand cereal is chosen.
The performer does the barcode gag and then reveals the name
of the freely chosen cereal on the back of the card. There
are no other bits of business and it's that direct.
Devin Knight's version of this is not quite so direct or
elegant. The choices, as the blurb indicates, are limited
among parts of a men's suit. Plus, the selection of the
suit part involves cards which have the names of the suit
parts on each one. There's absolutely nothing wrong with
that as it's a very practical and effective method that I
use for other effects. Also, with this version, the outcome
is always the same, unlike Cereal Killer.
Now, this is not to say this is a bad trick, because it's
far from that. It works and it's effective. You should
consider buying this if you can fit this effect into your
act and if the theme fits your style. Since I'm sure that
there are performers whose act and style this will suit
perfectly, this is why I'm cataloging it.
The package contains the 5 page instructions (8.5" x 11",
double-sided), the 8.5" x 11" plastic-coated barcode gag
cad, a large manila envelope, the printed cards, and a
necessary accessory. There is a small one time preparation
involving this "necessary accesory" that takes just a few
minutes to do.
Devin Knight
UNSHOP
$36
Suggested Retail Price: $39
