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Reviews: Read What Karsten Meyerhoff Is Saying

2 ★★★★★ reviews
1 ★★★★★ reviews
Displaying 1 to 3 (of 3 reviews)


Empty Multiple Out Envelope

Overall customer rating: ★★★★

reviewed by Karsten Meyerhoff (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 03 February, 2025)

Empty Multiple Out EnvelopeAs far as the facts are concerned, there is nothing much to add to the ad-copy: The thing is what the text claims it is and it works the way it is described. What I really like about this envelope is that you can take a wide variety of envelopes and make it into a multiple out envelope. There are a few very minor restrictions ("this has to be straight-edged as opposed to round, this works better with a pattern" - that sort of thing) but nothing you can't easily work around. I would imagine, though, that envelopes that have the flap on the narrower side (think: pay envelope) are a bit more difficult to handle since you have to reach inside the envelope to show it empty. That means: You can have your own envelopes that look like absolutely normal envelopes in your country or region of the world - with respect to size, aspect ratio, colours and all. Believe you me: It does make a difference, if audiences do not immediately suspect an envelope to be a prop. Even if they don't exactly know, how it works: A perceived prop is a perceived prop is a perceived prop. Moreover, the envelopes are dirt-cheap, since you really just use ordinary envelopes from your local super-market or stationary store. That may even shine a different light on the price some may consider to be a bit stiff. Although this applies to most of the envelopes I know, make sure you buy envelopes where even one layer of paper is completely opaque, even against the light. Most envelopes are produced that way, of course, since it's the very purpose of an envelope to conceal what's inside. Well, just saying ... As far as the size of the compartments is concerned: They are almost as large as the envelope and if we talk billets or banknotes or playing cards, you can easily fit a few of them in each of the compartments. The absolute size of the envelope doesn't matter, neither does the aspect ratio, so you can produce ones that are good for close-up as well as larger ones for parlour-type settings. The only (theoretical) restriction I can think of, is: You want to open the envelope to show it's empty at some point, so, anything larger than 2 by 3 meters may feel a little awkward ;-) You need no sticky stuff (neither for assembly nor for operation), so each envelope will last you as long as an envelope lasts. I am sure, you make envelopes out of Tyvek, if that is a concern to you. As far as DIY is concerned: You can handle a pair of scissors? You're good, you'll make a new envelope from two regular envelopes in under a minute. The instructions are crystal clear and easy to follow, what more can you say about them? Even if you don't speak English well, I guess you could follow from just watching.


Scripted #33: Ring and Rope

Overall customer rating: ★★★

reviewed by Karsten Meyerhoff (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Monday 26 October, 2020)

Scripted #33: Ring and RopeI have fiddled with the Ring&Rope-concept for quite a while, but it never made it into my repertoire as I couldn't find a story that I thought was interesting enough for the audience and that fit my style. So, I was pleasantly surprised to find a routine that comes with 'a killer script' by the author of 'How to write a script' - or so the ad goes. Ordinary, examinable props, nothing to bring in or out, simple, clear moves: That ticked all the boxes for me.

I will have to say that personally I am rather disappointed. Without giving too much away, I will say that the script is of the type: 'I once saw a magician do this ... and then this ... and then this ...'. Sure, it comes with: 'That's what got me hooked on magic as a child.' and that does add an emotional layer, but I am sorry: That's not a 'killer script' in my book. The story doesn't justify the props at all: The ring is a ring and the rope is a rope. It doesn't give meaning to the threading and unthreading of the rope: It just happens. Yes, it is interesting to read in the script where the author got the moves and the other inspirations from and how he made them 'his own', but that still doesn't make for a killer script. I am stressing all this, since the scripting is presented as the unique selling point of the routine.

Having said that: It is a nice routine that does everything else it claims to do and to be. The props are simple and examinable (at any time), no additional gimmicks are necessary, nothing has to be rung in or out and the moves are simple and clear for both, the magician and the audience. There is no endless fiddling with the rope or the ring, no handing stuff from one hand to the other and back again. The moves flow nicely into one another giving the routine a good flow and a clear structure and the angles are really good on this one. The routine is short and sweet, too: Many Ring&Rope-routines are too long for my taste, so that's another plus.

I wish I could give this two marks: For the script and for the routine as such, because that way I could say that I like the handling and the 'technical' aspects of the routine, but don't care much for the script - which is emphasized so much in the ad.


Deckless Divination

Overall customer rating: ★★★★

reviewed by Karsten Meyerhoff (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Thursday 09 July, 2020)

Deckless DivinationFirst of all, it needs to be said that all the claims made (no stooges, no peeks, ...) are true. Well, the playing card is not entirely freely thought of, but that doesn't take away too much. Other than that, the effect really plays out the way it is described, it is self-working and at 6$ - and even more at 3$, which is the special intro price I paid - you can't go wrong. You get an effect that requires nothing but a double-blank card - business card or otherwise - and you get an effect that should play very well.

There is one thing, though, that I think needs to be mentioned: The way the effect is described, it only works in the English language. If you want to adapt it to another language - German in my case - that is certainly possible, but needs some tweaking, tweaking that some crossword-solving-help-websites (if that is a name at all ...) can help you with. And while you are at it, fiddling around with words, you discover that there are a lot of other possibilities for word-play - so, that may even be an advantage ...

Displaying 1 to 3 (of 3 reviews)