“Awesome!” was the one-word description that table hopping spectators used to describe Alex Pandrea’s Domino Effect, released by his company, The Blue Crown. The Domino Effect is a modern version of the classic copper silver transposition routine, but using multi-color sugar packets instead of coins. The performer starts off with a pink packet of Sweet ‘N Low and a yellow packet of Splenda. The performer places both packets into the spectator’s hand and then removes one, leaving the other in the spectator’s closed hand. With the flick of the wrist, the packet in the magician’s hand changes colors (from yellow to pink) and when the spectator open’s her hand, the packet has changed from pink to yellow. This trick is extremely visual and easy to perform.
This trick is great because the gimmick is small and takes up virtually no room in your wallet, so you can carry it with you every day and use it in seemingly impromptu situations. Because the sweetener packets are virtually everywhere, it can be performed without the spectator wondering why the performer has sweetener packets.
The trick comes with a 32 minute DVD and one gimmick, which will allow you to get started immediately. The ad copy if completely accurate and the live performance on the DVD, which is the promotional video, also accurately depicts the effect. After the live performance, Pandrea explains the gimmick and how to make your own. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow and it only takes a few minutes to make up additional gimmicks, which you will need to do after significant use, as the gimmick will not hold up forever. You can also make different color gimmicks so that you can do multiple color changes; i.e. Equal (blue) to Stevia in the Raw (green) or any combination of colors.
The DVD clearly explains how to do the transposition and demonstrates various easy routines and handlings for doing the switch in the spectator’s closed hand, in a coffee mug, in a box of cards, or under the spectator’s hands. The effect is demonstrated using a flick of the hand or a pass over of packet. He also gives suggestions for patter and how to pass inspection after the trick is completed. If you are going to allow the spectator to hold the packets in their closed hands, you needs to make sure that they don’t close their hands too tight or they will crush the gimmick or that they don’t prematurely look at the packet in their hand, which will ruin the effect. The instructional portion of the video is a shot of Pandrea’s hands above a table. The DVD also explains a very good ungimmicked impromptu routine in the event that you are without your gimmick. The performer needs to be aware of certain angles and the spectator’s must be directly in front of the performer.
On Pandrea’s website, he indicates that although he “independently discovered” the trick, Michael Close “explored similar methods and techniques which were published in 1994 and can be found in ‘Workers 4’. ”
This is a must have for workers in table-hopping and close-up magic situations as well as hobbyists that want to impress their friends. The price is fair and the effect is great.