Space Time is a moving hole trick on playing card that is astounding. Tom Elderfield and Murphy’s Magic is responsible for this winner! Basically, a card is selected and the spectator suggests a location for a hole to be punched in the card. The performer then takes a hold puncher and the spectator see him punch a hole in the card. With the flick of the hand, the hole moves from the bottom of the card, to the middle and then to the top. The hole can be dragged off the card and reappear in another location, on another card, or the card box.
This trick comes with a Bicycle backed gimmick and a 46 minute downloadable instructional video. Although Elderfield makes cameo appearances in the beginning and end of the video, the majority of the instruction and performance is taught and demonstrated by Chris Oberle, who does an excellent job. This trick does not come with a hole puncher, which is necessary to perform this trick. If you don’t already own one, it can be picked up for just a few dollars.
The production quality of the video is top-notch. The instructional video contains studio and live performances of the effect. Oberle teaches different versions of the effect. In one version the hole ends up leaving the selected card and lands on the tuck box. In another version, there are two spectators and they each choose a card. The first spectator selects a card which he signs and then holds between his two hands during the entire trick. The second spectator selects a different card which is apparently hole-punched by the performer. The hole then jumps around the card and disappears. The punched hole reappears on the card that the first spectator has been holding between his two hands the entire time.
After the hole jumps around the card, that card cannot be immediately handed out, but the spectator may think that you hand the gimmicked card out due to some basic sleight of hand. You also cannot repeat the trick since the card that has the jumping hole will always be the same. You can perform this trick surrounded and may need to be careful to have a small distance between you and the spectators so that nothing suspicious is seen. To that effect, very bright lit environments should be avoided. The reset is instant.
This is not a difficult trick to perform, but it will take a small amount of practice to get it performance ready. Practice time will probably run 5 to 30 minutes depending on the performer. To perform a full routine (as opposed to just having the hole dance around a card), the performer will need to execute some very basic sleights, which are taught by Oberle in the case of a novice purchaser. The gimmick is made well, and should last for a long time if handled carefully between uses. There is no instruction on how to make or repair the gimmick in the event that it breaks, which is a possibility due to the nature of the gimmick.
The amazing thing about this trick is that it can and will be used by absolute beginners through working magicians.
I highly recommend this moving hole gimmick.