We’ve commented before on the way that similar ideas seem to come at once in magic – and I don’t think it’s just down to the copycat effect! Well Zero Set is another effect involving an ID holder (so similar to Name Tag – though the effect and methods are quite different) or from another perspective it is another take on the ‘card to impossible location’ plot which has been so popular recently. Let’s take a look at it.
What’s the effect?
A freely chosen card vanishes from the deck and visually (more or less) appears in a see-through ID holder which has been shown empty. With certain handlings you can even hand this out.
So it’s a simple effect (which is good) – easy to follow and understand.
What do you get?
You are supplied with a simple but clever little gimmick (and matching ordinary ID holder) and a lanyard. You also get a gimmicked card which will enable you to force a card on the spectator and then have it vanish from the pack in their hands. This is provided in Bicycle stock so you can just add it to any deck (if you use this version of the routine).
Also included are basic printed instructions and a link to online instructions. Some people have mentioned finding it difficult to watch the online explanations – but we had no problems with this. The videos have subtitles for English-speaking magicians. Unusually, these are very good translation and are easy to follow. Each part of the explanation includes a review sections to go over all the moves. The background music was (for me) irritating and slightly sinister cumulatively.
What do we think?
On the plus side there are a number of different handlings provided. There is a force and a non-force version – and I’m sure you could come up with your own variations on that if you’ve been in to card magic for any length of time. There are also a number of different handlings for the ‘appearance’ of the card in the ID tag.
We have got to say that the whole thing is somewhat angle-sensitive. And the handling is necessarily somewhat unnatural – you really would never hold a name tag holder like that in real life! But, that may just be “magicians’ guilt” talking since magicians do everything in a slightly odd way, right?
If your sleight of hand is up to it Zero Set is a very clean card to impossible object. It really does appear right inside the holder which you have clearly shown empty beforehand. But it will take you quite a bit of practice to get the loading and displaying move smooth. His handling very smooth, but still looks a little unnatural.
The non-sleight version is easier. The card is chosen by just riffling through deck. It vanishes and reappears inside holder. As mentioned a special forcing gimmick is included though you could easily make your own (or use an alternative method).
If you’re doing the sleight of hand version, you’ll also need to be able to do a Mercury card fold. This is taught on the videos, and pretty much all of the card to impossible location effects rely on this.
So there are pros and cons to this. The visual appearance is pretty good, and the non-sleight version is not too tricky to get down. If you are regularly performing in a venue where these things are used (e.g. lots of trade shows) then this would be an obvious fit for your set.
If not, then I would be less swift to order it. There are other card to impossible location effects out there which are less awkward. On the other hand, the teaching is very clear and it is relatively inexpensive if you want to give it a punt.
Zero Set is available direct from MagicShop.co.uk for £18.50.
Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.
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