NOTE = This was as images on this page show, posted to the “Ebooks, PDFSs or
Downloads” Review Section of The Magic Cafe Forum by Bob Gill at Feb 11, 2015 08:14 am. I am copying and pasting the text over here, as in the past whenever someone
has said nice things about me on The Magic Cafe they very quickly seem to vanish and
get deleted, seems your not allowed to say nice things about me on the Cafe – LMAO.
ANYHOW IS HERE THE REVIEW WHICH IS EXTREMELY ACCURATE & HONEST
This is an interesting approach to the current fascination with Folded Signed Chosen Card in Clear Box.
Jonathan Royle is, in fact, a stage hypnotist who has released a number of magic and mentalist items.
This is a $10 download.
The props that you can easily make for yourself (which keeps the cost of this right down) are sourced for you in the 9-page pdf.
Accompanying that is a 15 minute video that explains in painstaking detail how to make the props (10 minutes work with apparatus you will source locally very easily).
There are several other documents you get, with detailed pictures showing you the various props and their preparation.
This is his ad copy:
POINTS TO REMEMBER AND CONSIDER ABOUT CLEAR-VOLUTION
*There is an Actual FULL Folded Up Card in the box.
*They GENUINELY see the card in the box fall out of the box.
*The Card can be tipped out one handed onto the table or a spectators hand which CANNOT be done with most all other versions.
*They See the card drop from the box and then fall visibly a fair distance through the air onto the table or into a spectators hands.
*The Box is clear and see through at all times and they see the very moment the card drops out of it that the box is clearly then empty.
*The Box can be examined and indeed can even be left with them as its possible to get boxes as cheaply as around 50 Cents or 35p each when you buy them in packs of 8, 10 or 12 at a time.
*If desired you can show the box empty at start and then be seen to place an item into it (eg a Prediction that they see you write and fold up) and then it can be handed to a spectator to hold for safe keeping until you wish to reveal the prediction to be correct later.
*Did I mention none of the other clear box methods allow the box to picked up with one hand and the item tipped out using one hand only onto the table or a spectators hand from a reasonable distance so it can be seen to fall out of the box and down onto their hand or the table?
*The Gimmick is easy to make and all is explained by way of the PDF, Numerous Photographs and Instructional Video and all for the bargain price of just $10 US Dollars which is approx £6.50.
So – is the above an honest set of features of Clear-Volution? Yes, it is.
Then: is this ‘better’ than the models on the market?
As always, it depends on what you’re looking for, and what you regard as the flaws in 3Sixty, Mystery Solved, The Box, Clarity Box etc.
But I will say:
.. it’s well worth the modest cost;
.. it is a workable solution to the effect;
– as with everything, there is a downside to it, albeit a small one: if you look at his trailer, you’ll notice his grip on the box is, on his own admission, a trifle awkward. Whether or not that puts you off is a personal matter. I find it an acceptable compromise.
There is a point that’s been made several times on the Café, by me and a lot of others, who see the clear box solution as a mentalist tool, rather than a card-to-box tool.
I believe the box for card-to-box should be opaque, and the appearance within of the signed folder card should come as a surprise.
This, for me, is more theatrically pleasing as it builds tension where you need it.
I love the use of the clear box for a billet in a prediction effect, with the billet in full use throughout.
For that purpose alone, this is worthy of your consideration – mainly because the box you use is an ordinary box that they will have seen in shops.
For a mentalist, therefore, it is less ‘proppy’ than the other marketed versions.
There are basically three reasons you’d buy this:
– you can’t afford the various models on the market, and see this as a cheap option (which it is)
– you are fascinated by the interest in this effect
– you’re not convinced THE one ideal solution is currently available, or you don’t like the respective downsides of each of the models commercially available.
Even if you have a commercially available model, I commend this to you – Jonathan is a pro (albeit it a stage hypnotist primarily) and has some nice thoughts on presentation and routines. And if this makes you think about the prop you’re handling – that is, in my book, A Good Thing.
It seems like recently (well for years in fact) that many Magician’s & Mentalists have been on the search for the “Holy Grail” of Signed Card to Impossible Locations, or for the ultimate in Prediction/Billet Switching Devices.
With that thought in mind, in a few moments time I would like to introduce you to my Solution to this which I have named:
CLEAR-VOLUTION by Jonathan Royle
POINTS TO REMEMBER AND CONSIDER ABOUT
CLEAR-VOLUTION
*There is an Actual FULL Folded Up Card in the box.
*They GENUINELY see the card in the box fall out of the box.
*The Card can be tipped out one handed onto the table or a spectators hand which CANNOT be done with most all other versions.
*They See the card drop from the box and then fall visibly a fair distance through the air onto the table or into a spectators hands.
*The Box is clear and see through at all times and they see the very moment the card drops out of it that the box is clearly then empty.
*The Box can be examined and indeed can even be left with them as its possible to get boxes as cheaply as around 50 Cents or 35p each when you buy them in packs of 8, 10 or 12 at a time.
*If desired you can show the box empty at start and then be seen to place an item into it (eg a Prediction that they see you write and fold up) and then it can be handed to a spectator to hold for safe keeping until you wish to reveal the prediction to be correct later.
*Did I mention none of the other clear box methods allow the box to picked up with one hand and the item tipped out using one hand only onto the table or a spectators hand from a reasonable distance so it can be seen to fall out of the box and down onto their hand or the table?
*The Gimmick is easy to make and all is explained by way of the PDF, Numerous Photographs and Instructional Video and all for the bargain price of just $10 US Dollars which is approx £6.50.
But before the advantages of my approach can be fully appreciated, it would be wise for you to watch the Review video from James Anthony and Sam Fitton of MagicWorld and then to visit the four links that follow and watch all four of the videos at those links…
Firstly Here is an Excellent Review of The 3 Main Versions of this Effect (Item to Crystal Clear Box) On The Market:
Having Watched that Review, and having an idea what the Pros and Cons of each version are, here are the direct links to the demo videos of the 3 versions that are mentioned in that video above…
All of these are essentially based upon and inspired by the original “Mystery Box” by John Kennedy of which some details follow at this link and obviously the main issue many Magicians seem to have with this is the fact that the box is not Clear and See Through and thus the item inside cannot be seen by anybody until the lid is removed.
Of course this is the major difference and some would argue step forward that the 3 new versions above have brought to the table…
Imagine an empty crystal clear small box on the table or given to an audience member to hold at the start of your routine with a folded card inside on view from the start.
Whenever the moment is chosen you pick up the small clear box with one hand and hold it at fingertips so its obvious that you cannot and do not do anything funny.
You ask a spectator to lift the lid off the box which they do.
You then openly appear to tip the contents of the clear box, single handedly out onto the palm of a spectator and they themselves unfold the card and discover it is theirs..
Everybody sees the card visibly drop out of the plastic box and onto the volunteers hand..
This is all done with ONE HAND by the performer, eg you hold the plastic box in one hand, the volunteer removes the lid and with that same single hand holding the box you appear to visibly tip the contents out onto their hand and everybody can see the item drop out of the box..
It is clear that you do not and could not have touched the contents of the box at any time, and everybody clearly sees, what they will swear blind was the contents of the clear box fall from the box and then drop a reasonable distance from the box in mid air down onto the audience members hand, or table top if you so desire.
IN FACT THEY DO GENUINELY SEE THE ITEM (CARD OR PREDICTION) IN THE CLEAR BOX DROP OUT OF THE BOX LEAVING IT VISIBLY EMPTY..
Therefore the illusion of the contents being tipped onto the volunteers hand is perfect as they GENUINELY see the item in the box fall out for real leaving the box empty.
The volunteer themselves (you never touch the card) picks up the folded card, opens it up and reveals it to be their very own signed card, or opens up the folded prediction to discover what is written upon it is 100% Correct.
There is absolutely no black art, mirrors, secrets compartments, flaps, magnets, hinges or similar..
The Clear Box can (if desired although I think its overkill) be handed out for examination or just placed down onto the table in full view immediately after the contents have been seen to have been tipped out onto the volunteers hand.
If absolutely desired the box could be shown at start with nothing in it and everybody could witness you place a folded card or prediction into the box, it CAN BE DONE but personally again I think that is overkill.
Re-read all of that, bearing in mind every word i have stated is TRUE.
And compare it to what is and isn’t possible with the other versions.
Did I mention, that if you lost the box you were using or broke it, then you could make yourself another for as cheaply as around 50 Cents each maximum all in VERY EASILY…
There are tons of other advantages with this as well..
Yes there are minor angle requirements, but frankly as long as nobody is looking directly over your shoulder, and even then careful positioning and use of your chest area etc should sort that… then I don;t see any issue..
As with any version of this effect, some people are going to love my approach and others may hate it, but I can assure you that everything I have stated is true and exactly how things are performed and/or seen by the audience.
POINTS TO REMEMBER AND CONSIDER..
*There is an Actual FULL Folded Up Card in the box.
*They GENUINELY see the card in the box fall out of the box.
*The Card can be tipped out one handed onto the table or a spectators hand which CANNOT be done with most all other versions.
*They See the card drop from the box and then fall visibly a fair distance through the air onto the table or into a spectators hands.
*The Box is clear and see through at all times and they see the very moment the card drops out of it that the box is clearly then empty.
*The Box can be examined and indeed can even be left with them as its possible to get boxes as cheaply as around 50 Cents or 35p each when you buy them in packs of 8, 10 or 12 at a time.
*If desired you can show the box empty at start and then be seen to place an item into it (eg a Prediction that they see you write and fold up) and then it can be handed to a spectator to hold for safe keeping until you wish to reveal the prediction to be correct later.
*Did I mention none of the other clear box methods allow the box to picked up with one hand and the item tipped out using one hand only onto the table or a spectators hand from a reasonable distance so it can be seen to fall out of the box and down onto their hand or the table?
*The Gimmick is easy to make and all is explained by way of the PDF, Numerous Photographs and Instructional Video and all for the bargain price of just $10 US Dollars which is approx £6.50.
Whilst you can perform this with a very fancy looking, well made thick solid clear Acrylic Box with lid (eg of high quality just like the ones already on the market but much cheaper and available from many sites such as Etsy) this method allows you to perform this effect with any clear box with a lid of the right size!
(you have some lee-way and personal choice on what size box to use, although for close-up the smaller the better in my opinion) and can be manufactured to your own needs and choices given an intial investment of around $5 Five US Dollars into materials and spending about 10 minutes to make the gimmick up.
After that each box you give away or replace could cost as little as 50 Cents each (approx 35p)
So just to clarify, you can perform this with a High Quality, Thick and Solid Clear Acrylic Box with lid of the nature supplied with the versions currently on the market, but obtainable way cheaper or for those who like things to be ORGANIC & NATURAL LOOKING you could use one of the tiny clear plastic food boxes with a lid on that people are used to having seen before in either their own or other peoples Kitchens and thus an additional level of normality and innocence is added to proceedings.
The downside is those small boxes used in the kitchen that are the right size for this do not have a totally clear lid, but they do allow for the folded up item to be seen clearly in the box from all four sides and also from below as the bottom and sides are all completely clear.
Some will see what a powerful advantage such a normal everyday item being used can and will prove to be to many, others will choose to obtain a High Quality Crystal Clear Acrylic Box along the lines of the ones supplied with the magic shop versions already available on sale and mentioned earlier on this page.
YES THERE IS A GIMMICK THAT MAKES THIS WORKWITH ONLY A LITTLE EFFORT & THOUGHT NEEDED ON YOUR PART AS THE PERFORMER…
But that Gimmick can easily be customized so that its a folded up prediction or perhaps a folded up bank note (that turns out to be their signed note that got destroyed) or of course can be a playing card of any back design..
Oh and one final thing to consider with my method THERE IS GENUINELY AN ENTIRE FOLDED UP PLAYING CARD IN THE BOX RIGHT FROM THE START…
It’s not just something that looks like a folded up playing card, indeed the way I have the folded card in the box is such that from all sides it is OBVIOUSLY a genuine full folded up playing card, thus in my opinion making it even more visually convincing than some methods on the market.
Bear in mind that of all the versions mentioned on this page, the cheapest appears to be Wayne Dobson’s 3Sixty which is currently on sale from MagicWorld (at the link shown earlier) for £42.99p Sterling…
At the other end of the scale “Mystery Box Two” is selling at £57.99p Sterling at the link given earlier on this page.
I will tell you here and now that when you buy the Instructional PDF (with photos galore) and the accompanying step by step training video for just $10 US Dollars here
You will then have to intially spend around $5 Five US Dollars on buying
the bits TO MAKE YOUR FIRST BOX AND GIMMICK and thus your total investment to perform this Miracle Effect will be approx $15 US Dollars which is approx £9.70p Sterling and is therefore much cheaper than any of the other versions of the market.
Also remember if you ever lose your box or decide you want to leave it as a
souvenir with an audience member, then the more of these you make up for yourself (and yes its easy to do) the cheaper each one will cost you.
Indeed it could cost you as little as 50 Cents (approx 35p) each, if you buy what you need from a discount store or Ebay and so you easily could afford to leave the box as a souvenir with the audience.
This is his ad copy: 
klearthoughtsmentalismhypnosis 