Best Utility Device.

[[RH]magician]

What do you think is the best utility device out there in the market?
I am looking for something with many applications. sleights to the minimum. Durability of the gimmick must be strong.
I've been wanting to buy extractor by peter nardi and rob bromley but I heard the gimmick was delicate and not tough.
I'm also looking for utility devices that's not like raven's or that kind of stuff. I'm looking for something that a card magician or mentalist could use. any suggestions? thanks.

[Brandon Pomeroy]

The Advocate by Daniel Madison is wonderful for cards/mentalism. It was recommended to me by Lyle, and I'm grateful that he did. It is a very convenient little tool, and can be used without years of practice in advance.

[Afields]

Cards are difficult, because the card gimmicks are normally used.

Maybe the Black Widow would help you, as an all encompassing gimmick?

[Reeves]

Originally Posted by Brandon Pomeroy

The Advocate by Daniel Madison is wonderful for cards/mentalism. It was recommended to me by Lyle, and I'm grateful that he did. It is a very convenient little tool, and can be used without years of practice in advance.

I'm also a big fan of the advocate. It is also very easy to make and should last quite some time.

[[RH]magician]

I'm afraid the black widow is not in my budget right now. I currently only have enough for an electric touch but decided to delay buying an electric touch haha. And yes so advocate it is!! haha. and damn is there a s***load of tricks possible with this. It's good that it did not go too mainstream. thanks for this. DAMN I'm so excited.!!!!!!
I'll be having this before july. but damn am I hyped.

edit:I'll just be buying INSIDE by daniel madison. Are there any signed copies of this book?

edit: oopss found it there are autographed copies. damnnnn!!!!. I'm so happy I asked this question at exomagic.

thanks brandon.!!

[Just1pin]

I think the advocate has some great powerful potential and lots of room for presentation and creativity. I think with any question like this there is always the consideration of the performer. Some systems work well for some performers and not others. If you name any system or utility device i could find you a magician that loves it and one that hates it. So finding one you like and that fits your preforming style i think is the real quest.

If it's mainly card work you are interested in then I would have to say... Don't neglect the card stacks or card systems (BTCS Osterland, Si Stebbins, Tamariz) With some work these systems can produce countless miracles ranging from classic card magic, to gambling, to mentalism. They also provide great practice for false shuffles and cut and give a base to creatively build presentations and effects. It very possible to construct an entire routine or show with any of these systems, as many have.

Let me know how you like advocate. Interested in hearing people's thought on working with it.

cheers

[Brandon Pomeroy]

Originally Posted by Just1pin

Let me know how you like advocate. Interested in hearing people's thought on working with it.

The Advocate is a very nice little item. Much easier, in my opinion, to use than a stack. In addition, the deck can be freely shuffled by anyone, and the Advocate will work just as well (If not better, since everyone sees that the deck has been completely and truly shuffled). Easy to damage, but even easier to replace (If you can call the "damage" truly breaking the Advocate.). If you've got the cash to spare, pick one up, definitely. I can't think of a really, truly bad thing about this product; it is a gem of a gimmick.

[[RH]magician]

Originally Posted by Brandon Pomeroy

If you've got the cash to spare, pick one up, definitely.

How much did you actually spend making your gimmick? besides buying the book ofcourse. haha.

[Reeves]

Originally Posted by [RH]magician

How much did you actually spend making your gimmick? besides buying the book ofcourse. haha.

I had everything I needed already, and I'm guessing you probably do too.

[Brandon Pomeroy]

Originally Posted by Reeves

I had everything I needed already, and I'm guessing you probably do too.

Well, Reeves answered already, but to show I'm not ignoring the question, I second Reeves. The gimmick is so nice and basic, yet so versatile.

[Jesse_Owen]

I would say a Topit or A Thumb-Tip. Not really for cards or mentalism, but are both necessary for the parlor performer.

[haroldross]

I agree with a thumbtip. So simple yet often overlooked. Learn a cool bill switch with one and you'll be set. You can vanish, produce, and transform with this small device.

I would also add, get an egg bag. Again this is a very useful and cheap device. They are very easy to make.

[lag]

Hmm what's an egg bag?

Anyway, about the advocate. Do u think i can combine the techniques it use and add that to a stripped deck so that the spectator would take the whole deck of cards, deal to the desired number and flip the card right away? (being a lil ambiguous here so as not to expose the use of advocate)

[haroldross]

An egg bag is a bag that can be used to vanish, produce, or transform small objects. It gets its name from the fact that it was first primarily used to vanish and produce eggs. I quick search on Google will give many results.

[[RH]magician]

Originally Posted by lag

Hmm what's an egg bag?

Anyway, about the advocate. Do u think i can combine the techniques it use and add that to a stripped deck so that the spectator would take the whole deck of cards, deal to the desired number and flip the card right away? (being a lil ambiguous here so as not to expose the use of advocate)

I don't get the question. But there's two ACAANs that the book teaches.
I'm not sure yet. *the shipping is killing me. It'll be a month before it arrives.

Originally Posted by haroldross

An egg bag is a bag that can be used to vanish, produce, or transform small objects. It gets its name from the fact that it was first primarily used to vanish and produce eggs. I quick search on Google will give many results.

Well i wasn't actually looking for something like this but It sounds cheap and In my budget and I think It can be home made thanks.