Distortion by Wayne Houchin (Theory 11)

Eisenheim · 11-02-2008, 12:51 PM

A lot has been written on this effect, and I guess it's kind of old by now, but I'd like to add my two cents since I did a lot of reading before buying this effect and have to say that I'm somewhat disappointed. I wish somebody had gone into the detail that I'm about to go into.

The Good: Wayne Houchin is a very likable guy and an entertaining performer. The DVD is top notch and he does go over every aspect of the trick and also includes a couple of variations you can do. There can't be many complaints about the instruction or the production values of the video. Pulling the trick off gets some great reactions, of course.

The Bad: I read a lot of arguments between people saying the gimmick was too fragile and people saying that you just need to learn how to take care of it. Now, I don't have a problem handling with care. For me, the issue is that the gimmick needs to be handled so delicately that it just makes it impractical. A lot of the time I'm pulling cards out of my back pocket or out of a backpack that gets jostled around to do tricks for people. This is something that needs to be stored specially, and even then it seems it will eventually bust from regular usage. It's not that the gimmick is low-quality, it's just the nature of what it is. Bottom line, this isn't something you can just casually keep with you, at least not by my standards. And that's a pretty big deal breaker for me or if you're an on-the-go kind of guy like me.

The Ugly: As if it wasn't obvious, what kills this trick for me is the gimmick. I don't mind gimmicks and keep a couple of gimmicked cards with me at all times, but the problems I have with this gimmick don't end with the fact that it's fragile. It's also painfully obvious. From the video on Theory11 you get the impression that you can put this thing right in people's faces and nobody's the wiser. The truth is that Distortion is about 20% gimmick and 80% sleight of hand to disguise how obvious the gimmick actually is.

Final thoughts: The comparison to Cyril's trick often comes up when talking about Distortion, and frankly, the gimmicks must be very similar, if not identical. At the end of the day, I don't see how Distortion is that much different then going into any magic shop, getting a gimmick card and either emulating Cyril or filling in your own blanks. Clearly, this trick wasn't for me, and maybe I should have gone with PANIC

. But if you sound like me, you'll probably want to pass this one up too.

2/5 stars

EDIT: Oh, also, a lot of conflict over this trick has been around whether or not the card is examinable since T11 boasts that all is handed out for examination. The gimmick is in no way examinable not even on spectators that have been drinking heavily. Like I said, it mostly revolves around sleight of hand to cover the obviousness of the gimmick, and in this case, it means doing a switcharoo: gimmick with a legit card.

dgrave · 12-31-2008, 07:43 AM

the trick is good, but the item/card is very sensitive.. i mean you must take good care of it.

Lyle Borders · 01-31-2009, 04:22 PM

The gimmick is available in the ExoShop. Get it.

hliasp69 · 02-07-2009, 10:22 AM

I have seen the trick performed and if you are good at patter, people don't notice the details...

canadamagic · 03-05-2009, 11:06 PM

As long as you can keep the audience listening to what you are saying then you can keep their attention off the gimmick, the gimmick is really handle sensative, you must take good care of it

mrdruid0 · 06-11-2009, 05:22 PM

I didnt like Distortion at all. The gimmick broke WAY too quickly, and when im always "on the go" Its just a pain in the butt.

ravenjaz · 06-10-2010, 11:54 AM

im thinking that there probably is a way to repair the gimmick simply after studying the gimmick and understanding how it works.

washalentong · 06-13-2010, 01:51 PM

il ove the effect but the endurance of the card is like a tearing a piece of tissue paper

Ecstasy. · 08-11-2010, 11:45 AM

I know of this anyone know how to make one???

Chris · 09-12-2011, 05:53 PM

My gimmick has held up well. For me it's too obvious to do closeup. unless your performing in a darkened restaurant. I have used it on stage with good results.

MRmagic591 · 09-30-2011, 05:19 PM

AWSOME TRICK!! and its not that hard to make at home either though !

11-02-2008, 12:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
Eisenheim Inactive Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Distortion by Wayne Houchin (Theory 11) A lot has been written on this effect, and I guess it's kind of old by now, but I'd like to add my two cents since I did a lot of reading before buying this effect and have to say that I'm somewhat disappointed. I wish somebody had gone into the detail that I'm about to go into. The Good: Wayne Houchin is a very likable guy and an entertaining performer. The DVD is top notch and he does go over every aspect of the trick and also includes a couple of variations you can do. There can't be many complaints about the instruction or the production values of the video. Pulling the trick off gets some great reactions, of course. The Bad: I read a lot of arguments between people saying the gimmick was too fragile and people saying that you just need to learn how to take care of it. Now, I don't have a problem handling with care. For me, the issue is that the gimmick needs to be handled so delicately that it just makes it impractical. A lot of the time I'm pulling cards out of my back pocket or out of a backpack that gets jostled around to do tricks for people. This is something that needs to be stored specially, and even then it seems it will eventually bust from regular usage. It's not that the gimmick is low-quality, it's just the nature of what it is. Bottom line, this isn't something you can just casually keep with you, at least not by my standards. And that's a pretty big deal breaker for me or if you're an on-the-go kind of guy like me. The Ugly: As if it wasn't obvious, what kills this trick for me is the gimmick. I don't mind gimmicks and keep a couple of gimmicked cards with me at all times, but the problems I have with this gimmick don't end with the fact that it's fragile. It's also painfully obvious. From the video on Theory11 you get the impression that you can put this thing right in people's faces and nobody's the wiser. The truth is that Distortion is about 20% gimmick and 80% sleight of hand to disguise how obvious the gimmick actually is. Final thoughts: The comparison to Cyril's trick often comes up when talking about Distortion, and frankly, the gimmicks must be very similar, if not identical. At the end of the day, I don't see how Distortion is that much different then going into any magic shop, getting a gimmick card and either emulating Cyril or filling in your own blanks. Clearly, this trick wasn't for me, and maybe I should have gone with PANIC . But if you sound like me, you'll probably want to pass this one up too. 2/5 stars EDIT: Oh, also, a lot of conflict over this trick has been around whether or not the card is examinable since T11 boasts that all is handed out for examination. The gimmick is in no way examinable not even on spectators that have been drinking heavily. Like I said, it mostly revolves around sleight of hand to cover the obviousness of the gimmick, and in this case, it means doing a switcharoo: gimmick with a legit card. Last edited by Eisenheim; 11-02-2008 at 12:54 PM.

12-31-2008, 07:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
dgrave Inactive Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	distortion the trick is good, but the item/card is very sensitive.. i mean you must take good care of it. Last edited by Lyle Borders; 12-31-2008 at 12:28 PM. Reason: Revealing.

03-05-2009, 11:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
canadamagic Inactive Join Date: Mar 2009 Magic Type: Card magic Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	As long as you can keep the audience listening to what you are saying then you can keep their attention off the gimmick, the gimmick is really handle sensative, you must take good care of it __________________ The world invites dECEPTION

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02-07-2009, 10:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
hliasp69 Inactive Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have seen the trick performed and if you are good at patter, people don't notice the details...

06-11-2009, 05:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
mrdruid0 Inactive Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I didnt like Distortion at all. The gimmick broke WAY too quickly, and when im always "on the go" Its just a pain in the butt.

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