Hey all

I've got a quick question about Dean Dill's 'Blizzard'. I know how the effect is done, so I'm not hunting for any privileged information.

I bought myself a blank deck and was going to make the requisite gimmick out of card.

However, I recently saw 'Blizzard' for sale on eBay for much less than the usual price, so thought I'd buy it. Trouble is, when I received it, the gimmick supplied was made of card - not steel as I had expected.

My question is this: does the original version come with a steel version of the gimmick? If it does, I feel I've been somewhat ripped off.

I hope this post is not off-topic..

Syd

No, the orignal version comes with the gimmick made out of a card ****. You can buy and use a steel one if you'd like, the only place that sells them that I know of is ellusionist.com, but the cardboard one works good enough for me.

Dean makes them from real Bike Cardboard Card Boxes.

I hope you bought an Dean Dill made one and not a ripoff version. On second thought I kinda didn't like the fact that you were going to make your own and not pay Dean for his creative work.

Ok, thanks for your replies. I think I may buy a steel gimmick at some point.

Pete Biro, I'm afraid I'm on a very tight budget. I do buy original effects when I can afford it and when I feel it is worth the money. But I do not necessarily share your views on always buying things.

Agreed, 'Blizzard' is a great effect, and well worth the money for the secret. But the same cannot be said about many marketed effects. The magic industry is full of scams and weak effects which do not justify the cost. I am a proponent of 'value-for-money' and spend acordingly.

My justification for making the gimmick for 'Blizzard' was simply a matter of finances. I wanted to try the effect before committing to it. This is how I usually make my purchasing decisions. Only in magic, it seems, is this not usually possible.

Anyway, I have bought the original now, so no matter.

Syd

You don't say...

The original is card, and second...why would you want a steel gimmick. I would imagine that it wouldn't look too natural and there is no obvious benefit for having a steel gimmick. It's heavier, looks different, and feels different should the spectator grab. Yes I have had spectators grab the box. You weren't ripped off is the point.

Steve, the steel gimmick and cardboard different look exactly the same. I can have both of them out on my table and can't tell the difference myself. It shouldn't matter what they feel if the spectator grabed the box, the trick is ruined either way, because it exposes whats happening. It is a bit heaiver, but it makes the trick easier because cards won't get stuck on box when doing the "move".

Question about flap: I just received Blizzard and was wondering how you work with the flap that hangs off the shell, or do most cut it off. I assume that it was specifically made like that for a reason; maybe to look more like an open card box, but it seems to get in the way. I do not want to alter it until I hear what others have done. Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

Larry

That's a good question.. I was wondering the same myself.

Hopefully someone will know the answer to that!

Syd

If I don't have a TV, and want one real bad but have no money, can I come to your house and take yours?

Silverking

I think you've all mistaken me for a rip-off merchant. That is really not the case. When I have the money, I am more than happy to fork out for effects I think are worth it.

But to stretch your analogy. If you want a tv, can't afford one, so decide to make your own instead. That's fine by me. It's not like I stole anything. I just said that I had considered making my own version of the commercial effect.

In the end, I decided to buy the original effect anyway - even though I knew the secret and had the components to perform it.

If you want to start trashing people for not respecting the art of magic, you'd do better than to start with me.

Syd

I own blizzard and had thought about using a steel gimmick, if I could find one, because the cardboard one tends to "ride up" sometimes on me, exposing what is underneith. I think a heavier gimmick may make the handling easier and keep it in place better.

At any rate, I just do a different DS for now.

I own and perform Blizzard and I don't think that ripping the flap off would be necessary. The box laying on the table should look as if you had just taken the cards out and laid the box down in front of you. An open card box on the table would look natural if you don't draw attention to it. If you take the cards out of a box you usually leave it open in your pocket or laying on the table. If you're having problems with the flap lifting the box up, just fold the flap back more. Usually when I make "the move" I just push the box aside and out of the focus area so that no one tries to go for it. I've done this surrounded and if you do it non-chalantly, no one will suspect anything. No one has asked about it since I have been performing it (although I'm sure the day will come). Just try to be as casual with it as possible. I would recommend practicing with it over and over until you can do it with your eyes closed (like anything else) and then you'll get to the point where you won't have to worry about those things or at least, be able to think on your feet when they do happen.

Does anyone use double sided tape to turn the last remaining card to blank?

I kind of like the idea of memory and amnesia for blizzard. I tell them that sometimes people come up to me and tell me of magicians they saw as kids. 40 years later they still can remember the tricks. I tell them that I wish I could perform magic that strong.

During the effect the cards of other suites disappear first. They are forgotten. The rest of the deck disappears next. Finally the spectator forgets about the last card and goes on with his/her life.

Dean just sent me a Blizzard and I read thru it over a bowl of cereal this morning.
I think it is great. I leave the flap open and extended and bent up enough that it does not make the box ride up.

As far as making the selection disappear? Why dillute a perfectly good miracle.
Making it disappear takes it from a miracle down to a "trick".
Keep it simple and direct.

Of course I could be wrong. Try it both ways and really really study the difference in reaction. And be honest with yourself. If the vanish is not a LOT stronger than the first revelation (that it's the only non-blank card) then it's anti-climatic and a mistake.

This is what is known as the "gotta-adda-kicka" mentality.
Nothing wrong with considering the possibilities.
Sometimes you just don't need one. I think this is one of those times.

Hi Frank, I agree with you that simplicity and economy adds a lot to an effect. I'll see if I can experiment this week with Blizzard and evaluate the timing and the reactions. Thanks a lot.

I think everyone goes thru a phase where they learn a new effect and immediatley start to toy with it and try to make it "better". Often without ever even trying it the original way themselves. This is usually early on.

I think the best approach is to try it the standard way, to learn and understand why it's done that way, and see where it naturally takes you over the years.