I saw a small advert for Banner Magic on a magic website and was immediately intrigued. It seems to have entered the magic world without the bang and the flash so often associated with the marketing of new magic and so I was curious to have a look and see what it is all about. So here’s our review.
Perhaps on one level the reason for the absence of bang and flash is due to the fact that this is really a new presentational angle/prop for some old effects. The Princess Card Trick (as the supplied instructions remind us) was invented in 1905. The 52 on 1 card originated in 1914 And the Long Card gag has been around since at least the 1940s.
Michael Mode has taken these effects and brought them up to date with use of a vinyl banner. This immediately changes the scale of these effects – which can now be performed in a cabaret/platform context more easily.
Given that you’re not really buying a new principle or secret the question really is, what is the quality of the banners like? First impressions are good. Although the material is very thin, the printing is solid and clear and there is no issue with ‘transparency’. The banners roll and unroll very fluidly, but there is a little bit of a knack involved – if you’re not careful they can sometimes roll up in a way which makes them jam a little. An extra printed sheet has been added to the package explaining this problem and its solution – but it lost a point on ‘real world effectiveness’ because of this.
One of the definite selling points of this product is that although the banners take up little room when rolled, they make a good show when unrolled – so in the classic magic advertising words it “packs small and plays big”! The banner height is slightly less than the long side of a piece of A4 paper, width is less than two inches and depth is negligible (guess who didn’t have a ruler around when they wrote this review!). So these would actually fit in your inside pocket – I could see you using these in a walkaround context at a large table – and everyone would be able to see.
You’re supplied with two banners – one for the Princess Card Trick and one for the 52 on 1 and the Long Card (which roll together into a nice routine). Instructions are minimal – but very clear and well illustrated and cover all that is necessary. My package (and so I assume all) also included a couple of Napkins for the Napkin Rose (which Michael Mode made his name with).
In conclusion, you’re not in the realms of really mysterious magic here. But if you are looking for an easy extra couple of minutes for your set which will play reasonably large without too much effort, I think these would be worth a punt. Only time will tell how long the banners last – but for £23 for the pair (at the time of writing) it is probably worth a go.
Available from Magic Direct