Bubble Gum Magic, V1 by Coats and Byrd

Is a gum pack through the window any stronger than standard “card through the window?” Is changing a gum wrapper, for example, a “Big Red,” into another one, “Juicy Fruit,” ala the standard method of converting bills into other denominations any more intriguing?

Or how about a transposition, ala the usual copper and silver coins in a spectator’s hands, but this time with gum packs? I commend the authors of this DVD for their creativity. But I’m not convinced that the end effects are worth it.

In “Gum Through Window,” a spectator chooses a pack of gum that is added to other packs. All of the packs are then thrown against a window and the spectator’s chosen pack is found to have penetrated the window and stuck to the other side. For this effect, I think a chosen card is more magical because of the random nature of its selection. And because of the weight of the gum pack, you can see the double-stick tape that’s necessary to adhere it to the inside of the window, which greatly detracts from the effect.

Much like a card to wallet, but without the signed card, “Straight from the Factory” allows a spectator’s chosen card to be found inside of an un-opened, sealed pack of gum. This is the best effect on this DVD. By the way, this trick is combined with the “window” effect mentioned earlier in “Gum Through Window Combo.”

In “Real Sticky Situation,” a chewed piece of gum is taken from the magician’s mouth, which in the hands of the performer turns into a new, un-wrapped stick of gum, which then, in turn, transforms into a fully wrapped piece of gum that can be handed out to spectators.

I think that reaching into one’s mouth at a gig to remove some chewed gum and work with it is disgusting. I can’t think of a situation where I would ever want to perform this one. And it’s one that I could go on record as saying that I would never perform at my restaurant gigs.

By the way, “Real Sticky Situation” sounds a lot in name and effect like a marketed trick called “Sticky Situation “by Andy Leviss. I don’t know which came first or if the methods are similar, but there’s no attribution on this DVD to indicate so.

“Hot Pack” allows the magician to display a pack of Wrigley’s “Juicy Fruit” that quickly turns into a pack of Wrigley’s “Big Red.” It’s basically the color-changing knives, a standard effect, which has been adapted to gum packs. The DVD shows how to make the gimmick.

Much like a standard coin transposition, in “Signed Gum Transposition,” a spectator and the magician sign separate packs of gum that are held in their hands. When both the spectator and magician open their hands, they find that the signed packs have switched places. This one takes lots of preparation for a single performance. It’s not as impromptu as it appears.

“Chewing Gum Change” is the standard bill change that’s been applied to gum wrappers. A wrapper is folded and then unfolded and changes into different wrappers. However, there’s a finale. The wrapper turns into a real pack of gum that can be given away. This effect has merit.

The performance segments show Coats and Byrd entertaining in a mall. Dressed in T-shirts and jeans, the pair look unprofessional, which detracts from their magic. Come on guys. When you’re out performing magic, give it some class by either dressing well or in an edgy manner. You owe it to yourselves (you did all this work developing these routines) as well as to the art of magic to present your material in the strongest and classiest manner.

None of the effects are difficult, but it helps to have a foundation in sleight of hand. Coats and Byrd provide good and thorough explanations.

The best effect on this DVD is the card to gum pack routine. As far as the rest, unless you’re planning to incorporate a gum theme into your show or strolling, you can probably just stick (pun intended) with the traditional props and routines.

-Wayne N. Kawamoto

MSRP: (US) $19.95

Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.