Review: Bob Does Hospitality - Act 3 by Bob Sheets

Among the real workers out there, Bob Sheets is among my favorites. He's a true pro who baffles spectators under all conditions and leaves them in hysterics. In his "Bob Does Hospitality" DVD set, which comes in three separate volumes, Sheets offers nine close-up effects, three per DVD, which are designed for strolling or table hopping.

In theory, each DVD teaches an entire act that you can perform at a table. And with three DVDs, you'll have three complete acts for three different tables and won't repeat a trick. In this review, I'll focus on Act 3. (Please click here to read my review of Act 1).

The routines are designed to be easy to carry in your pockets and none are knuckle busters. Although this act does require some fundamental mastery of close-up and card techniques. While I like the three tricks in this "act," I'm not sure about their order and placement.

The first effect is fairly traditional Three Ball Trick, which features a series of vanishes and productions of three small balls and some "balls across" segments.

The effect employs the standard moves but it's a solid routine by Sheets. You'll need a table for this one.

Flash Deck offers an intriguing and excellent mindreading routine with playing cards. This is a workers' trick because three spectators select cards by simply choosing from those that they see.

Not only is the selection of the cards fair, there's no taking a card and putting it back in the deck so you don't have to deal with spectators who are juggling drinks and food. Also, for these situations, you won’t need a table, it's all in the hands.

By spreading the cards, you allow three spectators to mentally select cards. You somehow find and name the first two selected cards. The third card is revealed as the only red-backed card in the blue-backed deck.

The trick automatically resets itself when you're done and is ready to go again. This one can be performed completely surrounded and has few angle problems. You'll have to make your own gimmicked deck, but it’s quite easy. All you need are regular playing cards.

In close-up situations, this one somewhat resembles the mind-reading/prediction routine that you can perform using Bill Abbott's Octopus Deck. But for close-up, I prefer Sheets' routine because it's easier to perform, there's less to memorize and spectators don't touch the cards.

I have long been curious about Sheets' 6 Tricks In 2 Minutes, a fast-paced routine with playing cards. The trick begins with the box of playing cards changing colors. You have a card selected and placed back into the deck. An indifferent card "mysteriously" rises to the top of the deck. The indifferent card is placed in the middle of the deck and it rises back to the top.

To ramp up the trick, you place the indifferent card in the middle of the deck and its back visually changes from blue to red. The entire deck then changes from blue to red and the selected card is found to be the only blue-backed card.

This is another great effect, but there are some angle considerations. In restaurant situations, other tables will be able to see anomalies with the deck. While reset is fast, you'll have to do this out of sight of spectators.

As with the prior trick, you'll have to make a gimmicked deck out of regular playing cards, which is not difficult. Also, this one works entirely in the hands and doesn't require a table, which is always a plus in my eyes.