Feeling It In My Veins
I worked-up and substituted "Veins" into my normal card set this past weekend. The effect took the place of my usual closer when I'm performing with cards. I probably performed "Veins" over 15 times over five hours of strolling in my restaurant gigs. The effect got a good solid reaction and there was a definite "cool" factor regarding the UV light that caught the attention of spectators.
I found that as I refined my presentation through performances, the reactions grew stronger. There's definitely something here, and I intend to continue to evolve my presentation and work on this effect. I like "Veins" because it gives me another card revelation without adding more props to my already-filled pockets. I only have to prepare my arm before the gig, and place the neckstrap of the UV light around my neck and I' ready to go.
Another note, the restaurants that I perform in are rather dark so the UV effect was easy to see. I took the UV effect to a company picnic that occurred in the afternoon on a sunny day, and there was no way to see the UV writing, even in the shade.
Making Light
One last thing, you can perform UV-style effects without purchasing the Scorpion kits-UV markers and flashlights are available by themselves through Ellusionist and other sources. But with the Scorpion kits, you're not just buying UV devices and props, you're purchasing the considerable thought and creativity of Brad Christian and his team. Their expertise, in addition to the props, is worth the price of the kit. And with the Scorpion system, you are given tools that offer amazing possibilities for mentalism and other revelation-based effects.
-Wayne N. Kawamoto
