The Raven is a utility device that has been frequently discussed on MagicTalk. Opinions vary widely: some say that it is hard to use, and can only be used for a single effect. Others point out that it can in fact be used for a wide variety of effects. By people that use the Raven, there seems to be a consensus that buying extra instructions (like the video) is very worthwhile, because it will give good insight into using the Raven.
By: DJ (stevecaseizgay@hotmail.com)
I just got my Raven a few days ago and I really don't like it. Like many
have said it takes alot of setup and it's best if you wear a jacket
although you can supposedly do the trick in a shortsleeve shirt but you
have to hold your left hand in a very unusual way plus you have to use
shimmed coins which aren't exactly cheap. My advice would be to save your
money.
By: Gregory Lee (greglee@umich.edu)
I hardly use the Raven; don't like it much. Requires too much setup for a
2 second trick. Also, it helps to wear a jacket, and I rarely wear one. I
also had some problems digging around for the fishing line.
By: Michael Cardenas (dragonmike_13@yahoo.com)
Unless you wear a jacket all the time, don't bother. You can do it in a
short sleeved shirt but it must have buttons.
Save yourself the headaches. It is visually stunning, but not very
practical fo impromptu. I mostly stick to sleights (Slydini style) and
thumb tips.
By: Olde Rabbit (olderabbit@webtv.net)
With all deference to Chuck, if you purchase the Modern Coin Magic by J.B.
Bobo, you will learn hundreds of great coin sleights and tricks. The
Raven, and the Bat, only do one trick. therefore, the book is a much
better buy. As far as magnets and watches or plastic goes, it usually
takes a stronger magnet to foul up a digital watch. and if you keep any
magnet in a different pocket from your credit cards, you shouldn't have a
problem.
By: Jon A. Hand (jon.hand@n2music.com)
Does this mean that apparatus is worthless, or not allowable for sleight magicians? I don't think so! There are many sleight of hand ways to vanish a silk, but none so magical-looking as the old-fashioned pull. How many great card effects using double face, double back, or custom-printed cards would be lost if we restrained ourselves to "pure" magic of sleights? Dynamite coin effects like Cap and Pence, Scotch and Soda, Copper/Silver, and Expanded Half tricks would be no more. The wonderful TT tricks would be out of the repertoire. There are definitely times that sleights are not the most magical resource.
The best apparatus magic is those effects which are not "one-trick pieces." Books like 55 Tricks With A Scotch And Soda, 50 Tricks With a Thumb Tip, 75 Tricks With A Stripper/Svengali Deck, Milk Pitcher Magic, etc., highlight the open-ended nature of good apparatus magic. Uses for these items are only limited by one's creativity and imagination.
I don't own either a Bat or a Raven, and have never seen anyone perform with one. The bulk of opinion at MT seems to be with the Raven, if that helps any. Ultimately, a piece of apparatus is merely a tool. If you want, you can let that tool, and others like it, be a crutch. Or, you can use it creatively, imaginatively, judiciously, and sparingly, to perform miracles that sleights cannot do.
Or, to put it more succinctly, one or two good apparatus effects in a sleight routine can make a fine routine even better. The effect in the minds of the audience members is everything. All other professions use tools wisely; magicians should, too.
By: Magic Fett (FETT117@aol.com)
The Raven is a serious utility device. You can do all sorts of stuff with
it, vanishing, changing, appearing, and all of this with hands empty before
and after. Also, about the 'trick, not magic' comment, the Raven stays
where it goes, so you could easily make it a routine. As a magician, I am
sure you are familiar with duplicates. Try a coin to impossible location,
except do the vanish visually. It's a LOT more than a one trick wonder.
Go, buy one. Now. And get the video while you're there. It helps a lot.
By: Chuck (chazpro@aol.com)
While I enjoy the support I receive from all you MTers, and I also agree
that a 'good' book is always the best buy, I must disagree with the several
mentionings that the Raven and the Bat do only one trick. Between the
printed instructions and instructional videos, each item comes with over 20
very differet effects. And because they are utilty items, the number of
possible effects are endless. Users have shown this by the number of
effects that 'they' constantly create, particularly for the Raven.
It was also mentioned that you can learn a coin vanish that's just as good as the Raven's, in Modern Coin Magic. While I think learning the fundamentals of magic and sleight of hand are better than anything a simple trick can teach, I've yet to see a coin slight, or coin magician, that can perform a coin vanish on the visual level of the Raven via sleight of hand. A retention vanish is close, but is still in a different time zone.
I hope this doesn't sound like an ad, but wanted to correct a couple factual errors that have been posted.
By: aLeXiS GuTieRrEz (agltbialik@aol.com)
Woo Hoo!!! This simple question sure did spark up a very interesting
discussion!! Personally, I am an advocate for slieght of hand myself. But
I too use gimmicks from time to time. In fact, when I first got started in
magic I bought an awful lot of gimmicks. Magnets, gaffed cards, ITR's you
name it. But eventually I moved on--plus I ran out of money. I knew
better than to RELY on these gimmicks to carry my act. So, I started to
practice slieghts and my repetoire practically doubled.
Do I think that we should all disregard the use of gimmicks in exchange for slieght of hand techniques. No. Good slieght of hand is what every performer should aim for. But that doesn't mean that gimmicks don't ever have to be used. A good 'single trick gimmick' can enhance a routine if used correctly. That doesn't mean I think we should all use a gimmick or two in our acts, but if someone else might choose to, then we should try to be supportive.
Since I mentioned the 'single trick' aspect, the Raven and BAT's limitation is only up to the magician performing. They can be used to execute dozens of illusions such as the Scotch and Soda. It's all up to your imagination. I personally have used the BAT to do both vanishes, to move small metal objects on a table top, and to stop watches (though I don't do the last one very often). I can't tell anyone which might be better, because they both have equal pros and cons.
So, I hope that I made a little sense here. I tend to babble sometimes as I am doing so right now. But in short, mastering slieght of hand techniques should be on all of our agendas as performers. However, we shouldn't turn our heads to the more gimmicky tricks.
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