3.5 Utilities by Matt Packard

4 deceptive and practical utility methods, all of which are easy to make and perform.

All 4 have potential applications in mentalism and magic. This is a 33 minute downloadable video. Also included is a 6 page PDF with extra notes, tips, and routine ideas.

Contents:

Peek-a-Box

A gimmicked playing card box that provides a super deceptive full business card peek. It has excellent angles and best yet, is extremely easy to make. No windows or slits, box appears completely normal from all angles. Works as a normal card box.

Effect:
You ask your participant to write on a business card, you take it face down, slide it into the card box (the deck is already inside the box) and put a rubber band around it. That’s it – and in the process you get a full card peek.

While the demonstration is with a playing card box, the principle can be applied to any similar style tuck box (tarot cards, alphabet cards, etc).

Test Conditions Envelopes

An updated handling for a classic utility item.

Effect:
You take a folded billet (or an unfolded card if you prefer) and put it into a coin envelope. You have the envelope signed. You then put it into a larger coin envelope. In that process, you have stolen (or peeked) the billet. Also can be used for a very deceptive load (predictions, Confabulation).

Not limited to billets, any small flat object can be used (coins, folded or torn playing cards, etc. Coins across finale anyone?).

Unlike most other versions of this classic idea, with Test Conditions Envelopes, you can show the inside and outside of both envelopes before and after the effect.

123 Peek
A simple gimmick that allows a clean, full business card peek.

Effect:
You have your participant write something on one of your business cards. You then introduce 3 (or more) blank business cards and mix them up on the table. Your participant finds their card and you are able to divine the information on it. The card they find is actually their card and it ends completely clean.

H. Dent Envelopes
This is a bonus idea. A well known card idea applied to a stack of envelopes. A slick way to switch an envelope with a business card inside.

Here’s what some performers are saying:

“I think a lot of people will enjoy the peek box. It’s great that it still functions as a normal card box and it’s SO simple to construct.

– The “TC Envelope” is a GREAT update on a classic gaff. The ability to show it as normal from the inside is wonderful. Sometimes it’s the little touches that make the biggest difference.

– As a fan of Manos Kartsakis’ “Drawing a Blank” (from UnVeil Part 1) I really enjoyed Matt’s “123 Peek”. I’m a big proponent of having multiple strategies to accomplish my favorite plots. The obvious pro with Matt’s approach is that you get the peek at the outset and end clean with the “hot” card under their hand. The con is that it requires just a bit of preparation (but that’s not necessarily a bad thing). Lewis Le Val’s “The Reader” (from Praecantrix) accomplishes a similar end result as Matt’s handling but Lewis’ requires a sleight that some don’t love.

– The “H. Dent Envelope” is a clever idea as well (as is the name Matt’s given it!). It’s probably best suited for pre-show work because you don’t have immediate access to the stolen card – but as Matt says in the download, people should be able to find a use for it in a specific context.

All in all this is a great little download that delivers EXACTLY what the ad-copy purports: 3.5 UTILITY TECHNIQUES.”

– Drew Backenstoss

“I honestly think magicians everywhere will love Peek-a-Box. It is nice to see a set of utilities in a release that lets you create your own unique effects. My friend saw what I was fiddling with and instantly said ‘Dude, this is genius.’ And then he came up with a new routine on the spot!”

– Atlas Brookings

” I think these are very practical, real world methods. I will be experimenting with 123 Peek , which I really loved. This opened up a world of possibilities. I think this has potential to be extended beyond the peek and utilize the method for much more than discerning information. I am grateful for the ideas and will be putting them to good use. Wonderful thinking!”

– Sean Waters

“Many cool ideas and easy to make. This is well worth the price and I’ve seen things at higher prices that give you a lot less. It’s great he includes the videos so you can see everything in action and how they are constructed.”

– Greg Arce

“All in all, this is a decent collection that is reasonably priced and taught well. I can’t see anyone being disappointed after purchasing this. ”

– Sudo Nimh

“The box peek is genius, very simple to make up and works well with any card effect where you want to have the spectator write down a card or number or some other information and then bring the cards into play to use that secret information. Or it can be just a simple peek with using what you carry to hide the information.

The 123 Peek is simple to use, very similar routines to Eric Mead’s routine from Tangled Web and Shaun Dunn’s Zoltar, but this is a different peek, with an application of a common gimmick you might already own, I did and tried it and will be using it!

The two envelope ideas I am still thinking about how I can use, I like the envelope switch again very easy to make, all the DIY is shown in detail with simple to follow instructions. ”

– Rich Morrell