"Third Degree Burn" by Jason Palter
Suggested Retail USD$55.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"Third Degree Burn", Jason Palter's take on the classic "blister" effect, is priceless in its construction, flexibility, and impact on audiences. This one has it all.

The effect is as simple as you could ask for (demo videos are available on Palter's website). A card is named aloud by a spectator, who is given a lighter. They ignite the lighter and are told to image their named card dancing in the flame. You put your thumb and finger into the flame for an instant then show them to the spectator. On the skin of the thumb and finger are two blisters indicating their card.

"Invisible Deck without the cards" indeed!

The details are outlined well in the ads. No deck of cards is required. There really is no forcing of any kind -- no limiting the choice in any way. The gimmick is a bit big, but it certainly fits easily in most pockets. There's no set-up and no reset; "Third Degree Burn" is always ready to be used however you see fit. This is one practical piece of magic that performs as promised.

Palter scores big all the way around here. The gimmick is wonderfully crafted, the instructions are packed with details on learning the work plus ideas and bonus effects (as an example of Palter's thoroughness, he's even included how to use the gimmick without fire and a lighter), and the DVD is way beyond average in its production.

Let's look at the details. Any one of the fifty-two card from a deck can be named, so the gimmick is a bit big, certainly bigger than similar effects, but would have to be considering the size of the blisters (over a quarter of an inch) and the number of cards to have to consider. That size though is not detrimental except in some rare cases where the pockets are too tight (think really tight jeans here), but even that situation can be worked around.

While "Third Degree Burn" is easy to work, it will take time to get used to the system Palter is using. You won't pick this one up in a minute or two, but with a little time and effort you'll have it down quickly enough. Of course, as you perform it, you'll get better with it still. When I started with it, it took me about thirty seconds to "get the job done" (which is just fine because the presentation has the spectator concentrating on something and that gave me time to do what I needed to); now it takes only a few seconds.

And about that presentation... Palter built a ton of flexibility into "Third Degree Burn", which is why this one goes with me everywhere. Apply a bit of your magical knowledge and experience and this becomes even stronger. For example, combine it with a information steal of some sort (center tear, glimpse, whatever) and now you're doing it without the spectator naming their card. Do it with a deck of cards (either "special" or "stacked") and you can accomplish the same thing without anything being written down. Theatrically speaking, this can go in so many directions, from blistering to stigmata to pretty much anything your imagination can dream up.

Palter, though, never seems to rest on things; if you're stuck for ideas and need a jumpstart, on his website is a free ebook of ideas on presentations and handlings (the ebook is included in more recent shipments of "Third Degree Burn", but if you don't get it with your purchase, you can get it there).

I won't go into details on the reactions except to say this one sends 'em shrieking or sends them into quiet shock.

All in all, "Third Degree Burn" is a damn fine work, worth learning, and will earn a place in your pocket.

"Third Degree Burn" by Jason Palter
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Practicality: 9
Packs small, no real reset (you do have to get those blisters off your fingers before repeating this one), no angles... this one is a dream to work with. The only problem worth mentioning is that if you were tight clothing, you'll have to work around the handling of the gimmick a bit. Not insurmountable, but mentionable.

Workmanship: 10
Beautiful. Simply beautiful. This will last forever.

Documentation: 10
Palter gets huge points here. Beautifully written instructions and a wonderfully produced DVD; you can't ask for more.

Effect: 10
This floors people. We're talking screaming and shocked silence both. This is a keeper.

Presentation: 10
One of the things I love is the flexibility of Palter's device. Individual presentations are endless. However, the presentation Palter gives suffices excellently.



Shane