"Android" by Jay Crowe
Suggested Retail USD$29.95
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

"Android", a trick by Jay Crowe, is a marvelous piece of work that is so practical and plays so well it's hard not to be enamored with it and bring it on at every opportunity.

And that comes from the guy who dearly hates the whole "phone-a-wizard" class of effects, so perhaps that in itself speaks volumes.

Briefly, the effect of "Android" is what you would expect from such an effect, but with some key differences thanks to the technology involved.

One of the routines (and there are a couple), begins with the performer talking about a psychic they met while in the UK. A spectator picks a postcard from a stack. The performer hands their phone to the spectator and has them send a text message to the psychic. A few minutes later (not quite as long depending on your service), the psychic replies with a text message revealing the selected postcard. If you're not into the whole postcard thing, "Android" can be done more simply, with a variety of borrowed objects being shown, one selected, and the psychic revealing the object (this is my personal favorite).

As for the working, this is so pure it's scary. There are no forces involved, no stooging, no counting or mnemonic work with a confederate... In fact, there are no confederates. There is a simple set-up you have to do once and, from then on, this is an easy, astonishing piece of work. And it's as close to you and ready to go as your phone.

That's a lot to have going for "Android" and that's what makes it a very good piece of work.

The downsides? They are either minor or personal.

First up, this only works with services that can the US and UK. Other countries are out of luck. If you're in the UK, you're pretty much good to go right out of the box. US performers, check your service plan to make sure you can send to and receive from UK (text messages, obviously) before going into this one.

Second, I don't like "limited time only" effects, which "Android" is. It relies on a special service supplied by Crowe and there's no guarantee how long this service will be around. This is definitely something you'll want to get and start performing immediately to get your money's worth. Me, I like stuff I can do in the future as well, so that's a problem for me, albeit a minor one given the effect.

Third, we're back to my dislike of the "phone-a-wizard" plots. Sorry, but I put a lot of time and effort into me being special, not some "psychic friend" on the phone, and I don't like throwing that work away. However, it only takes a little thought -- very little, folks, if you think about it for second -- and you're back to being special again. This is a particularly easy thing to do with Crowe's creation here, and it fits me perfectly.

And all of this pales when it comes to the pluses of "Android", which we've already taken a look at. There are more presentational pieces here I like, particularly the spectator doing the messaging (which sinks the smart ones), and Crowe has done a great job of rationalizing things (you use your phone because, after all, an SMS to the UK from the US costs money, right?). That all adds up to a very neat, very good piece of magic.

Who do I recommend this one for? Anyone who finds the plot appealing and has the apparatus to run it, really. It's ease of use and practicality make this one a fit for pretty much anyone.

Editor's Note: Shortly after this was put online, Jay Crowe contacted me by email with the following information: "Android is not limited to UK and US only. It works for all European users and some Middle East users also." My apologies to Mr. Crowe for the misunderstanding and my thanks to him for clarifying the matter.

"Android" by Jay Crowe
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

Practicality: 9
You need a cell phone that'll support SMS to and from the US and the UK and the business card with the "psychic's" number on it. That's it. No set-up, no reset, it can be repeated with different outcomes and situations if you want... this is an extremely practical piece of work. The downside? It relies on a service from Crowe that may not always be available. That's it's only liability.

Workmanship: 10
This is almost a given: the business cards are the only prop here. Still, they look great and real enough to get the job done.

Documentation: 8
The documentation is well done, covering all the bases easily, though it is hampered by some distracting grammar errors. Overall, you'll have no problem learning this one.

Effect: 8
This plays very well, to say the least. With a bit more work on the presentation, this could be a stunner.

Presentation: 5
While not a fan of "phone the wizard" type of effects, this one is so marvelously open that it's hard to resist. Re-tool to put more of the spotlight on you and not the "psychic in the UK" and you'll find this to be one piece of work you'll love.


Shane

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