"Gecko" by Jim Rosenbaum
Suggested Retail USD$65.75
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

"Gecko", a utility device by Jim Rosenbaum, is a real game-changer, something that can up the amps on any performer's magic at a moment's notice or serve to create new magic in an instant, which makes this one fine device to have on hand despite a few drawbacks.

And I initially hated the thing.

See, I've got a real problem with things that require special clothing ("special" defined as being something I'm not wearing at the time I want to perform with said "things"). Jackets are my biggest gripe. Sometimes it's 10-below outside and I can use the whatever easily enough; most of the time it's over a 100 and I can't. Hence my hatred of pulls and Top-Its and the like.

So, of course, "Gecko" requires a jacket. Or at least an "overshirt" of some kind. So I hate it.

Then I watched the video and I liked what I saw. Yeah, there was the jacket (a hoodie kind of thing), but the sleeves were up. And the moves were all natural. And the vanishes were gorgeous. And what that a cell phone that went bye-bye? Okay, I thought, so maybe I'll take a stab at this and see what happens...

I love my "Gecko". Absolutely love it. The clothing requirement is limiting but the pluses are so strong with "Gecko" I just can't stop playing with it. My first outing with "Gecko" was to get rid of a gimmicked card from a packet trick. It was done on the off-beat, of course, but when that packet hit the table (and the gimmick was gone from sight), those looks on the spectators' faces was worth all the work with the thing.

"Thing" is about the right description for it, too. It's kinda like a pull, but not quite because it's a fully-functioning hold-out as well. It's great for vanishes, of course, but productions (whether visible or not) are a piece of cake. In short, I'm not sure what it is but it works great.

With "Gecko", you get two devices. One is for light objects -- think a playing card, a coin, a finger ring maybe, that kind of thing -- and the other for heavy items. "Heavy" here is relative: anything heavier and bulkier than a cell phone will likely cause you problems if not be downright impossible. While the two devices function pretty much identically, there are some differences in handling and feel that will take some practice with both to get down perfectly.

And with that, let's segue into the details.

First, "Gecko" is a bear to set-up and use the first few times. Hooking things up properly for your body size and shape can be frustrating. Don't give up too easily -- and practice with something you don't mind flying across the room because, yes, it will happen -- and keep at it. After a few times, you can get it in place and ready to go in a minute or two. Luckily, when out and about, that set-up is a one-time thing per performance and the reset takes less than a second.

Second, that clothing requirement. While sleeves aren't the big deal here, you'll need to be wearing two coverings of some type on your upper body. This could be an open overshirt above another shirt, or it could be a hoodie-type thing over a any kind of shirt, or it could be just a shirt and jacket combo. That's pretty flexible, but it's still a requirement (technically, you could do this with a single shirt, but the angles would kill you and make this one about as impractical as you could get).

Third, while it's certainly possible for anyone to use "Gecko", it takes a ton of practice. There is a tremendously awkward moment when you're getting ready to put it into action that simply has got to be ironed out. If there's a flaw in the handling of "Gecko", it's at this point. You'll need to work long and hard to get down.

Fourth, and the thing that irritated me most, is that a certain part of the device wears out way too quickly. You're supplied with a good bit of the stuff, but you'll burn through it at a ridiculous rate. It's cheap and not too hard to find (at least online), but if you plan on using this in a work environment, plan a trip to the bathroom every four times or so.

Fifth, the ad copy is right. You really can forget you've got "Gecko" on you. It's so comfortable and unobtrusive, you see, that it just sort of disappears on you all it's own. At least right up until the time you need it. This is one of the big reasons I love it; nothing feels unnatural while I'm doing other stuff. It's a great additional feature to an already slick product.

When it's all said and done, "Gecko" is a great device and a brilliant piece of work. The only thing that is really the deal-breaker here is the clothing requirement; pretty much everything else can be worked around or worked through.

If you're looking for something that can change some of your current magic into something different, or are up to creating some new stuff of your own, and that clothing thing doesn't bother you too much, "Gecko" is a steal (near-pun unintended). It's worth every penny and then some.

"Gecko" by Jim Rosenbaum
In a Blink: 8 Out of 10

Practicality: 7
Well, there are some issues. There's a clothing requirement (which is expected for this kind of thing), the get-ready is awkward, and a piece of this will have to be replaced every four or five uses which makes repeating it a chore. The first may or may not be a big deal, the second just takes a lot of work and thought, and the last eats up pocket space and requires privacy to work out.

Workmanship: 10
These devices are excellently put together and very well designed.

Documentation: 8
The written documentation is simply bad, but the DVD makes up for it with detailed instructions for altering, installing, and using the device. It would have been nice to see some more actual work with it, but it's better than you'd expect with such utilities.

Effect: n/a
It's a utility device, so the effect you get is all in how you use it.

Presentation: n/a
Ditto for the presentation.

Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.