The Number 2 Pencil

Type: Close up, Walk Around

Skill Level:

Retail Price: $15

Effect: The black number two insignia near the eraser on a typical looking yellow pencil, disappears, reappears, slides and stretches.

Performance Time: 1-2 minutes

Reset Time: Immediately

Angles:

Quality: You get two pretty ordinary looking yellow pencils with special printing. The printing is of good quality and the pencils looks like ordinary pencils. Mark Jenest's routine is very good.

Mike Maione: I'm not crazy about this paddle trick. I find it difficult to do the paddle move with a pencil. True the pencil has flat sides and Mark gives you some tips on doing the move to make it look good. Still, I can't seem to do it without a little over or under roll which, of course gives away the secret. You also have to switch pencils...not all that easy. Finally, I can't imagine where I would use this. Yes, it's nice to do magic with ordinary looking objects, but you still must have a reason to have that object at hand. Who walks around with a pencil in their pocket? I know, next time I take a one of those SAT type tests, I'll perform this one. Unless you're a carpenter and you want to work hard to perfect this one...forget it.

Dr. Mitch: Maybe it's just me...maybe I'm becoming jaded....maybe people are becoming dumber...or greedy, BUT..I have been doing a paddle move with a pencil since I first learned HOW to do a paddle move. (The 'ole "vanishing words on the pencil trick" ) My comment on this whole effect is .... BIG DEAL. First of all, like Mike said, the pencil has a tendency to over-roll...you have to be pretty close to center on this prop. Secondly...I don't think it's so impressive that the #2 jumps...its "quaint" that's about it. I wasn't impressed, you don't get the reaction that you would with a Hot Rod. Sure a pencil is a common object...but who carries a pencil ? In all fairness, I know people are using this quite a lot. Maybe its me..maybe its my audiences. But I'm not getting the reaction out of this that other people seem to be.

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