"Millionaire" DVD by Peter Eggink
Suggested Retail USD$35.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 5 Out of 10

"Millionaire", the latest release from Peter Eggink, is a nice, quite visual bill change, but, in the end, just isn't all that satisfying.

Like other bill changes, "Millionaire" begins with a bill pulled from your wallet or pocket. It is then folded into quarters and dropped into a spectator's waiting hand. On the way down, the bill magically changes into another denomination. The end.

As I said, "Millionaire" looks nice. The visual is pretty striking -- the bill does appear to change just from dropping it into the spectator's hand. And yes, it does work with any currency. Eggink, in addition to the DVD, also includes the material you'll need to build your own gimmicks (a bit involved, but with care the gimmicks will last a good long time) and also throws in one pre-built gimmick from a fake Euro note. But the baggage with this one is going to require some help to make it as powerful as other claim it to be.

Let's start with the handling, which is about is so closed and cramped as to inspire claustrophobia in some workers. Now, normally this wouldn't be such a big deal, but the presentation itself leaves a bit to be desired and makes an open handling even more important. Unfortunately, that handling just ain't here. It's suspicious and, worse, it's a suspicion that's accurate.

That presentation needs help, really. Take a bill from your wallet. Show it (a bit oddly -- see above). Fold it. Change it. Put it away. I can hear (and have heard, unfortunately) the snickers and comments about a "trick bill". This is not a trait sought after in any trick. Contrast that to a borrowed bill changing, and then the changed bill being given back to the spectator, and you'll see the major problems here. Oh, surely they can be defeated, but now you're into switching things in and out and making a mess of something that aspires to a much greater elegance.

Of course, having said all of that, I did manage to work out the kinks in "Millionaire", made it more workable in my environment, and then turned it around a bit and used it in a larger routine. So, while I don't like "Millionaire" at all as a single-bill change, I do like it within some more structure and with some fine-tuning. Is it the hottest thing since the thumb tip? No, not at all, but it does have its place... if you can find it.

My recommendation? If the handling isn't all that bothersome to you, and if you can routine it a bit better (and you don't mind doing it all after you've paid a healthy sum for it), then "Millionaire" could just be a keeper. If you want something to take and run with as bought, I'd pass this one by.

"Millionaire" DVD by Peter Eggink
In a Blink: 5 Out of 10

Material: 6
It's a nice, visual, quick single-bill change using a neat gimmick, but with a cramped handling and some presentational problems. All in all, this is good stuff if you don't mind working with it a bit more than Eggink does and if you've got something to do with it already in mind.

Practicality: 5
The heat dissipation is terrible here and has to be dealt with otherwise you'll get called on it regularly and vocally. Reseting and repeating isn't an issue, though, and it does pack small. Figure out a way of shaking pursuers and you may have something workable here.

Quality of Production: 5
The production values are fine, if the camera angles are sometimes a bit odd and the constant zooming distracting.

Quality of Instruction: 10
Eggink does a great job of explaining both the construction and handling of his gimmick here. You'll have no problem putting this together or learning how to use it.

Presentation: 3
Here's where the real problem lies: a presentation that builds heat instead of shaking it off and with a handling that looks too sneaky to all but the most innocent of spectators. Those issues have to be beat before this one goes out for a walk with you (luckily, though, they can be, but with a little more thought than should be required).


Shane

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