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Pro-Flite
Bob Swadling and Nicholas Einhorn
Reviewed
by James Freedman
The
Flying Ring is a classic effect where a spectator’s finger ring apparently
transposes instantly from one place to another. Al Koran is credited with
devising the original idea of the ring reappearing, hanging among the keys in
the performer’s key case.
Pro-Flite is the latest variant of the Flying Ring effect from two very well
respected magic inventors, Bob Swadling and Nicholas Einhorn. They have been
refining Pro-Flite for about two years and have developed something new by
understanding the ideas and creations of some notable magical thinkers of the
past.
Since Al Koran’s original presentation first became popular, several magicians
have devised versions of the same basic effect. Each has had advantages and
disadvantages, but major ‘milestones’ include original contributions from Eric
Mason, Jim Hooper, Fred Kaps, Terri Rogers, Steve Dusheck, Morelli, Steve
Sheraton and Gaeton Bloom.
With Pro-Flite there is no key case or wallet as there is with the Koran,
Hooper, Kaps and Bloom versions. The Pro-Flight gimmick is a simple keyring with
a leather fob, like those used for Mason’s Magnifique and Dusheck’s Ringer and
similar to the Morelli Ring Mystery originally released by Collector’s Workshop.
The keyring itself is rectangular and the prop looks very similar to Dusheck’s
version which, Einhorn says inspired him to create Pro-Flite. However, the
method and construction are very different to Ringer and the Morelli Ring. With
Pro-Flite, Einhorn has adopted the elegant simplicity of Kaps’ approach.
The Pro-Flight package includes the special keyring with leather fob, a lace for
a ring on string sequence and a very comprehensive instructional DVD. Nicholas
Einhorn is a very good teacher and the explanations on the DVD are extremely
clear. They include every detail on the one-time set up, the simple handling
moves necessary and three different presentations: a lightning fast borrowed
ring to keyring; borrowed ring to keyring in the spectator’s hands; and a more
leisurely routine where the main effect is followed by a very well constructed
five phase ring & string sequence before the ring is discovered back on the
keyring a second time. As a further bonus, Nicholas explains (with full credit
and permission) the second phase of the ring & cord routine from The Master
Routines Series by Mark Leveridge.
Pro-Flite is a secure keyring that you can use for your own keys so you’ll be
ready to present the effect at a moment’s notice. You can perform Pro-Flite with
large or small rings and when you put the keyring back in your pocket, you’re
ready to perform the effect again immediately. These are important
considerations for the professional performer. Unlike other keyring (as opposed
to key case) versions, the borrowed ring really is securely on the keyring, and
not just on a separate clip attached to the keyring, at the conclusion of the
effect.
One of the nicest features of Pro-Flite is that you can display the keyring very
cleanly to show that it only has keys on it before making the spectator’s ring
appear alongside those keys instantly.
The DVD also contains a wealth of other tips and full credits are given for all
moves and sleights, together with full references so you can locate and research
the original publications. On the DVD, Nicholas explains that he and Bob
Swadling evolved the Pro-Flite gimmick through more than a dozen prototypes
before releasing this product. Their attention to detail really shows. Your
Pro-Flite gimmick will last for years. There is nothing to break or snap and the
gimmick could be examined before and after the effect. In fact, I was sent the
keyring to examine about a week before the DVD arrived and during that time I
tried and failed to figure it out.
If you are considering adding an effect from the Flying Ring genre to your
repertoire, then Pro-Flight is worth your serious consideration.
Unreservedly Recommended.
© James Freedman, March 2010