"Pulse" booklet by Who's Magic
Suggested Retail USD$20.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 2 Out of 10

"Pulse", a booklet put out by Who's Magic, is an idea as old as the hills dressed up a bit but totally lacking in reliability, presentation, or even effect.

It's telling that "Pulse" doesn't mention the name of the person who "invented" it; in virtually all cases that's an indicator of faith in the product. In the case of "Pulse", it's certainly understandable why that tidbit of information was left off.

"Pulse" purports to allow you to stop your pulse with no gimmicks or suggestion used. The spectator finds your pulse, the ads say, and then they feel it start to slow and then stop. This is accomplished in a method "different from any other versions", with "no sugestion <sic>", "no under arm gimmicks", gets "killer reactions" and can be done "anytime and anywhere" because it's "totally imprompu".

That's the ad copy. Now here's the truth.

Yes, "Pulse" is totally impromptu. It uses no gimmicks with nothing placed under the arm. It doesn't make use of any of the usual suggestion methods, either. That's it for that; now comes the parts that make "Pulse" fall apart.

"Different from any other versions"? In the pamphlet, the nameless creator claims to have read every method there is for stopping your pulse. It seems he missed a few non-magic texts along the way; the method he "teaches" is based on simple relaxation techniques you can find in most books on meditation. I'll cut the nameless one some slack on that, but just a tiny amount since the method is well-known and taught in every "stress-management" class in the world.

Now, to be fair, the anonymous originator of "Pulse" did add a bit to "sell" this, a piece that has you dictating a weird way of taking someone's pulse. Do this one in front of anyone in the medical profession or who's watched any medical show on TV and you're as busted as big as you can be. If they stayed awake during basic human biology classes in school or watched an episode of "ER", you're in trouble here.

And that brings us to the "anytime/anywhere" claim. Ignoring the "pulse-checking" discrepancy and concentrating on the relaxation side of things, this is scarcely an effect that can be done anytime and anywhere. If you're anxious, excited... basically feeling any emotion that can elevate your heartrate, you're in trouble. In fact, something as silly as standing up or being in a room in which you're not acclimated to the temperature can blow this one for you. If you're like me and find performing to be a thrilling, exhilerating thing, then you may never get "Pulse" to work for you.

So "anytime/anywhere"? Sure... when you can basically meditate your way through the performance and not have anyone with any knowledge about taking a pulse correctly is in attendance. In other words... no, not so much.

"Killer reactions"? See above. I have no doubt someone, somewhere can get "killer reactions" from this, but your average performer is going to have to really play by the "right place/right time/right audience" for this one to get any reactions whatsoever (other that the most derisive and negative).

"Pulse" just ain't got it goin' on, folks. It's over-hyped for what you get, period.

There's also a "bonus" routine included, something called "Pain", where you pinch the spectator on the arm (in a very specific place) and they don't feel any pain from it. I suspect more people will like this than "Pulse" but, again, it's an old piece of physiology and not new -- it's merely being brought out of the classrooms and schoolyards and specious hypnotism demonstrations and into print for magicians.

All in all, this one just is not what it claims to be. If you really -- and I mean "really" -- want an impromptu pulse-stopping bit, and you can deal with the misfires and all the other problems, then I guess, in the wildest stretching of my imagination, this one might be worthwhile. For people who need something that works reliably and without the worries about being busted, "Pulse" is dead in the water.

Or, put politely, give this one a miss.

"Pulse" booklet by Who's Magic
In a Blink: 2 Out of 10

Material: 2
Well, it is impromptu and doesn't use gimmicks, but it isn't sure-fire, either. In fact, for a great many people it simply won't work reliably at all due to it's physiological method and a weird bit which you won't want to perform anywhere near someone who knows how to take a pulse. If you don't mind keeping your audiences in check as to their knowledge, and you don't mind it not working, then this is passable... but you'll be in the minority.

Quality: 1
Poorly written (read that as "needing an editor") to the point of distraction, this is one pamphlet that should have been re-done from the first syllable to the last.

Illustrations: 5
There are some black-and-white photos included, which are nice, but nothing to either rave about or rant against.

Presentation: 1
Simply put, there isn't a complete one when one is surely needed and there's a total failure to address weaknesses in the method; both would have made this a bit more valuable than it is.

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.