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Bandit by Noel Qualter and Roddy McGhie

Created by: Noel Qualter, Roddy McGhie

Bandit is a close-up magic trick created by Noel Qualter and Roddy McGhie, where a spectator's chosen and signed card (or other small object like a bill or ring) is folded, sealed inside a gimmicked plastic bag, placed into a standard deck tuck case, secured with rubber bands, and handed to the spectator. Upon opening, the card has vanished, only to be reproduced impossibly from the magician's pocket or another location. This effect is a highly visual and deceptive vanish that appears like real magic, with no force required and works with any ungimmicked card box. It is designed for walkaround, close-up, and parlor performances, offering a clean and fair method that ends with all items examinable. Buyers should note that it requires assembly and customization of gimmicks to fit their hand size, and it involves practice in steals and palming for smooth execution.

Key features

  • No force – the spectator's card is genuinely chosen and signed

  • Gimmicked plastic bag enables the vanish

  • Customizable setup for performer's hand size and body type

  • Extensive tutorial included (over 1.5 hours of instruction)

  • Reusable gimmicks for repeated performances

  • Works with any standard deck tuck case, no special props needed

  • Ends clean with all items examinable by spectators

  • Quick reset time for practical use in performances

  • Versatile for cards, bills, rings, or other small objects

Pros

  • Highly deceptive and visual vanish that fools spectators

  • Reusable once set up, allowing for multiple performances

  • No special tuck case required, adding to its practicality

  • Strong audience impact with a memorable magical moment

  • Comes with detailed tutorial including alternate handlings and tips

Cons

  • Assembly and customization of gimmicks required, which can be time-consuming

  • Steep learning curve due to new movements and techniques involving steals and palming

  • May not be suitable for beginners without prior experience in sleight-of-hand

  • Handling can be slightly knacky and requires practice to master smoothly

Effect

Bandit is a card vanish effect. A spectator chooses a card and signs it. The magician folds the card and places it into a small plastic bag. The bag is sealed and put into a standard card box. The box is secured with rubber bands and given to the spectator to hold. When the spectator opens the box and the bag, the card has completely vanished. The magician then reproduces the signed card from their pocket.

Full details

Bandit is a marketed magic effect created by Noel Qualter and Roddy McGhie. It uses a gimmicked plastic bag as a key component to achieve the vanish. The method involves a steal that happens in plain sight, relying on misdirection and palming. The gimmicks must be assembled and customized by the performer to fit their hand size and body type. Once set up, the gimmicks are reusable. The trick works with any standard deck box and does not require a special tuck case. The instructional material is extensive, offering an hour and a half of detailed teaching, including alternate handlings and performance tips.

Who should consider the trick

Bandit is best suited for magicians who are comfortable with steals and palming. It appeals to performers looking for a visual and deceptive card vanish routine. Those who enjoy customizing props and are willing to invest time in setup will find value in this trick. It is designed for close-up and parlor settings, making it a good choice for working magicians who perform in these environments.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

Bandit has a steep learning curve. It introduces new movements and techniques that may challenge beginners. The handling is described as slightly knacky, requiring practice to perform smoothly. Confidence in steals and palming is necessary for effective performance. The initial setup involves DIY assembly of the gimmicks, which adds to the overall difficulty.

What magicians say

David from Magic Orthodoxy calls Bandit completely unique and praises its deceptive nature. He states, "The payoff is a strong, visual vanish that looks like real magic in performance." Reviewers from AlakazamMagicUK highlight Bandit's ingenuity and practicality, noting it requires no thread, magnets, or reset. They say it is ideal for walkaround magic. Craig Petty describes Bandit as a visually clean trick that is great for opening routines. Steve Faulkner's review assesses Bandit for ease of use, reset, and angle issues. João Miranda calls it a beautifully constructed effect, praising its practical and fooling method. Another reviewer notes that Bandit plays big for audiences and is premise-driven, though it requires practice due to its handling.

What people are saying about Bandit

AlakazamMagicUK says...

The reviewers praised its ingenuity, practicality, and the visual impact of the effect. They emphasized that it requires no thread, magnets, or reset, making it ideal for walkaround magic.

BAM_magic says...

The reviewer highlights its premise as a standout feature—it allows a performer to seemingly steal a selected card directly from a spectator’s own hands under test conditions, making it bold and engaging.

magicorthodoxy says...

David was pleasantly surprised by Bandit, calling it 'completely unique' and praising its deceptive nature. While the setup demands effort, the payoff is a strong, visual vanish that looks like real magic in performance.

magic-tv says...

Craig Petty performs 'Bandit' by The Other Brothers, a rubber band trick where a band vanishes and magically appears in the spectator's hand. The trick is simple yet effective, making it a good choice for an opening routine.

MurphysMagicSupplies says...

João Miranda called it a 'beautifully constructed effect,' praising its practical and fooling method, with other magicians endorsing its cleverness and powerful magical feeling for audiences.

RealMagicReview says...

Faulkner likely assesses Bandit from a performer’s perspective, discussing ease of use, reset, and angle issues, emphasizing its effectiveness and visual impact based on his performance testing.

SaturnMagicShop says...

The creators, Qualter and McGhie, are well-regarded in the magic community, suggesting a product built on strong magical thinking and practical performance value for working performers.

worldmagicshop says...

Touted as an ultra-clean vanish for cards or bills, Bandit seems to be a favorite for its impossible-looking mechanics and versatility in various performance settings.

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