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I have had this pitcher for over a year now. I meant to write a review some time ago , but apparently I forgot to post it. So, here, now, is my review:
The description of the pitcher listed in the advertising is accurate and the apparatus will allow you to perform exactly what is shown on the demonstration video. (for alternate presentation ideas , the classic booklet “Milk Pitcher Magic” by Hen Fetsch should be consulted). The pitcher is lightweight and it takes very little liquid to fill it. The pitcher is literally a measuring cup (1000 ml/33 oz) so it is the perfect size for my intended use in a "baking a cake in a hat" type of routine. I should add that the inscribed markings on the side of the measuring cup (pitcher) are very subtle, so from the distance of a few feet away the markings are not visible and your audience will not even notice the markings if you are presenting this as a small pitcher instead of openly presenting it as a measuring cup. (and even if someone does happen to notice the markings, it totally makes sense to have milk in a measuring cup. People commonly have milk in measuring cups for cooking , but it is less common nowadays to see people serve milk in a pitcher at table, so using a measuring cup makes sense.) In fact, I shopped around for another acrylic measuring cup with the same dimensions (so the gimmick will fit) that has bright red markings on the sides , so it clearly reads as a measuring cup for the purposes of my routine.
I might quibble a bit with both Feature #3 and #4 as listed in the advertising:
3.) "New system allows easy preparation. (After performance, all parts can be washed.)"
4.) "Made of acrylic to last forever."
As to point #3, yes, the preparation is easy, but resetting the pitcher is more awkward than it should be because of the extra tool that must be used for the reset (or simply to take it apart for cleaning after the performance). The tool that came with mine was not exactly the same tool as the one pictured in the instructional video and it did not work properly. It was very difficult to remove the gimmick with the tool that was provided with my pitcher. I had to obtain the tool shown in the instructional video from a different source. While it was not difficult or expensive to obtain this little tool ,it should have been included with the pitcher.
*NOTE: this may have changed since I purchased mine in 2020, so I hope SEO Magic is now providing the proper size tool for the reset procedure.
Even with using the proper tool, resetting is still a bit awkward (in the video instructions the lady demonstrating even admits that sometimes you need to try it two or three times before you get it to pop out. I have been able to develop a "knack" for it , a feel for it, so now I can usually do it on the first try, but it is awkward and you will unavoidably get a bit of liquid on your fingers. This is not a huge problem if you have paper towels available to wipe up excess liquid, but that is part of what I mean by saying that the resetting is awkward. Honestly, for resetting (if I have more than one performance) I just went back to the old funnel method as with a classic milk pitcher to refill the pitcher (those who own one , will know what I mean).
This leads me to point #4 -- "Made of acrylic to last forever." Is that a guarantee that it be replaced if it breaks ? I suppose I am more concerned about the long term life of the gimmick, more so than the pitcher , therefore if that line about "last forever" applies only to the pitcher I guess that is reasonably accurate , although I have known acrylic tumblers and pitchers to crack. I haven't tested this one with a "drop test" to see how it survives if dropped on a hard surface, but I think "last forever" is a bold claim for any product. Now, if we're talking about the gimmick, I will say that my biggest worry about using this pitcher is the method of removing the gimmick for resetting or cleaning. The pressure that must be applied to "pop" the gimmick out places stress directly on the most vulnerable part of the gimmick (where two parts are glued together) and I do worry that with regular, repeated usage the main stress point on the gimmick will eventually split. If that happens , it might be repairable with clear silicone glue , but probably not. I think it would be good if SEO would provide replacement gimmicks to any purchaser who can show a purchase receipt and will send in the broken gimmick in exchange for a replacement. So far, mine has not had any problem, but I hasten to add that I am not a full-time professional performer, so the frequency of times I have used this is much less than a performer who would be performing with it at multiple shows every week.
I'll mention again that it can be reset by simply pouring out the liquid into a small jar or a cup , then if you have a sink handy you could rinse out the pitcher with lukewarm water , then refill the pitcher using the traditional funnel method as with the classic milk pitcher. This way you are not popping the gimmick out to do the reset. You can refill it even if you don't have a sink available at the performance venue to rinse it out with water before refilling. The same goes for cleaning: I have sometimes simply rinsed it out at home with lukewarm water and then turned it upside down to dry out for a couple of hours before returning the pitcher to it's storage container. (I also keep a silica gel desiccant packet in the storage container to soak up any residual moisture) I'll disassemble it for a thorough cleaning if I see any noticeable residue or spots. Other than that I prefer to leave it assembled to reduce the number of times I need to pop out the gimmick.
A good item overall, I'm glad I have it , but I wish the method for keeping the gimmick secured in the pitcher was easier to use for resetting or cleaning.
Rating:  [4 of 5 Stars!] |
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