I thought this might make for some interesting discussions. (Heck, I have nothing to do at work until my plane leave Wednesday evening ^_^ )

I think handling-wise, a Pom Pom Pole is easier to work.

Effect-wise, this sounds really cliched, but they really do have their own distinct characteristics.

Mainly for the ease of handling, and also because I like the subtle sucker-like effect contained within, I would choose the Pom Pom Pole.

Actually, this brings up a bigger question about different effects with strikingly similar "magic" which I was wondering a little earlier.

There was a little talk about Invisible Deck and the Brainwave Deck which made me think, which is actually better?
Both effects are strikingly similar, magician knows which card is spec is going to name. To laypeople, it even appears to be the same trick.

On 1st instinct, i was tempted to sat that the Brainwave is better, because on top of the impossible prediction, there is a kicker finale.
However, after thinking it for a while, Invisible deck has some real advantage over Brainwave even thou the effect is just the impossible prediction alone, because...

- There is a notable suspense created just before the revelation of the prediction in ID because the choosen card is found face down. This suspense build up the tension and will eventually a bigger release I believe. As opposed to the card "suddenly" revealed in the Brainwave.
- The ID feels less gimmicky because there's no strange card with different back.
- The card with a different back in Brainwave actually has no real relevance to the "magic", except as a little unexpected (meaningless?) surprise.

After going back and forth a few times, I finally decide, even thou the points I listed were valid to me, I like the Brainwave better and settled on it as the standard one to bring in my "magic bag".
I shall not distract this post with my reasons for the selection unless someone is really interested in it.

The thing is, there are SO MANY effects that are just so very similar in their "magic", regardless of their actual method.
Is there actually a "better"? In most of the cases, I am inclined to say there isn't. A lot of it just depends on personal preferences.

Pompom pole or Chinese Sticks? Gee......e ni me ni my ni moh.......... :g:
Personally, I prefer Chinese Sticks, because to me, it appears to be less of a logic puzzle as compared to pompom pole, and i hate sucker effects.

Aloy,

Exactly!

Chinese Sticks vs Pom Pom Pole, Brainwave vs Invisible Deck, Darwin Ortiz Strong Magic. Three threads with a common theme. Direct magic is usually "better" magic.

I think that's why ID seemed to be prefered to brainwave; a card turnover in it's deck is easier to understand than a card than a card turning over *and* changing color. To a magician, more things happening is better; to a spectator that may not be the case. (Granted, there are times when you want to show that a red card traveled to a blue deck and in that case, why have it turn over?)

Same deal with CS vs PPP. More things moving may look funnier but is that better?

Yes, a simpler, more direct effect is always better (at least strictly in the magic-sense) because it is easier to understand.

But the Pompom Pole is (at least, I will present it as such) a comedy effect. About half magic and half entertainment. The entertainment starts once you go quickly and so many things happen at once, yet, it is possible to keep track of what is happening.

On the other hand, the comedy (if you choose to present it as one) arising from the chinese sticks is less intense but lasts longer. The entertainment value of this effect stems mainly from the comical idea that the two sticks seem connected yet seem not to be (plus if you involve one or more audience members, and put the sticks in all kinds of weird orientations).

So, IMO, if you want slightly more entertainment over magic, go for the Pompom pole, if you want slightly more magic over entertainment, go for the Chinese sticks.

Btw, my previous post was the first time I actually sided entertainment over magic because I was thinking in terms of children's magic (where these tricks are more commonly found, but of course, should not be restricted to). Which is very sad, because when doing children's magic show, the focus has to be (yes, it's the unfortunate fact) on entertainment instead of magic. I have always believed in the magician entertaining, not the entertainer doing some magic, but I guess this has to be one exception. By the way, I also feel that the general rule on sucker effects does not really apply (maybe only to a small extent) for children magic, as long as you target all of them and not just one specific child (as you'll embarrass him/her). Also, sucker effects for children should not be direct, it should be subtle, as if you did not mean to present the obvious and the sucker effect should unfold in a non-direct manner (which is the case for the Pompom pole, as its all nicely done into a routine and not one where it seems like you want the audience to feel bad).

But definitely, if you want to do these effects, which are perfectly suitable as well, for an adult crowd as a magician (as opposed to just an entertainer), then as Aloy and Mgshn said, go for the chinese sticks!