Kyle
~~Quick Breakdown~~
Packaging: 7/10
Props: 9/10
Video Instructions: 7/10
Routine: 9/10
Skill Level: Just above beginner. Not brain surgery, but it's also not putting shapes in the right holes.
~~Longer Review (Basically me rambling)~~
~~Packaging – 7/10~~
Comes in a well-built box with foam inserts that keep everything tucked in tight and secure. Honestly, it’s not a bad idea to use it as your main carrying case if you’re into keeping your props looking good. Just maybe toss a sticker over the branding so it doesn’t scream “Hi, I bought this.”
Bonus: The balls come in a little printed felt drawstring bag, which is a nice touch.
~~Props – 9/10~~
The bowls are super clean — turned well, polished, and they feel solid in the hands. The base is filled in, which caught me off guard at first. Might be to help prevent cracking or splitting, which is smart. Only downside? You won’t be flipping these over with a wand like a lot of street performers do. But that’s minor.
The balls (5 count) or “stones,” as I’m calling them in my show since they look like breathing stones, are made of a dense soft foam, kind of like a makeup blending sponge. They look good, feel good, and handle great. I’ve had no one question the look or call me out. If they get dirty, just bathe them like tiny foam ducklings rescued from an oil spill. A day long soak in water with dish (May mom Dawn has her preference for dish soap) soap, rinse, and dry in open air.
~~Video Instructions – 7/10~~
You get a handful of videos: a trailer, a performance, and three full tutorials dubbed and subbed in English, Korean, and Chinese. The main one runs about an hour and a half and covers the routine in good detail, enough to get you going without putting you to sleep. It’s a fun watch overall, and you’ll walk away with real working knowledge that not only will allow you to perform this but also can be used many other ways as well.
~~Routine – 9/10~~
Straight up: this routine is a gem. It’s a modern Benson Bowl-style piece that hits all the right beats. Beautiful, adaptable, and easy to make your own. If you’ve never done one of these before, this is a fantastic entry point.
You get 5 to 7 minutes of solid material, and all you need to pull it off is two bowls, four balls (or whatever you call them), and a wand or stick. It works close-up, in parlour, even on bigger stages with a slight tilt to your table. Toss in a couple participants and it plays even bigger.
~~Skill Level – Above Beginner~~
You don’t need hardcore knuckle-busting sleights to pull this off. The sleight-of-hand is light, but the *presentation* is where the real magic lives. This routine leans more into choreography, timing, and managing your audience. It also dips into the theory side of things — the “why” behind what you’re doing. That’s what pushes it just past beginner territory. But the "why" requires thinking on your feet at times and to change or adapt the presentation on the fly, which is not a skill held by beginners.
It’s the kind of routine that rewards confidence and intentionality.
~~Who’s This For?~~
Anyone who wants to dip into Cups & Balls or Benson Bowl style routines without going full rabbit-hole. It’s a killer piece to get started, and a welcome change if you’re burnt out on card tricks. This brings some real theatrical flavor to your work, and the props are ready to roll right out of the box.
Classic structure, modern polish, and enough room to make it your own? Enough said.