talkmagic.co.uk

Available from Alakazam!


Price: £24.99

These 2 DVD's are full of great magic and a hec of alot of laughter.
On the one DVD you enjoy the moment as you watch John perform live as he entertains the audience with quick one liners and funny stories to fit in with his trick! Johns modesty (??) will have you in fits!

All his routines are well thought out and well performed. It certianly made me think how much more i can improve my performance.
Both should be strong as each other.
Its the presentation that makes John an extra great magician.

I have never found a strong interest in mentalism really, until yesterday as i watched John Archer.
His effects are stunning, yet surprisingly simple. (i dont mean they are easy to do!)

Then on the other DVD all is revealed apart from one trick called "Nanas box" - which he leaves you confused with, and doesnt reveal.

The only thing about this DVD is you need to purchase a few props which when you get excited about learning a new trick like me. To find out you have to wait a few days is annoying. However its a good excuse for another prop.... {C.U.P.S}

Even if you arn't interested in mentalism at all, i strongly reccomend you still buy this DVD. Its quite inspiring.

As well as that...you'll sure be entertained and have a good laugh.

I'm sure John would agree and probably repeat all the nice things above to you in person if he could.

Here's my reveiw of each trick.

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

Tossed out deck

Difficulty: 1

John teaches his deck switch. Easy yet smooth!

Tragic Square

I love this trick. Very clever and baffling yet is so simple to do. I performed this for the old people at my church. They understood it and they loved it!

Difficulty: 2


Spelling test (a book test without a book!)

Difficulty: 3

A fantastic mentalism routine. A sucker effect with a classic finale.


Komedy Killer (Based on the kenton kenepper classic)

Difficulty: 1 but needs a good presentation to make it.

A fantasic presentation of learning esp is followed by a short but superb and funny finale with a volunteer.


Collard (based around "Room Service")

Havent tried it myself, but looks fairly easy. Difficulty: 1ish

Very good but as Room service is no longer sold its a bit of a blower if you never baught room service.


DoDeckadeal (nice card trick - chance or choice)

Difficulty: 2 / 3

Very nice. I do very few card work but i like this routine.


Spoon River (spoon bending routine)

havent tried Rough estimate of Difficulty: 2

Again, a different take on the normal spoon bending routines.


Stapled

Difficulty: 3

A comic but clever torn and restored card trick


Chinese Choice

Difficulty: 1 (again not tried myself, but doesnt depend on sleights as such)

A very clever number trick - uses 3 audience members.



A clean ring vanish

Difficulty: 3

A bit proppy for me but still a nice ring vanish!



9 / 10!

I have a friend whose father is called John Archer...



Kati

I know of a former criminal called Jeffrey Archer...

Well he did used to be a Policeman???????/

And he has 3 kids!

i notice that you mention 'room service' when performing collard.

do you NEED this trick, or do you have to buy collard for a further 34 quid.

the reason i ask is i am interested in purchasing collard but do not know if i should buy the dvd educating archer (which should then explain collard) or the trick itself, obviously do not want to buy both.

regards

You should buy 'Collard', doink. The DVD will tell you exactly how to perform the effect, but you will need the right props. Personally, I think you learn a lot about the presentation from the DVD, much more than you'd get from buying just 'Collard', and you do get some excellent other routines (and some very good extras).

There's no need to have the DVD, as well as 'Collard', if that's the only one of the effects that interests you.

thanks for the reply.

i will pop down to alakazam on monday.

Great set of dvds these, all of the material is very simple to do but packs a large punch.

I was in the audience for the filming that night so I had an insight into these before they were released.

Collard (once I had tracked down a certain item) & Magic Spell went straight into my stand up act.

Cheers

Educating Archer is a terrific dvd even if you just want to relax and be entertained. What a super personality he has. I envy him. And yes the effects are wonderfull.

I saw this guy lecture last night and he is a laugh a minute. He'll keep you entertained on the DVD's if his live work is anything to go by.

Collarded is like Korans Medallion (Sp?) and a nice little effect no double fully explained in the instructions if you don't want to pay out for the DVD.

If anyone gets the chance to see him lecture then do! If I wasn't in such a rush last night due to it finishing late I was going to pic up this DVD but the queue was huge

Is that £24.99 for 2 DVDs or each?

Resurrecting an old thread, here.

To my mind this is DVD is great. There is so much strong material here and John Archer is a strong, comical entertainer - with the emphasis on entertainment.

For me the highlights are his presentaion of Tossed out Deck, and Komedy Killer.

This is proof that mentalism doesn't have to involve dim lighting, velvet jackets or dribbly candles:D

I'd say most of the routines are 1 or 2 from a difficulty point of view, but - of course - presentation is everything.

I'm going to start with a little card trick, because it's the rules of the Magic Circle that every magician must do at least one card trick in his act, otherwise magic will suddenly get popular again, and everyone will be doing it.

Hand... reaching for... wallet.... Must.... control... CUPS...

Do you have to buy other things separately, like Chinese choice etc, or can you make your own gimmicks? Or are they included?

You can make your own props for Chinese Choice - I did and now it's a regular slot in my act!!!


Sean