talkmagic.co.uk

Party Animal by Matthew J. Dowden
http://www.alakazam.co.uk/

How Much: £28

What You Get:
2 DVD’s

The Short Review
With recommendations from Doc Eason, Gregory Wilson, David Acer, Joshua Jay etc. It was hard to ignore this one, but did it live up to it’s hype?

Yes it did.

The Long Review
What? You want more? Can’t you just take my word for it?

People buy Magic DVD’s for different reasons. My guess is that if asked the primary reason would be “To learn new effects and sleights”. I would add it is actually “To help make you a better performer”, either way this DVD really delivers on both accounts.

The DVD is a mixture of live walkabout/table performances and the standard explanations. I believe it works on all levels, so you will get something out of it whether you are merely a hobbiest, a semi professional looking to do more close-up work or even if you are already a full time professional magician,

The Live Performance
Let us remember this wasn’t the usual L&L studio audience (god bless them all). There were no shouts of NO WAY! just for saying hello, this was as close to a real world situation you could get to (bearing in mind there was a film crew present).

I found it refreshing to see that at some tables he was given a hard time. I say refreshing, I don’t mean I was pleased that he was given a hard time, I mean I was pleased to see how a professional copes with these situations and doesn’t let it fluster him.

For me there is as much to learn from watching a full time professional like Matthew working as there is from actually watching the explanations so this was a favourite part of the DVDs. There is no doubt (in my mind) that he is an extremely funny and entertaining performer. Maybe not my style exactly, but there is much to learn from watching nevertheless.

If I was to guess I would say his influences where from the likes of Greg Wilson, Doc Eason, Oz Pearlman to name a few, but to be honest mentioning these other performers does him a disservice because he is and will remain, Matthew J. Dowden.

The Effects, Sleights and Principles
Matthew has had some of his work published in both Genii and Magic magazine so not everything was totally new to me, however reading an idea in a magazine and seeing it in action are completely different, so my eyes were opened to a few things I have dismissed before .

I am not going to go through all the effects as you can get that from reading the Website blurb, but I will briefly cover some of my favourites. I will add that there is material for everyone. There are some nice very easy effects and some suited to the more experienced cardician. All sleights are explained in detail (even the Elmsley).

Shrinkage
One of his published effects is “shrinkage” and seeing it performed really brought to life how powerful the magic is. It would be a great way to end a whole number of routines.

The selected card is placed face up on the top of the deck and is then tossed into the spectators hand. By the time it hits the spectators hands it has shrunk in size. This doesn’t look like a trick, it actually looks like magic.

And as if this wasn’t enough he talks about several variations. I particularly like the one where one of the pips from the 5 of hearts is shaken off.

Reapeated Card to Mouth
Yes I know. Not that old trick again, but read on. The thing I really loved about Matthews version of this "classic" Slydini-esque piece of Magic is the routining that allows it to be repeated over and over again.
I reckon that all magicians should learn how to perform this effect as it teaches so much about entertaining and misdirection.

Two Person Card to any number
Two spectators each select a card that are then both lost in the deck (The cards, not the specators. That would be silly). The cards are spread on the table. Spectator 1 names a number and that number is counted to. The card is removed and found to be her card. Spectator 2’s card is seen to be under a bottle/glass that has been on the table all the time.

What’s not to like. It s another classic of magic, that involves two spectators and there cards ending up in impossible locations. Another trick that is not just very entertaining but will teach you to become a better magician.

The Walkaround Anniversary Waltz
The Anniversary Waltz is likely to already be in most working magicians repertoires. If nothing else because it is the perfect wedding trick. So many I know save it just for this occasion and yet it is such a great trick it should be performed more often and Matthews handling allows it to be done in the hands of the spectator making it much more workable for a number of real world situations. A powerful trick indeed.

Card to Anywhere
This wasn’t an effect as such, although effects were taught and demonstrated, but more like some great ideas for using of a move that most experienced magicians would know already. If you didn’t know the move in question already then you have an extra special treat in store. If you did you will kick yourself for not thinking more outside the box with it.

Sole Selection
This is another of Matt’s own effects that uses two spectators. I like these multi spectator effects as it helps get the whole group involved.

Two cards are selected and lost in the deck. One ends up on the bottom of the Magicians shoe, and the other one is the only one left as it would appear the whole deck has disappeared.

These sort of effects are real workers because they appear like Magic and not just tricks (haven't I said that before?). It also introduces some of Matthews fantastic ideas for Deck Vanishing that always get the "What the..?" type of reaction that we all strive for.

Apology from the reviewer
I do apologise dear reader, because the intention never was to write such a long review. It’s just there is so much I wanted to tell you about, and yet I really feel I have hardly started or done it anywhere near the justice it deserves.

There are so many other effects and moves on the DVD that I loved. I seriously could have gone on to review them all. “X Marks the spot” for instance is particular strong but if I don’t stop now I never will.

There have been many questions as to who this DVD is best suited to. Beginners? Intermediates? Professionals? Personally I have no hesitation in recommending it to everyone.

England has some great new close up talent coming through the moment so it is fantastic to see DVD’s by people like Matt Dowden and James Brown on the shelves next to the likes of Wilson and Pearlman.

Bottom Line
The Bottom line is I really do like it. I thought I would, but sometimes we get disappointed when we think that. I wasn’t disappointed.

Thanks for the review.

I can also recommend this DVD highly, all excellent, useable stuff.

Especially his card at any number.

Get it.

Excellent I have been humming and arring over this one great review. Looks like another dvd on the long wishlist.

Great review!
A definete want for me...

I agree with everything said so far. It's given me a ton of great ideas and things to play around with, and I absolutely love the windmill move.

Got this a couple of days ago and it is an awesome dvd. Brilliant magic, the performance parts are brilliant too and very entertaining, everything is taught very well. Really just a fantastic dvd, I don't have a bad word to say about it really.

also see another review here

Wow looks cool,
I'm gonna have to wait til next payday for this one

Party Animal and Born To Perform are one of my most favorite card magic dvd's.
Good tricks, that don't require too much sleight of hand, that's the way to go.

This DVD is brilliant, and not many people have noticed that they are performed in what seems to be a Weatherspoons pub... for those who have never been into one, the beer is cheap, people are rowdy and i never thought that it would be possible to approach a table in one of these fine establishments (cough) without getting stabbed in the eye with a WKD bottle.
You can even see in one of the effects some lad trying to heckle, but Matthew brushes it off...
I actually learned to think outside of the box a lot more, some of the effects i have dismissed having heard about previously, turned out to be real startling effects!
Go and buy this now!

It's true that it's well produced and quite insightful.

But you do need to be proficient in the one-handed top palm for many of the tricks to work. In other words, I'd say don't buy it until you do the one-handed top palm.