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Description
Jay Sankey's 3 Ring Circus DVD + Gimmicks, All regions

Cost & Availability
$39.99, available from Penguin Magic solely, as far as I'm aware!
http://www.penguinmagic.com/product.php?ID=714

Difficulty - Ranges from 1 to 4, really
(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)

Review
Linking rings. We all know the routine... a magician takes a bunch of dinner-plate sized steel rings and one by one links them together. It's one of the earliest tricks I remember seeing as a kid. It's also one of those effects that, if done RIGHT (Shoot Ogawa!) looks like a miracle.

Now, this is usually done at some sort of distance - as a stage illusion. Yeah, it can be performed 'in your face', but the size of the rings makes it a perfect 'at a distance' .

As far as props go, though, consider this... when have you EVER been strolling around your local hardware store and seen big steel rings for sale? I've not. So surely these rings could be 'rigged'???

This is the general opinion of many a layman - the rings are OBVIOUSLY gimmicked in some way! And we know a little song about that, don't we!

So imagine this: an everyday object, which is DESIGNED to be linked, but is THE MOST FRUSTRATING item to link... yep - you guessed it - a keyring link...

You know - those horrible 'spiralled' and flattened metal hoops which rip lumps out of your fingernails. Sure, once they're linked, they're linked for life. But it's at least a 10 second job to link and unlink them. Most of us use them everyday, so they are TRULY an everyday object.

So imagine being handed one, examining it thoroughly. You're then handed a second one, which you examine thoroughly. Then, the performer shows the two held fairly AT FINGERTIPS, and yet with a 'tap' - they simply link. Right before your eyes. But wait... there's more! ANOTHER ring is taken from the performers pocket, which you examine thoroughly as well - and yet this LINKS STRAIGHT ON TO THE OTHER TWO. Visually. Quickly. Easily.

Now, you take hold of the middle ring and give it a good tug - yep, it's definitely on there - tight and secure. The performer gives a little 'blow' and all three unlink. What's even more bizarre, they are handed out for inspection.

Now, I'm a HUGE Sankey fan (you don't say, Seige!) and I would have bought this regardless of whether or not I've seen or heard of it. I just SERIOUSLY trust the guy.

When I ordered it, I was not aware that there were also 8 routines on the DVD as well! So, the package contains (and please excuse me Mr Penguin for 'stealing' your listing, but hey - I GUARANTEE it will generate sales!):

A set of rings - nice big and strong ones!
So you're up and running straight from the box!

The Linking Ring Routine on DVD
This marvelous routine features one eye-popping, magic moment after another! And thanks to the inspired structure, the rings can be examined before and after the routine!

Learn "The Shake Off," "The Edge Link," "The Crash Link", "The Blow Off", and more!


PLUS 8 BONUS SANKEY ROUTINES!
Dowsing: Jay's IMPROMPTU version of the classic Paul Curry effect!
Economic Risks: The mentalist puts his money where his mouth is!
Hot Date: The coin transpo you can do anytime, anywhere!
Sudden Triumph: Think "Dai Vernon as a hired assassin."
Kung Fu Coin Change: A 3-phase routine full of new moves!
Collateral Damage: Deadly easy vanish & appearance of a signed bill!
Menage a Trois: An ingenious mental sandwich effect!
Yes & No: Jay could've sold this killer card effect as a separate item!


So, you see, there's LOADS of stuff on here. Thumbtips, coins, money, cards - a real 'Sankey-Fest' on DVD.


Overall
This is quite a difficult thing to review, as there's SO much to say. The linking rings effect shocks the hell out of people, as it is so close-up, personal and EXAMINABLE. It's pure genius! You can even BORROW keyrings to link. It's that good.

The bonus stuff is up to the normal Sankey standard - with the 'Yes & No'effect being one that found it's way straight to my heart. It's all 'trademark' Sankey - it's the kind of stuff you'll ENJOY performing.

The actual DVD is entertaining, professional and as usual - pretty wacky. Sankey is a bit of a crazy bloke - and I always think of him as a cross between the bawdy 'stand-up version' of Robin Williams, high on pot, doing magic.

He's a true believer in what he does - and his experience, knowledge and creativity really shines through as enthusiasm for his own stuff.

Ratings
10/10 for EVERYTHING, with the exception of the rings. But don't be put off - buy the darn thing!!!

And if you DO run into trouble with the rings - drop me a PM - I've got the PERFECT solution. In fact, if you buy this, drop me a PM anyway, and I'll let you know BEFORE you run into trouble!

i am going to buy 3 ring circus, what's the truble?

I said IF you run into trouble.

Buy them first...

I bought this a while back but "the" ring was different coloration and it was obvious...after reclamation the shop replaced it with another and again "the" ring was slightly different coloration

DVD is good but the quality of rings...not impressed....

hmm. the rings seem perfectly fine to me. but if they do manage to break somehow, i think i might go get some more keyrings at some store and make the gimmick my self.

I noticed that Davenport's was selling this DVD and ring set. I too received a discouloured ring and I am tempted to make my own. The 'dowsing' card effect is very strong, which I am now using in my shows. The only complaint I have is that his style of presentation is pretty annoying by the end the DVD. Too much strangely dramatic and misplaced commentary, which detracts from the otherwise strong effects.

I guess I must just have been lucky...my ring was perfectly good.

Kati

DrTodd wrote: The only complaint I have is that his style of presentation is pretty annoying by the end the DVD. Too much strangely dramatic and misplaced commentary, which detracts from the otherwise strong effects.

That is my problem with most of Sankey's material... The effects are mindblowing, but his presentation & teaching drives me up the wall & I find it hard to learn from him

I have to disagree, somewhat. Yes, Sankey is an acquired taste - and his humor can wear a bit thin at times - but I find his teaching and instruction to be top-notch. Yes, you sometimes have to wade through the jokes to get to it, but I have yet to find a Sankey effect where the instructions were difficult to follow.

Yes, his humour does not detract too much from learning his stuff, but he could make it less cumbersome. I have been teaching at University for many years now, and his pedagogy leaves much to be desired. I have a great book called 100% Sankey, which is great since you get great Sankey effects and none of the jokes......

Teaching at a university and an instructional video on magic by a comedian/magician are hardly the same thing.

Exactly how does his teaching leave much to be desired? Taking the jokes out of it, can you honestly tell me that he didn't clearly explain the routine, method, handling and presentation of the linking key rings?

I understand where you're coming from - I too get the impression that he's always "on" - but that's what works for him. Again, I uphold that you may not like his humor and presentational style, but I cannot agree that his teaching and instruction are lacking.

I actually find the humour injected into the learning process makes it more fun. I think maybe Jay Sankey is a bit "kooky" for some humour but as everyone else has said you can't really fault him on alot of the material he has released.
Personally I think 3 ring circus is not that great as I've not got many good reactions when I've done the routine. Saying that though it could be more me than the trick itself.
Jay Sankeys alter ego Boris Pocus.....now that's funny and very strong... very strong

I find Sankeys humour - although not hilarious all the time- breaks up the learning and as a result I can watch the DVDs longer and learn more in one viewing that on most other DVDs.

The only thing that really annoys me is whenever you hear a siren in the the backgroung he says something like 'Oh dear God, hide me'.

I have seen this on some of his trailers for other DVDs i haven't got and he does that on some of the stuff I do have.

His teaching is excellent though and 98% of the effects are completely useable.

Pitto

EDIT: '98%' is in no way an official statistic.

56.4% of all stastics are made up anyway so I think you got away with it

greedoniz wrote:56.4% of all stastics are made up anyway

but the other 48.8% are usually reliable .