The Effect
What they say:-
The Cloak is a brand new elastic ‘hook up’ that will:
• Minimise breakage by 90%
• For the first time ever, you will have freedom in your floats and animated effects that you did not have before
• Allow you to float, move and animate most objects with pinpoint precision
• No jerky body motion or suspicious moves
On this DVD you will learn to perform:
• The cleanest most astounding, not 1 but 2 card haunted pack ever
• One of the most clever haunted deck routines EVER. The cards are left in the spectators hand throughout the entire routine and EVERYTHING is IMMEDIATELY EXAMINABLE.
• A rising card that defies all possibilities… Did I mention you NEVER TOUCH the cards.. The Spectator does all the work?
Cost
Not too widely available at the moment as it's so new. I bought mine at
http://www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk/new/justin.htm
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)
Surprisingly, this is a 1 but as with all IT work it requires practice.
Review
I’ve often been amazed when watching IT work but more often by the skill of the performer than the actual effect. Apart from using an ITR some time ago I’ve not really done that much but what I have done, I’ve enjoyed the reactions. I’ve often finished a performance thinking that I’d like to have done more but for my limited repertoire.
More recently, I’ve been tempted with various offerings such as Box Monster and Guerrilla Guide to Loops from ‘E’ but indifferent reviews had put me off. Boy - am I glad that I waited! A few days ago I came across the advert for The Cloak and like most other things I tool a look. The mysteriousness of the cover actually attracted me – the figure in the dark cloak etc. and it almost looked like an advert for Scottish Widows (you have to be in the UK to understand that one).
Anyway, I walked in to Mikes Studio on Monday morning and this was a ‘just in’ item (no pun intended
) and after chatting with Mike who is a bit of an IT specialist (so if Mike recommends it then it’s going to be good!), I was magically relieved of another piece of purple paper.
The production of this DVD is top notch and I can’t find a flaw in anything. Packaging, sound, picture etc. are all top notch. The mysteriousness theme continues at the start of the DVD with a gothic feel, lots of fog before bursting into the live performances using The Cloak.
What you will quickly notice is the handling, movement, positioning of Justin as he performs his way through a couple of routine. So what’s different? EVERYTHING LOOKS NORMAL. No over- stretching, sudden unnatural looking body movements etc. All of these are gone, just as it claims on the back of the box. I will just add at this point that the main method cannot be used for strolling performances. However, there is an alternative hook up for strolling performance that can do the same but personally; I think that in many situations, particularly at close quarters this method may be a little risky or at least fiddly. Experienced IT workers may have a different view on this one.
Next, you move onto the explanation of The Cloak. The simplicity of the method is ingenious and Justin teaches it extremely well. You will immediately notice the increased freedom of movement that you don’t get by using traditional IT attachment methods and how you can move in and out of The Cloak with ease. This is followed by the teaching of a number of routines using the method and exactly as claimed, you’re taught in one routine how to perform a rising card without actually touching the cards, and everything is examinable afterwards.
You will also notice that Justin uses Black Tally-Hop Vipers and mentions that you can use Blue Bikes but recommends against using Red Bikes.
Summary
This is a great DVD with some good routines. I love the main method but am not too struck with the second method that's adapted for strolling magicians. Others may think the opposite and prefer the hook-up for strolling. The fact that you have two methods just makes the principle more versatile and I'm being carefull not to give too much away.
It’s very well priced for such a good quality production and the ONLY criticism that I can add is that all of the routines and explanations using The Cloak use cards. It would have been a nice finishing touch to add a routine using another item – after all, it does state on the box that you can ‘float, move and animate most objects with pinpoint precision’.
A worthy 9.5/10
