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I chose to do these dvds seperately as many will only buy one of the DVDs due to the cost. And to be fair, I feel they're worth reviewing individually. It's actually quite good fun to review as well and I should get around to reviewing the 3rd volume in the near future.

Bill Malone - Here I go Again - Vol 1

Content

Autographed Baby Gag
A small Card Trick
Marlo's Miracle Ace Cutting
Jumping, Changing and Vanishing Aces
Shuffling off the Spots
Lightning Fast Triumph
Rub a Dub Dub /Cups and Balls

Bonus Items

Taking it to the next level
Situating yourself in the right place
Secrets to increase your quick wit abilities

Bill's Trademark Cards to Mouth
Jack in a Box

Cost

£21.99 from http://www.dudethatscoolmagic.co.uk/aca ... html#aB517 I bought the 3 DVD set from the same site at £59.99. The only place i found it in stock in the UK at the time of ordering.

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)

I'd say 2 - 5 Mostly 3-4 I'd say but the odd touching on the difficult stuff, not that the moves are that difficult in themselves but you certainly need to be very practiced at them.

Review

Autographed Baby Gag - This is a good opening routine with plenty of comedy that would only suit a stand up routine. It a prediction of a famous person and I can imagine it getting good reactions. It will take some pre-show work which many would not be happy with I guess. Not one for me but the stand up workers out there should like it.

A Small Card Trick - A close up version of diminishing cards You'll need to go out and purchase a mini deck of cards and gimick one of your normal cards but this is a very simple thing to do and should only take a few minutes. He teaches fanning of the cards here though you might want to learn in greater detail from other sources. It's pretty basic anyway and anyone picking up this DVD should be familiar with the move anyway.

Marlo's Miracle Ace Cutting - Another nice routine with a sure fire ending for finding the last ace. Many will be familar with the trick anyway and it's probably at the harder end of the tricks on the DVD. You'll need to be able to Faro shuffle and control blocks of cards as well as add cards to the top of the deck. A nice effect and I like the sure fire ending

Jumping, Changing and Vanishing Aces - without a doubt my favourite card trick to be found on the first two volumes and one I'll be putting a lot of time into practicing and rehearsing. A colour changing cards to pocket routine based on Larry Jennings Slap Aces. In learning this trick if you don't already know the moves you'll learn the turn over pass, midnight shift culling and palming of the cards. Definately worth the time you'll put in for the reactions I'm sure you'll get.

Shuffling off the Spots - You could use the effect on its own but it's probably best used as part of a routine filler, like a broken deck routine where you only see the backs of the cards or only the faces. Takes no longer than a minute and if done at speed looks very nice.

Lightning Fast Triumph (Marlo's Simple Triumph) - A super simple version of the triumph that might fool some magicians along the way. A good starting point for learning the routine and nice to have in reserve anyway if you don't want to do a longer version. I personally like the in the hands version that Iain Moran shows us on his Covert Magic DVD.

Rub a Dub Dub/Cups and Balls - Bill says that this piece is worth the price of the whole set and I probably am inclined to agree most of the way. It's a great version of the cups and balls using a poem to tell the story. Some will be familiar with the poem and Bill adds a great ending and reveals - which is a great surprise and ending to the routine. What is nice as well for those not into cups and balls, is that he uses the adams cups (colour plastic ones you can pick up from marvins magic or similar) so a nice starting point if you want to get into cups and balls.


Extras

Again Bill goes into some tips for magicans wanting to take it to the next level or positioning yourself in the right location etc. Once again while it might be nice to hear this stuff being said by a top pro, buy these DVD's for the effects and teaching and not for these words of advice. I personally didn't pick anything up from here and I'm not sure you will either.

The bonus effects once again are nice - Bill runs over his trademark cards to mouth which is covered in great detail and is a nice amusing addition to your act. Many people do this anyway and Bill will help you add the details that make it that much better. The Jack in a box trick is an ok effect requiring a little knack. Nothing difficult here but not really a worker either. I actually prefer the effect as a colour change and it is where it comes from in the first place.

Overall

A great value DVD that packs a lot of workable stuff in one place. Bill is a good teacher and the effects on here can be adapted to suit your own style and pacing. Two effects in particular stand out and the teaching is comprehensive.

You will need a basic grasp of magic principles and to have your basics covered well before picking up this DVD. I wouldn't recommend it for the beginner unless you want a DVD with some knockout effects that you want to dip into and try pick up as your ability improves. There is something for everyone on here as well

For me this a 9/10

Great review, I got the first two volumes of this on Friday and have to say they were worthwhile purchases and I shall be getting no.3.
There are at least four items on this disc that I can see myself using on a regular basis and the whole DVD is very entertaining to watch.

Very nice review! Thanks

Thanks Guys,

I think all of Bill's material is gold, I promised to do the 3rd disc for review and I shall over the next week unless someone beats me to it.

Looking forward to it. Bill's stuff is aimed at entertaing the layman, rather than using a load of unecessary sleights to look cool. It's great material.
These two DVD's are the first of his I have bought and will certainly be buying more. His performance is funny, the effects are great and the explanations clear. What more could you want?

I performed the bonus effect, Jack In a Box for a few people today and it got a great reaction as it's very visual and deceptive. A great DVD, I've already performed some of these effects for people and the responses are great so these effects may have to go on my 'A' list.
I particularly like the small Triumph. Easy-peesey and a great 'quickie' effect for those that want to see something off the cuff.

BILL MALONE, BILL MALONE!!!!
The baby gag effect he did i thought was really great, but then the explanation!!! ahhh, i hate pre show work, BUT there is another version you can do, ah ha!!

Good review, I'm now sure that I want this DVD.

It's well worth getting. There's some good material on it and it's a joy to watch.

Bumping up as I'd forgotten just how fun these DVDs are.

Yep, tons of great material on this series and On The Loose.

Card to pocket without a pocket.
Always a good little gag

Josh Jay has some work on the small triumph.. a real fooler after you show the two rows face up and face down..a big improvement on the Marlo method