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I can't honestly remember where I bought this DVD, or for how much. It is from L&L so should be stocked by the usual suppliers.


On the DVD

Michael Finney- Lady Rope Routine.

The first one on the DVD and my favourite. He has a female volunteer on stage throughout the routine, hence the title. As with most of the routines on the DVD, it is a cut and restored rope effect, but each have their different styles.

Dan Harlan- Cut And Restored Rope.

I didn't really like this performance that much. The way Dan seems to have to shout and the fact that I didn't think it was as funny as he seemed to think it was. I also had a problem with the fact that his hands seemed to move in an exaggerated way when he was doing the "move" before the cut. There was a part of it which I would consider using, as part of a routine.

Aldo Columbini-Tight Rope.

Quite a short routine, with not much covered elsewhere on the DVD. There was a silk through rope at the end though, which, again, is something different to add to a routine.

Jeff Sheridan- Swan Lake Rope.

I wasn't sure what to make of this the first time I saw it, but thought it was brilliant each time I have watched it since. Routine is silent, performed to music.

Ted Lesley- Comedy Rope Trick.
This one is an equal/unequal rope effect, which plays well to the audience.



Flip- O-pener

Flip has used a non cut rope effect here, creating a loop/single length of rope, without cutting. Completely different to any other C&R routine.


That is only a very basic description of the routines. If you like or want to learn rope magic, you wont regret buying it.
After each routine, the performer takes you through each stage of how to create that effect. each has a different slant or way of doing it. There are plenty of gags/gag props to get ideas from also.
The ease of effects vary. The good thing is that there is likely to be at least one or two ways that will work for you. I rate it as a 10/10, due to the fact that you have different performers and their variations. It means that you can pick up things from a few of them, then combine different aspects to put your own slant on it. I think it is better than having one performer showing several effects, as if their style of performing or teaching isn't for you, the DVD tends to end up getting dust on it.
I wish I could remember the price, but if you think how much you can pay for a tacky bit of paper with a few instructions on for rope tricks from certain online stores, this DVD HAS to be better value.

The World's Greatest Magic DVDs are available from most online magic shops for £14.99, I know off-hand that Merchant of Magic do the majority of them.

Personally, I've got the sponge balls and the linking ring ones, and they are both very good, I particularly like the performances by multiple magicians, so you can mix and match parts of routines to fit your own style.

I also thought it to be a good DVD and I also agree on your coments on each of the routines. The Lady Rope routine was by far the best and also very funny.

Flip is a great rope magiaian and he's often under rated, probably becuase he doesn;t seem to have a high profile like some. The way that he created and put the routine together was brilliant.

Overall, you will learn a routine or two but in my opinion this isn't the way to learn rope magic. Get a book to accompany this DVD and together you will learn much more and become more creative at the same time.

Nice review.

dat, which book would you recommend? I own Karl Fulves' rope magic book already and have professor's nightmare. Is Tabary's book worth the investment? I know you love Sanders' Fiber Optics, too. Worth a look?

To be honest Zack, Karl Fulves takes some beating when it comes to rope magic although I'd recommend the Encyclopedia of Rope Magic although it's a little pricey but worth it at around £35.

EoRM is more comprehensive and is put together extrmely well but Karl Fulves pamphlet contains most, if not all of the moves that make up the nest routines.

I'd recommend the Tabary DVD rather than the book and yes, Fibre Optics is definately worth a peek. I would also strongly recommend Flip's rope magic and also Jahn Gallos ring and rope for a little variety.

What I found interesting was the study of how each had constructed their routines from the moves contained in Fulves and elsewhere as most routines with rope contain many of the 'standard' moves such as restored rope (long and short etc.).

My own routine has developed in a number of ways over the past few years and although it's still heavily influenced by Fibre Optics, it now contains elements of Tabary, Joe Riding and Flip which are all mixed up in there somewhere. I've also 'collected' patter from a good few more rope routines by other people and have and mixed this up with my own.

It's a piece of work that I'm always looking to develo in some way or other and each time I see something new or different it stops me in my trackes and makes me ask 'would that work for me'?

Thanks, dat. Most appreciated.