The Effect
Directly to you from the back of the box:
ELECTRICAL ARTLET - Boom box cord too short to reach the wall outlet? No problem; just draw an outlet on a pad of paper, plug in the cord and the music starts right up! Based on a Fantasio effect and used with his permission.
UPLOOPTED - A horizontal card levitation that looks UNBELIEVABLE!
THE "I HATE DAVID COPPERFIELD" TRICK - Based on "Close-Up Illusion" by Larry Jennings, a card VISIBLY MELTS through another. The visuals here go WAY BEYOND the original.
THE OMEGA BET - Based on the Karl Fulves effect, Bob Wagner has turned this into a KILLER piece of entertainment, a 5-phase whirlwind of fun for everyone in the room! A random spectator decides the final, and most impossible, bet of all. The routine uses my false overhand shuffle (which is quite easy but appears totally fair).
MORE ON "OIL & WATER" - Sam Schwartz's wondrous 3-phase, 8-card O & W routine with NO SLEIGHTS! NONE! Thanks to Sam for allowing me to include this gem with minor handling changes.
MIRACLE COIN VANISH - This gets GASPS from spectators. Looks like real magic. (Note: a jacket or sportcoat is required)
JUST A BIT MORE ULTIMATE THAN JOHN MENDOZA'S "ULTIMATE TORN & RESTORED CARD" - The name says it all. In an e-mail to me, Mr. Mendoza (a close-up DEITY) said he thinks more of this method (of his trick which appeared in "The Book of John") than any of the "piece-by-piece" restorations out there. You're clean at the first and clean at the end. As a bonus, it's SUPER EASY to do even though the card is SIGNED ON BOTH SIDES!
Volume One Bonus Effects:
ID FINESSE - Makes using an ID more fun than ever (and the reset is DURING the routine).
FORKLIFT - Move silverware with your mind!
4-WAY COINCIDENCE - A reworking of a stunning prediction routine by John Murray from "Card Cavalcade 3" by Jerry Mentzer (included with Jerry's permission). Use a borrowed, thoroughly-shuffled deck. There's only one real "move" (which is laughably simple).
Running Time: Approximately 1hr 50min
Cost
Around the £25 mark (bought some time ago) from www.mikedanatasmagicstudion.co.uk (post free).
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)
Most of the content is between 1 and 2 in complexity but looks as if it were 3,4 and 5.
Review
I had seen this DVD set in Mikes studio earlier in the year and whilst having an interest, I put off the purchase for several months in preference for other bits and pieces. I finally get around to buying it in August but have only just opened it up this weekend (volume 2 is next for review).
Not having heard of Geoff Williams before his style was a little ‘geeky’ but worked for me. I don’t know if he is like this in real life but you can imagine him being so. Anyway, his style is slow to medium pace that suits the material and perhaps the target audience as this is magic that gives the performer time to think as well, without diminishing from the routine.
ELECTRICAL ARTLET – If you perform to music then you’ll consider using this. It’s a visual routine that’s more of a prop than magic but is nice and simple.
UPLOOPTED – A card levitation using a different than normal method of levitating mid air using loops. This uses a nice and simple setup and I’m planning to give this one a go.
THE "I HATE DAVID COPPERFIELD" TRICK – This is a stunningly simple yet extremely visual three card effect that I’m already practicing. The way that the card appears to melt through from the bottom to the middle and back again is what magic should look like. This is an effect that allows you to concentrate on the performance rather than the method.
THE OMEGA BET – This is another card routine that will annoy the hell out of specs and is ‘almost’ self working bar a couple of minor parts. No matter what you or they predict, the performer will always win. At the end of the routine on the DVD, Geoff allows the spec to win his possessions back but you could add so much of yourself to this once you know the method.
MORE ON "OIL & WATER – an ‘oil and water’ routine for those that don’t already have one.
MIRACLE COIN VANISH – watch this, press pause and try to guess the method. This is an old trick, almost a classic but Geoff’s handling will fool most of you. Visual yet very easy.
JUST A BIT MORE ULTIMATE THAN JOHN MENDOZA'S "ULTIMATE TORN & RESTORED CARD – this is the highlight of the DVD in my opinion and the routine is a combination of the Chicago opener and a torn and restored card. I’ve bought a few torn and restored routines in my time but the handling is always rather fiddly which has put me off performing any of them, despite their cleverness. Although I’ve yet to try this one, for once it looks as if this would be a very workable routine for a live performance due mostly to the setup and handling. What’s more, the whole selected card bit looks totally impromptu.
ID FINESSE – Some useful subtleties for the handling of an ID for whichever routine you perform.
FORKLIFT – another loops routine that explains some important performance related considerations hat will improve your presentation no end.
4-WAY COINCIDENCE – I watched the explanation for this one and began performing this straight away without a second take, it’s really that simple and it looks like a minor miracle as the spec shuffles the deck. I just adore this routine!
Overall
This is just a great DVD that has something for everyone. The sub-title is ‘Killer magic for the rest of us’ and this DVD delivers exactly what it says on the box.
There is something here for almost everyone but is particularly a good purchase for a beginner of intermediate skilled magician. This is a million times better than any of the Ellusionist titles that beginners opt for.
I note that Kozmo is involved in this which means that you’re buying a good quality product in terms of filming, sound, packaging etc.
Highly recommended but unfortunately, too late to order for Santa to deliver
