talkmagic.co.uk

The Effect

Spectator thinks of a card and it is the only card turned over in th deck.

What they say about this instructional DVD on the ID:

Includes the highest quality ID available plus a full-length instructional DVD almost TWO HOURS LONG!

Learn Eddie Field's classic presentation, Dr. Jak's five card handling, and Sam Swartz' "Flight Time." Also learn Jay's own mindblowing handlings and inspired presentations including "The Spectator Predicts," "Special Delivery," "Lucky 13" "Intersection," "Name This Card," "XDeck" and "Buckshot!"

Jay also traces the history of the deck (originally created by Joe Berg and called the "Ultra Mental Deck") as well as dissects the all-important subject of the SELECTION PROCESS in amazing detail!

You will also learn how to shuffle the gimmicked deck, undercut the "you just turned it over" response, use the deck as the "ultimate out," and ADD VISUAL DRAMA to the effect with envelopes, a sheet of newspaper, folded dollar bills, holiday wrapping paper and even a short length of rope!

Jay also shares his favorite UNGIMMICKED handlings and teaches Ken Krenzel's "Automatic Reverse" as well as Paul Le Paul's "Center Reverse." You will even learn Jay's favorite ways to make the deck MAGICALLY APPEAR!

ADDED BONUS -- Learn how to perform the effect for small and large audiences, incorporate your business card into the effect, repeat the effect for the same group of people and 'shift the power' from you to your audience!

DVD runtime: 116 minutes!



Cost £16.95 from JB Magic but probably available at different prices elsewhere



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)

Between 1 & 3 depending on the presentation chosen

Review

I've used the ID for a while in my close-up work. I'm happy with my presentation but not my handling. I've tried a few decks and they are all too roughed, not enabling the smooth seperation I've seen other performers do (even using a light touch at different parts of the card). I bought the DVD to see if there was a better handling or presentation than I was using.

The DVD is great for ideas about presenting the effect in different ways but I felt it was weak on some aspects of the handling of the deck itself. He didn't go into how to make the deck yourself or how to decrease/increase the roughing. He also makes the handling more complicated than it needs to be with adding to 13 and memorising sequence of suits etc. when you don't actually need to do any of that (ie in actual usage if you want to reveal the 4H just look between the 3H & 5H !!). He also doesn't mention using a joker on both ends of the pack so that you can flash the back whichever way you take it out of the box.

I've never seen Jay Sankey perform before and, although a very talented magician, I found his performing style very quirky and irritating in the examples of him performing other effects at the end of the DVD.

The ID which came with the DVD is probably the closest I've got to the correct roughing to enable smooth seperations but still not perfect.

Overall

A great DVD for people wanting to vary their presentations of the ID but the handling could have been simplified and improved as I mentioned above.

I would score it 7/10 overall.

Kevin Cann wrote:I've never seen Jay Sankey perform before and, although a very talented magician, I found his performing style very quirky and irritating in the examples of him performing other effects at the end of the DVD.

that's just his personal style, some people love it, some hate it

I'm not sure I understand how you locate cards without subtracting from 13 and knowing the suits. You state that to locate the 4H you look between the 3H and the 5H... Am I missing something? My cards aren't in any particular order so between the 3 and the 5 are other cards, non of which have the 4H behind them.

It would be nice to learn an easier method but I don't understand this.

Cameron Francis wrote:I'm not sure I understand how you locate cards without subtracting from 13 and knowing the suits. You state that to locate the 4H you look between the 3H and the 5H... Am I missing something? My cards aren't in any particular order so between the 3 and the 5 are other cards, non of which have the 4H behind them.

It would be nice to learn an easier method but I don't understand this.

It's possible to set up the deck in this way, the odd/even 13 method leaves it open to this.

I am trying to be vague about this, but take the 3h 4h and 5h cards with their logicial 'friend'. If you turn the 4h over you will notice that if you sit it between the 3 and the 5 the same principle will apply to the friends (10,9,8s)

While this is an option, it's not one I like because when fanning through the deck someone observant could spot the whole HSHSHSHSHSHSHSDCDCDCDCDCDC and numerical layout.

Yeah. I see what you mean. That's a little too "set up" for my taste. I would be afraid of getting caught. I'll stick with subtracting from 13. Not really all that difficult.

The set up really isn't a problem as you find the card quickly and then all eyes are on it, plus when the card is named everyone is thinking of that card & looking for it rather than paying any real attention to the actual layout of the deck.

No-one has yet mentioned it in any case and most post show reviews I do state the ID as the most baffling/entertaining trick.

Cameron Francis wrote:Yeah. I see what you mean. That's a little too "set up" for my taste. I would be afraid of getting caught. I'll stick with subtracting from 13. Not really all that difficult.

I use the subtract from 13 method for the set-up, but I don't subtract when I perform. I use a different memory method that goes something like this (I don't think this counts as exposure since it will mean nothing to someone who doesn't own an ID):

The saying "sixes and sevens" from Don't Cry For Me, Argentina reminds me that a six will be a seven.

My dad was born in 1949, so I know a four is a nine.

And so on with each pairing having a significance personal to me.

I used to have them in H/S number order but after leaving it lying around & someone shuffling my ID (my God the air turned blue) I put them in different order that looks much less obvious when fanning through them.

Russ
www.smartmagic.co.uk

Correct...talented guy but with a very quirky style.

Kevin Cann wrote:The Effect I've never seen Jay Sankey perform before and, although a very talented magician, I found his performing style very quirky and irritating in the examples of him performing other effects at the end of the DVD.

Kevin,

I would largely agree with your review, having purchased it for pretty much the same reason myself, and came away with a number of good ideas. I particularly liked the deck tied to a rope, and the mobile phone idea too.

Sankey can indeed be very quirky, I don't care much for many of his comedy videos, but he hits more than he misses in my opinion.

I think he should be commended for (I know we're talking about a trick deck here, but in general) his reliance of sleight of hand in his effects rather than fancy gimmicks. He certainly makes the iMagicians work for their money.

Kevin Cann wrote: I've used the ID for a while in my close-up work. I'm happy with my presentation but not my handling. I've tried a few decks and they are all too roughed, not enabling the smooth seperation I've seen other performers do (even using a light touch at different parts of the card).

EUREKA !! I've finally solved the handling problem. The deck wasn't too roughed - my fingers were too dry !!

It suddenly occured to me when I found I was licking my fingers to open plastic bags in Sainsbury's. I went home and licked my fingers and then handled my ID and the cards seperated naturally exactly as they should !

As I didn't really want to lick my fingers in front of people I then did some more searching around this forum and discovered some others had similar problems when handling cards and use a moistening product called Sort Kwik (available from cards4u). Having received it this morning and tested it my handling is now perfect

You just rub a small quantity in to your fingertips and it lasts a couple of hours.

HOORAH

For my first post here, I thought I'd share my handling of the ID WITHOUT having to count or memorize anything!

And without further ado, because I'm all out anyway... HERE IT IS;

Instead of holding the deck horizontal at around waist level, hold the deck vertical anywhere from chest to eye level.

Example - If they choose even, you slide the deck out of the box, odd face up. Lift the deck to vertical position, keeping the odd side facing them, find selection, (YOU CAN SEE IT!) slide up, have them take selection, as they are in AWE, bring cards down to horizontal position if you desire. (Helps you to look natural instead of standing there continuing to hold the cards up.)

Aaah, MUCH EZ'r. Enjoy!

I've had this DVD and deck for a few days and am besotted. As a complete novice, it's very easy to learn and handle effectively within an hour or two.

Jay Sankey's delivery seems to be fairly toned down on this DVD compared to some I've seen of him. He comes across as being very enthusiastic and animated when sharing his expertise. That makes learning so much easier. He explains very clearly how to handle this deck and within a couple of hours of opening the pack, I could perform the basics without making the obvious mistakes.

He gives a really broad set of example routines to use and seems to want to cater to all tastes. I've watched some performers who seem stuck in their own ways and just try to teach people to be clones of themselves. This is ok, but makes things unnecessarily hard to learn from them. When they are so narrow, it's quite hard for the beginner like me to tailor the material in a personal way. Then again, I realise this balance between teaching beginners and appealing to pro's must be very hard to strike. Jay has the knack on this DVD of showing how the deck can be used by those who like the traditional methods of delivery and those who prefer the ultra modern.

By the time I'd watched the DVD (with deck in hand), I was confident enough to try out a couple of effects with family members. They worked perfectly and I was privileged enough to get some gasps of admiration. What a buzz!!!! I can't begin to describe that feeling.

Anyway, in case you hadn't already guessed, I'm in love with this deck. Jay Sankey is probably not to everyone's taste in terms of his delivery and approach. But, I really don't think anyone could criticise his skill and imagination with the use of the ID.

As a novice, I'd give this set 9/10 for value and enjoyment.

Cheers,
Wishmaster

EZrhythm wrote:For my first post here, I thought I'd share my handling of the ID WITHOUT having to count or memorize anything!

And without further ado, because I'm all out anyway... HERE IT IS;

Instead of holding the deck horizontal at around waist level, hold the deck vertical anywhere from chest to eye level.

Example - If they choose even, you slide the deck out of the box, odd face up. Lift the deck to vertical position, keeping the odd side facing them, find selection, (YOU CAN SEE IT!) slide up, have them take selection, as they are in AWE, bring cards down to horizontal position if you desire. (Helps you to look natural instead of standing there continuing to hold the cards up.)

Aaah, MUCH EZ'r. Enjoy!

Yup, that's what I do too.

So easy, so simple, nothing at all to think about aside from the actual - you know - entertaining part.

(This is taught on the Sankey DVD)

mrgoat wrote:

EZrhythm wrote:For my first post here, I thought I'd share my handling of the ID WITHOUT having to count or memorize anything!

And without further ado, because I'm all out anyway... HERE IT IS;

Instead of holding the deck horizontal at around waist level, hold the deck vertical anywhere from chest to eye level.

Example - If they choose even, you slide the deck out of the box, odd face up. Lift the deck to vertical position, keeping the odd side facing them, find selection, (YOU CAN SEE IT!) slide up, have them take selection, as they are in AWE, bring cards down to horizontal position if you desire. (Helps you to look natural instead of standing there continuing to hold the cards up.)

Aaah, MUCH EZ'r. Enjoy!

Yup, that's what I do too.

So easy, so simple, nothing at all to think about aside from the actual - you know - entertaining part.

(This is taught on the Sankey DVD)

I agree for the most part here, but don't you have a problem whel people are standing all around you? they can See the back of the deck

greetings from belgium