(My first review, so sorry if its a poor one-hope not!!)
FROM:
Alakazam has it cheapest at £34.99 plus P+P (www.alakazam.co.uk)
Available at other retailers at around £50
DESCRPITION:
ETIENNE PRADIER is a man at the top of his game, he has been one of the elite professional close-up magicians in the UK for the past 15 years.
For the first time on this 2-DVD set, ETIENNE PRADIER will reveal his complete working repertoire in full detail. Nothing is held back; these are the tools, effects, and bits of business that got Etienne to the top and kept him there.
If you desire to make the step up to being a professional magician then this DVD set will be an invaluable insight into a working pro's arsenal of tricks. Included is a 20 minute interview where Etienne answers the questions pros want to know.
See Etienne perform his fully worked out routines, filmed at real events and venues including walk around, corporate and table magic.
(Quoted from Alakazam)
DIFFICULTY:
3/5 Whilst the technicality of the tricks arrent TOO hard (TT's, D/L's, False c_ts etc.) The misdirection and patter used whilst performing requires good audience management and experience.
CONTENTS:
Included on Volume 1:
Bill Switch - Etienne's Opener. A borrowed £10 note turns into any named currency in the world!
Finger Snap - get unbelievable reactions with nothing more than your bare hands!
The Broken Glass - A quick-fire effect which is guaranteed to get the attention of the whole table!
Bottle Through Table - Etienne's signature piece. This is the effect that gets him booked time and time again.
Ring Flight - A professional's handling for this close-up magic classic.
Impromptu Signed Card in Sealed Bottle - A spectator's signed card miraculously appears in a sealed beer bottle! This is worth the price of the DVD alone! Completely impromptu - a real reputation maker!
PLUS Pocket Management
Included on Volume 2:
The Wedding Test - This is Etienne's take on the Aniversary Waltz.
Card to Pocket - A powerhouse card routine that is a real spectator's favorite.
Impromptu Stooge - Turn a tricky spectator into your biggest fan with this sneaky gem.
Coin under Watch - Fast furious magic with a killer finish.
A Quick Turnover - Visual snappy card magic perfect for strolling worker.
Two Card Monte - An original reworking of this bar magic classic.
Sleights explained include: DL, cull, classic pass, top change, peek, side steal, false cut, slip cut force and a full explanation of the classic bill switch.
Plus extra footage and a 20 minute interview.
(Quoted from Alakazam)
MY OWN THOUGHTS
When I first receieved this DVD through the post, the crisp white box that held 2 DVDs in it screamed professional and imaculate, and thats how I would describe Etienne's performances throughout.
The first disc contains generally non-card magic, such as the bill switch and quite amusing broken glass routine. His wealth of experience and unique French humour shows through ("I have to call it a knife as if I call it a fork in my accent you'l think I swore at you")
He talks of psycological forces of money and other items as if its second nature in such a blase (SP?) attitude that you believe it wont work, yet if you simply try what he's talking about-you realise its true and theres no need to harp on about it for hours on end. His routine advice is also very helpful, and although its not in a section on the DVD, you pick up advice each time you watch it.
So, onto the 2nd DVD and I had slight apprehensions as to the card tricks not being as interesting-which I am glad to say, I was very wrong! Using the 'classic commercial' effects-his twist on them has real spectator involvement and again the advice given is more useful than the trick itself!
If I had to pick a fault (its a northern thing, im sorry!) Id say that the tutorial of the slights as a bonus were very short. However, I didnt buy this DVD as a tutorial on card sleights and very much doubt anyone who did would do..
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Overall, a very interesting and useful DVD to the walk round performer-particularly for myself, looking to branch out of card magic a bit. Advice given is genuine and to the point. A very worthwhile investment.
FINAL SCORE
4/5 (always room for improvement!
)
