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Encyclopedia of Sponge Ball Magic

The Effect Become a Sponge Ball Expert! This 2 ½ hour comprehensive collection of Sponge Ball moves and routines is undoubtedly your best learning resource.

DVD Contents --Some Basics *The Jacket Lapel Move *Let's Have Some Elbow Room *The Mayfair Mountebank ver. 1 *The Mayfair Mountebank ver. 2 *Under the Jacket Move --Vanishes *The 'Garcia' Master Move *The 'Clipped' Vanish *The 'Exercise' Vanish *The One, Two, Three Vanish *Now You See It, Now You Don't *Two to Nothing *Quick Vanish *The 'O.K.' Vanish *The Roll Down Animated Vanish *The 'Bold' Vanish *The 'Bluff' Vanish *Another 'Bluff' Vanish *The Pretended Place Vanish *The 'Toss' Vanish *The 'Squeeze' Vanish *The 'Pretended Take' Vanish *Nip & Tuck No Skill Vanish *The 'Hook' Vanish *The 'Impossible Challenge' Vanish *The 'Back Palm' Vanish *The 'Deliberate' Vanish *Mike Tannen's 'Fork' Move *Mike Tannen's 'In' Move *The 'Gaff' Vanish *Up to My Neck in Sponges --Routines *The Magic '10' Count *The Magic '10' Count 4 Plus *Frank Garcia's Magic '10' Count *The Slow Motion Transposition & Impromptu *Derek Dingle's Undercover Move *Spur of the Moment Routine *Short & Sweet *The Slick Routine *My Routine, by George *Simply Commercial *The 'Drop' Ploy *'Hanky Panky' *'Sometimes' *Jimmy Reneaux's Idea *Veil of Darkness *Veil of Darkness (Improved Version) *The 'Sacrosanct' Routine *Head to Head *Bob Elliot's Razzle Dazzler *Father Cyprian's Spongeball Routine *The Grand Finale *The Big Secret 'Hidden Factor' *Bill Surprise ---Bonus Material *Classic Palm *Roll Down Vanish *Pen Cap Production *Two Finger Vanish *Thumb Palm Vanish *Pinch Production *Thumb Palm Vanish (2nd Variation) *The Spring Production



Cost £8.99 http://www.prudhoemagic.co.uk/



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)

A few hours in front of the mirror with the 4 sponge balls provided should see you get the hang of a couple of basic moves….. After that, it’s practise, practise, practise!!!

It’s a …..1 - 3

Review (I’ve included a full list of the DVD’s contents so that anyone dithering over which sponge ball DVD to buy can get a better idea of what you’re getting for your money.)
Yup, it’s another DVD given over to that staple of magic - the sponge ball. This one seeks to squash and pinch all others by swamping the beginner under a ton of different moves.
The DVD is presented by Ben Salinas (with the occasional appearance of an extremely glamorous assistant..)and is very well shot and lit. The high picture quality ensures you can see exactly what’s going on at all times. Each move has it’s own little chapter so it’s really easy to just click your remote and constantly repeat the bit you’re trying to master. Mr Salinas does a very capable job (as he also did on the 4 dvd set of Modern Coin Magic), with all the explanations being very clear and precise. The varied number of moves and routines supplied also means that if for some reason you don’t fancy a particular one then it’s no problem, as another 3 will be along in a moment!! You’re bound to find something in there that you feel happy using in the real world. A fair few of the routines make use of a TT, but as most folks here will have at least one of these in their drawers (oo-er missus) that shouldn’t be a problem.




Overall Personally I already own Spongeball Toolkit and Jay Noblezada Sponge and bought this mainly due to the large number of moves and routines included(and the price isn’t to shabby either). If anyone has money to burn or a nasty dose of CUPS then I would probably advise buying Spongeball Toolkit first as I feel that Steve Dacri’s obvious enthusiasm for sponge balls really shines through on that dvd and he spends far longer on explaining the basics and, perhaps more importantly, the psychology and misdirection behind the moves. For anyone then wanting to expand their routine past the ‘2 in the hand, 1 in the pocket’ stuff, then this dvd will offer some different ideas and directions to take your sponge ball magic to. The other advantage that both Toolkit and Jay Noblezada Sponge have over this dvd is the inclusion of Gary Darwin doing some quite marvellous vanishes which really deserve to be seen.
Still, for £8.99 you are getting very good value for money - especially if you consider that a set of sponge balls will cost you £3 - £4 to begin with…. So you’re really getting a top quality 2 ½ hour dvd for a fiver!!!

9 out of 10 (as everybody loves sponge balls)

There was a considerable amount of Gary Darwin in Tollkit as well. But your review is very interesting.

I found the DVD to be informative if not very thorough on the explanations. The DVD was high quality but what isn't these days and I would have liked more explanation on angles and timing, however anyone seriously considering using Sponge Balls in their act will be able to work these out for themselves fairly easily.

I think its good for the money (£8.99) and its very good for a overview of sponge ball magic and the types of slights used but I feel its missing something but I cannot put my finger on.

Also one last niggly thing I was not over keen on the provided Sponge Balls but I am a Goshman SS man personally so thats just me nitpicking.

Chris

Yup, I agree with you Chris that there is 'that certain something' missing in this DVD - that's why I recommended getting Toolbox first, as it sells the enthusiasm and fun of spongeballs much better.

However, as this DVD is called 'The Encyclopedia of Spongeball Magic' that's what I tried to mark it on. And you certainly get a fairly comprehensive set of moves and sleights for the money.

I would also add that the spongeballs provided in Spongeball Toolbox aren't supersoft either (but you do get a bunny, a different coloured ball, some flat balls, a purse clip and another 'secret gimmick'..) but the ones in Jay Noblezada Sponge are softies (2")