Spin- by Matthew Sconce
Available from:
http://www.papercranemagic.com/spin.htm
And many Magic retailers
Price: $24.95 - £32.95 depending upon choice of DVD, download or combo-pack
PK/Mentalism
Difficulty 2
1=Self working
2=No sleights, but not self working
3=Some sleights used
4=Advanced sleights used
5=Suitable for experienced performers only
They say:
A strange and mysterious character walks into the room he has an unusual talent for distorting the laws of nature and making them follow his command. Is it possible can someone have this much power? I have seen this before in movies but this was no movie this really happened, it just looked so real.
This is Spin.
Matt Sconce, creator of Power Word: Fall, has released another devastating PK effect. Spin stands on the shoulders of effects that have come before it and takes those concepts to a whole new level. Spin large objects or small objects seemingly with the power of your mind with impromptu ease, with no gimmicks, blowing, threads, or magnets. Instantly repeatable, and absolutely dependable. This effect takes a new "SPIN" on what magicians of the past have done and takes it to a level that increases its practicality, power, and impact. With the "Force" start, and focus on techniques to make the method transparent to the audience, Matt Sconce spends over an hour teaching you how to use this effect in your arsenal of heavy hitters, how to move large objects, and two bonus applications from the creative minds of Shane Black and Shaun Dunn using the same Spin method in a different way. Spin is a new tool in the arsenal of Psychokinetic effects. It is time to step up and Spin the world.
I say:
Matt Sconce is, in my mind, a clear thinker and a strong proponent of uncluttered magical presentation and his latest offering “Spin” proves this out.
The ad is true enough, however the phrase “new tool” needs clarification. Spin uses a nearly timeless technique with a new mindset and presentational approach/technique that makes all the difference. The Devil is indeed in the details with this one!
The effect is so clean you feel guiltless if not genuinely gifted performing it and Matt admits as much, it really is a treat to perform. Clean up is actually part and parcel with the performance and reset is pretty uncomplicated and swift. Matt offers plenty of ideas and approaches to set up and reset. Matt covers the “science” behind the effect very well and that helps a great deal in understanding the workings and presentation of your new “powers”. You will need to practice to get a truly masterful grip of the full effect but Matt has you up and running with almost no delay. Chances are you won’t need to even get out of your seat to start!
The effect looks like the real deal. Period. There is no contact with the object no matter how closely spectators care to observe and the “back story” for your presentation is well supported. The spinning effect can be a subtle or maniacal as you like (or can manage) and that really can be startling and weird. The use of the larger objects like DVD cases, VHS tapes and even a rather scary looking chef’s knife are very impressive. The scope for bizarrists with the use of a knife is worth the price of admission alone. It is worth saying that this is a close up (ish) effect and cannot be performed remotely. It will pretty much read as a power that the performer has and can use to affect objects. The additional effects and presentations offered in the DVD are nice variations if not a bit more “magic-y”, no bad thing I say. They help to (as far as the back story is concerned) distance the performer from the happenings a bit more.
The instructions are about as thorough as you could wish, no stone is left unturned and every minute detail covered. I got the downloadable version and although I felt a little more structure is wanting in the layout and organisation of the information it is all there and very well presented by Matt who gives you a real sense of guidance and confidence throughout.
There are limitations to the technical workings of the effect and again Matt is crystal clear on these. They aren’t onerous and are nothing to worry about but worth going over and this is done very fairly indeed.
Rating:
8.5 out of 10
Overall:
A genuinely powerful effect and VERY well covered in the instructions. Offers the spectators a truly impressive and clean demonstration of PK and is a real joy to perform. It will take a bit of practice to develop your own skills to the level of Matt’s but that gives you an excuse to “spin and spin again". I’m loving it!
If we can hit that bullseye then the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... Checkmate!