Lee Smith's STEP SYSTEM - 2 DVDs (RSVP)

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Lee Smith's STEP SYSTEM - 2 DVDs (RSVP)

Postby TheStoner » Feb 24th, '10, 20:07



They say...

VOLUME 1

Ice Breaker
Lee’s 3 Phase opening routine. Cards jump from hand to hand, vanish and appear in impossible places! Included is an in depth discussion on character types for different audiences, approach and much, much more.

Walkaround 2 Cards to Pocket
Two cards are lost in the deck, then found and then they swap places. Snappy, fast and a real attention grabber. Utilizes the Ollie Mealing ‘Switch Trick’, one of the best glimpses ever! Worth the price of the DVD!

Trans-box-ition
One of Lee’s signature tricks being explained for the first time. An awesome routine in which a card jumps under the card box not once but twice and even escapes a spectator’s hand. A third phase ends with the ENTIRE DECK UNDER THE BOX. Best of all its easy to do!

You Keep Mine
A superb multi-phase routine that ends with the spectators signature jumping from their card to one that has your business details on the back. The perfect giveaway that’s sure to get you more bookings.

Bold Business
An amazing feat of mind power. Leave the spectator thinking you really can read minds! A miracle using nothing more than a marker pen and some business cards (again worth the DVD).

Third Degree
Three cards are chosen, one even imagined. All three are revealed in progressively harder ways until the magician reveals that the thought of card has been in their hands right from the start. A masterpiece of audience management and psychology.

Bonus PDF of Lee’s walkaround Lecture Notes
Included on this DVD is a complete PDF of Lee’s ‘Walkaround Lecture Notes’ which inspired this project

VOLUME 2

Just Think
You predict a card that the spectator merely thinks of and repeat the feat for an amazing kicker ending.

Business Lunch
Lee’s preferred handling for the Out to Lunch principle, leaving the spectator with the best memento they could have, your business card. The ultimate giveaway routine that’s sure to leave a lasting impression with your audience.

Key To Amazement
A self-working miracle where a thought of card is found under seemingly impossible conditions. This will freak out magicians and lay people alike!

Crazy Cuffs
A classic of magic explained. A borrowed ring jumps onto the band for a kicker ending.

Coming Together
A performance only of Paul Green’s wonderful effect where two signatures end up on the same card. If you like Anniversary Waltz you will love this. Watch Lee’s take on this for Walkaround performances.

Fifth Element
Lee’s take on Paul Harris’ ‘Whack My Pack’ plot. Sure-Fire and plays great to the largest of groups.

Bonaces
A brand new four ace routine, released here for the very first time! This is a multi-phase routine that you will learn and use!

Strike Two
Taking an old classic and bringing it right up-to-date, watch as Lee gets screams and gasps with this multi-phase lighter routine explained in complete detail.

Cost

£17.99 each from RSVP

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)

Varies between 1 and the low end of 3

Review

Lee Smith is a top-class magician and really nice guy - his name is even an anagram of "The Smile", which you'll find is very appropriate if you ever meet him. He was on fire at the recent Blackpool convention both on the RSVP stand and in the Ruskin.

On these DVDs he's taken a range of strong audience-pleasers and explains them in immense detail. They are based, in part, on Lee's recent "Walkaround Lecture Notes" (a PDF of which is included on Vol.1) but actually seeing the routines in action and with detailed visual explanations it is definitely worth getting these DVDs even if you already have the notes.

Throughout Lee is joined by Ravi Mayar, who is a superb magician and hypnotist in his own right. As Lee explains the routines Ravi keeps asking those questions that you, the viewer, would want to ask. "Show us that again from a different angle", "Can you do that again slower?", "Which finger are you pulling with?", etc. This is gold dust as many DVDs fly through explanations and can leave you scratching your head about the specifics. For example when discussing "Ice Breaker" the explanation is maybe 20 times longer than the routine itself, but this allows Lee and Ravi to thoroughly cover the subtleties, audience management, patter lines and so on.

Lee gets maximum effect from a number of moves that we probably all know (DL, pass, top change, etc) and seeing the responses he gets in live performance is an inspiration. It makes you think "There's no reason I can't do that - with just a little bit of practice". It's not like watching Tamariz or Ortiz and thinking "Hmmm, maybe in a year or two...".

Lee is a real worker and is in constant demand by some top corporate clients (Aston Martin anyone?). The DVDs show why as he knows how to entertain the layman and adapt to a variety of performance situations - refined event, restaurant or noisy pub. There are loads of tips on how to work these different audiences which I found really useful.

There are some lovely little moments where Lee shows you the easy way to achieve things. His cheeky method for the top palm (62 mins in on DVD 1) is pure genius. He also makes use of his extensive live experience to get rid of your "magician's guilt", both through hints/tips and by showing that during some of the live clips there are some minor flashes and mess-ups (as happens to all of us when performing) but none of the spectators spots them. Confidence, banter and force of personality win the day!

The best way to sum up these DVDs is to imagine spending several hours with a couple of mates who just happen to be a brilliant magicians and want to share their knowledge. Lee and Ravi are such likeable guys and so good at explaining things that watching the DVDs is a real pleasure. I'm sure that, like me, you've got some magic DVDs that you bought and have never watched all the way through - they're just sitting on the shelf. Well this definitely isn't one of those. I'm sure that I'll be constantly referring back to the STEP system and watching it end-to-end many times - there is just so much good stuff on here.

Downsides? Ravi is fantastic throughout, but isn't credited or pictured on the DVD sleeves, which is a real shame. His input is a big part of why these DVDs are so good, and he should get full credit for it. Can't wait for his forthcoming project! Also you can see that Russ has worked the guys really hard and as they get more tired (and the stubble grows!) you can't help but feel sorry for them! Some of the moves (e.g. the pass) are covered quickly and you're referred elsewhere for full details, but I think that's fair enough for most of us apart from the absolute beginner.

RSVP keep on producing first class products. They put out James Brown's "Professional Opportunist" and that was the best product of 2009 and there is a good chance that Lee's STEP System will be the best product of 2010.

Overall

Outstanding - a definite "must have".

10/10

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Re: Lee Smith's STEP SYSTEM - 2 DVDs (RSVP)

Postby Lee Smith » Feb 25th, '10, 16:35

TheStoner wrote:


He was on fire at the recent Blackpool convention both on the RSVP stand and in the Ruskin.



I thought it was hot in there that explains it. :lol:


Thanks so much for another great review I am pleased you enjoyed the STEP SYSTEM as much as the notes, the feed back again has been great.

I have had some very nice emails and messages from people who have added some of the material to thier act. And aslo some great ideas from people who had added their own twists to some the some of the routines.

(I wish I had of thought of a couple of them)

I am glad you have seen the material first hand amd seen me perform it in real time. I would also like to mention that there are a few routines on the DVDs that are not in the notes and much of the original lecture note effects have been re worked.

I would also like to hear from peolple who have not seen me or met me before as I am more than sure thay will enjoy the content and the effects.

I will be happy to send a couple of sets of DVD's to the first people who PM me as long as they are serious about learning this type of material, have never seen my effects before and do not mind putting up their thoughts on the STEP SYSTEM.

Thanks again, and I am glad you liked the project. I look forward to hearing more and hope you all get something from the DVD's.

Lee Smith.

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Postby Lee Smith » Feb 27th, '10, 18:53

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the pm's but people for the free DVD's for review have now been picked.

Thanks again.

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Postby TheStoner » Mar 5th, '10, 12:51

No other reviews yet? Loads of people bought this in Blackpool. I know there's a ton of strong material on here to go through, but it would be interesting to hear other people's comments. I'm still loving it - great stuff!

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Postby Lee Smith » Mar 5th, '10, 16:34

There are many reply's on another forum everyone seems to be reviewing the STEP SYSTEM there at the moment, I am very pleased with the feedback, and are friends from overseas are also enjoying the product which is great, I have been lecturing the material and it has been great fun.

Murphy's now have the DVD's and It is now available at your favourite dealer world wide, So I would imagine more will picking this up soon.

I would like to see more on here as I am more active on this forum. So I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Many thanks,

Lee.

Last edited by Lee Smith on Mar 13th, '10, 18:51, edited 2 times in total.
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Postby Harry Guinness » Mar 13th, '10, 17:45

There are very few magicians who put out quality, practical close up magic and Lee is one of them. All the material on the DVDs is top class magic that is simple and reliable Do yourself a favour and buy them.

To put the quality of the material in perspective, for the last six months, Lee is the only other magician who's material I use in my regular close up set. Since his lecture notes I've been performing Transboxition. Everything else I do is original. And since I got the DVDs last week I think a few more of his effects may be creeping in.

Other people have done full effect breakdowns so I'll just list a few of my favourites.

Walkaround Two Cards to Pocket is a far better effect than its title. It's essentially Transboxition without the box.

Bonaces (ask Lee about the title sometime!) is another phenomenal effect. It's a combination of an Ace production and a sandwich effect with bits of a transposition as well. It is one of the best effects I've seen this year. I've got a bit more playing around with it to do before It's in the set but it won't be long.

The Third Degree is another effect I've played around with. It's a very very nice three spectator routine. It plays great and the 'thought of card' subtlety is great and something you will use.

Strike Two is a great presentation of the Colour Changing *random object* routine. I've seen several Lee Clones doing it already with the exact same 'here to here to here to here' phrase which is slightly off putting!!! It is however a great routine and is simple enough to be done when you're trolleyed (trust me I know) which in my mind makes it one of the best bits of impromtu magic around. Carry a lighter with you when you're in the pub (you can guarantee you'll be asked for one at some stage that night), take it out when someone does and then subject them to a magic trick before lighting their smoke! Great opportunity to practice as they'll usually want more entertainment!

My one criticism of the project is the marketing angle. The set is very much being played as a step up from Royal Road (granted it is) but that is dismissing the fact that it is a top performers working repertoire. A lot of people may skip this project thinking it is not worthy of their attention. Don't be an idiot like that.

If you want a load of top quality effects and one absolutely awesome utility sleight (worth the 15 quid for Volume One alone) then these are a great buy. If you don't want that, what are you some sort of moron?

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Postby DavidP » Mar 27th, '10, 13:51

Ive finished watching this through for a second time now, I think simple is the key word. Good quick impromtu effects for the show me a trick moments.

Is it too simple though ??? It does shock me to see a linking bands trick and a paddle move in a DVD of a performming Magician - really??Only time will tell for me.

Favourite trick for me is Key to amazement - seen this before with Sal Piacentes 4,5,6 packet trick but Im going to use the ending from Lee's routine much simpler.

Criticism if thats the word is DL, lots of the tricks need this so may scare you if youre not very good with them, Lee does cover the fact that during performance everything gets covered with misdirection so try it out.

Many Thanks

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Postby Lee Smith » Mar 27th, '10, 16:41

DavidP wrote:
Is it too simple though ??? It does shock me to see a linking bands trick and a paddle move in a DVD of a performming Magician - really??Only time will tell for me.


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Trust me keep it simple, visual and you cant go wrong, I have been doing these for years and have served me very well.

Let me know when you have try'd them I know it will work for you.

Thanks for posting your thoughts.

Lee.

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Postby lukeclough » Mar 27th, '10, 17:05

Having watched the first DVD I can say it DEFINITELY is not too simple!!! I have used some of the tricks already and have seen amazing reactions!

I honestly think that Lee's STEP DVD is the best I have, and I can't wait to get volume 2 underway! Everything is explained so well and covered in fantastic detail.

Great job Lee. I am recommending it to every magician I know :)

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Postby Paul Smith » Apr 11th, '10, 00:17

Got volume 1 a few weeks back now and have probably watched it about ten times, it's great to see two people who are completely in love with what they do.
Lee does a great job of explaining each effect and Ravi is possibly one of the best hosts on a magic DVD I have seen, he reminds me slightly of Jay Sankey, not his humour or apearance but his passion for magic.
Also every effect is bloomin' great, I rarely post on this forum but feel this (and I am sure volume 2 will be the same) deserve a mention.
great work Lee. 10/10

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Postby magicamit » Apr 13th, '10, 13:09

Hey Guys,

I also own the STEP System and I must say it is a fantastic DVD set. The reason I like them so much is because Lee is a worker he is out there performing these very tricks/routines day in day out. As Ian quite rightly said above Lee is a very likable person whereby he is into the magic and blowing peoples mind before they know it.
I would also like to mention Ravi Mayar I think he did an absolute sterling job his input, views and discussions with Lee made them really enjoyable to watch, a great team indeed.

On a further note Lee came to Leicester Magic Circle yesterday to present his Walkabout Lecture, some of what he presented was routines from the STEP System but also spoke about his views on the approach to magic & spectators, him being a worker he new exactly what he was talking about and it made perfect sense. Lee really does have some fantastic ideas and thinking behind magic and the after session once again proved that. Lee is defiantly assets to the magic community if you haven’t got the STEP system get it and if you haven’t booked him for a lecture for your society book him .

Many Thanks

Amit Badiani

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STEP system

Postby chriscowly » Apr 14th, '10, 21:35

I havent left a post on talkmagic for a long while but i feel the need to leave one about Lee's 'exellent' STEP SYSTEM.

got both volumes, i must admit, i have around 40/50 magic dvd's and these go in my top 3.....why? because its effects that pack little and play BIG. Lee also does a cracking job at explaining every effect.

i have been performing magic for around a decade, and alot of the sleights used by Lee i have been using for years and can guarantee they all work a treat.

all of the effects work in 'real' situations, i.e weddings, pubs, clubs

a great dvd by a great magician...

Would DEFINATELY recommend this. 10/10

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Postby Lee Smith » Apr 18th, '10, 21:57

Hi Guys,


Thanks for all the wonderful comments. I am pleased you are all getting lots from the project, it makes all the hard work worth it. :lol:


You can now get the DVD's from my website and if you are UK based and get them from me you will also recieve the two lighters needed for the effect STRIKE 2 on volume 2 for free.

http://www.walkaboutmagic.com/lee_smith ... em_dvd.php

Please not the lighters are for volume 2 only.

Many thanks.

Lee.

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Postby Gary Jones » May 20th, '10, 21:11

The Step System Vol 1

Ice Breaker....This is Lee's opener and what a strong piece of magic this is. Quick and slick magic which isn't one bit complicated in plot making it an ideal opener, this is also a great routine for the reception/ strolling situations. Ice Breaker will definitely establish the performer as someone who is not only an entertainer, but also as someone who performs really strong and visual magic. OK what is the effect....It's a 3 phase pick a card trick which builds with each phase, each phase getting stronger and stronger. A card is selected and lost into the deck, the top card is shown not to be the spectator's, this is placed onto spectator's hand, another card is shown and held by the magician, a little magic and the card held by the magician changes to the one the spectator was holding.....The spectator turns their card over, yes it's the selection...! "Do it again" is the phrase which most people would say at this point, so Lee does, but this time visually. In phase two the spectators actually see the card visually change this time. One more phase, this time involving more spectators, bringing this quick paced and snappy routine to a brilliant climax.

The explanation for Ice Breaker really goes into depth as to why this is such a strong opener for Lee, and also why the moves involved are used . This in-depth discussion is chaired by the very talented magician/hypnotist Ravi Mayar, both Ravi and Lee really break down the routine making every move extremely easy to learn. Ravi and Lee also go into great detail about approaching groups/tables, this advice for some will be worth the price of the DVD, especially for the beginner or the magician wanting to turn professional or break into the restaurant market.

Walkaround 2 Cards to Pocket......This effect is rubbish and should not have been included on this DVD. PLEASE UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT DO THIS ROUTINE. OK, this is brilliant and worth gold to any worker!! This is one of those effects that really is easy to do, simple in plot yet this effect kicks like a mule. This has become one of my favourite effects to do in walk around. Once again Ravi and Lee do a great job on explaining this astounding routine (plus a brilliant variation I may add). As an added bonus you get to learn Lee's handling for great card expert, Ollie Mealing's 'Switch Trick', once again if you don't know this then this will be worth the asking price alone!

Bold Business, performance only.......This is a great walk-about drawing duplication effect using your business cards, this really is cheeky and as the title says, very bold. I just love this sort of stuff, easy to do and such a strong effect. The effect isn't explained on the DVD, but a full explanation is contained in Lee's lecture notes which come free with the DVD.

Trans-box-ition.........This is Lee's handling of the popular plot of card and deck under card box. This is the type of routine I myself have been playing around with for many years now, I was around when Steve Bedwell came up with his routine many years ago, also James Brown has some excellent work on this plot. I would have to say that Lee's version here is probably the easiest of all the versions out there, both in the moves involved and the built in misdirection. In Lee's version two cards are selected, for me this is a great improvement as it makes the climax so much easier and much more logical. If you're thinking about adding a card under box type routine to your act then look no further, this is easy to do and has excellent built in misdirection. Check out the bonus effect with a signed card, clever!

You Keep Mine.......This is very very strong (as are all of Lee's effects). The magician has a card selected and signed, this card is placed face up onto the table, a prediction card is now removed from the pocket and is seen to be the mate of the selection. There's more.....The prediction card is also shown to have a different coloured back design and also contains the magician's contact details, these now jump off the prediction card and onto the signed selection, which by the way the spectator gets to keep. This is another routine I use and is great for getting your (or a corporate clients) contact details out there!!

Third Degree........Three cards are selected (one thought of), what follows is pure eye candy. Two selections are found and change places, the spectator who has been holding a card from the beginning is asked to name the card they were thinking of, you guessed it, when they turn the card over it's the thought of card. Excellent routining and some great visuals are going on in this routine.

On to...........

The Step System Vol 2

Just Think......This is a lovely two phase thought of card routine with a cracking kicker ending. As with all of Lee's effects this is really easy to do only requiring standard card sleights. You get a lot of magic for very little work. Once again Ravi and Lee go really into great detail of all the moves and why Lee selected these particular sleights etc.

Business Lunch......Once again Lee has come up with another excellent routine to hand out your business card. A card is selected and lost, the magician now tries to find the selection, shows a card which is wrong, writes the name of the wrong card on his business card which the spectator signs. Now for the magic, first the wrong card changes to the selection, then the wrong card written on the signed business card also changes to the selection. Everything is now examined and the spectator gets to keep your business card. Lee gets some great reactions from the live audience with this, as he does with all of his effects on these DVDs. Easy to do and extremely commercial.

Key to Amazement......A completely self working trick which Ravi cracks up laughing during the explanation lol! I don't normally like this type of magic but I do like the cleverness of these type effects, this effect though is one I may actually try while down the pub with friends. Clever.

Crazy Cuffs......This is Lee's presentation for Crazy Man's Handcuffs with a few added phases using a finger ring. This is a very tight routine which will play well one to one or at a large table.

Fifth Element.....This is Lee's take on Paul Harris' Whack Your Pack. What Lee adds here is the staging, there is great tension going on here as Lee shows the spectator the cards for him to whack his hand down when he/she the thought of card. There is some great audience management and staging going on here, the misdirection and subtleties are great. I'll be using this for sure.

Bonaces......I heard the story as to how this effect got it's name, if you ever meet Lee at a convention please ask him, very funny. This is a double sandwich effect with the added bonus of a 4 ace production along the way, finishing with a climax of the 2nd selection appearing between the aces in the spectator's hands. I really like this, Lee mentions that this is a recent creation, I can see this going into quite a few magicians repertoires.

Coming Together........Performance only. This is visually stunning and worth the price of the DVD. I'm not going to detail this effect, buy the DVD and try this, you won't regret it. The explanation for this stunning effect is on the free lecture notes which accompany this set.

Strike Two......Pure eye candy, impromptu magic at its best. This is the first effect I saw Lee do when I first met him in London, this is also one of Lee's signature pieces. The logos from two disposable lighters continuously jump from each other, then they multiply, vanish, reappear plus loads more. Like I said this is pure eye candy all done with ordinary objects which can be purchased from just about any garage for less than £/$/€1. Excellent.

If you don't know, the Step in Step System stands for - Simple Tricks Extraordinary Power. This DVD set is an excellent collection of effects and advice for both the beginner in magic, to the more experienced magician. You WILL get something from this DVD set.

I really enjoyed watching these DVDs and I actually got quite a number of ideas/routines which I will and do use. Ravi Mayar really adds to this set, Ravi manages to ask Lee all those questions you would ask yourself if you were there at the filming.

Lee has a really friendly personality and you can see why he works exclusively for many of the top sports and TV celebrities here in the UK. Most of the routines are performed in front of a live audience and the reactions Lee gets are great, yet all the effects are really easy to do only requiring basic to intermediate card handling. There is also some great banter going on between Ravi and Lee, Ravi also adds some of his brilliant thinking to the explanations.

These DVDs were filmed by Russ Stevens so you know that the picture quality and the sound is top notch.

As mentioned above Lee's Walk About lecture notes come free with this great DVD set.

The Step System is available from www.rsvpmagic.com priced at £22.99 ($35.99) per volume, or directly from Lee Smith www.walkaboutmagic.com

9 out of 10 Highly recommended.

Gary Jones.

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Postby Lee Smith » Sep 9th, '10, 09:21

Just an update guys,

Due to all the hype about Strike 2, we will be re releasing it with a few new additions.

And all the people who have been asking about lighters and where to get the best ones for this effect? I am pleased to say we will soon be able to supply them, and as a bonus they will have some built in revelations to make your routine stronger and give you many more performance options.

I will post more soon.

Many thanks,

Lee.

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