talkmagic.co.uk

OK, this is my first attempt at a review, so please don't be too harsh on me.

The Effect
"It does exactly what it says on the tin."
Impromptu magic with everyday objects - coins, matches, notes, plastecine, matchbooks, rope...

Cost
US$24.99 from penguinmagic (+US$10 for p&p)

Difficulty
3=Some sleights used,

Review
OK, having really got into card magic over the last couple of years, I have decided that I would like to learn some new types of magic with every day objects - coins, notes, matches, etc. Same old story.
Having looked around on the (excellent) penguinmagic site, I settled on this title. I have one or two other titles from Jay Sankey, and whilst I don't particularly like his style - probably because I can't relate to it, he is indubitably one of the best magicians at teaching others how to perform amazing effects.
A few days later, a parcel arrived, and upon opening the dvd, the first thing I saw was a couple of books of matches - needed for the opening routine. Most of the tricks needed little in the way of fancy setup (the only problem with books of matches, is that they are more of a US thing, we seem to use match boxes over here, so producing a special book of matches might raise the odd eyebrow.

Anyway, the dvd features 10 routines:
*Quest For Fire - A red and white matchbook change places three times, the last time in the spectator's own hands! Lethal, and so darn easy!
*P.O.S.H. - A marked coin mysteriously travels from the magician's fist to his pocket. Not once, but twice! The innovative handling is guaranteed to make you smile!
*$ 0 Bill Switch - Featured in Jay's walkaround work for over a decade, you know this borrowed & signed bills effect is gonna seriously rock the house!
*The Poke Vanish - The best wooden match vanish on the planet. It not only looks amazing, but it feels amazing too.
*Hot Knot - Jay's been polishing this "insanely direct" routine for years! Perfect for both kid shows and adult performances.
*The Drop Switch - Created as a superior alternative to the ultra-commercial BoBo switch, this "moveless" & utterly undetectable switch is for serious coin workers only.
*Gimme Five - Produce five wooden matches, one-at-a-time, from your obviously bare hands. You will not believe the set-up. Crazy, man.
*The Hypnovanish - The Holy Grail of coin moves. A total vanish of a borrowed coin (both hands shown both sides) followed by an immediate reappearance! And yes, you can do it in the nude. Weirdo!
*In VitroThe impression of a spectator's key moves from one blob of silly putty to another (thanks to a very commercial handling!) Perfect for Walkaround
*Strange & Stranger - A miracle inside miracle. Almost too powerful an effect. An application of the $ 0 Bill Switch that truly takes it to "the next level."
(copied and pasted from penguin magic website).

Having watched the dvd, my first impression was that this was really good material, although I did see how one or two of the tricks were done before I had even seen the explanation - I put this down to the fact that being reasonably clued up on matters magic, I know what to look for, whereas your average layman would probably flip-out.

I have been playing about with the sleights used, and have decided that I will definitely learn a few of these routines, and hopefully will be able to impress family, friends, and the odd fittie down the pub...
Certainly, none of the sleights taught appear to difficult to master - compared to the work that goes into mastering some of more difficult card sleights/flourishes, although like any sleight, they feel strange and unnatural when I try and do them. Like anything else in magic, practise, more practise and practise again.

Overall
I am going to give this 8.5/10 for content, 10/10 - value for money.
This is a great dvd for people who are relatively inexperienced in magic, wanting to start down the path of impromptu magic with everyday objects. One thing I do regret is that we don't have any smaller notes than a £5. Jay has a predilection for mutilating dollar bills - some of the best routines on this dvd involve signed and torn notes - not something I am so inclined to do with £5 notes - at least not in my current impoverished state!!!
Overall an excellent dvd - go out and buy it.

That's an excellent review - I can feel my credit card getting restless again!

BUMP-ah! (sorry, came over all Mark E. Smith there...)

...because I watched this at a friends (pooh to all those who will deride me for not buying it - can't poor student magi cooperate occasionally?!) and love the "Quest for Fire" routine but don't really want to have to shell out for the whole DVD just to get the matchbooks. Soooooo... anyone know if you can get "Sankey spares" (I mean, surely even folk who bought this DVD properly would lose their matchbooks sometimes - do they have to buy the DVD all over again?!), or had any success in making their own?

And again, to deriders - I have put more than enough money in Sankey's pocket, please do not brand me a cheapo

I own this video and agree with you totally. Anyone who's interested should buy it. I think the way he teaches his tricks is just spectacular. Love all of his DVDs.

Thanks for the great review - I'll need a second job soon!