talkmagic.co.uk

Effect
Sponge Magic.

Ear Plugs comes complete with the 60-minute DVD and all the necessary sponge "ear plugs."

Learn How To Perform:
Retention Vanish
Upsidedown Retention Vanish
False Transfer
False Take
Acquitment
Nothing Transfer
Pop-Up Move
Double Steal
Backdoor Steal
Banana Split
Roll Around Split
Ten Count
Hard of Hearing Opener
Jumbo Load Techniques

You'll also learn four awesome full routines:
The Shotgun Production Sequence
Likes Attract
Four on the Floor
The Pick Pocket

Cost
I got mine for £22.99 from here http://www.magicshop.co.uk

Difficulty

I'll give this a 3/4 on the difficulty level

(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)

Review
I've learnt a few sponge routines before ( Daryls routine off of his Fooler Doolers vol 1 DVD being my favourite) but never really used them in many situations. I think this is because the balls didn't suit my style but this dvd has changed my attitude to sponge magic.
The DVD is delivered in true style with everything explained in great detail and Jay shows the moves at different angles.
there are several routines all explained and some bonus material.

The Earplugs themselves are made to a very good quality and actually I found them easier to handle than normal sponge balls and when you put them down on the table the flat surfaces mean they stay where you put them. (Countless times i have used normal balls and they've rolled onto the floor)

Overall
I've got to give this 10/10 definatly worth eveery penny. Earplugs has definatly found a place in my pockets, and they will probably cause some laughs when i pull them out of my ears after coming off stage after a gig.

BUY IT AND JOIN THE PONGE REVOLUTION

A big thanks for the review on these.

I recently lost two of my sponge bunnies (RIP, little guys) and have been looking to either buy a new set or get these.

I must admit I didn't realise all those moves were taught in this nice package from Sankey, so I may well be buying this, just for sponge-sleight-tutorial. After all, if you can do it with an earplug, you can do it with a bunny rabbit!

That way, I'll have two sponge routines ready to go - the cutesy, simple bunny routine for kids (or a rude adult audience) and the earplug routine ready for when the time is right for somethng a little more ambitious.

Just one question, you mentioned the earplugs are of excellent quality... I've had sponge balls in the past that have become deformed in such a short space of time - do these keep their shape well?

A wax-covered bunny-rabbit... now there's an interesting idea for a range of Christmas Candles....

I SAID: A WAX COVERED BUNNY...

...oh, right. I get it now.

Mandrake made a funny.

Yeah Zack, they do keep their shape well, but I suppose it depends on exactly what you do with them.

I ask because I bought a set of sponge balls from emagictricks a few months ago, and they had slightly 'moulded' to the corners of the box they were in... two of them have never been totally round and I'd rather not use them. After all, if the specs notice they don't look identical, then you can't really do any transpositions.

Well you should be safe with Sankey's earplugs.

Zack, Yes the plugs do keep their shape well.

Also About your balls ( ) Have you ever washed them or tried to blow them back into shape ( ).

If you wash them lightly (in very weak soapy or plain water) and then rinse them with a towel sometimes you can roll them back into a ball giving them a bit better shape.

REMEMBER "LOOK AFTER YOUR BALLS AND THEY WILL LOOK AFTER YOU"

One thing that concerns me: are you always limited to replacing lost/destroyed ear plugs with the Sankey ones? Can ordinary sponge ones be used?
The CD seems interesting, but am worried that if you need replacements, and Sankey ones are no longer produced, you are stuck.

Yes, but I don't think that Sankey versions will go out of stock any time soon - I think they just are made with the DVD. If the worst comes to the worst, you could always just cut up 2" yellow balls...

Kati

If you get hold of a good health & safety supplies catalogue then you can get ear defenders in different sizes. You should be able to get hold of a size that's pretty close to Sankeys.

Although you usually need to buy minimum quantities, they do work out to be quite inexpensive.

Penguin magic (US - not sure if the UK site offers it) sells an earplug refill pack.

http://www.penguinmagic.com/product.php?ID=409

are they legit earplugs (the squishy ones that holds it's form) or is it just like a sponge?