talkmagic.co.uk

I found this extremely enlightening on the use of a TT but it could have been on one DVD and been just as effective. So many of the items were repeats just using different items.

I don't regret buying it as it transformed my use of a TT and led to other thoughts, just don't epect to be wowed through three full DVDs.

James

Yes, the DVD is repetitious in many respects, specifically he does the same trick (or variations on the very same trick) several times with different items. There is a reason for this. He wants you to think beyond silks, paper money and flash paper. As he goes through his daily routine, he literally considers every object he holds in his hands as a candidate for use with the TT. Mr. Toucan, you said yourself it "led you to other thoughts". That's the exact reason he does it. It was never intended to be simple "filler" to bulk up the content of the disks. When I said in my original post that many of the effects are "groaners", this is what I was talking about, I just couldn't put it into words effectively at the time. Also, please don't think that I am attacking your post. Rather, I'm simply answering the points you raised. You are absolutely right, you have to almost "force yourself" to sit through the same trick several times, especially with something as "old hat" as the TT. By the time we have been performing magic for a few years, we tend to overlook the versatility and multiple uses of this extremely common prop, which is known to many lay people. You will not be "wowed" by the entire set of disks, that much is true. But while watching the same trick for the third time with 3 different items, your mind begins to wander and inserts other objects that never made it into the DVD. There is one more point I want to make, I know this post is getting long. Many lay people do know what a TT is, but if you use it with anything other than a silk, they never suspect a thing. They have learned to associate the TT with a silk vanish/production ONLY. If you do anything else with it, even those who know what one is will be completely baffled. The converse of this is true, also. If you perform a silk vanish with anything other than a TT such as the small wooden "pull" device (sorry I don't know the correct name of this prop), they are totally stumped. If you have a spectator that knows the TT, conceal a pull in one hand. Load the device with a silk, then cup your hands together, one overlapping the other. Extend your hands outward toward the spectator while ditching the device. Have the spectator hold onto your wrists, and "vanish" the silk while they hold on, immediately opening your hands and freely showing your palms, fingers, and thumbs. To the lay person who knows the TT, this is a true miracle! I hope I was able to express this without revealing the mechanics of the device I was talking about.

Just my $.58 worth, I'll get off my soapbox now.

Dr. B.A.Loonatic

I have a mixed review.

I am not exaggerating when I say that the 3 discs could be consolidated to one 30-45 minute disc and contain the same information. The valuable information in this "encyclopedia" boils down to a handful of handlings of the actual TT, a couple of ditches and a couple of outs. The rest is disorganized rambling on ideas that consist of comments like, "Uh, what you could do is... (insert some trick)" followed by, "but I won't get into the workings because we did that earlier." One would be much better off watching only the handlings, ditches and outs sections and spending the rest of their time with pen and paper brainstorming things to do with it. That's not to say that Darwin doesn't present any good ideas here, (I really like is spongeball business card idea) but his attitude towards most of them is that it's a bother for him to explain them and he doesn't feel they're all that great anyway.

The section on gimmicks similar to the TT was completely uninformative. There were a couple that Darwin seemed to be seeing for the first time. The same can be said about the books, videos and other references section. There were a couple of items that Darwin was recommending and he flat out said, "I've never opened this package." to one and "I've never watched this video." about another. I was shocked as I have seen and heard about his museum. It left me with the impression that he's a magician who also happens to collect magic related items rather than a walking encyclopedia of all things magic. The truth is probably somewhere in between.

I have no idea why the performance clips were all in B&W. I'm watching instruction on the TT. A major concern with the TT is it's visibility. Darwin is the master. You better believe that I want to burn his hands as I watch him perform. The camera angles were great for it as you were given the audience POV but the B&W made it impossible. On the plus side, it was nice to see him in front of a live audience that didn't come across as L&Lish.

In addition to the B&W performances, there are random parts of the DVD where Garwin is giving instruction and the video is sepia. I have no idea what that's about. Don't know if it's unique to the set that I received or if everyone's is like that.

When Darwin is giving instruction, he speaks slowly and clearly. He doesn't just explain the mechanics of the move but every other aspect as well- from the psychology/reasoning to the history/credits. The moves will be crystal clear. You won't find yourself thinking that you need to check another resource for clarification or other tips.

I would imagine that the majority of people view the three discs in their entirety once and only revisit about 20 minutes worth of material thereafter. Is $60+ justifiable for 20 minutes or so of useful information? Seems to depend on the day with me. The 20 minutes is solid instruction, no doubt. I just feel like all this was missing was a younger presenter, an annoying soundtrack and a listing on Ellusionist.