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[seige]

The Revolutionary Coin Magic of Jay Sankey by Jay Sankey
VHS Video - 120 Minutes - PAL available

Cost: £25 - ish

Description
Techniques and tricks based on fundamental coin sleights - performed and taught by a true master of his art. There are dozens of routines and descriptions on this video in a 'show you/teach you' structure.

Filmed with just Jay himself, no audience.

Review
Anyone who has been patient enough to read my ramblings over the past couple of months will realise that I mention Sankey quite a lot. And there's good reason...

Sankey has possibly had a bigger effect on me in 3 years than anything else in my magical past. He's taught me to be bold, adventurous, and more importantly - be myself.

Jay himself is a short Canadian guy, short of hair, about 35-40 years old and has the sense of humour of Robin Williams. He performs in T-shirts and shorts, and is also a reasonably well-known stand up comedian.

But - he's one SERIOUS sleight of hand man. And this is 120 minutes of blistering coin-pummelling entertainment (aside from being one of the most insightful guides to modern coin magic I've seen).

There are 28 routines on the video, and I'd be surprised if you don't try and use all of them! There's nothing on there that won't amaze - and although you've seen some of it before - I bet that Jay will make it look good enough to eat.

Now - let me say that I've been a student of coin magic for about six years (in a serious way). I've learned as much as I can from other artists - but Sankey makes it look SO showbusiness. I've used his Flying Shuttle and Messiah Vanish almost constantly since learning them.

And let me also say that I'm predominantly a card man. Don't get me wrong - I love ALL magic, but cards are my 'discipline'. But this video MADE me want to add coins to my routines. He makes it look so good, I almost MUST perform the routines.

Quality of recording is pretty bad - could have done better with my Sony Camcorder - but this is one of those rare occasions that you simply don't CARE about the quality of the recording, as the quality of the performance outshines it within the first 10 minutes.

Difficulty
Hmmm... can't really rate this - easier to explain. I would like to say that this is easy stuff to master - no it's not. I have spent many a long night sitting up practising Tenkai pinch, subtleties (Kapps/Ramsey) and classic palm... but nothing prepared me for this!

Sankey makes this look really easy. And I must admit, now, for me, it is. But - it's taken LOTS of dedication to reach this level.

What I'm trying to say here is that DON'T just think that you'll become the next Roth (or Sankey!) by buying this video... most of the 'good stuff' (which believe me is PURE EYE CANDY) on this tape takes a LOT of practice... i.e. using two handed coin rolls as a misdirection... it took me long enough to do it with one hand!!!

So, difficulty... I'd say it's somewhere in the scale of 8 out of 10...

The bottom line...
If you've any interest in coin magic whatsoever, buy this NOW.

If you've no interest in coin magic whatsoever, get some American half-dollars and buyt this NOW.

10 out of 10.

[alz]

cheers seige...nice review. Definetly getting this video now. Do you know where i can get some half dollars from and for how much???

[bananafish]

Funnily enough, when I was in America earlier this year - I couldn't get half dollars as change from shops as they just didn't use them...I guess I could have gone to a bank.

Anyway, cards4magic sell half dollars at £1 each...

http://www.cards4magic.co.uk/acatalog/c ... Coins.html

[jabba01]

Try magic Warehouse or Penguin. I am sure Merchant of Magic also sell as well.

J

[Cliff]

HOTNEWS!

The has just been released on DVD by Sankey with 30mins extra material - available at Penguin - first 100 copies signed by Sankey himself

Cliff