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The Effect

Click the link below for the promo video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF1r9v8nwww

Now for the official blurb! Fast Company is a 2 disk DVD set that teaches artifice, ruse and subterfuge at the card table. This is much more than just a demo of gambling sleights. This is a comprehensive instructional resource that explains these moves using slow motion, multiple angles, extreme close ups, over the shoulder shots and P.O.V.

These DVD’s deliver excellent study of some of the finest card artifice to date presented by one of the best pair of hands in the art, Damian Nieman.

DISC ONE consists of "The Tools of the Trade". These are the sleights and techniques of the advantage player and a look at how they can be used in performance of gambling related routines. A few of the topics covered are:

-How to Shuffle on the square
-Table cascade flourish
-Card control
-Slug controls
-A myriad of false cuts
-False Strips and running cuts
-Various push through shuffles
-Strip out shuffle
-Crossroader strip out shuffle
-Work on the Zarrow shuffle
-Hustler's in the hands false shuffle
-Table faro and applications
-Hops, shifts and other dodges (including work on the Miller shift)
-Shuffle chops
-Single and multiple card palms and cops

*Detailed work on false deals*
-The Second deal - strike, push off, stud and many others
-The Bottom deal - strike, squeeze out, Jennings T&T and more

For the first time, a true in depth look and detailed teaching of these notorious false deals including many techniques and subtleties that have never been taught before.

DISC TWO consists of gambling related routines and effects that should be in the repertoire of every performer. These are in depth looks at some of these classic plots and routines that seem to be discussed all the time. These are Damian's own versions of these classics including:

Ace cutting routines
-Scarne's aces
-Unique lead in to McDonalds Aces
-Damian's tips on Marlo's estimation aces (Miracles ace cutting)
-"Steven's shuffle" ace cutting routine

Thoughts on Triumph
Multiple versions and tips with many different shuffles and how they are used to perform The Professor's classic:
-Push through with block transfer
-Zarrow
-Free cut ace principle
-Sky shuffle

3 Card Monte
Step by step instruction on everything from the moves to the psychology of the routine. Everything you need to know to make this a powerful cornerstone of any performance.

Invisible Palm Aces (a.k.a. Open Travelers)
Larry Jenning's classic effect is one of the most powerful things you can do with a deck of cards. Damian teaches every aspect of this classic with previously unreleased moves and tips that were learned from Larry himself along with Damian's own touches.

Cost

£45 from Mike Danata with free postage (http://www.mikedanatasmagicstudio.co.uk)

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)

4 and 5 – definitely NOT for the inexperienced.

Review

We all probably know a decent number of people who are into the Poker boom and my repertoire of gambling routines has begun to wear a little thin of late. It’s for this reason that I’ve spent the past couple of months trying to find a decent DVD that consists solely of gambling cheats and routines when this one turns up in the latest edition of Magic Magazine. It looked be exactly what I have been looking for as a lot of what I had found online hadn’t quite fitted what I wanted.

The first thing to hit you when you load this DVD is the stunning quality and if it’s not HD then it’s damned close. The DVD is aimed at magicians and those who want to perform gambling demo’s and you can quite easily reveal these cheats (being part of the intention) and even those familiar with cards won’t remember what they’re being shown.

There’s so much on disk one to keep you going for some time and to me, the false strips and running cuts, strip out shuffles, false faro shuffle, second deal, riffle palm and load and loads more.

Disk one leads you nicely into disk two where you can put some of what you have learnt into a number of routines. There are a number of ace cutting routines to start off and these include McDonalds Aces, Scarne’s Aces and Triumph. If you’re a fan of Triumph then this particular routine is discussed in depth using different techniques. And of course, no gambling DVD would ever be complete without the three card monte (find the lady) and this routine is also covered in depth.

Overall

This is one of the best produced card DVD’s that I’ve seen for a long time and is a great DVD if you’re looking for something of this nature.

The content is all structured to be worked on a card table or similar surface and isn’t generally suited to stand up magic unless you look at adapting some of the moves. However, when you get to the routines which will be familiar to a great many magicians (all of which are table routines), you’ll start to see how the strips, cuts and other controls can add a new dimension to your existing material.

I highly recommend this DVD on this basis.

I like the sound of this. Does anyone know how it compares to Ben Earls Past Midnight ?

Great review Dat, just yesterday I was scouring the net for a gambler style dvd.

Must stop reading reviews the wrong side of pay day!

Great review thanks.

Cant find this at Danatas, any help ?

It's not on Mikes site as yet and I got my copy straight out of his delivery last Thursday.

I'd recommend that you give Mike a call or send an email.

You won't regret buying this one - even when the credit card bill arrives

Oooo so tempting, dat. Oooo. CUPS alert methinks.

Just so you, know, you can grab a copy for £39.92 at http://www.magicshop.co.uk

I caved in and just seconds ago hit the Buy Now button. I have just realised I haven't yet got a professionally produced DVD that covers all the material this covers, I have just got it out of books in the past. And I wasn't sure if I should get this or Steve Forte's GPS but as Steve doesn't actually teach the sleights, only gives you multiple angles, I thought it best to buy this. It's also less of a wait

Cheers Dat for a great review, and cheers cymru1991, for saving me a few quid

Trailer looks great - especially the part at the end where he pulls out the gun 'fast' and looks stressed (what's that all about!?!?)...

I take it a spec must have made a miscall on one of his selections and he wasn't a takin' any nonsense. lol.

Ordered my copy last night- Can't wait for it to get here

I got mine through just in time for the easter weekend and on the whole the set is top notch. Its exceptionally well produced and the ace cutting routines are worth the money of the DVD alone.

I'm not sure I would recommend 'Fast Company' to a novice as at times I found Damien's teaching methods a little on the fast side and he often assumes you already have a basic knowledge of gambling slights.... that said he still covers all the bases and is always backed up by several well-positioned camera angles which really aid the learning experience.

I certainly feel I got my moneys worth on this one and I'm sure it will remain in my DVD player for several months to come.

4 and 5 – definitely NOT for the inexperienced.

Absolutely agree with you and I'm pleased that you're enjoying it.

I keep coming back to this one to learn something new and my table cuts and shuffles have come on no end because of this DVD.