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Fresh out of Blackpool 2010 is flamboyant, fun loving and Fantasmagoric Steve Dela’s new double Dvd set. “Work and Play”. Although I have spoken to Steve once or twice before, I don’t really know him on a personal level and will keep everything in this review as impartial as possible.

Here’s what the producers at www.MagicCave.co.uk say about it:

“From the multi-award winning Steve Dela (IBM close-up champion, Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year, FFFF) comes this long awaited double disc DVD set featuring not only many of Steve's original ideas and thoughts but also a full disc covering his full WORKING material, act, performance and discussion to give you the most in-depth and intricate experience of a working professional available today.

Also on this DVD, a WORLD FIRST...a flipping option allows you to view the screen from a left or right handed perspective to make the learning process as easy as possible!”

So what is Steve Dela’s ‘Work and Play’ all about?
The first disk is Work. Advice, moves, tips and tricks from Dela’s Professional working repertoire. Straight forward, no fuss, hard hitting material.

The second disk is Steve s own effects, move and sleights. Things he has played around with and different idea’s.

This review however, is of disk 1.

First of all, the product quality. Let me personally say, this product is slick to the max. The box, dvd covers, disks and menu’s are brilliantly put together and you really get your monies worth of quality. Im sure they wont mind me saying, this is a HUGE step up compared to Magic Cave’s previous releases. The only issue I had with the disk itself is unfortunately they seem to have missed a “Back to main menu” option on the sub-categories which isn't a huge issue, just means you’ll have to hit the “Back to DVD menu” button on your remote.

What about this flipping business? Well, MagicCave have very nicely tried to cater for the magic community and made learning a hell of a lot easier. The option of right hand or left hand learning. In the scheme of things, people may overlook this but it really does make a hell of a difference when it comes to learning some of Steve’s false cuts and double lifts. The pips have been flipped as the DVD has been mirror imaged, but it doesn't notice when the concentration hits in.

Each effect is filmed inside studio conditions with Neil Henry playing a spectator, heckler and host. Everything is incredibly in depth and every trick has a huge amount of detail. Detail is exactly where this DVD comes up trumps. It really is fantastic. The genuine sense that your being taught by someone who has been there, done that and screwed up so we don't have to. Steve discusses how to routine, why to routine, what can go right and wrong and how to avoid those uncomfortable situation.

Now, I know what your thinking. More discussions and detail is brilliant but, on a scale of 1-10, how BORING is this DVD going to be to watch. Coming from a magician whose magic DVD library is bigger then his head, I’ve watched my fair share of boring DVD’s. However, Steve’s personality and charm really shines through and his witty one liners and sharp wise cracks really made me LOL. I do however feel as though he over looks his one liners as throughout the DVD he makes mock of his own jokes and almost brushes over them. It’s a shame because some of the one liners are gold and will automatically slide into my repertoire.

As for the tricks on the DVD. I’ll not lie in saying, most of the things on this DVD are not new. However, Steve’s take on each individual effect and how he has routined them to work and flow beautifully really made me reconsider how I was performing some effects. Coincidentally, some of the items Steve spoke about, i’ve already got on my waiting list.

Steve’s also included some of his own fancy flamboyant false cuts and sexy double lifts which he briefly teaches in the learning area from the front AND back view which really came in handy. These ARE unique to Dela and are so worth the investment. The saying that even if you get one thing from a DVD, its wroth its price has never rung truer then here. I guarantee you’ll leave this DVD with a good few new moves and idea’s.

This DVD is for the hard core performer. The advice in this DVD is some of the best in a DVD from a true worker. I really did not get bored at all during this DVD and it has made Mr Bank manager very upset at me as I’ll now be purchasing some of Dela’s recommendations.

I truly feel like this is one of the most valuable DVD’s that i’ve had the pleasure of watching. Not only for Dela’s charm, but for is sharp thinking and advice. A small disclaimer. Steve’s humor might not be to everyones liking, but, It had me literally laughing out loud. Risk of enjoying watching a magic dvd is high.

The double DVD set is available for £34.99 from www.MagicCave.co.uk

REVIEW OF DISK 2


Here’s what the producers at www.MagicCave.co.uk say about it:

“From the multi-award winning Steve Dela (IBM close-up champion, Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year, FFFF) comes this long awaited double disc DVD set featuring not only many of Steve's original ideas and thoughts but also a full disc covering his full WORKING material, act, performance and discussion to give you the most in-depth and intricate experience of a working professional available today.

Also on this DVD, a WORLD FIRST...a flipping option allows you to view the screen from a left or right handed perspective to make the learning process as easy as possible!”

So what is Steve Dela’s ‘Work and Play’ all about?
The first disk is Work. Advice, moves, tips and tricks from Dela’s Professional working repertoire. Straight forward, no fuss, hard hitting material.

The second disk is Steve s own effects, move and sleights. Things he has played around with and different idea’s.

This review however, is of disk 2.

I’m going to begin the review of disk 2 by simply saying Wow. The reservations I may have raised in the first review have suddenly vanished. This disk is crammed with breathtaking, commercial, award winning magic. Again, still the same beautiful quality of dvd and the flipping screen is still evident.

The quality of explanations are excellent. Really in depth and clear. Not only that, but Steve tells us WHY he has perfected some of the ideas on this disk. He takes you through his version of the card spring, which, in all honesty is so much better. Such a subtle change that really makes a whole world of difference.

Dela then lets us in on his center tear. Now, i’m a mentalist at heart and I have always felt slightly uncomfortable with some of the methods of Centre tear I have come across. Steve performed it on the DVD and I didn’t catch the point at which he got hold of the info. It looks so impressively fair and it’s a real time tear. Meaning, you get the info there and then. No taking pieces away or anything like that The method is brilliant and has to be one of the best centre tears i’ve come across!

Moving on to Steve s Award Winning Oily Water that he was seen perfoming from the age of 15! He won the close up young magician of the year with this routine and it’s easy to see why. Very clever, clean and simple to perform. No funny counts. He also has a wicked off beat ending which caught me out massively. The trick is gold dust and worth the price of the entire dvd.

The next trick is one for your business card. A wicked hand out which shows how young I am. Apparently the item used was quite common when Steve was younger. Im only two years younger but have never seen them before. I have purchased a batch of them since viewing the DVD. It’s a brilliant card giveaway and something that they defiantly will keep on them. The routine for the trick itself is less really a trick and more a presentation but i’m fairly sure people will tweak it to match their handling.

Now we move onto Stevens ESP effect. Now, although I love ESP effects, this one stage effect whilst being clean, is a bit of a throwaway. Steve mentions that he likes his mentalism to be simple and direct which is cool. But using his principle, I think a nice extra stage would do it justice!

Steve’s 2 Fly. Whist admitting he s not much of a coin magician, he rocks out those coins in style. Seriously wicked trick. Im not much of a coin magician but even i’m planning on trying this one out. It’s just a brilliantly simple and direct 2 fly. You will need to get hold of a couple off additional things but its well worth it. Soon as you see it, you’ll understand.

The appearing and disappearing sharpie is a cool little off beat thing. It’s pretty much in the name, the sharpie appears, then disappears after the spectator has written. Nothing earth shatteringly new here but it looks soo sexy and Steve’s handling for it means not as many funk angle issues that other version have.

Now i’ve never performed a version of the torn and restored cigaret paper so had no idea of methods. Watching the trick, I was shamefully, fooled. His hands were empty, nothing hidden and it was all at finger tips. The method was equally impressive. He even has an instant reset tip which was priceless. A brilliant brilliant trick that again would be worth the price of the DVD.

Steve then goes over a lot of his advice lines to stop hecklers and to get applause and laughter. Some priceless lines and stories in this section of the DVD which had be giggling.

Lastly is an interview with Steve Dela. Again, priceless information and advice from a real working pro.

These DVD’s are literally crammed packed with material and advice. The Quality and production of the DVD’s is stunning. The film quality is superb. Most magic DVD’s you’ll only get one possibly two workable routines. This has so much more. Also, real advice from a real working pro. It’s so nice to see someone produce a DVD from a magician with as much experience and charisma as Steve Dela. MagicCave have excelled themselves in this DVD and it has to be the best DVD release so far this year. Excellent Job MagicCave!

The double DVD set is available for £34.99 from www.MagicCave.co.uk

Very nice review!

I picked this up at Blackpool, and it has to be said - his pen vanish is worth the cost of the DVD, as is the business information.

I'm going to have to reccomend this to anyone who wants to make it in the business, and even if you're already working pro - Steve is easily the most professional magician ive seen perform.

10/10

I too picked this up at Blackpool and agree with a lot of the above, but not all of it.

Firstly I don't think the DVD is studio quality, it seems to have been filmed in the corner of a night club with distracting mirrors and odd looking tables around.

Secondly I find Neil Henry, who I understand is the presenter of disk one, amazingly irritating. We get used to the spectator on DVDs going over the top with their praise, comments and oohhs and aahhs but this guy could win olympic gold in this discipline. I swear if Steve Dela had blown his nose he would have been praised lavishly and had the style of bringing out the handkerchief eulogised over.

Another down point for me is the way Steve "teaches" moves and sleights. It is all done in a side frame to the main trick being shown and whilst the camera angles are good there is no commentary to the teaching at all, just the video. I have found myself having to freeze frame the teaching sections to get any benefit from them

Thats the negatives.

On the positive side I like Steve and his performance style immensly. I had the pleasure of meeting him at Blackpool and seeing him perform a couple of effects from these disks. The centre tear effect which he does with a business card is superb. The peek is brilliant and the fact that you hand every single piece of the torn card back to the spectator impresses me although I am not sure if how impressive that is would be lost on the layman.

His 2 card Monte has a nice switch, I have long used the Oz Pearlman version from born to perform but I like the Dela version more.

The Ambitious Steve routine is a favourite of mine. I have been troubled by putting together a good ACR for ages, I find thet the DL comes in to play more often that I would want. True this version uses a good smattering of DLs but in a different way to the usual versions. It also has a great kicker ending with a card to wallet move.

All in all this was a purchase I am well pleased with. It has its weaknesses from my viewpoint but they wouldn't stop me from looking out for more Steve Dela work.