* SLEEVE STAR by David Jay / Wizard FX *
DVD and utility device gimmick
This is my first ever review though I've been on the site a few years now...
Check out the impressive trailor/demo here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-t6VXIhmw4
The Effect
For years sleeving has been a Holy Grail for many performers. David Jay is one of the world's greatest sleight of hand experts and has spent the last 20 years taking sleeving to a whole new level. Now Wizard FX Productions are proud to present the release of one of the most anticipated items to hit the magic community in recent years - Sleeve Star.
Sleeve Star is more than a trick. It's an incredible utility device that you can incorporate into your existing routines. Imagine closing your hand around a coin or a borrowed ring and then showing it has vanished and is now in the other hand which has been behind your back since the start of the performance! That is just one effect possible with Sleeve Star.
Sleeve Star includes a DVD with in-depth teaching on the art of sleeving as well as instructions on how to install and operate the Sleeve Star so that you can make the most of its limitless potential. Five of David's favorite routines are also explained.
Coin Teleportation - When Greg Wilson first saw Sleeve Star he helped David routine this effect and it's a KILLER. A signed coin vanishes with one hand and is found moments later in the other hand, which had been held behind the performer's back from the beginning of the routine. This can also be performed with borrowed rings and other objects.
Anniversary Coins - Following an in the hands transposition, two borrowed signed coins fuse together as one, freezing the moment of magic perfectly.
Coins Across - Imagine being able to perform a coins across with just three signed coins, no gimmicks, no gaffs, no extras. This is the cleanest version of the plot you will EVER see.
Coins To Pocket - Three signed coins travel from your hand into your pocket with no palming.
Signed Coin to Envelope - A signed coin vanishes and appears in a sealed envelope which has been on display from the beginning of the routine.
Please also note that this utility device can be used with jackets or shirts.
No sewing required. No strings, no pulls, no vacuums, no conveyer belts and no hidden female assistants.
Don't just sleeve. Be a SLEEVE STAR!
"I don't perform other people's material, but this I will do. I'm going to put one of these in every jacket I own!"
- Gregory Wilson
Cost
I bought mine (new) on ebay for £70 but otherwise:
http://www.dudethatscoolmagic.co.uk/aca ... d_Jay.html £95
http://www.magicbox.uk.com/sleeve-star.html £95
http://www.alakazam.co.uk/product-SLEEVESTAR.html £100
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)
If you can already sleeve without a problem, this has to be a 1 as the utility device does everything else.
If you can't sleeve but don't mind misdirecting while you ditch the object (less clean that way), again this has to be a 1.
If you want to perform this the cleanest way and you can't sleeve, it's more like 2-3, possibly even a 4, depending quite how hardcore you want to get with the sleeving. Some sleeving techniques are very difficult indeed, some less so.
Review
Basically, this is a utility device that enables you to vanish small objects from one hand to the other, even with (especially with) one hand behind your back. Sure, you can do that with sleight of hand and misdirection to some extent, but with this device you can place your (say) left hand behind your back while you're still showing the object in your right hand. (You can use this left or right handed.)
Installation is a bit fiddly but not overly so. I installed the device the first time in about half an hour, then transferred it elsewhere in about ten minutes I guess, though I didn't actually time it.
Three entirely different sleeving techniques are taught, one of which is very difficult indeed, and the other two are very easy.
I'm not going to go into the effects in detail as they're described quite well in the blurb and I can't really think what to add. Certainly they all play out as described. We all know what coin across etc look like. The difference here is that it's all so amazingly clean.
The DVD is awesome, just really high quality and thorough. I'd give the DVD 9.5 out of 10: it loses half a point because they could be a tiny bit clearer on some issues towards the end, but that's more like bonus material in a way.
The utility device itself I'd have to give 10 out of 10. The design is flawless, in my view, and the production quality is awesome.
The effects, 9-10. On the DVD, Craig Petty describes the Coin Across as 'the cleanest coin across ever'. Well, it's certainly hard to imagine how it could possibly be performed any cleaner than this.
The only problem that I can see with this effect (aside from the cost) is that since it involves sleeving, obviously you have to be a bit careful about what you wear. If you're happy to wear the right kind of clothing (I often like to wear two jumpers and a coat, whimp that I am!), that won't be a problem.
Overall, 10 out of 10 *IF* you have no clothing issues.
If you tend to wear a lot of layers, like me, you have to consider it more like 7 out of 10 because you'll be spending a lot of money on a product that you may only be able to use during the summer.
Anything I've missed out, let me know and I'll add it...
I'm not sure how much I'll end up using this personally due to the clothing issues, but I do think it's an amazing product. Expensive, yes, but so beautifully made.
