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The Sankey/Skutt Sessions

This is a collection of 15 effects from Mike Skutt and Jay Sankey.

Cost: £22.99 from www.magictricks.co.uk (I got it shipped the next day for free and it arrived the day after that.)

Difficulty: I'd say 3/4
(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)


Review:

First of all, I’ve become a bit of a Sankey fan. Thanks to great reviews here (mainly from Seige) and what I've seen already. His humour occasionally irritates me but his teaching is great and the quality is great.

Mike Skutt I hadn't heard of him before and I was pleasantly surprised. Mike Skutt is as good as if not better than Sankey. If I could have this DVD with just the Sankey or just the Skutt tricks on I'd pick Skutt's tricks. He isn't as good of a teacher but Sankey helps throughout the DVD.

In fact, on a lot of the Sankey effects he says that Mike really helped the handling. Even on Anytime Anywhere (I also got this) Jay mentions Skutt and how he helped with a trick.

Those of you who know about this sort of stuff would probably question the production quality but I suppose thats part of the point.

THROUGH THICK AND THIN: Sankey - This is really a variation of Sankeys Ups and Downs but it uses a signed coin which first passes through the table cloth, then the table, then up through both.

SIAMESE CHANGE: Skutt - This is Mike Skutts version of the paint brush change - no gimmicks - first you take the queen of hearts brush it with the queen of diamonds and it changes to the queen of spades (classic paintbrush change.) However, the queen of diamonds has also changed to the queen of clubs they can be examined they're normal cards. Then straight away the same thing is repeated but they both change again. This is one of my favourite tricks on the DVD

NO WAY OUT: Sankey - This is great. A copper silver transposition but one coin is wrapped in clear tape - as much of it as you like.

MR TEA: Skutt - The date of a borrowed coin appears on a napkin when it is smeared with a tea bag I don't lioke this trick to much its probaly my least favourite.

SURFBOARD CHANGE: Sankey - A Card is shown - not the spectators, It is turned face down and placed on the other cards which have been ribbon spread. You turn the cards over twice and the card rides across back and forth. Then it is shown to have changed to the spectator's card. This is not a very strong effect but I might use it hear and there.

ODEON PRODUCTION: Skutt - The production of a sponge ball from the crease in a T- shirt. Unfortunately the performer has to have a T-shirt the same colour as the sponge ball and glasses with no lenses. Again not great, but this and MR tea are the worst in my opinion.

TRANSIENT: Sankey - Good strong effect in which a cross on a card and coin swap places and move around. I just don't like drawing on cards. I cant afford it. However, I have a new card buying system so now I can. When I pluck up the courage this will go in to my repertoire.

TWIST IN TIME: Sankey - Two twist ties un twist and fuse together nice little effect which I quite like.

COUPLE CARD: Skutt - Good effect if you work in restaurants and you see a couple together. This is a very strong effect. Can only really be done on a couple though.

JORGE WASHINGTON: Skutt - A card is stopped at as the magician deals down the deck, looked at, remembered and cut into the deck. A coin is then changed into a piece of card the same size as a coin with a club on (for example) the spectator confirms their card is a club then tells the magician which one. Their card is found and there is a coin shaped hole in the card - no extra cards used.

DUET: Sankey - The noise of a bell travels from one to another really nice effect. I’m off to buy some bells.

THE OL' COINUPTHENOSE TRICK: Skutt - I like this its nice to just do impromptu. I might do it as an 'expose' for the Messiah Vanish when I have them both mastered.

QUESTIONABLE: Sankey - A question mark drawn on a card changes a number of times with a great storyline.

DIRTY LAUNDRY: Skutt - a dryer sheet (I don't know if you can get these in England or it they go by the same name). Great effect I hope I can get one the dryer sheet is found as a 'mistake' is vanished reappears instead of a coin and the (they're sort of see through) a coin appears underneath it.

TWINKLE TOES: Skutt - A coin vanishes and is found in the performers sock. It would really have to be done in a relaxed impromptu style setting as it involves removing a sock.

Overall:

I really like this DVD I'm glad I bought it. It's perhaps a little over priced but it is good. 8or9/10

Also, I really hope Mike Skutt releases something of his own.

Gimmicks needed are DF and double backed cards (in two effects) and a TT. A basic card and coin knowledge required MW's complete course in magic would be fine, Bobo's book, Born To Perform RRTCM any of those things will do.

There are some funny interviews and comic tricks done as well.

EDIT: You need flash paper as well

NICE ONE PITTO

(see i replied....LOL)