Finally...

[wZEnigma]

Hey everyone. I'm ordering things for Christmas and have some things to consider. I got three purchases recently, although small D&D OnDemands, but this is the real deal. So far my list is as follows:

Art of Astonishment Vol. 3
The Paper Engine
Hiding the Elephant
Strong Magic
2 Bee Stingers
2 Tally-Ho Circle Backs, 1 R 1 B
Extreme Burn
Aquarius

Now I know some of you will say, "That's enough right there!" Well, I want to make a large purchase that's enough to last for a loooong time. I'm thinking about getting more cards, but haven't decided yet. I'm basically looking for anything but books, although if there are a few good ones I've missed then say. I think the books I have will keep me busy for a while. Basically I'm looking for DVDs, cards, or maybe downloads/PDFs.

Things I'm considering:

TWO or THREE by D+M
Genesis
Bullet Coin Through Bottle
Pressure
Surfaced
Static
Reflections
Andthensome
A good torn and restored (?)

Anything else that's good let me know.

Ian

 

[MillionaireMike]

Best Torn and restored is... Newsflash it is a little pricey but its freaking Wicked!!! Thats if you want a newspaper one.

 

[wZEnigma]

Best Torn and restored is... Newsflash it is a little pricey but its freaking Wicked!!! Thats if you want a newspaper one.

I meant torn and restored card.

Ian

 

[mayniac]

I've heard Rehab by Camerorn Francis is a really good, almost angle-proof torn and restored card. I've been meaning to pick it up for a while...

 

[penguincdude]

I didn't like the method for bullet coin through bottle. Basically, the website almost lies to convince you that the method is different than it actually is. Also, the signed coin version isn't too good. I'd prefer Factory Sealed that Bullet. I REALLY enjoy pressure. I perform it all the time and it gets phenomanal reactions. Some people say it's too obvious and they're always caught but they really just need to practice their presentation. Also, it's not such a good idea to repeat it. Surfaced teaches a really good move (the clipshift) but it is VERY hard and will take A LOT of practice. My favorite torn and restored to date is Daniel Garcia's TORN. It will take some practice for concealment but other than that it's amazing.

 

[christian1]

I second the motition about Daniel Garcia's torn. Best, most practical Torn and restored card I have ever seen,

Christian

 

[wZEnigma]

Probably picking up Pressure.

Torn is a bit too much for what I'd like to pay for a TNR. I'd like to get TNR, oddly enough, as it looks amazing. But any cheaper ones? $33 is too much. I'd get a DGP for that.

Ian

 

[praetoritevong]

Hey everyone. I'm ordering things for Christmas and have some things to consider. I got three purchases recently, although small D&D OnDemands, but this is the real deal. So far my list is as follows:

Art of Astonishment Vol. 3
The Paper Engine
Hiding the Elephant
Strong Magic
2 Bee Stingers
2 Tally-Ho Circle Backs, 1 R 1 B
Extreme Burn
Aquarius

Now I know some of you will say, "That's enough right there!" Well, I want to make a large purchase that's enough to last for a loooong time. I'm thinking about getting more cards, but haven't decided yet. I'm basically looking for anything but books, although if there are a few good ones I've missed then say. I think the books I have will keep me busy for a while. Basically I'm looking for DVDs, cards, or maybe downloads/PDFs.

Things I'm considering:

TWO or THREE by D+M
Genesis
Bullet Coin Through Bottle
Pressure
Surfaced
Static
Reflections
Andthensome
A good torn and restored (?)

Anything else that's good let me know.

Ian

Two or Three - see other thread. If you take time on this, and are interested in developing your own material, this could be worth it.

Genesis - If you like that sort of thing, it's a good investment.

Bullet - Come up with your own method. It's probably just as good. There was only one thing on the DVD that I thought was worth money - a particular tip, but I'm sure it's published elsewhere. I bought this before I knew anything about magic. Pass.

Pressure - Don't bother. You know something's crap when it gets forgotten after a month. No-one's stopped talking about Vernon, have they? And he's not even alive. It's an average trick (Could be worse), but it won't have any lasting value. Pass.

Surfaced - Ew, Clipshift. What a silly move. If you like it as a colour change, and are prepared to pay for just the colour change, go ahead (keeping in mind that other colour changes sell for $5-10). But I've always maintained that whilst the Clipshift may have other uses... It doesn't do them particularly well. So you can palm a card using the move? Just read Erdnase instead. So you can control a card using the move? Just read Erdnase instead. The Clipshift is a jack of all trades, master of none move (arguable, colour change aside). And for serious magicians, it's the master of none part which is the important part. Pass.

Static - There are better haunted decks out there. With more bang for your buck. Pass.

Reflection - The DVD is called REFLECTION, not ReflectionS. I don't know anything about this though, although, just from what I've seen and heard, I'd consider it the best magic DVD available from D&D. I think it's worth the leap of faith.

Andthensome - A lot of my friends have it. None of them like it. They all have great fun performing the exact same moves as each other ad nauseam though. And never perform the material. Pass.

T&R - My preferred one is The Reformation by Guy Hollingworth. Because it's included in such a fantastic book, this has the potential to be the best purchase on that list of yours (competing with AoA, and beneath Strong Magic).

Anything else - Vernon. Marlo. Elmsley. Wonder. Carney. Ascanio. All of them crap on most of the things on your list (I mean that with no disrespect to you personally). But if they're what you want, I won't dissuade you, and my opinions above are honest ones.

 

[willabbotsm]

Beyond Secrets from Jay Sankey is a great book about magic theory, and it will probably help you.

Frank Sistrini's Stolling Pouch is a good investment

A Half Dollar shell from Johnson is essential, if you don't already have one.

Stars of Magic is a good book.

Jay Sankey's Anytime Anywhere is awesome, because it's all impromtu with borrowed objects. Awesome stuff.

 

[Sherlock]

I second everything Prae mentioned, and I couldn't remember which torn and restored it was but the one you mentioned is what I consider amazing.

The only other one I would consider just wonderful is VDP, but that's of course opinion more than anything.

 

[Austin Fields]

I'd say skip surfaced, it's a DVD you DON'T NEED, trust me. Invest in a few more books, there are some great books D&D make available on their website, but the classics like the ones previously mentioned are things that will last you FOREVER, and always give you something new to work on.

If you can find a copy of Absolute Magic it is easily one of the greatest reads about performance out there, something every magician should have on his book shelf. It will ACTUALLY (not like the selling phrase) but ACTUALLY take your magic to the next 5 or 6 levels. I can't say enough about that book.

AOA is a great buy, and it's really, really inventive, out of the box card magic.

excuse the pun.

~Beans

 

[praetoritevong]

@ Sherlock: VDP is one of those love it but would never use it ones in my mind. On one hand, the idea is brilliant, and it looks amazing, and at least to magicians, it looks insane. On the other, the amount of work you have to do is quite large too from what I hear, and I have to ask of the concept, why?

 

[Haunter]

I saw you had 2 and 3 on the list. Why not just order Inside? Its an actual print book which contains all 13 of his pdfs in one book. Some of the effects are removed though. They list all the effects that are included...says 95 in total. I ordered it and got a discount code for future pdf purchases of 30% off which is pretty nice so if you do still want to get the pdfs they'd be cheaper at least or you could use it on future pdf releases. First edition sold out in a week I'm not sure what the story is on the second edition or how many editions there will be but I ordered my copy. Only downside is it ships from the UK so its highly doubtful you would get it by Christmas

Also, I just ordered By Forces Unseen after seeing videos of several effects from the book. Would anyone recommend it?

 

[Sherlock]

VDP is one of those for a performance, I certainly wouldn't recommend for a working environment but rather maybe something else. If you have a paid gig for a parlour type of situation or just a few people watching, then you will find no better torn and restored signed transpo.

 

[LLin]

I wondered why no one brought this up for T&R. Maybe because its very very old?

http://www.magicshop.co.uk/p2527/Four_-_By_Huron_Low_-_DVD/product_info.html

Four by Huron Low.

 

[wZEnigma]

I don't know what VDP is.

Haunter, Inside's just too expensive to justify buying that much D+M stuff.

Surfaced looks really good, actually.

And I don't just want a T&R, guys, read the thread please. It's cool to recommend stuff but don't limit it to just that.

Ian

 

[Sherlock]

Freezer Burn
AM/PM

Two great products that aren't just all cards, both are great and full of killer effects I would recommend to anyone.

I'm tired of people thinking clipshift is the leetbbqsauce. It isn't bad, but it's one move that has a few variety of ways to use it, which can be done other ways that certainly don't require six months to a year of hard practice.

 

[Haunter]

I think some of the tricks in surfaced are pretty amazing. Like criterion, rum jungle, tricycle. The clipshift itself is so fair and visual as a color change and I feel like it has a lot of utility. The first time I saw it done well it sincerely amazed me and I would love if I could make my spectators feel like that.

I think its important to understand it probably will take a long time before you can do it. I just say if you really like it then get the vid and only watch how to do the clipshift first. Go about learning whatever else you want to learn and at some point during your practice sessions practice the clipshift. Like start with a deck of 40 cards and just clipshift your way through the whole deck once. That way you can still progress in whatever else interests you and you'll eventually build your skill. That will probably help you stick to practicing it anyway because I'd imagine it would be frustrating only practicing one thing every. single. day. and not being able to actually do it in performance.

You can definitely work to add the move to your repertoire without crippling your progress elsewhere.

 

[Mr.MadMan]

Past Midnight 1 & 2, possibly 3 too.

Mikk.

 

[praetoritevong]

VDP is a signed corner by corner transposition/change between two cards by John Van Der Put and Alakazam Magic.