Matt Sconce and Papercrane Productions have released a new effect, Spin.
The ad copy:
The effect:
Borrow a pen, grab a salt shaker, set the pen onto the salt shaker and focus your gaze onto it. The pen begins to spin, gathering speed until momentum forces it off the salt shaker. The pen is returned cleanly to the owner and they cannot duplicate the effect.
It doesn't have to be a pen, either. Matt shows how to do this with a pen, a VHS tape, CD or DVD case, a pair of scissors, a case of dental floss and a large kitchen knife, and that's just what he had laying around. There are no gimmicks whatsoever, it is completely impromptu.
I was around when Matt was developing this idea and I must say, it looks good and people react to it. We as magicians will guess the method, but this isn't intended to fool magicians. It's intended to fool lay audiences, and it does, and it does it well.
The DVD/Download:
Matt begins by explaining how the effect works, which objects work for this effect, and why. That way you can use whatever you find laying around if it's suitable.
He moves on to talk about the limitations of the effect. What objects won't work, what ambient conditions will stop it from working well, etc.
Next he talks about the best conditions for maximum effect. Surfaces, materials, etc.
Then he explains how to set it up. The setup is very simple and takes maybe 3 seconds. This can be done right in front of the spectator, before you approach the spectator, or with misdirection, and Matt goes over each option thoroughly.
After the setup, he talks about how to make it most convincing. How to position yourself, and how to move, to make it seem most magical.
Up until this point, mostly things have been taught using a regular Bic Round Stic Grip pen. Now he goes on to explain how to do the effect with larger objects (CD Case, DVD Case, VHS tape), how to cover the set up and such. He explains his method of making the larger object's motion more convincing, and why larger objects make the effect really seem incredible. There's a very slightly different handling for very small objects, and Matt covers that as well. By this time, you've been told how to walk into a room without any props whatsoever and start moving a large range of objects at will.
After all that explanation, he gives more pointers for misdirection, and some additional ways to present the effect.
That ends Matt's section.
At that point, Shaun Dunn of Papercrane Productions teaches a sort of gypsy-themed card selection effect, using the principle of Spin. This would be a nice effect to play with at the diner or restaurant and I liked the alternative presentation to just making things move. In this, you use a pen resting freely on a sugar jar or salt shaker to determine a spectator's card.
Then we get an extra effect by Shane Black. I think this may be my favorite of the presentations on the DVD. A card is selected and lost in the deck. Five bottle caps (or spoons, or whatever. You'll know what will work by this point) are laid out on the table, and five indifferent cards are laid face down on those. A final indifferent card is moved slowly over the cards, until finally the selection makes itself known by moving on the bottle cap.
Overall, I think this has really developed the concept behind the effect. It's not a new method, and some resources are given at the end of the DVD, but it is an exploration of an old method. I've never seen it taken to this level, and I've never seen objects as large as VHS tapes moved with this concept.
I learned the basic technique a couple months ago and have been toying with it every since. I now include a bic pen with the rest of my 'just in case' magic supplies whenever I leave the house, because people love seeing me do this. My favorite way to use this is when I'm out and about, and there's a large group of people talking. I'll set it up right in front of people (no one notices) and just start making the pen spin while everyone is talking and laughing. With just that, no script or anything, I've silenced rooms, followed by, "What the ..."
Matt's teaching is very thorough. He could have made this a twenty minute DVD, but he wants you to be very informed about how and why everything works. He can be goofy, but it doesn't get in the way of the clarity of the instruction, kind of like Wayne Houchin and Daniel Garcia can get.
I just double checked the price at Papercrane and see that they're offering the instant download of Spin plus the free instant download of Power Word: Fall when you pre-order the DVD of Spin. The price is $24.95 for the DVD or instant download, or $32.95 for both.
To wrap it up, I think that anyone interested in completely impromptu PK effects will enjoy Spin. I know I have.
The ad copy:
Papercrane said:
The effect:
Borrow a pen, grab a salt shaker, set the pen onto the salt shaker and focus your gaze onto it. The pen begins to spin, gathering speed until momentum forces it off the salt shaker. The pen is returned cleanly to the owner and they cannot duplicate the effect.
It doesn't have to be a pen, either. Matt shows how to do this with a pen, a VHS tape, CD or DVD case, a pair of scissors, a case of dental floss and a large kitchen knife, and that's just what he had laying around. There are no gimmicks whatsoever, it is completely impromptu.
I was around when Matt was developing this idea and I must say, it looks good and people react to it. We as magicians will guess the method, but this isn't intended to fool magicians. It's intended to fool lay audiences, and it does, and it does it well.
The DVD/Download:
Matt begins by explaining how the effect works, which objects work for this effect, and why. That way you can use whatever you find laying around if it's suitable.
He moves on to talk about the limitations of the effect. What objects won't work, what ambient conditions will stop it from working well, etc.
Next he talks about the best conditions for maximum effect. Surfaces, materials, etc.
Then he explains how to set it up. The setup is very simple and takes maybe 3 seconds. This can be done right in front of the spectator, before you approach the spectator, or with misdirection, and Matt goes over each option thoroughly.
After the setup, he talks about how to make it most convincing. How to position yourself, and how to move, to make it seem most magical.
Up until this point, mostly things have been taught using a regular Bic Round Stic Grip pen. Now he goes on to explain how to do the effect with larger objects (CD Case, DVD Case, VHS tape), how to cover the set up and such. He explains his method of making the larger object's motion more convincing, and why larger objects make the effect really seem incredible. There's a very slightly different handling for very small objects, and Matt covers that as well. By this time, you've been told how to walk into a room without any props whatsoever and start moving a large range of objects at will.
After all that explanation, he gives more pointers for misdirection, and some additional ways to present the effect.
That ends Matt's section.
At that point, Shaun Dunn of Papercrane Productions teaches a sort of gypsy-themed card selection effect, using the principle of Spin. This would be a nice effect to play with at the diner or restaurant and I liked the alternative presentation to just making things move. In this, you use a pen resting freely on a sugar jar or salt shaker to determine a spectator's card.
Then we get an extra effect by Shane Black. I think this may be my favorite of the presentations on the DVD. A card is selected and lost in the deck. Five bottle caps (or spoons, or whatever. You'll know what will work by this point) are laid out on the table, and five indifferent cards are laid face down on those. A final indifferent card is moved slowly over the cards, until finally the selection makes itself known by moving on the bottle cap.
Overall, I think this has really developed the concept behind the effect. It's not a new method, and some resources are given at the end of the DVD, but it is an exploration of an old method. I've never seen it taken to this level, and I've never seen objects as large as VHS tapes moved with this concept.
I learned the basic technique a couple months ago and have been toying with it every since. I now include a bic pen with the rest of my 'just in case' magic supplies whenever I leave the house, because people love seeing me do this. My favorite way to use this is when I'm out and about, and there's a large group of people talking. I'll set it up right in front of people (no one notices) and just start making the pen spin while everyone is talking and laughing. With just that, no script or anything, I've silenced rooms, followed by, "What the ..."
Matt's teaching is very thorough. He could have made this a twenty minute DVD, but he wants you to be very informed about how and why everything works. He can be goofy, but it doesn't get in the way of the clarity of the instruction, kind of like Wayne Houchin and Daniel Garcia can get.
I just double checked the price at Papercrane and see that they're offering the instant download of Spin plus the free instant download of Power Word: Fall when you pre-order the DVD of Spin. The price is $24.95 for the DVD or instant download, or $32.95 for both.
To wrap it up, I think that anyone interested in completely impromptu PK effects will enjoy Spin. I know I have.
