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Darrin Cook Special user 621 Posts |
If you're the impatient type who can't be bothered reading a long review, but must immediately get to the seventh page of the Ninja Street Levitation thread, "Coin Ovations" is excellent, featuring cutting edge coin magic.
The DVD begins with Reed performing the 13 Coin Matrix in the studio. He starts with a magical production and vanish of four coins. These are more psychological, getting inside the spectator's head, rather than physical, using difficult sleights. These are two very wondrous moments. Reed then explains everything in detail, from loading coins under cards, the patter, the steal and load of the jumbo coin, to the aesthetically pleasing final display and alternate handlings. (You may also want to check out Jim Pace's 13 coin matrix, and incorporate his reverse matrix as part of the routine. By performing a matrix routine, the audience is misdirected from the fact that you are loading coins like crazy.) The 13 coin matrix is then performed in front of a live audience (that means no cameraman filming with one hand while holding out the other to "participate" in a trick, and no disembodied voice yelling out "three of spades" as a selection off-stage.). Despite the fact that everything has been tipped, it still looks magical. One of my concerns before getting the DVD is that it only has four routines; however, the routines are far more involved. Daryl's original "Elbow, Knee, and Neck" produces the coins from those three points on the body. Reed begins by magically producing the coins, vanishing them, then producing them from three different spots on the body. Like most of you, I am ho-hum about "magical" coin productions, but Reed really packs a whallop on these. The second production hit me like a sledgehammer between the eyes. On the third coin he does the hoary coin from pant leg and amazes with it. I just saw a tape of another magician doing the same production with an indifferent air of, "I know I'm not going to fool you with this, but I've got to produce this coin from somewhere." Reed's pant leg production shows me that he has thoroughly thought out every moment in a routine. Reed also teaches timing from the production of a coin to the next move. This is information I haven't seen anywhere else. Next Reed segues into "Scream Fly," which ends clean. Reed effectively destroys any thoughts of a fourth coin. "Elbow, Knee, and Neck" and "Scream Fly" are performed as a mini act. This provides a valuable lesson on routining, setting up an effect, transitioning into the next, ringing gaffs in and out, and building to a powerful conclusion. Most magic offerings are a bunch of effects, leaving the reader/viewer to try to figure out how the pieces might fit together. There is a sequence in "Scream Fly" that hits like a thunderbolt, even to a jaded 3 Fly viewer. In the live performances in front of a real audience (not amped up studio minions) Reed comes across as funny and engaging. I think this is a great lesson for all of us --you don't have to go into an over-the-top lunatic clown mode in order to be entertaining if you'll work hard, perform strong magic, and be comfortable with yourself. The last routine "International 3 Fly" is much more than just a 3 Fly routine. The coins not only fly from hand to hand, but coins suddenly change in startling ways. This makes the routine a highly visible Copper/Silver/Brass routine done at chest height. Whereas in most CSB routines the transformations are implied (i.e. "If I hold the copper and brass in my left hand, then the coin in my closed right hand must be...?"), the changes in this routine are visual and stunning. My only complaint is that this routine ends dirty. Of course, it's up to me to work out a handling that suits me. The question of difficulty is bound to arise. You needn't do every single moment of every routine on the DVD in order to benefit from it. I feel that this is the most accessible and the strongest material Reed has released. It has plenty of stunning "What the #$@!%?" moments in it. Curtis Kam has said of these effects that they are more ambitious than most material performed by tablehopping magicians, and I agree. I perform "Elbow, Knee, and Neck" and 3 Fly, and quite frankly I was embarassed, because I now see how much stronger these routines can be. Every week it seems that there is a new thread on 3 Fly in the coin section. If you're interested in coin magic, I don't see how you could afford to do without this DVD. |
manipulator Veteran user Houston, Texas 319 Posts |
Very nice review, Darrin! I think I'll be getting this DVD.
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Tony Veteran user Los Angeles 303 Posts |
No review necessary...I got the video--awesome!
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Andrew E. Miller Inner circle Southern California 1428 Posts |
Thanks you Mr. Cook. Great review. I cannot wait to own this. I have watched it, but I really want to get it.
Andrew |
Michael Peterson Inner circle is where I'm trapped, because of my 4071 Posts |
Reed sent me one of these, it is awesome! I would recommend this to anyone.
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Justin Flom Veteran user 325 Posts |
How difficult is the material if you've only studied a couple of coin routines such as Sankey's "Mr. Clean Coins Across"?? Is this really some knuckle busting stuff?
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Darrin Cook Special user 621 Posts |
If you can do "Mr Clean Coins Across" the last three effects are no problem. The hardest part of the 13 coin matrix is palming 7 coins at once, although I think it's possible to change the handling to suit your abilities. The last three effects are accessible to anyone who does a 3 fly effect.
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mjb16 Loyal user Ossining, New York 208 Posts |
GET IT!
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1908 Special user 882 Posts |
Excellent ideas!!!A must have especially if you are in coin magic.
Don't wait for the perfect moment...Take a moment and make it perfect!!!
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Reed McClintock V.I.P. 772 Posts |
I would like to just thank you guys, especially Darrin. The review is awsome. I think the positive feedback is really great to. If I may be honest and just open up a little bit. This video, I was really nervous about because video never ever captures the true essence of the magic especially coins. So your purchasing it and seeing the potentioal outside of the video and its applications in the real world really mean alot. Also you guys saying it in a public forum such as the Café really means alot to me and makes me feel really good about myself. Thank you all again.
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Jon Gallagher Veteran user Elmwood, Illinois 395 Posts |
I just got my copy of the DVD, and I was a little nervous. I love coin magic, but an incident at a recent convention showed me that I'm not in the same league with coin work as other magicians. I watched the performances first, then the explanations.
Will I be able to perform these sleights? Maybe. With a lot of work. Palm seven coins? Probably not, but that just means looking for another alternative. This is definitely NOT a DVD for beginners. I don't consider myself a beginner, yet some of the sleights here are more than I am ready for right now. Time to start working. The magic and manipulation of the coins is breathtaking. I was most impressed with the routine he did for a live audience at a table when he produced two large coins. My only other complaint is that I don't have everything necessary to do the International Three Fly routine. I'm also impressed with Reed's teaching style. He takes the explanations slowly, but not to the point of overkill. He's quick to point out angle problems and how to avoid them. He makes sure that the sleights he uses are gone over and thoroughly explained. As a former teacher myself, I find that a lot of instructional videos are done without a lot of attention given to whether or not the viewer will understand the material. All in all, I'd say this is a good investment, even if I never use one of the routines. My knowledge of coin magic has been enhanced and the chance that I may be able to harvest a routine is very very good. Thanks Reed. I appreciate your willingness to share with us. |
MrCyNic Loyal user England 238 Posts |
I think what impresses me most about the DVD is the fact that it's so much more than just a showcase for difficult sleights.
Previously, I'd have shied away from making individual drops from a seven-coin Classic Palm stack unless I were performing in a real low-pressure environment, but Reed makes the whole thing so practical. The move is just the best tool for the job and worth the effort of making it reliable under fire. The misdirection is first rate, but has a real naturalness to it. I don't mind admitting I was fooled badly by the sudden appearance of the coin stack in the centre of the table during 13 Coin Matrix. However, Reed's presentation precludes the "sucker" reaction that I try so hard to keep out of my own work. Outstanding magic. The real-world performance sections really serve to demonstrate how a routine can be adapted on-the-fly to suit whatever circumstances may arise. Again, everything Reed demonstrates is shown to be both practical and magical. This DVD is the best investment I've made in coin work in a long while. There's nothing in it that I wouldn't use, and I can see I'm going to get a great deal of mileage out of it. Cheers, Cy. |
Dan Watkins Inner circle PA 3028 Posts |
I just posted a review of this DVD at http://www.coinvanish.com
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Reed McClintock V.I.P. 772 Posts |
Thank you Dan that was a good review and fair to.
I wonder how many people have tried the international three fly. This is a very strong piece. |
Kyoki_Sanitys_Eclipse Inner circle 1513 Posts |
Great review for a great dvd.
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