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Jack Poulin Regular user Canada 186 Posts |
I had the pleasure to meet Chad Long for the very first time at the MAXX convention in Newark last June and became a fan instantly. The guy is funny as hell and "Uberly" talented. He's an incredible creator and on top of that, one of the nicest human being that you will ever met.
Before I go into greater details let me mention the only little "negative" point of this DVD set. This was shot many years ago and the picture is not HD. The most important thing is that this doesn't prevent you from learning the kick ass/practical/real world magic taught there. As a side note, the first DVD was shot in 1997, the second in 2001, and the third in 2008. So you know that this is not something Chad quickly put on the market to make a quick buck by putting "filler" in. It was literally 11 years in the making and all this material has been thoroughly tested for real audience and most of it is still in his current repertoire. Chad is a worker and it shows. Simply put, this is one of the best DVD set I ever bought during my 25 years doing magic, one that has to be in every magician's library, so don't pass this one out because you'll really miss something great. DVD 1 Black-Red-Blank : This one needs a set-up, albeit an easy one that you can do in front of spectators while talking. You begin by showing all cards being black, then they all turn red, then they're all blank. The display of the "all blacks" and "all reds" is really convincing. It uses a move which I never heard about and that you'll master in no time. At the end they're half black/ half red and you're in a perfect position to perform Chad's oil and water routine. Oil and water : It uses 4 black cards and 4 red cards. It's very (and I mean VERY) clean. He mixes the cards in alternate colors, and they separate without any visible moves. Very clever and easy to follow. Not hard to do. Full deck oil and water : The name says it all. You take a bunch (4-8) of red cards on top of which you very cleanly place a bunch (4-8) of black cards, and so on, until all cards are used. At the end, all the cards separate without having to do any manipulation at all because you really are "ahead" big time. The only move used here is really something that's worth learning, it has many applications and is totally invisible. Chris Kenner is credited for the move making this effect possible. Another rumor : This one needs a little work since there is a couple of sleights needed to succeed but it's worth it since the effect is very strong. You begin by showing the four aces which you leave on the table. A card is selected. The ace with the same suit as the selected card now turns face down, then this ace is found in the deck. At the end all four aces change into the the 4 cards of the same value as the selected card. Strong stuff. Coins from purse : A practical and magical way of producing 4 coins using a small coin purse before any routine that requires them. Another real world fooler. Not too hard. Okito Reversembly : This one is worth the price of the entire set. The name says "Okito" but you really need a Boston Box to perform it. The routine is well within the reach of the average coin magician. It's not for beginners but it's not knuckle busting either. I was badly fooled the first time I saw this and so will your spectators. This is my new favorite practical/mind boggling matrix effect. The Boston box add an extra layer of impossibility while being an interesting and classy element that allows for an even stronger outcome compared to "coins and cards" only matrix. This is another worker and the climax is "reputation building" material. Pure genius. Y.A.C. : This a collector's effect. You show the four kings which you place on the table. Then, 3 selected cards are cleanly lost in the deck. The 3 selections ends up interlaced between the kings on the table. This is not that hard to do and it's very strong. The vanishing finger ring : You cleanly show a ring on your finger, front and back. With a little gesture towards it, the ring visually vanish faster than you can say "go". This will fool layman for sure. Not a full routine but something that you can implement into one. The shuffling lesson : You give half the deck to the spectator, you keep the other. You teach the spectator how to shuffle. Both the magician and the spectator are shuffling at the same time, the spectator mimicking the magician. At the end both are dealing the cards in four piles. There are 4 kings on the top of the magician's piles and 4 aces on top of the spectator's. Simple, easy, direct and clever. I really like effects where the spectators gets the applause, this is one of them. Flash coins : This is the routine that inspired Eric Jones with his own version. It's a very visual way of producing 3 coins in a flash of fire. At the end 2 of them are placed openly into a purse and the last one vanish in a flash only to be found in the purse with the first 2 coins. Looks like CGI, very visual, it's practical and not a knuckle buster. DVD 2 Thud : This one is really funny. It uses the "bounce no bounce" principle. Chad introduce a small rubber ball which he drops a couple times and the ball bounce normally. He then tell the spectator to bounce the ball and the higher it will go, the more magic he will perform. Spectator tries and the ball stays down, very funny gag to begin a show. Fuzzy Fuzzy : Another funny gag to open a show, but you can also perform it anytime in your act. You show a clean lint brush on both side, casually cleaning your close up mat or clothes with it. When you try it on the spectators clothes it becomes filled with hair, black dust, etc. Very funny and visual gag. It uses a simple and deceptive move that we all perform and it is very easy to built the gimmick. Stretching silver : You can use your own coin or you can borrow one. You visually stretch a coin to at least twice its width. It's over in a second but it's a nice visual effect that can be inserted in almost any coin routine. Easy to do and very original. Even money : This is a wild coin routine using 3 silver dollar which changes to Chinese coins. After they change, they are placed in a coffee cup. You then snap your fingers and the coins in the cup changes back to silver. This has a couple of very visual moments. Will need a little work to perform smoothly but the reward will be high. 4 : You show the 2 Jokers and you place one in the deck leaving the other on the table. After a little "ambitious" sequence the "in deck" Joker find the 3 kings, and with a snap of the finger the tabled Joker change to the last king. Scatter : You show four coins, four cards. You place the cards on the table. The coins disappears only to be found under the cards. It's a fast self contained effect but this can lead to a matrix effect if you like. Talk to the hand : You took out the 2 jokers and the spectator put his hand on them. You then shuffle the cards and cut to the first ace which you place on the table, same thing for the second and third ace. When the fourth ace is found you perform a short "ambitious" sequence with it. When you're done you place this last ace under the spectator's hand with the 2 jokers. The 3 tabled aces now changes to Jokers and the 4 aces are found under the spectator's hand. Need a little work, but this is extremely strong and well worth the time needed to master it. Al Dente : This is Chad's version of the "swallowing razor blades" trick. You eat an uncooked (you really eat it) piece of spaghetti which you broke into lots of pieces. You then start to "choke" and reach into your mouth with empty hands and remove a fully restored piece of spaghetti. Chad end it by having it completely disappear in his nose but there are other way of ending it if you like. You can for exemple, put it back in the spaghetti box. A real fooler and it's very entertaining. Double snap : You have a rubber band examined. You then broke it once, then twice, so you have an half of it in each hands. You then restore it in a blink of the eye by trowing the pieces in mid-air between the hands. A nice impromptu trick. Not a reputation maker but if you like strong/impromptu magic, this one fits the bill. Catch-up : This is a very funny/baffling teleportation and vanishing of ketchup bottles using 2 paper bags. Perfect for stage or cabaret. Chad produce the first bottle in his shoe but unfortunately this part is not explained. He gives the reference to learn it though. The card from the wall : This is one of Chad's signature effect. He teach how to visibly pull a card from a wall or any hard surface. This really look like the real thing. I'd say that at 6 feet or more, the illusion is as perfect as perfect can be and look almost look like CGI. No gimmick needed. DVD 3 Ace to Queens : You find the ace of spades after shuffling the cards. Then a short and strong "ambitious" sequence follow. After this short burst of impossibility. The ace change visibly into four queens. This is hard to describe and you have to see it to fully appreciate it. Not for the faint of heart. Lots of practice needed. A little knacky, but you'll be rewarded with a routine that will establish you instantly as a card master in front of your audience. 1 hand - 4 coins : This is VERY visual. Think "shadow coins" but with only one hand. You need "a little something" to perform it but most magician already have it. Looks exactly the same as "Hysteria" which Chad put on the market a couple weeks ago. Since I never bought this (Hysteria) I can't confirm 100% but to me the effect looks exactly the same. A pure gem and worth the price of admission. Something you will perform. A little practice is needed but nothing too hard to master. Oh no you didn't : You take out any 4 "wild cards" in the deck. You leave them face down on the table. You have a card selected and lost. You go back to the 4 wild cards and you show them one at a time to be the selection without saying a thing about it. For the spectator this is a funny and bizarre moment. Then the 4 wild cards change into the 4 aces, which then changes into a single card, the selection. Aces are nowhere to be found. VERY strong and commercial magic. Another killer. Magic snack : If you feel hungry while performing, why not eat a card ? lol This is Chad's take on the card eating plot. It looks exactly as he's really eating the card, one bite at a time. It's equally strong as it is funny. Not hard to do but requires good acting abilities. Magic snack Bonus : This is even crazier/funnier because this time you eat the whole deck. You really place the whole deck in your mouth, you chew and "swallow". You need a inexpensive gimmick to perform it. If you don't mind playing with your food in front of your audience, this one is for you. Flash Candle : This is a beautiful production of a candle in a flash of fire. You need to buy the "special something" to perform it. This can be integrated in any musical stage act or when a candle in needed in a routine. Travelling kings : Four kings are used (they can be signed). You cleanly place them in four different location in the deck and instantly produce them in a fan while the deck is taking away. You repeat the procedure, leave the deck on the table, and immediately produce the 4 kings in one of your back pocket. This happen fast and you really don't see it coming. You then proceed with a beautiful multiple vanishes sequence and the four kings are now found in four different pockets. Not ideal for cocktail work as the angles are a little hard but in the right conditions this is something that will really entertain and baffle them. 22 : A card is selected and lost, you then cut, shuffle, saying that the card is now 34 from the top, you cut again saying that it is now 29, then 21. You then say that the selected card is now on top after you cut one last time, you show it and it's not there, hum hum, " What was your card ?" "Seven of spades" "Oh, the seven of spades is 22 from the top so let me put another card on top". You take an indifferent card anywhere in the deck and place it on top. That's a weird and funny moment. The card on the table which was not the selected card now change into it. This is easy to do and they never see the finale coming because it's so unusual. Another commercial and fun trick to do. Crochet : An original way of producing a silk. You literally "produce" one in front of them because you're knitting one ! Yes yes, you read correctly. Anytime a silk is needed you can make one in front of them. Really looks impossible. Not hard to do. Commercial magic at its best. Magician vs Gambler : You place the four kings in four different spots in the deck. You then shuffle, cut, the usual stuff. Everything is very clean. You then cut the deck in 4 different ways, finding the kings in a rapid succession of "better than the last" production. The four kings are now turned over, and they changes into the four aces. The plot is very interesting but be prepared to put some work in it. Once mastered, you'll have a real gem in your repertoire. This is a reputation maker. So, there you have it. I know that this was a long read but I really wanted to give a good description of everything. I'm sorry if I omitted a detail or two, this was a huge review to write. Since English is not my first language, I apologize for any semantic mistakes I may have made. This set is of extreme value and have my highest recommandation. Feel free to ask questions, I'll be more than happy to answer. Available on Chad's website for 25$ each or 60$ for the whole set. A steal. http://www.chadlongmagic.com/page8/page5/dvds.html Jack |
Steven Leung Inner circle found the Magic Rainbow after 1614 Posts |
Had a chance to meet Chad a few years back when he performed on cruise ship and stay in Hong Kong for a night. What a worker full of chops and top level sleight of hand skill. I still recalled get the first two disc in VHS tapes back in early 2000.
Maybe Chad should consider to refilm them with updates on handling via Penguin / Murphy's or even EMC... I definitely think that will make the new generation know what is the meaning of worker materials instead of keep spoon feed by trailers of products which will never did the same thing in live performance.
Most memorable moment - with Maestro Juan Tamariz & Consuelo Lorgia in FISM Busan 2018.
"Being fooled by a trick doesn't always mean they are having a good time" - Homer Liwag https://hhpresents.com/ https://www.glitchstudiohk.com/ |
Vraagaard Inner circle Copenhagen, Denmark 1479 Posts |
I agree, would be really good if Char Could reproduce his DVD’s or release them via a European dealer. Can only find them on his web page.
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Steven Leung Inner circle found the Magic Rainbow after 1614 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 10, 2019, Vraagaard wrote: Years ago saw some photos took by Dan and Dave they had project with Chad Long, sadly they no longer in magic business and the project now in dark. Hope another magic company will take over that and made it into light some day.
Most memorable moment - with Maestro Juan Tamariz & Consuelo Lorgia in FISM Busan 2018.
"Being fooled by a trick doesn't always mean they are having a good time" - Homer Liwag https://hhpresents.com/ https://www.glitchstudiohk.com/ |
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