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Tony Razzano Inner circle South River, NJ 1600 Posts |
Allen Zingg’s Master Billet Course
A Review I received this in the mail a few weeks ago. There are four volumes that include five DVDs. Volume 1 is Peeks and Tears, Vol. 2 is Switchwork, Vol. 3 is Jazz Dancing, and VOl.4 is Q&A With Billets. All four volumes are packed with an incredible amount of techniques and material. All together over eight hours of viewing time. With so many techniques and methods, this is not something you will watch once and digest. It will take two or three viewings to really appreciate this body of work. And it is well worth the time invested. Besides teaching various methods from his own creative genius, Allen teaches methods created by such luminaries as Barrie Richardson, Richard Busch, Millard Longman, Docc Hilford and Bill Cushman. In most cases, there is a routine then the explanation of the method. Allen gives tips and subtleties for each method that very much enhance the handling. Multi cameras were used, always a good idea, and especially valuable in the explanations. In some cases, alternate handlings are given. The This is not simply a smorgasbord of billet techniques, but a well organized and themed set of lessons on each of dozens of techniques. Although you may use only a few of what is on this set, it is well worthwhile hearing the thinking that went into these techniques and some philosophy about billet work. Although there may be a few things on these DVDs that you know, Allen gives new ideas and handlings about an old idea or two. For example, Allen teaches the classic center tear…BUT..his idea, and another by Bill Cushman, on the handling of this is new and refreshing. This is only one of several examples. On Vol 2, the chapter titled Acting Naturally has very valuable advice on how to be natural and not put attention on the billet, nor give away by unnatural motions, the fact that you are hiding, opening, and/or closing a billet. Again, routines and methods plus more tips and subtleties. There is a version of Cassidy’s classic, Fourth Dimensional Telepathy (close up version on Vol 4). Vol 3 is devoted to Docc’s Dance of Shiva. “What?” you ask. “That’s too hard and how can there be so much time spent on it?” Well, let me tell you, Allen has streamlined the handling and has developed a plethora of ideas on the DOS, including a half billet technique a two halves /full (in which you see the entire billet one side at a time…routining makes it flow well) billet technique. And much more, including various types of paper to use. There is a new technique for DOS using paper rather than business cards and a few routines, including one called Time Machine. Very, very good. Vol 4 is devoted to Q & A (By the way, there is a separate Q&A on Vol. 3 using DOS). As Allen states on this DVD, this DVD assumes that you have a basic knowledge of switching. The backbone of the majority of these techniques, though, is the umbrella move and the RU switch. Although most know the umbrella move, Allen gives a couple of tips on it. The RU switch is a new switch from Allen. Very deceptive. Now you have the bases of most of the Q&A in this volume. Close quarters Q&A…at a dinner party, among friends at home…or at their place, etc. and there is a stand up Q&A also. There is a sealed message Q&A which is quite easy to do. There is a Holiday and Aura Q&A routine which I really like a lot. The Aura part combines legitimate readings with a Q&A. The routines are fun to watch and may or may not be your performing style, but they do illustrate the just how strong billet work is. (My favorite, by the way is “On the Record” in Vol. 1). The routines can stand on their own and they are also are designed to be used as a springboard for your own creative routines. At the end of each volume, there is a conversation between Allen and Kenton Knepper which I found most interesting. Two very creative minds! There are a few production issues. Some have reported that they cannot go from chapter to chapter on the DVDs. This happens to me on my computer, but when I play them on my regular DVD plyer, there is no problem. There is music running under Allen's explanations throughout, but I got used to it early in vol 1 and it seems not to be an issue for most, but it is there. The electronics are a bit funky, but the incredible wealth of information more than makes up for it. The breadth and scope of the material far outweighs the small glitches. I have left a LOT out. It would take me pages and pages to do this series justice. Allen wanted to show the versatility and power of billets, which he greatly accomplished. Allen is also one of the finest teachers I have seen on any mystery entertainment teaching tape/DVD. Everything is well explained and made very clear. $120.00 pp in the US, ( I don’t know about outside the US) directly from Allen, it’s one of the best bargains in mentalism.
Best regards,
<BR>Tony Razzano, Past President, PEA Winner of the PEA"s Bascom Jones and Bob Haines Awards |
Tom Cutts Staff Northern CA 5925 Posts |
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