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christhegeek New user 5 Posts |
Oddballs is a new DVD on "Advanced Visual Spongeball Technique".
Before I get started, I want to say that I work for a magic store and so, in the interest of keeping reviews unbiased, I don't usually post on public forums. Also as a result of working for a magic store, I get to see some things that others might not get to. I wanted to write this review because it has been a long time since a really good and very different sponge DVD has hit the market and I wanted everyone here at the Magic Café to know about it. Oddballs features several variations on some very original moves created by Scott Strange. The thing that struck me right away was that he wasn't using a standard set of four balls of the same size and color. Instead he uses his unique handlings to make balls change color, shape and size. The training portion of the DVD was shot in greenscreen. Close-up over-the-shoulder shots are superimposed as the move is being described. This created a great coverage of the moves being discussed and allows you to take in what you should be seeing and what the audience should be seeing at the same time. Strange's teaching was pretty well thought out and entertaining. He would give a quick overview of the move and then go into detail on the move, giving tips along the way. I'm not a very patient learner (it's something I'm working on) so this method appealed to me. I was able to attempt the move right away and then improve upon it as I went along. All the while Strange threw in his dry brand of humor. The DVD boasts that the moves taught on it are very advanced and take a lot of practice. I don't think that anyone with a background in sponge magic will find any of this stuff overwhelmingly hard. It's challenging, but mostly just because it is new. The hardest move for me to learn was one where a spongeball is handed to a spectator in such-and-such way. I thought, "How the heck am I going to practice this thing?" But then I remembered having the same problem when I first learned sponge magic. So, it's not really that hard of a problem to overcome. The material itself is very exciting stuff. Sponge magic is always a crowd pleaser. Imagine making it even more visual. The Strange Change which is featured heavily on the DVD has you changing the color of a ball in plain sight. These moves are very valuable tools if you use sponge balls in your act. I have tested out the material and it gets great reactions. Laypeople love it and magicians too, Dean Dill, Aaron Fischer, Paul Harris and Tim Trono have all had great things to say about the routines. We liked the DVD so much that we asked Scott if we could do an exclusive with it. All of the details on the DVD and a trailer can be found at Magic Geek. |
insight Inner circle 3095 Posts |
How does this compare to the sponge ball DVD from Noblezada?
Regards, Mike |
crestfallenLyric Veteran user 307 Posts |
This looks great! Color changes in spongeball are a vastly underused technique and this looks really good. Funny demo too!
"It is better for a man to honor his profession, than to be honored by it." - Robert-Houdin
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christhegeek New user 5 Posts |
Mike: They both have a similar style of teaching, but the material is completely different. I feel like one complements the other. Using both DVDs you could come up with some pretty epic sponge magic.
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insight Inner circle 3095 Posts |
Thanks for the insights, Chris. I am planning on visiting your shop soon!
Regards, Mike |
Tim Trono Inner circle 1114 Posts |
Scott sent me a copy of his Oddball DVD quite some time ago and I was surprised and amazed. I was not familiar with Scott but I was beyond impressed with every aspect of this from the production to the material. I thought I had about seen it all in regards to sponge balls but I was wrong. Some great ideas, routines, etc. I was recently in Los Angeles and showed one of the ideas to Dean Dill and he loved it and was immediately adding it into his working repertoire. I've also shown a few of these ideas with Scott's OK to Craig Petty, Paul Harris, etc. and they all raved about the ideas. So if you do spongeballs you will find some new ideas here you will USE. Make sure you check out the OC transpo.. this is one of those things that is brilliant and you just think "why didn't someone think of this before?" The production on this DVD is fun, well done, and exceptional. This is the best spongeball DVD I have seen. I look forward to seeing more work by Scott... if this is any indication of what he has in store we should all be very happy. Make sure you check out this superb DVD. Recommended.
Tim |
christhegeek New user 5 Posts |
You know what, we like Oddballs so much that we decided to base a giveaway around it. Check out Magic Geek for more information.
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Tim Trono Inner circle 1114 Posts |
Don't pass this DVD up. If you have never done sponge balls you will add some of Scott's work to your repertoire after watching this. If you do spongeballs you will end up switching to one of Scott's routines. This is the best DVD I have seen on spongeball magic.
Tim |
superpixel Regular user Knoxville, TN 133 Posts |
I was in a shop today and passed on Oddballs. Time to reconsider -- thanks for the review! I've always loved sponge ball magic but felt it had grown a little stale. To be honest, I love Sponge by Noblezada but there's almost too much repetition (meaning, more of the same over and over). This sounds different, and I like that!
-- superpixels / victor / banana wizard --
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Craig Petty V.I.P. UK 2298 Posts |
If its any help myself and David Penn reviewed this DVD in this weeks Wizard Product Review Show. You can watch the show at the link below
http://www.worldmagicstore.com/product_i......69ooiih5 Craig |
superpixel Regular user Knoxville, TN 133 Posts |
Bought it. Love it. Production values are great -- every magic DVD should be like this. Study the classics, then get Noblezada and Strange and you're master of the sponge. Uh, with a lot of practice and routining
-- superpixels / victor / banana wizard --
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funnyclown Elite user Burlingame, CA 494 Posts |
It's a very short 25 minute DVD but well worth every minute. Scott Strange makes sponge balls fun again! Watching the DVD and learning the moves really gets you excited to try these moves out in the public. Must add to your magic DVD collection.
Mike Ianneo
Funnybone Magic "Defender of the Defenseless One Balloon Dog" https://www.funnybonemagic.com |
darkdean Regular user 153 Posts |
I bought this as I loved the move and even though I very rarly perform sponge magic I wanted to learn the strange change.
Its a fabulous move and very strong. I highly recomend you buy this Dean |
restaurant3000 Regular user 113 Posts |
Hello, I would like to buy this with a supply of sponge balls in a oner.
Can anyone tell me what sizes, colours & shapes that go with the routines taught. Thank you.
Booyah!
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mrmuji Veteran user 343 Posts |
-One 3" Red Sponge Ball
-Two 1.5" Red Sponge Balls -One 1.5" Yellow Sponge Ball -One 1" Red Sponge Ball It's said on the magicgeek.com website
Best Regards,
Bob |
Darrin Cook Special user 621 Posts |
I just got this DVD yesterday and highly recommend it.
If you think about it, most sponge magic is limited and repetitious, consisting of a retention vanish and a squeeze (putting 2 as 1, 3 as 2, etc.) I know you'll say, "Hey, but they get killer reactions." Imagine taking it to the next level, and doing color changes. The DVD teaches a switch, which can be done either invisibly, or visibly as a color change. You can also cause sponge balls to grow, shrink, or divide. Conceptually, this is a great leap forward, combining the in-the-hands appeal of sponge balls with visual magic. Wizard Product Review rated the DVD highly, but didn't care for Strange's main "go to" routine, involving a pair of eyeglasses. Personally, though, I really liked it. I thought the routining was excellent, ditching and getting props with a minimum of fuss, and had an interesting presentational hook --a pair of magic glasses make things look larger than they actually are. I think this DVD is a valuable tool to improving your sponge ball magic. |
Blindside785 Inner circle Olympia, WA 4541 Posts |
Thanks Darrin. I've been looking for something "spongy" to add to my set. I'll get this DVD.
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RNK Inner circle 7493 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-05-11 10:32, insight wrote: More "moves" taught in this. RNK
Check out Bafflingbob.com
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Stucky Inner circle I'm Batman! 1355 Posts |
I too have seen the DVD and the production values are quite nice for a magic DVD (without having drunks in the crowd like an L&L video). I think the stuff taught here combined with that color changing sponge ball trick by Bizarro would be a good idea maybe.
Official Thread Killer
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