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Steve Pellegrino Loyal user 224 Posts |
I had only heard about this effect a few days ago and looking at the reaction everyone had to it not only on this board, but Penguin's board, it was amusing to see how many people were so critical about something they didn't own.
I ordered mine on Wednesday from Penguin and it arrived today. After working with it for only a couple of hours I already love this prop! There are some great ideas on the DVD, however I already had my own ideas after seeing the online demo. I think anyone with a little imagination will come up with their own ideas for this. One of the assumptions people were having is that the capsule was going to dent easily because it was aluminum and, as Sankey suggested, you can carry it in your jeans. This is a well-made little capsule and I think you would have a hard time damaging it just carrying it around. It's also heavier than I thought it would be. If denting this is your biggest concern - don't worry about it. This will hold up for a long time! You also get 4 royal blue crochet balls, one of the balls is a chop ball and the chop feature of the capsule also works great. The capsule will stand up on it's own. When it's open, the two halves will stand up on their own, either opening up or opening down. Sankey teaches 5 sleights on the DVD. The knock-out and HPC techniques are great. There are also 5 presentations for the capsule, two without the balls. The complaints I've heard about the demo video were that Sankey's technique wasn't that great. Well, it really doesn't matter how good or bad Sankey does on the DVD (he does fine by the way), what is really going to matter is how well YOU are going to do when you perform this. For those of you who are curious about the size of the capsule, I've taken two photos next to a Fox/Penguin Cup. You can see that here: http://www.onsitegroup.net/magus.htm. I found this to be an excellent value - for under $45 you get the props, DVD and the bonus routines. If you can't see the possibilities of this past the online demo or just don't think it fits your style, then it's probably not for you. However if you've been thinking about and wondering about the quality - pick it up, you will not regret it! |
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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
THIS is a review. This post will help a lot more than the other whole thread did.
Thanks Steve for taking the time to offer us this great review, together with pictures.
Yours,
Ivan |
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Almost-A-Magician Regular user New England 158 Posts |
Thank you for the thorough review! I ordered it, actually as a result of the thread that many felt was negative. The unique prop and the prospect of learning some new moves seems like a deal to me. I am a sucker for all forms of cups & balls. Looking forward to more reviews.
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afknight Elite user 499 Posts |
Great review Steve! My order was already in the mail but it's good to hear from someone who has actually purchased the product and worked through the handling. Thanks.
Alton |
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Darrin Cook Special user 621 Posts |
Thank you, Steve, for posting a genuine, thoughtful review.
Although I have reservations about much of the recent releases of Sankey's, this one struck me as interesting. So I can infer from your review that one could do a two cup, mouth down routine with the Magus Capsule? |
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GaryW Veteran user HSMagic 317 Posts |
I really don't want to be the turd in the punch bowl, but the pictures you posted really cemented my resolve not to add this prop to my collection… and I thank you for that. I was one of the skeptics that thought it would be easily damaged by carrying it "in your jeans" and I'm glad your review dispels that.
I really appreciate a decent 2 (chop) cup routine and I don't see how the capsule would improve upon what I'm already working on. It is unique, the Penguin's will eat it alive. That's just my 2 centavos and nothing more! |
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Steve Pellegrino Loyal user 224 Posts |
A couple of comments on what everyone has posted.
First of all - thanks for the kind words about my review. I usually don't jump on the "next latest and greatest", but there was something about this that I couldn't help but be fascinated by. And to have the product meet or beat my expectations was a plus! Quote:
Darrin Cook wrote: Yes you can. The two halves of the capsule stand up. When I first saw the demo video, that's one of the directions I thought Sankey was heading, but that aspect of it is really not covered. Quote:
On 2004-03-05 19:53, GaryW wrote: I don't see this as "an improvement". It's just a different approach. I've worked so many close-up performances where it would have been impossible and awkward to do a Cups and Balls or Chop Chop routine. This can solve that problem. I don't look at it as a replacement for either one of those routines, but as an addition to my repertoire when I want to perform a similar presentation, but can't because of the size of the props. Also, this prop does not have to have a Cups and Balls style presentation. He includes two other routines that are not like Cups and Balls. One of my initial presentation ideas also had nothing to do with the Cups and Balls approach. I too am interested to hear what others who have purchased this have to say! |
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Thanks Steve for the great review and photos. I ordered mine a few days ago, am on "pins and needles" waiting for the package to arrive.
One of my ideas was to use the red crocheted balls that came with my solid tunnel wand effect to incorporate some color changes into the routine. I really feel that with imagination, the sky is the limit on this routine. Do you agree, Steve?
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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The Wizard of Hearts Veteran user Tulsa, Oklahoma 323 Posts |
How do you justify "what this is" to the spectator? Any ideas? Cold capsule for the Terminator?
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Steve, thank you so much for your detailed review and taking the time to post those photos. That was so cool of you.
Outside of the "capsule" is there anything ground breaking here?
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
I also had the idea of using the prop as a two chop cup routine as well when I first saw the video demo.
As for the capsule being odd. Well there are many other items magicians use that are odd. Blank Cards, Sponge Balls, Silks... I see the capsule as a magician’s tool. GaryW, that is why this is a great review, because it let you decide properly whether to buy it or not.
Yours,
Ivan |
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MacGyver Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1419 Posts |
I actually like the thing, but not necessarily as a “Cups and Balls.”
I think it has great potential, especially with the chop gimmick, for a great running gag throughout your routine. You could dump out some props like coins or a deck of cards(i'll let you figure that one out) and then constantly have things traveling too and from the capsule. I actually like the idea and I think that if properly used it could be a cool little prop to have. |
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jli New user Houston, TX 86 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-03-06 01:12, The Wizard of Hearts wrote: I'm in pharmaceutical sales, so this will be quite an attention-getter! One big pill, just don't swallow it. |
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MacGyver Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1419 Posts |
Hehe, actually Celebrex has been giving out these big white capsules to pharmacies for one reason or another.
After taking off the paint, I have this big white plastic pill that's pretty useful for a couple magic effects, heh. |
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Steve Pellegrino Loyal user 224 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-03-06 04:09, MacGyver wrote: Sankey actually talks about carrying props in the capsule - ropes, sponges, etc. There is a chapter on the DVD devoted to "popping out" large objects from the capsule - objects that are too large to fit inside, specifically an egg, a rock and a lime. The prop was what got me interested, not so much the demo video. His routines are interesting and I think that a few of the routines can be taken a few steps further. Fun stuff! |
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mplegare Veteran user Forest Grove, Oregon 310 Posts |
Just looking at it as it stands, I'm thinking it's a 'time capsule', or perhaps a 'stasis chamber', or, if you decide to get clever with the arts and crafts, you could easily paint some interesting sigils on it and adapt it to whatever you want.
I'm giving this one some serious thought, provided I can 'oldify' it enough to make it work in the context of the historical venues I play.
Matthew Legare aka Tobias the Adequate! - http://www.adequateblog.today.com - you know you want to.
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Curtis Kam V.I.P. same as you, plus 3 and enough to make 3498 Posts |
A couple of thoughts on this, proving it's at least thought-provoking, which is more than I can say for a lot of the new stuff:
1. Am I correct in assuming that the two halves won't nest in traditional cups and balls fashion? If so, does the chop feature work to vanish a ball off the top of the un-chopped "cup"? This may necessitate extensive handling changes in many "combo cup" routines (not that that's necessarily a bad thing). 2. Just an idea for introducing the prop: How's about frisking a spectator for "drugs" and producing the capsule off him? Or, keeping with the "large from little" theme, start by pulling the capsule out of a little pill bottle? Thanks for the review, Steve. The pictures were indeed worth the proverbial 1,000 words.
Is THAT a PALMS OF STEEL 5 Banner I see? YARRRRGH! Please visit The Magic Bakery
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Steve Pellegrino Loyal user 224 Posts |
Hi Curtis!
You are correct - the two halves of the capsule will not nest like traditional cups. Also, you cannot use the chop feature to vanish the ball off of the un-chopped cup. Sankey should have explored the chop feature a little more, however if you have chop cup experience, I don't think you will have a hard time adapting a routine to this prop. Another use for the capsule Sankey touches on is using the capsule as, sort of, a magic wand. From that suggestion I developed a new vanish of the chopped ball - sort of a magnetized Striking Vanish. If you cannot imagine what that is, PM me and I'll give you more details. That example is really what the DVD is full of - ideas that show you some possibilities and if you're a thinker and have a little imagination, you're going to watch the DVD and have a bunch of ideas. Curtis - something that was not explored was coins and I think this little prop and coins would be a natural. The capsule can hold half dollars. I have a couple of oval Japanese coins that will fit in there as well. (Reed's been pushing me away from cards and getting me into coins!) Just a few more thoughts! |
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NYKnicks5 New user 72 Posts |
Thanks for the great review(s) Steve. I wanted to hear from magicians before I purchased this item. Too many times I have gotten over-excited and the day a product came out I bought it. Many times I was disappointed. After your reviews I am going to really consider this. I am probably going to a wait a bit longer to hear other reviews and decide if this is something I really need right now. Again thanks for the informative review.
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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
What a great thread!
mplegare, I don't know the venues you play in, but you could leave the capsule as is and give it an ancient Egyptian theme, Stargate style. What do you think??
Yours,
Ivan |
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