User Review and Content List:
by Ryan Ruple
I have been craving this DVD for awhile, and there are no reviews out there that go through everything. That's what I'm going to do.
The DVD
The good part is that this DVD is in French and English. Not dubbed over, but filmed in French, then filmed in English. David went all out on this project, and he definitely deserves a round of applause just for that. There are 19 routines which are separated into two categories, Restaurant and Cocktail (Which is walk-around).
However, you get your money's worth through David's theories. He gives his thoughts on getting gigs, keeping them, how to present yourself, what tricks you should perform, and much much more.
Hermes:
The magician walks up to a table and briefly waves his hand over a candle, causing a burst of flames. He proceeds to do it again but this time produces a rose from the flames. Then he splits the rose into another one, causing him to now have two roses which he give to ladies.
Very very very amazing. I can definitely see myself using this as a strong opener!
One Coin Routine:
A nice flurry sequence causing the coin to vanish then reappear in impossible conditions. The single coin then transforms into a jumbo coin in the end.
This a great flurry if you have never used one before. I won't use the exact one, but some of the moves are just too good to pass up. Great routine!
Hallucination:
Talk about magic! The magician enters with a card box, yet pulls out a rope. Small joke. :)
He states that he will cut the rope using his fingers (which are your two fingers to make a scissor shape), and actually cuts the rope. You then have a rope and two ends. You go through this amazing sequence of putting the ends on, vanishing the ends, the cut rope even becomes a full circle when you take off the ends! You then place the ends into someones pocket, who will cover the pocket with their hand, but it happens too fast. The ends jump back on the rope, giving you a normal rope.
Insane! You have to see this to believe it.
Ghost:
One of my favorites. A spectator chooses a card, say the King of Diamonds, and puts it back into the deck. You state that you just caused it to come back to the top. As you turn over the card, it isn't there's. You put it down and snap your fingers, saying that you forgot to do that, as it's changed into their card. You then place their King back in the deck, place your hand over the deck, and open your hands showing the entire deck has vanished with the exception of four cards. The four Kings. One of the best things on this DVD. Just....wow.
Watch Out:
You show three coins, place them into your hand, then place your hand over the spectator's. One coin jumps across, you then do it one more time showing another one travels. You try to do it again, but no luck. You ask them to turn over their hand, and the third coin is actually trapped underneath their watch! Fantastic reveal of the third coin! I have linked the ending of this routine with Apollo's Trapeze Trio. David's travel methods are basic, but nothing compares to the killer ending! You never even go near their hand, except to put your's over theirs.
Bonneteau + Hierling:
David links these into a routine, however you can use them separately. You go on to do a 3 Card Monte game, to show how not to lose money. You give a practice round, but then the spectator is wrong every other time. After that, you do the magician version using a deck. You take the three cards (Two reds and a black Queen), and one card goes face down. You then do it again, and cause one of the reds to turn into the Queen. Then all three cards become red, the Queen now becoming a Queen of Diamonds. Then you put the Queen away, showing how there is no way they could win. However, you snap your fingers and the Queen comes back as the original black Queen. He even has a nice flourish for revealing this.
Very nice to say the least. If you have a gambler's routine, then you will definitely want to put this in there. It's crazy, you'll love it!
ATM:
The BEST way to go into a bill routine. You tear off the corner of a napkin (Restaurant), and place it into the candle. As soon as it ignites you throw into your left hand, but when the flame goes away you see a crumpled up dollar bill.
Like I said, the best way to enter a bill routine. I loved it.
Flash Card:
You will never see this one coming! You try to make someone a magician by giving them a job. Their job is to raise their hand up, palm facing you; heel on the table, and slam it down when you count to three. The choose a card, remember it, it's put back in the deck. After a few practice rounds you move onto the real thing. You go into a riffle shuffle (while counting) and when you count to three, one card flies out of the deck causing the spectator to catch their card.
This is one that nobody will expect. It just seems impossible, and that's why it's one of my favorites.
Crossed:
It's a Do As I Do routine. You put your hands into an uncomfortable position, and the spectators do as well. Their job is to turn to the right, which is impossible. However your able to do it. The only effect on this DVD that I didn't like. There's really nothing for me on it.
Cig Clean:
You simply vanish a cigarette, yet you show every aspect of your hand. EVERYTHING! It isn't there. You put your hands out in the air, as if you were holding the cigarette, when it reappears in the blink of an eye. It looks like trick photography! I love this one. It's so quick, so unreal, and you'll definitely use it. I broke the pattern of "so". :)
Cards:
This is so fun to watch! The magician produces a fan of cards, David produces it from inside the spectators jacket. You then pull out a fan of cards from the original fan. Then there is a great manipulation routine. You proceed to vanish fans, produce fans, vanish half the deck, produce another fan, then finally vanish the deck all together. However you point to your mouth, and pull out the cards from your mouth! Even better than it sounds! Pure magic. Something I can't wait to use.
Voile Rouge:
A card is chosen and lost in the deck. With a wave of your hand the deck changes from red to blue, except for one card. You turn it over showing it's their card. It goes into your breast pocket as another card is chosen (Say 3 of Diamonds). You try to do the same thing but it doesn't work. You point out that there is one indifferent card, the original card. However it's now the 3 of Diamonds! Fantastic routine! One that you'll truly enjoy.
Traveler:
An Invisible Palm routine using the four Kings, with very different techniques. However when you place down the last card, you show that's it's not in deck, nor are the cards longer Kings, as you show they've become the four Aces.
I can't get enough of this one. Just a blast to even practice.
Sponge:
This a nice routine of producing two sponge balls, placing one in each hand, and then the second one joins the first leaving two in your hand. You end with doing the same thing but with a spectator's hand. A great routine, but the strength is in the productions and vanishes. The vanishes are clean and totally impossible, and his productions are something else. You take a little bit of nothing, rub it together with your fingers, as it inflates into a full-sized spongeball. Amazing.
Flash Deck + Snowball:
Again something he routines together, but something you can use separately. Flash Deck is the BEST way to get a deck of cards. The magician waves his hand over the candle (or lighter) and there is a sudden burst of flames. The magicians grabs the flames, and as he does so a deck of cards appears from the flame. Wow!
In Snowball, a card is selected and lost in the deck. You then say your going to cut to their card, yet you cut to an Ace, which isn't their card. You do this again and again, actually cutting to the four Aces. You then cut to their card in the end. This is a great way to go into an Ace routine. A great routine!
Napkin:
The magician borrows a straw, which he explains will be for later. You take a napkin (the kind that silverware is wrapped around at a restaurant), and cut it in half. You take the two napkins, roll the together, blow on them, and then as you pull the pieces apart the have actually fused back together. It happens so fast. You then take the straw and place into what looks like the napkin, but you pull the napkin back producing a full glass of drink.
Absolutely mind blowing! I love this and just cannot wait to use it.
Bite Me:
This is THE reason I bought this DVD. However there turned out to be so much more than this. You produce a coin then take out a silk. You place the coin into the silk, and show that it has vanished from the silk completely. You try to produce it at your elbow, no luck, so you try to other elbow. Success, that's where it was. You then draw back the silk producing a bottle of wine!
Overall:
9.9/10 (Probably the BEST DVD I own!)
--Ryan
