The Magicanada Project

Michael Kras · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:21 am Post subject: Some Brief Sankey Product Reviews

Anytime Anywhere

An excellent DVD chockful of very powerful and completely impromptu effects. Almost 40 effects are featured, most of which have never been released before. Effects with cards, coins, matches, keys, dollar bills, rings, pens, elastic bands, and more are present. Each one is very clever in method and the material ranges from excellent powerful quickies, to full routines using only borrowed objects. The methods are also pretty darn clever. This is recommended to pretty much any close-up magician.

8/10

Earplugs

Earplugs is Jay Sankey's version of one of close-up magic's classics, the sponge balls. Instead of the rather illogical balls, Sankey has made the change to humorously big earplugs. You are supplied with four well made and durable sponge earplugs and one jumbo earplug for a very powerful climax. The provided DVD teaches many essential and practical sleights as well as some basic routine ideas to get you started. The logical routine premise possibilities are endless and, because of the very big earplugs, the whole routine is inherently funny and entertaining. This is, in my opinion, a must-have for walkaround and restaurant magicians.

9/10

Firestarters

Another excellent DVD by Jay. Magicians who have always wanted to learn how to use magic to properly flirt and attract women, this is the perfect DVD. Aside from priceless tips, Jay teaches numerous romantic effects that include flirtatious presentations and also provide the ability to include some degree of intimacy into the effect. The effects have just the right amount of romance and flirting... nothing overly suspect or creepy, and nothing so subtle that the girl in question won't get any of your hints. The effects range from logical and magical ways to exchange phone numbers, get a girl's email address, and just flat-out connect with someone.

If you want dating tips for the working entertainer, and also want to find ways to use your talents for playful flirting and maybe even more, this is another must-have. Highly recommended.

8/10

Hypervisual

Of the lot of Sankey effects I've recently purchased, this is my least favourite of the bunch. Hypervisual is a project of all card effects using gaffs or gimmicks. The DVD features tons of colour changes and tons of effects using these colour changes in conjunction with various card gaffs. A few of the gaffs can be easily made yourself, and for those that cannot, numerous gaffs are provided with the DVD. Jay has graciously included two of each gaff. They are very clever and can be used for very powerful effects. His classic Locomotion moving pip effect is included, as is his long unavailable effect REM (now retitled Sleeping Beauties) in which a queen is hypnotized and caused to shut its eyes visually while in it's deep trance. This has excellent shock value.

So why didn't I like the DVD? Gaffs just aren't my thing. The cards provided are well printed in Bicycle stock and look great, and undoubtedly can be used to great effect. If you're into gaffed effects, this is right up your alley. Those of you who only do the odd gaff effect might find something of value here, and those who do not use gaffs at all are advised not to purchase this item.

6/10

Revolutionary Coin Magic 2.0

On yet another Sankey DVD, Jay teaches more revolutionary techniques with ordinary coins in this follow up to the best-selling Revolutionary Coin Magic DVD. Again, Jay proves what an excellent coin worker he is and also proves he's got an insanely creative mind. This DVD is busting with tons of material, all done with ordinary coins. There are tons of Vanishes, productions, transpositions, changes, switches, and routines.

For me, the Productions section was the most disappointing. Many of the items presented there seemed very similar if not in execution, than in method. There are a couple of very, very good productions in the mix but many of them just didn't live up to expectations.

The Vanishes Section is much better, with a few duds in the mix but for the most part a very nice collection. Some of them were so visual and surprising that I laughed out loud.

Transpositions features a limited selection of material, with only 3-4 items. Again, a good section, but the first item presented was in desperate need of patter. It took me a few moments to figure out what the hell was going on.

The Changes section is my favourite of the disk. There are some brilliantly visual and clean changes here, with ingenious techniques employed. Definitely worth consideration.

The Switches Section features some good utilities and excellent technical methods. Again, a couple of duds in the mix.

In Routines, there are some excellent effects, some good ones, and some that are just bad (there is one in particular, in which the whole effect is simply that the magician apparently removes his thumb and upon doing so, the thumb changes instantly into a coin. First of all this makes absolutely no sense, and it might not even fool a small child). Strike Three is the highlight here, which is excellent, easy to do, and very powerful.

Overall, this is a great collection of very creative coin material, but it doesn't at all top the original DVD.

7/10

Sankey 1999

This is an older project of Jay's, filmed with a handheld camera in the kitchen of his apartment. That aside, this has some real gems on it. You won't find much standard or typical Sankey on this disk, which is a great thing. There's a wide range of material, most of which is deviously clever. My one main issue is that Jay doesn't perform any of the effects before he teaches them... he just teaches. Not that this is absolutely horrible, I would have just liked to see his performances of some of these. If some were present, a few of the items would have undoubtedly fooled me.

Another great purchase for those who appreciate Jay's off-the-wall thinking.

8/10

Smashed

Finally, a Sankey EFFECT! This is an effect that was put out for limited release in the early 1980s. It is a fully examinable penetration of a borrowed coin with an ordinary pencil. Many method possibilities are given on the very thorough instructional DVD provided, some ending with a magical restoration of the coin or simply ending with the pierced coin. This is excellent, packs extra small, and is very surprising and visual. This is an excellent close-up effect.

8/10

In the future, after I have had a chance to really absorb these products, I may write full reviews of my personal favourites. But for now, I hope you have found my brief thoughts on each one to be of some help.

Michael Kras

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Michael Kras
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