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ImpromptuBoy Special user Toronto, Canada 898 Posts |
Hi Everyone.
Here's a "little" review for this GREAT DVD I got. Skill level: Intermediate to Advanced The DVD has the usual Meir Yedid intro with the music, and stuff. However, it doesn't have an introduction from the magician itself, J.C. Wagner, which I found to be a little sad. I thought he would take the time to introduce himself, but it's of course my opinion. So, the DVD begins with the usual MY Magic intro, and goes straight into the performances of the tricks. The explanations come after ALL the performances. My opinion about J.C: I think he's a GREAT magician. By the title, you can tell that this DVD has it's meaning-commercial magic, and there's A LOT of great material on this tape, or DVD rather. J.C. is one of the best bar magicians in the world today. But I heard that he doesn't make a living performing magic anymore. I think he works in a tire shop or something like that, but he does perform occasionally. J.C. is a good teacher, and he takes the time to explain everything. Anyway, the effects? Torn N' Restored Card: The outstanding routine were a signed card is torn and restored. This is the routine that inspired all the variations that finally lead to the one piece at a time restoration effects. This is a good effect. J.C. performs this trick on the tape with a jumbo deck. The spectator picks a card, and he performs the routine with it. It's your usual, everyday, torn and restored effect, but it looks really cool. The routine is very entertaining. It will take practice, but not too difficult. Great routine. 10/10 Transpojuxtaposition: Two signed selections are lost, found and then switch places in an impossible way. This is a good routine. The title says it all. The selections are found, and then magically switch places. This is not a difficult trick at all. If you ever want to perfrom a quick, on the spot trick with a deck of cards, this is it. It's quick, visual entertaining, and GOOD. 10/10 Glass Thru Bar: A classic routine. A glass is wrapped with a napkin and placed over a quarter. As you attempt to make the quarter penetrate through the table the glass goes through instead. This is one of my favourites on the DVD. The misdirection is clever. The routine is very fun to do, and very entertaining. This will take time and practice, but it's very much worth it. Give it a try. You'll like it. 10/10 Royal Detectives: The Kings are used as detectives to find a selected card. The card vanishes from between the two red kings to appear face-up in the deck between the two black kings. Another one of my favourites. This is a VERY commercial effect to do to an audience. The audience is startled JUST by the fact that the card has vanished. But no, you spread the deck face down, and their card is in the middle of the deck. And even further, you show that their card (can be signed if you wish as well), is sandwiched between the two black kings. AMAZING. I hope you'll love this routine as much as I do. Will take practice, but it's a wonderful effect. Great, great effect. 20/10 (I mean that literally)! 2 Copper—1 Silver: A copper, silver, brass coin routine where the three different coins accomplish impossible transpositions from hand to hand. Great routine. But you'll have to purchase this item separately. But those who do have it, and there are few of you out there, this is a great routine to learn. If you know how to operate the coins, you'll have no problem doing this great routine. 9/10 Omni Twist Collectors: Three selected cards magically appear between the four face up queens as you perform a twisting effect with the queens turning face up and face down. This is a very visual effect. It's a twisting effect, as well as the selected cards appearing between them. This routine is not easy. However, if you know how to do an Elmsley count, then you should have no problem with this routine. A good effect. 10/10 Prediction Out Of This World: An impromptu Out Of This World routine where a spectator impossibly separates the reds from the blacks and turns over the packets in her hands. At the conclusion a prediction is shown to have foreseen the number of errors she made. personally, don't like this effect very much. It's a pretty long routine. The effect is O.K. I'm guessing it's not even an effect. It's more like an experiment, or a game, or a puzzle. I don't use it, but you might find this routine suitable for you. 6/10 J.C.'s Fabulous Four Ace Routine: The four aces are lost in different parts of the deck and are magically found one at a time. This really is, as the title says, a fabulous routine. This is possibly, one of the best item on the tape. This routine is very magical. The aces are magically produced one at a time. And each production is very exciting. The last ace is produced by a spectator, who touches the back of any of the cards spreaded face down on the table, you take that card and flip the entire deck over face up. When you turn over the card that the spectator chose, you reveal that they chose the last ace. That's a very impressive phase. I love the routine. It's entertaining, visual, and the spectators involvement is good. It really adds to the routine. Will take practice, but it's not difficult to do. 10/10 J.C. On Collins Aces: Four aces are placed in a row and covered with three cards each. Each of the aces vanishes leaving three cards in each packet. The four aces are then magically reproduced. This is, hands down, one of the BEST routines out there. In J.C.'s hands, it looks perfect. It's a really good routine. It's sort of an ace assembly, but the aces literally vanish from the packet completely leaving three cards, instead of being replaced with a different card like in most ace assemblies. I have to admit, I think it's a great ace routine that anyone should learn. It looks really good if you do it properly. No gaffs what so ever. Will take practice, but again, not very difficult. 20/10 Polish Marked Deck: Two cards are selected from a blue deck. The cards are shuffled face up and face down a couple of times. When the deck is spread all the cards are facing the same way except the two selections. As a final kicker the rest of the deck is shown to have red backs. This is J.C.'s routine of the colour changing deck. It's one of his biggest hits. People asked him at the bar to see it all the time. It's a great routine. This trick requires you to know a zarrow shuffle. If you know how to do it, then it's going to be a great routine for you. 10/10 Also taught are the many techniques used within the routines and an in-depth view at the Gambler's Cop. A gambler's cop is required for some of the routines, but it's taught of course. Other sleights that are required, but not taught are elmsley count, zarrow shuffle, DL (you should know it already). Overall a GREAT DVD. The magic in it is exactly what I've been looking for. Bar Magic. Some of the material is easy, and some not so easy, but it's GOOD. Overall: 10/10 Wish you all the best, Michael |
evolve629 Inner circle A stack of 3838 Posts |
Michael, you've done a great job reviewing J.C. Wagner's dvd. Thanks. I don't have the dvd but aftering reading your review, I really like Glass Thru Bar, Royal Detective and J.C.'s Fabulous Four Ace Routine effects. I'll put this dvd on my list.
One hundred percent of the shots you don't take don't go in - Wayne Gretzky
My favorite part is putting the gaffs in the spectators hands...it gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside! - Bob Kohler |
S.Segal Special user San Diego 949 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-06-08 19:12, ImpromptuBoy wrote: JC is still performing magic and attending conventions. In the 90's, he did work for a car part delivery company but he no longer does. This past weekend he was lecturing in Minnesota at their annual Close Up Convention and will be at the Magic In The Rockies in September. Check out JC's site for all of his magic ( http://www.jcwagnersmagic.com ) and see the link in my signature for his new booklet "Full Metal Jacket". S.Segal |
kamus Veteran user Silver Spring, Md 369 Posts |
I must say I'm not crazy about JC's personal performing style (I feel the same way about Scotty York whom I otherwise hold in high regard) but I have nothing but good things to say about JC's tapes, books and teaching and I still perform his "Poor Man's Matrix" on a regular basis.
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Clark Special user 957 Posts |
I understand that perfectly, but you have to keep in mind that his performing style matches his performance environment perfectly. Personally I don't think that Wagner comes anywhere close to Scotty York's style, man that guy pushes it for any arena. Like you say though, I hold them both in high reguard for their creativity and skill level.
Personally I think JC is among the top five most underrated creators and performers in our art. The man is a powerhouse when it comes to entertaining laymen. I have all of his previous works and just ordered "Full Metal Jacket." I use more of his creations daily then any other person that I can think of. I just love his material. Great review, nice job alltogether.
“The key to creativity is in knowing how to hide your sources.”
Albert Einstein |
ImpromptuBoy Special user Toronto, Canada 898 Posts |
JC is a wonderful performer, and he has AMAZING, killer, commercial magic on this DVD, and I do hope you folks check this one out. You can't miss this. Seriously. The magic here is just so good, you'll wonder how you were not aware of such amazing stuff. Get this while you can. You won't be disappointed. The gambler's cop, which is a move that JC goes in-depth at, at the end of the DVD, is a deadly weapon! A couple of the routines on the DVD require a gambler's cop. Once you learn it, you won't believe how strong your magic will be. This really is a weapon you can use to KILL (not literally) people with your magic. Get this.
All the best, Michael |
Turk Inner circle Portland, OR 3546 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-06-09 14:44, kamus wrote: Kamus, Where might JC's "Poor Man's Matrix" be found? Is it on any video? Or is it just in printed format? Thanks for the info. Mike
Magic is a vanishing Art.
This must not be Kansas anymore, Toto. Eschew obfuscation. |
S.Segal Special user San Diego 949 Posts |
Mike... "Poor Man's Matrix" can be found on page 79 in "Commercial Magic".
S.Segal |
ImpromptuBoy Special user Toronto, Canada 898 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-06-14 21:13, S.Segal wrote: Also, in JC's "Commercial Magic" DVD. |
ImpromptuBoy Special user Toronto, Canada 898 Posts |
Just for an update on my review, I gave "Prediction Out Of This World" a try, and the reactions are huge. I like the effect now very much and I give the effect 10/10 being 6/10 before.
Michael |
Caleb Wiles Inner circle Indianapolis, IN 1132 Posts |
JC just published a very simple, yet powerful routine on the Cogitations.net online journal. It's worth checking out.
Caleb
Check out my Main Event project (DVD or Download).
"Magicians, stop what you're doing right now and pick this up!" - John Guastaferro "Caleb Wiles is the real deal!" - David Williamson "...my very highest recommendation." - John Carey |
Matt Bartz Loyal user Gilbert, Arizona 251 Posts |
Caleb-
Very right about how simple, yet powerful that routine is. Last week I saw JC perform the effect for a lay person at the bar he currently works at. It got a great reaction. Really a nice effect. JC was really excited about publishing it through Cogitations. And to keep this post on track with the theme of this thread, I should say that I also love the review that was written and agree with it whole hearteadly (especially, now that Impromptuboy added a new opinion of an effect that he initially scored low). The dvd is full of highly usable material that is not very difficult to learn. |
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