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Judah Vee Special user of the JV Naughty Vanish.... 884 Posts |
Don't buy this!!! Its horrible, the effects are too easy!!!!No spectator will be fooled!!!
Ok. If you choose to read past the first sentence...then I am outta luck for keeping these to myself. So first off let me say that I hate Michael. I see that he is so creative and gutsy (more on that later) and it fills me with jealousy!!! OK,ok. So I don't hate him, I really love his thinking and the effects are wonderful. (Dirty rotten smart guy........lol) So I got his new notes today, threw them in the truck and headed off to work. Camped out in the control room and started to read. All I can say is WOW!!! Now understand that I have not performed anything out of the notes yet, but just from reading them I know I will. Let me review them as best as I can for now. I am sure a lot of you have watched the teaser, and might have felt how I did..... Show no mercy review: Get it!!!Ok,ok,ok...... For your money you get a 21 page pdf with no pics or illustrations (Which I feel really aren't needed, cause of the vid he provides) The layout is different then other pdf's as it printed longways. The top was the 11" side of the paper. not a big deal just not a fan of this type of layout. Of course it could have just been MY printer......hmmmm... Inside you get a forward by Craig Browning, and an intro into how show no mercy came about. Both are well written and entertaining. You get six effects (one of them can be separated so technically seven effects) and one essay. I ll toucj on the essay first then the effects. That's not magic (essay): I was a bit taken back by this essay. I can see Mikes point of view, and agree on some level, but in MY own thoughts mostly I don't agree. BUT that is me. You might agree 100%. This is not even a mark against the notes as it is his view and I enjoy seeing another point of view on the world of magic, I just don't happen to agree 100% (but maybe 90%. Sorry Michael!!! lol) Effects : Flicker. Color changing card. Red to blue to red. ok are you ready? NO MOVES, NO COVER, NO ANGLES. Sound impossible? yes. I did try this on myself (trust me) and I was smiling for an hour. Almost went blind. Simple. Ok there is a "move" but it is after the fact. (you'll know what I mean when you get the notes) Candy Opener. Fire produces Fireball candy. In midair. Vanishes from wrapper. Ends up in .....you guessed it... your mouth. You get two methods for this. One simple, one for you finger flicking friends. Nice quick ten second opener. I will do this soon....... Flashes and ashes. This is a utility within a trick. As Mike states in the notes "Why don't more magi utilize the principal? Dunno" But I believe he brought it back to the attention of magicians after about 70 years. And I don't think he was around then...... Changing the change (an essay/effect thingy that you may use someday....maybe) His words , not mine....lol. Nice essay / effect on a simple technique most all of us do. Alot. In one session. Go figure........... Reality displacement. OK so this is my favorite outta the notes. Signed card goes into the center of the deck. Cards are FACING the spec. They see the card going in at the last second. No breaks, No real funny moves, NO covering the deck, and BAM!! Its in the other hand held well AWAY from the deck, signed!!! Watch the video teaser. You'll know the effect. Uses a move I have loved for a long time. But it does have ONE slightly bad angle. (Michael points this out, as I have NOT done it yet. But I will!!!!) Visible coins across(2 effects) Remember when I said Mike was gutsy? Here is where its at. First effect is the open handed vanish of a coin, with it arriving in the specs hand. Nice effect, I will use it. Second effect: HOLY CRAP !!!!ARE YOU KIDDING? that's what I thought when I read the method for this BIG RED SPONGE BALLS OF A MOVE. The specs have 4 coins in THEIR hand. THEY hand you one. IT vanishes. NO sneaking it in their CLOSED hand. But they open their hand and there it is. 4 coins. PLEASE RE READ THIS. I believe this alone to be worth the price of admission. So I belive you will DEFINATELY get your moneys worth if you only do one effect out of these notes. I think many people will get a lot more out of them, myself included. For my own thought s I give this a 10 out of 10. Now leave me alone!!!I need to go practise!!!! Judah Vee
I don't care how fast or slow you are.... As long as I am faster.. -J-
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Michael Paul Special user 535 Posts |
Wow. Thank you. I think you where the first one to actually purchase the notes, and your review was up before the "freebies" I gave out. Thanks.
A couple of notes: I decided to go the way of video instead of pictures, as the video is easier to learn from... plus, most of the effects don't really need pictures. "That's Not Magic" is meant as a sarcastic piece, poking fun at a very popular magic topic... I'm not sure if you disagreed with my thoughts... or the essay, which is mostly a spoof (but does get us thinking). Either way, that's cool. And I'm very glad you liked flicker and reality displacement, they are two of my favorite pieces of my routine currently. Mike |
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evolve629 Inner circle A stack of 3838 Posts |
Is there a link for the download?
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 |
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Michael Paul Special user 535 Posts |
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Judah Vee Special user of the JV Naughty Vanish.... 884 Posts |
OK now that I know it was a Spoof (the essay) I understand. It just seemed serious at the time that I read it. So I disagreed with the spoof. Now I feel stupid.....lol
I had to give my pre performance review because I felt these were absolutey awesome. The more I thought about Visible coins across (2nd effect) the more I want to see if I could pull it off and get my set of grande roho sponge balls.... And I like the Video better , like I said. Pics sometimes just don't work to well for me. (Blonde hair touching my brain and all....) Still money well spent. and if you want more Ill send it!!!! Judah Vee
I don't care how fast or slow you are.... As long as I am faster.. -J-
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pablovaldes Loyal user Mexico 206 Posts |
Hi everyone, I got Show No Mercy yesterday, this is my review.
About the essay. The great thing about it, is that I believe Michael could post it here on the café, and we will see hundreads of posts in discussion. That´s what an essay is for, to make you think, and you will. Flicker: Hate you Michael!!! This is real magic!!! we were specting tricks, no magic. Ja! This trick for me is just a master piece. I performed it to myself like five times. When I did this to my brother he just screamed!!! You have to learn this. Candy Opener: This kind of magic I love. When a magician does magic to have a benefit for himself and not only to entertain. If a magician have superpowers he migh just use them to make his life fun and easier. That´s the concept. Flashes to Ashes: As Judah well said this is a principle, this won´t let you sleep figuring a lot of ways you can use this. Reality displacement: I also performed this yesterday, because I also love the move Michael used. A perfect “do a trick!“ effect. Just quick and killer. When the spectator thinks the trick is just starting, you hit with magic. Visible coins across: Allright, I can´t add anything to what Judah said, so I will perform this today and then post my review. I trust you Michael!!! I will do as you say. This could be the best coin across ever. Better than personal safe and others, so I will post my experience tomorrow. About the notes: As in Simply Devastating I love Michael style, he gives all you need to know of each effect and more. He gives his advice and experience on each one, which in this kind of tricks is priceless. There are no pictures but Michael includes a video where moves need to be seen, so this is great. My only complaint, is that in Simply Devastating he included also a video of him performing live and for real spectators. This is something I really missed here, because when you see performing someone you can learn a lot, about timing and presentation. I know, not everyone takes the kindness Michael did in SD to go out and take the time to shoot, edit and include a video of the effects with the notes. Actually, Michael is including a video with a performance to the camera and exposing the moves, but I the video of him performing would have make the notes just perfect. Hope you find this review useful. Pablo Valdes
Wonderful things do happen
Magic is so relative, that we all think we know what it is @pablovaldes |
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Judah Vee Special user of the JV Naughty Vanish.... 884 Posts |
It is official. Michael has taken a spot on my top five list of people I will aways crave more from. I performed the coins across today, and with FEAR in my mind, pulled it off flawlessly. The spectator thought nothing of handing me the coin. When it was back in their hand, with me not going near it, there was a TRUE moment of astonishment.(Along with a few screams.) I thoguht this might just be a fluke, so I performed it a total of four more times today. Different reactions, same astonishment. If you do nothing out of these notes, try this once. See what I saw today. I believe you will be hooked. I would have paid for just this effect.
P.S:I did forget to mention that the coins across is not a full routine,but two effect that can stand aloneor be an addition to an exsisting coins across. Judah Vee
I don't care how fast or slow you are.... As long as I am faster.. -J-
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Michael Paul Special user 535 Posts |
Wow, thanks. I'm glad you liked the notes. The coins across is a STAPLE of my close up work, and the routine that I like to use most often at monday night magic in NYC (when Jamy Ian Swiss isn't doing his fabulous 3 fly on the same night).
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Tom G Inner circle 2895 Posts |
Michael asked me to take a look at his notes. I will say with the last number of purchases over the last couple of years most have been a little underwhelming. The notes started off with an essay. When I was working with Paul Harris on the
AOA books I really enjoy essays, as long as they are well thought out. For anyone buying these notes don't overlook the advise on practicing for a month before using something new. Frank Garcia used to say if you don't practice something for a month and use it, "you're a hack." How many times have we read on this board something to the effect that I just got it and used it last night at my gig... Anyway, I can't add much to what's been said about the effects. Michael does add a why section for every trick. His thinking about when and why. You can tell that these aren't pipe dreams or something he used twice and wrote up. The best I can say is that I'm actually anxious to work through a number of these. Thanks Michael...highly recommended. |
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Judah Vee Special user of the JV Naughty Vanish.... 884 Posts |
Well I don't know if I am a "hack" or not.....lol! But I do know that I had to try the coins across. It was so ... unbelievable... that one could pull this off. So it was not done in a gig or anything, just put thru my usual testers, plus one..... I still feel this was worth more then the notes!!!
And ,NO, I don't take offense to being called a hack!!!!lol!!!
I don't care how fast or slow you are.... As long as I am faster.. -J-
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pablovaldes Loyal user Mexico 206 Posts |
Some effects can´t be practiced by yourself, like classic force and I believe the second effect of visual coins across. You have to perform, maybe, as I did, and I believe Judah too, not at a gig, but at a real audience. This effect is awesome!!!!
Pablo
Wonderful things do happen
Magic is so relative, that we all think we know what it is @pablovaldes |
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Tom G Inner circle 2895 Posts |
Sorry if people thought I was name calling. Just passing on advise from Frank. Anyone that knew Frank knew that he loved magic and had strong opinions. He said once he was "tired" of watching people perform tricks they didn't <know>.
Anyway get Michael's notes. The essay is worth reading and the routines are great. |
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Judah Vee Special user of the JV Naughty Vanish.... 884 Posts |
I didn't think you were name calling Tom. Not at all. I have to admit that on a lot of things I learn I am quick to perform, ususally rightby the instructions, then ease into making it my own off of response to it. But you are right, GET MIKES NOTES!!!!
I don't care how fast or slow you are.... As long as I am faster.. -J-
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The Mac Inner circle 1982 Posts |
Although I don't have the book yet ( paypal problems grrr!) I have to say that from my pm's to Michael that he is very personable. He offers to help learn the effects better and encourages his customer to totally show no mercy.
I (a jaded magician) watched the demo, and let me tell you, the coins accross vanish made me feel like a layperson! I am envious of all of you that have this book! lol! |
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evolve629 Inner circle A stack of 3838 Posts |
On a scale from 1 to 10, how heavy is the sleight of hand for the effects in Show No Mercy?
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 |
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Michael Paul Special user 535 Posts |
I'll do one better then the 1-10 scale, I'll do a 1-10 for each effect. Please keep in mind that a 2 for me might be an 8 for you, and vice versa, so maybe others can weigh in on this one and confirm my scale here.
Flicker- 2 Candy Opener- 2 Changing the Change- 1 Reality Displacement- 6 Coins across phases- 3 but an 8 in the courage department to actually do the effect. However, all of the effects measure a 10 on the reaction scale. Most of this is fairly easy magic. |
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evolve629 Inner circle A stack of 3838 Posts |
Thank you. I think my concerns are totally unneccessary...
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 |
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Judah Vee Special user of the JV Naughty Vanish.... 884 Posts |
I agree with Mike on the levels, except the guts on coins across. I would put that at a ten...lol!! That is until you try it the first time and realize how great it is!!!
I don't care how fast or slow you are.... As long as I am faster.. -J-
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sonarghost New user 14 Posts |
Hello all! This is my very first post to this forum. I usually don't post on many forums but I was so blown away by the effects in the book! I am someone who really, REALLY dislikes Card tricks but will perform those few that I consider to be card MIRACLES. Flicker and reality displacement definately fall into the Miracle category. Flicker is very easy to do (a 0 in difficulty lol) but the impact is UNBELIEVABLE. Reality displacement is a bit difficult for me (about an 7-8) but then again I'm not usually a "Card" man. This is a stunt that definately looks like trick photography! I am going to get the courage to perform Coins across for my fiancee soon...she is very "in the know" about magic so impressing her will boost my confidence for the public lol! All I can say is this is a MUST HAVE for those who love performing things "a little different".
Very great work Michael, one of the most impressive works I've read in a while! BTW, thanks for including the videos as well...Really helps me in working with Reality displacement! |
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lil_magic Loyal user 249 Posts |
Is it just me or does this link not work
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