On 2007-03-22 17:10, Zack wrote:
$200 for a rope routine. No Demo.

On 2007-05-13 17:52, shaunproof wrote:
So people would pay to see your commercial. Brilliant stuff.

On 2007-02-11 10:56, Harry Murphy wrote:
Scott Alexander and Bob Kohler have hit a home run with the “Slashed” prop and routine.

Let me say that I have been doing some version of “Cut and Restored” rope for over 40 years. Like almost everyone I started using Edward Victor’s nice move. However, I quit consuming rope after George Sands taught me his version (“Rope-Sational” not “Sandsational") in 1963 (booklet was published in 62). I’ve used the Sand’s routine for a long rope routine pretty much since. The only time I do a version that actually consumes rope is when I am doing a show where I want to do the cut and restored melded to the “Professor’s Nightmare” (Slydini).

It was Sands that invented the finger as scissors cut that both Alexander and Kohler (amongst others, including me) see as a weakness in the routine. I’ve never used the ploy believing that it really tipped the method off to the audience. I’ve always used a pair of scissors or a knife.

In 1976, Pat Page convinced me to shorten my rope sequence and showed me his simplified version of George Sands’ work “Eternal Rope”. I’ve used it as a staple since. Think George Sands with 2/3 of the routine tossed out!

I’ve watched and played with Tabary’s routine but have never performed it anywhere. Frankly, for all it’s artistry I prefer the Sands routine.

OK, why do I mention any of this. Well, folks, Alexander has taken from everyone that I have mentioned , giving full credit to all by the way (except Page), and added some of his own moves and handling to make a very logical, very magical, and very fun/funny routine. There are parts that will even fool (if not fool at least please!) knowledgeable rope performers. I watched the DVD before looking at the props (a habit of mine). I was pleasantly pleased with the whole routine and sucked in with a “WOW” at two points. One was a very clean display (made me sit up and pay close attention) and the other was when he tossed the rope out to the audience (made me stand up saying “no way“)! What stones!!

Let me say that last part again. There is a point in Scott’s performance where he has audience member’s tug on the rope. Remember it is a gimmicked rope!

The props: As has been mentioned on this thread, the rope is ½ inch in diameter by about 8 feet 5 inches long. It is a woven cotton rope (where in the world did you find that?). The gimmicks are well set and concealed (and marked for ease of use). The rope comes with removable colored bands in place as a teaching aid. Following the advice for the cleaning/care of the rope one would expect that it should last for a long time.

The cutter is a Stanly “Box Cutter” whose blade has been “fixed” (can’t say gimmicked or Feked”) to render it somewhat harmless.

Honestly, the gimmicked rope already exists on the market. In fact, I already have a rope gimmicked in exactly the same manner (actually I have five of them since I use it almost daily). However, comparing the two is like comparing a Yugo to a Rolls Royce! There simply is no comparison. I will be ordering a second “Slashed” as a backup since it will replace what I am now doing. I tend to worry that an item that I use constantly will leave the market and never be found again (it has happened more than once!). So I will get at least a second item for the shelf for the time that the one I am using becomes worn out, broken, or even comes up missing (and that time will come).

The DVD: You have two performances, one live comedy performance and one studio performance done silent to music to give you the breath of possibilities for this routine. You also are provided with the music to use (free to use) if you want to perform to music. That was a nice touch.

The instruction part of the disk is clear, easily assessable, and complete. As I mentioned above the rope comes set up with color coded bands for ease of learning. Scott has the same color coded bands on his rope making learning the routine truly easy. Many of you already know some of these moves and will only be learning a new sequence of moves and a couple of nice new moves developed by Scott.

The instructional DVD is what one has come to expect from Kohler productions, clear with well lit and well staged shots, using close-ups where necessary to help make things even clearer. In all it is a top notch production - well done.

Misc: You also get a 5 page, single sided, manuscript that provides some of the history of the evolution of the trick and props, discussing the care and cleaning of the rope. It also discusses the care, maintenance, and proper use of the box cutter (including a note of warning on air travel with the cutter). Tells you how you might replace the rope. And finally tells you how to access the royalty free music and gives you license to use it anywhere (even on broadcast TV).

I believe that anyone that has used Sands, Daryl’s, or Tabary’s rope routine will learn this routine easily and quickly. A newcomer to rope magic will find it easy to learn the routine from the DVD and with only a little practice be out performing this in short order.

I believe a person wanting to add a strong rope sequence to his/her act need look no further, this is it.

On 2007-05-26 23:44, 61magic wrote:
I'm an owner of Slashed. Here is my assesment. I have been working on various rope routines for a lot of years. I found the Tabary routine to be very close to what I had in mind. There were many aspects of the routine I didn't like.
Slashed is a very good routine that takes many of the Tabary type elements and cleans up some of the more awkward areas of the routine.
I was skeptical about slashed when I first read about it. A rope trick for $200 seems excessive. I made the purchase, and it is something I will use.
Here is my suggestions for this. I'm no expert on production cost of an item like this but $200 is a bit too high.
The instructional DVD is far better than some of the DVDs I own so the value here is good.
The routine is simple, clean, and workable. The magic is a good value.
My biggest gripe is the rope. I know there are a lot of posts here commenting on the quality of the rope but I can't agree.
The material is top notch but the gimmick on the one I have is too visible with very defined edges. I don't want to give away the secret here so I'll describe nothing more.
The main element of this effect is the realism generated by the gimmick to give the routine the WOW factor.
I can only use the routine from a distance and a lot of cover up motion.
All said I'm happy with the purchase since it is something I will use, but I would suggest rethinking the price a little.