This is pure speculation by the writer, and I have to say this is completely wrong. Refraction can be performed surrounded.

Gochos:

Would you agree that it would be difficult to do surrounded if everyone was watching closely and/or hadn't been drinking alcohol?

I don't want to get too specific here re methods but I think you know what I mean.

It not like, "Please examine this spoon. Is it normal? Is it solid? OK, watch...."

Maybe it would be better to PM me?

Steve

Hi Steve,
The woman examines the glass first.

Everyone will believe that the spectator examined the glass and that it bent in her hands. In the second phase of bending, the whole table will see it bend.

David has covered everything.
James

Well no but, Jim/ J ack thanked Uri. Heck he even made a big post about it.

M:C

James:

I'm conflicted. I respect your opinion and knowledge and at the same time, my good friend who bought this, watched the vid, and described it to me didn't think it was practical for a large group.

Your positive comments should clear things up for those who may be thinking of buying it.

One thing that's indisputable: The illusion for the primary spectator is exquisite.

Steve

Hi Steve,
I PM'ed you on this but I want to be clear to all the people that this is a two phase bending. The frist part is in David's hands and it is mostly for the one spectator. The second phase is done by the spectator herself. It can be done completely surrounded. On the DVD it looks amazing. I haven't tried it yet, but believe me, I am preparing for that first run now.

World magic shop is a great group of people to deal with, but I secretly hope that you all will not buy this and forget about it.

I think that is what Andrew was really trying to do, sly devil that he is
James

Forgive me as it's been a while since I've purchased magic. Is this withholding of TV rights made clear prior to the purchase?

I would never knowingly purchase an effect that has TV rights withheld.

Maybe the point here is to review the effect not trace back the original method or the first original "published method".
But just in case,
I think the first publication around this lines would be Anneman's Jinx and his bending glass rod (hehe)

I´m from Brazil so pelase forgive my poor english (as I noticed this is also a thread about spelling, grammar, etc...)

There's a video here:
http://www.theastonishmentproject.com/sh......_id=8679

This was a bit of a rip from Ted Lesley. Even Ted had said that it was a old gypsy trick done in the hand. As for the TV rights, How can you copywrite a Move. That is like trying to copywrite the way you run, or throw a ball. I have never understood this, I know Video and other such things can be copywritten, but once you learn it, how can you stop someone from performing an effect?


I thought the DVD was ok, not outstanding, I would change a few things in what he had suggested, for someone who has performed this so much, some of the things don't seem well thought out. Such as his introduction of the props, seemed really weak.

Great effect. Well done fideo. The girl the used as a hand model and who assisted as the teaching person--well I thought they should stop the tape and take her pulse. I would want her in my show if I was doing a hypnotist act. But the video was great.

I thought the video was wonderfull and the handling very well taught.

I wil be working on this as I feel it would work so well in a walkround situation for somone you need to impress.

It is like ted leslys but there is a lot more work on the subject here.

Dean

After purchasing this dvd, I had a few issues with the second phase of bending the wine glass. I e-mailed david about this, and today he did not return my e-mail. instead he phoned me directly and spent nearly an hour discussing and clarifying the routine and it's handling! Now that is someone who cares about his creation.He also gave me extra tips not covered on the dvd.Top guy! Miss this one and you miss out,

Thanks david

It's exactly the handling I came up with when I got Lesley's Cabaret Mind Reading DVD several years ago. First off, magic isn't real. There is only one way to bend a straight piece of glass.

The utility he recommends in the DVD was foreign to me, so it was just a matter of handling it like you would, with silverware. I am sure there are dozens who purchased Lesley's DVD who have come up with the handling.

Though in Refraction, he does cover introducing the glass, and other tidbits of valuable information. That aside, it's the same effect in my opinion, just a different presentation.

Sincerley,
Wayne Stevenson
The SpookClub
http://www.spookclub.com

Title: Refraction by David Penn
Medium: DVD
Arena: Table, parlor, stand up mentalism
Available: Any shop, distributed by Murphys Magic Supplies

(note: I have not read this thread until running through it at this moment. David Penn, who I don't know and have never heard of, does not claim originality for this routine and the DVD opens with him crediting Ted Leslie. If Mr. Leslie has an issue with the DVD he is welcome to publish it and had the credit not been given it would have bothered me. I recommend Paramiracles and if you want to read that first and you are wanting to perform the bent stem and ready to rock with it then don't bother with the DVD here. If the routine does interest you this DVD does a fine job teaching it)

Refraction is, simply, a method of bending the stem of a wine glass or any other glass with a stem. I first ran into this effect in Ted Leslies Paramiracles, a very good book on mentalism. I had never tried the routine but always liked the idea. Refraction is a well made DVD, the camera work is fine and though a bit dark it doesn’t detract from the instruction of the routine the way darkness does for some other types of magic instruction. The sound during instruction is fine with the only problem being during a cabaret performance that I couldn’t understand a word being said, which is unfortunate. Over all though the quality is fine. I do want to give a salute to the lovely Romi, the very attractive young lady who helps with the instructions. She clearly was told to stare straight ahead and not try to take any attention off the presenter but with looks like that it is impossible. As an old Seadawg I recommend Romi be in all future UK made DVDs and at the end we get to watch her pose or frolic in a pool or maybe play volleyball. Let her have her moment in the sun you barbarians!

I have to admit that I had a ball with the preparation of the glass, which is easy to do and clearly taught though one must, again I’ll say, must be careful. I am lucky enough to have a brother in law who is a glass blower and has all the safety equipment and knows how to manipulate glass and I made twisted stems, warped bowls of the glasses, stretched ones, I even tried tying knots in them. The method of getting the bend into the stem absolutely does work though. The presentation ideas were also very good and the look of the bending is great. While nothing here is new to metal benders as far as achieving the look and presentation for those that work in restaurants that have suitable glasses or banquet rooms you’ll learn how to present it right. There are also some tips on metal bending using forks and keys. I’d say the DVD accomplishes what it intends to do by showing how to prep and how to present this interesting routine. The thing I like about glass bending is people can see a fork or spoon bend and think “I wonder when he put the bend into that fork” because bending metal isn’t impossible. Bending glass and leaving it behind is a disconnect for most people, they just can’t see how a glass that they just saw as normal is now bent because, let’s face it, you cannot bend glass because unlike metal it will break after very little stress.

I really liked this routine and the DVD in general, it was well presented by David and covered all the bases. I also like the fact that you leave the miracle behind with the spectator and you even sign and date it for them. If you can do that and you know that glass will likely get onto a desk or curio cabinet it is like a constant advertisement for you. The tough part is finding the right opportunity to perform the piece. You want the glass to be part of the setting, bringing your own kind of ruins the moment, lessens it quite a bit. If you do have the right situation and the right moment this kind of routine absolutely can kill the audience. Present it straight as mentalism and you will leave the specs wondering about your powers. Well done DVD and a strong piece of mentalism.

I just spoke to Ted Lesley about this.

This trick is a rip-off. That's it. Period.

Ted has not given anyone permission to do this. The Bending Wine Glass in the hands has been Gerard Senehi's signature trick for several years. He acknowledged Ted Lesley's influence on his performances (presumably with respect to this item) in an interview in New Yorker.

For anyone who is involved in mentalism to produce something like this without getting Ted's permission is really beyond the pale.

Granted, Ted has been difficult to reach for some time. However, it hasn't been impossible to reach him. I spoke to him via his cell phone exactly five minutes before posting this.

Slim:

If you can't figure out how to do this with the information you already have, then take up macrame.

It would appear, "Everything's the same unless its different". There is such a fine line with magic. As good as a Patent is, someone can make a minor change and it is totally new. Needless to say, protection is difficult at its best. I remember the late great Don Alan saying one time in reference to his Chop Cup routine that once people saw his, everyone else knew who it belonged to. Not much comfort, but that's the way it is IMHO.

I have been made aware of various communications concerning this release.

Here are the things I take issue with.
1) David Penn and his puppetmaster Jim Trainer claim that his "handling" is different from Ted's. However, he admits he learned the handling from a Ted Lesley lecture.

2) David and Jim claim that Ted Lesley is "aware of this release and is fine with it." This is pure horsepuckey. They did not contact Ted. Ted was made aware of this at 3:57 AM CDT this morning. He is NOT fine with it.

3) Gerard Senehi supposedly approves of their handling and claims it to be different. That's according to David and Jim. Gerard has not said this at all. Gerard is famous for the bend in the hand. Yet they claim world-wide television rights. More Horsepuckey.

My conclusion is that David Penn and his keeper, Jim, are a pair of liars who deserve each other.

Do you guys not have room in your hearts for love?