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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Title: About Face by Jay Sankey
Medium: Card Trick DVD instructions Arena: close up Available: Any shop, distributed by Murphys Magic Supplies About Face is a packet trick using four jokers. It is a nice routine and the changes in the jokers, from face forward as you usually find them, to faces looking backward, meaning you see the back of the head, is interesting to spectators. The trick does require knowing how to do a couple basic sleights, it isn’t self working, which is no problem, and the sleights are taught on the instructional DVD. This is the kind of trick guys who do tricks at their bar or for friends will like. I’m not sure if you’ll see strolling pros whipping out About Face, then again they are not Sankeys target market. It is a nice trick and the couple people I did it for were tickled by the change in the joker. One thing I like about this routine is when guys new to cards get it they will have to learn how to use the Elmsly Count and double lifts the right way, and that is always good. I changed the patter a bit to better incorporate the natural attributes of the jokers and also the ending clean up to suit me and I’m a happy camper with the routine. The cards provided are the regular jokers, a needed gaff, and an additional joker just in case. I’m going to sit down with this routine and the cook jokers I got from Ben Harris and see what I can come up with. In addition to the presentation then instruction Jay goes over some tips on how you can switch out the gaff for those of you who just can’t resist having everything you touch ‘examined by the spectators’. I don’t hand regular cards to spectators to examine, I’m anti examine even if it can be examined. That way if I say one thing can be looked at but another can’t it isn’t suspicious, I just say no to every request, learned that from the wife. So Jay goes over all the switches and fun things like that. As a bonus Jay teaches his routine Deviant Behavior, which also is a joker based routine. The instructions are not written but on DVD. I’ve mixed feelings about this. I think written instructions and ALSO a DVD is pretty cool, just a DVD I think is a bit lacking. Let me explain why. The instruction part includes stopping to teach the Elmsly Count and how to do a double turn over and how to get breaks etc.. That is great for the newbies out there but for those of us who do not need the additional instruction is slows down things. In written instructions you can jump from point to point easier than trying to jump around any DVD unless they broke it down by each move. What Jay should have done is have the full instructions as he has them and then take a minute to walk through it just showing the bones. I also, at minimum, would have included a sheet of paper with the bare bones instruction, I’ve seen this done, the paper just put into the DVD box. I ended up just writing down the instructions in my own code so I wouldn’t have to run through the instructions again. The DVD itself was okay, the sound was find except for one echo part but again Jay, I can only assume trying to maximize profits or due to loyalty, has a camera guy who is lacking. This doesn’t kill the instruction it is just he needs someone who has a better sense on when to pull back a bit and when to move in for a close up. In closing I think those into packet tricks will like this routine because there is a logic to it in story line and also most the cards can be picked up and looked at by the spectators if they must and you must. The moves flow nicely and Jay has some good moves in the mix. The DVD instruction is fine but I think it could have been done a bit better and hopefully next time Jay, and others, will include a bare bones run through for people just to brush up on something or so they can check if they lost a step some where without watching the entire explanation without jumping around. I’m tossing this in with my case for when I need a nice lil’ trick to do. |
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michaelmystic2003 Inner circle 3062 Posts |
Great review! Thanks a bunch, I was waiting for this.
Learn more about my upcoming book of close up magic and theory SYNTHESIS & SECRETS: A Magic Book in Four Acts: https://www.michaelkrasworks.com/synthesis-secrets
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Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Thanks santa
Cards never lie
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Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
Jay was including written instructions with his dvds but stopped sometime last year.
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
That was a mistake. The instructions kind of imply that there are more than one presentation on the DVD but it isn't a fact.
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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
I would have preferred if the whole joker was facing the other way. Anyway...
Yours,
Ivan |
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Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
Niva, I agree. While I think the effect is a great twist on Twisting The Aces, I wish it was taken a step further by having the Joker riding the opposite direction and perhaps even having the word Joker reversed on the card.
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
I also agree. What I inserted into the patter was that the 808 was evil, like Jay suggested, and the head was turning around ala Exercist.
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niva Inner circle Malta (Europe) 2970 Posts |
Hehe nice.
Yours,
Ivan |
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GhostSurfer Loyal user 224 Posts |
I nearly bought this thing yesterday, sight-unseen. After watching a demo today I'm real glad I didn't. Without looking too hard, I spotted every move...
GS |
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Cameron Francis V.I.P. 7025 Posts |
Well, you are a magician... And you could always make the way you do it look better.
MOMENT'S NOTICE LIVE 3 - Six impromptu card tricks! Out now! http://cameronfrancismagic.com/moments-notice-live-3.html
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GhostSurfer Loyal user 224 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-08-25 18:27, Cameron Francis wrote: True... but there was just 'something' about it that wasn't, er, right... Maybe, as others have said, the visual element of the 'turn-around' should have been better. Or maybe it's just another packet trick which in its entirety, is nothing really special - not one of his better effects... GS |
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
It is a packet trick designed and marketed to the relatively new and casual magician. It isn't a 'pro item' so why are you bothered that it isn't a professional level routine?
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GhostSurfer Loyal user 224 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-08-26 13:30, MagicSanta wrote: I've read some rubbish posted on here before, but your post takes the biscuit. So, what are you saying, Sankey is releasing multi-tiered effects tailored to the relevant skill levels of the buyer? I don't remember reading on the back of this DVD 'WARNING! Beginners Only - May Offend Professionals' GS |
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Joshua Barrett Inner circle Cincinnati, Ohio 3631 Posts |
I think ghost has valid points and I agree with him
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GhostSurfer Loyal user 224 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-08-27 08:41, Joshua Barrett wrote: ...Thank you. GS |
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Ghost, most of what I've seen from Sankey is for hobbiest which is why I don't have very much of his work. So you being surprised surprises me. If I'm thinking of guys who release top tier material Sankey ain't one of 'em.
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GhostSurfer Loyal user 224 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-08-27 12:20, MagicSanta wrote: ...And I suppose 'PaperClipped' hasn't been used by any Pros either? GS |
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
'most of....', you just want to argue don't you son? If you read my review I say that you won't see pros running around doing this but for some reason you seem rather upset about that. I've done it a few times (About Face) but I changed it to flow better. Paper Clipped is a very good effect that pros would do. Now if you want to list all of Sankeys material to for me to tell you who would or wouldn't use it you'll be frustrated because I don't have all of his material. Is there anything else confusing you about this topic?
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Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
I picked this up. I'm a professional. I agree with MagicSanta. It's a cute packet effect that like MOST packet effects gets a good response. Sure I've used it, but I doubt a working table hopper would use it as part of a regular set. If you did it at every table and handed each card out for examination as Jay does the cards would be worn out in a few nights. The examination in such circumstances is more of a negative point. For the occassional performer that negative point becomes a positive point and also a good selling point. It IS part of the overall effectiveness of the trick.
The idea of the face on a card turning around has been done before though. In 2002 Ton Onasaka released 'BacKing' (I mention this in my book Small But Deadly)which is a Twisting The Aces variant with Kings which turn face down, the conclusion is that they are turned over to show the kings have turned their backs toward you. More magic involved. However, Jay's approach is different and the handling regarding the 'examination' very well thought out. Tricks don't HAVE to fit specific conditions to be released other than that they work. This one does. I'd also thought about using another of those odd printed jokers from elsewhere in the routine (specifically one from Andrew Normansell's "Trick Cyclist" where the joker has fallen off his bike)but so far it is just a thought. Paul. |
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