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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Title: AM/PM Alex Pandrea & Jonathan Price
Medium: DVD Arena: Close up Available: Any shop, distributed by Murphys Magic Supplies AM/PM is a collection of 10 routines by ‘New Yorks greatest underground magicians’ Jonathan Price and Alex Pandrea. Both of these gentlemen clearly are technically excellent magicians and both have the ability to explain routines in great detail. The explanation aspect is very important because some top notch magicians have a hard time explaining what it is they do, in the case of these two gents, and in particular Alex (I’m guessing he is the long haired fellow while Jonathan is the very big dude) who smoothly flows through great detail about routines in a very clear manner. The DVD is shot on excellent equipment and the sound is great throughout. I would have either added more lighting or had lighter cloths be worn by the presenters but other than that they did a very good job making this DVD. The routines are a mix bag and some of the performances were not to my liking while the effects I thought were really good. An example is Cashback. In this routine the magicians pulls out money and makes a bet that he can find a chosen card with ‘I bet $20 that I can find her card the first time’ and then proceeds to fail a couple times then locating the card in a surprising way. First off since the performer, Jonathan, stated he would find the card the first time and failed then he lost the bet, end of story. Take away the camera and the fact Jonathan is a foot taller than anyone else then he would have been minus $20. I just think it is a weak presentation…that being said I like how the card is located. It is very visual and had good shock value. Another example is Alex’ performing Arson. This is an old idea and similar effects have been released, most notably by Eugene Burger, and it is a good routine. My problem is Alex has to explain to the spectators what just happened, if the spectator has to be told what occurred then it isn’t a solid routine. Again I liked the methods and ideas behind this routine. So for a few routines you have great method but so so performance. On the other side there are some routines that I found to be excellent all around. Two of note are by Alex. First is Papermate which is a routine using a stick pen where the pen shrinks, stretches, vanishes and appears, then turns into a drinking straw. It uses a common item and looks just great in Alex’ hands. You’ll want to do this one but do practice and listen to the tips given by Alex. The other is what I consider the best routine on the DVD and that is The Domino Effect. In this routine, which is similar to a number of other released effects using coins or bills, a packet of sugar and a packet of Sweet and Low and both are put into the spectator’s hand. The sugar packet is removed from the fist of the spectator and then in an extremely visual manner it turns into a packet of Sweet and Low. The packets then again change places. You are required to make a gimmick, not a problem as it is easy to make, and you will make it because this is a killer routine that you will do. The other routines are technically strong and you’ll likely want to adjust the presentations to suit you, as you should be doing anyway. Even the ones that didn’t move me in performance certainly got my attention when it came to method. Some will require a lot of work to get down and some I don’t think I’ll be able to do well, which means I won’t perform them, because of my limitations. I mean this Jonathan can palm a deck of cards, a roll of half dollars, and the table he is working on and still shuffle cards and hold a drink, all in one hand. I can’t hold a deck of card and have my thumb reach the tips of my other fingers. But I can do most of what they do and with practice I’ll get out and perform more of these routines. To be honest this is kind of a refreshing DVD because the material is challenging but not impossible like some put out and all ten are good effects with presentations that can be salvaged. As an added bonus you get to see a guy use a giant pocket knife to make gimmicks rather than the traditional xacto knife, cool stuff. You’ll also learn a killer coin vanish which while the routine with it is kind of so so the vanish/switch will get’cha. If you want a bit of challenge and want to learn some really good close up magic (and a couple flat out excellent routines) then give serious consideration to AM/PM. Very well done DVD and I look forward to see what this production company has for us in the future. Note if I got the magicians names crossed up I apologize. |
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alex_pandrea Loyal user 223 Posts |
Magicsanta! great! we really appreciate the feedback. You got the names just fine hehe..."refreshing" is definitely what we were going for with this project. We tried to put a few things for everyone here- whether your a card technician, restaurant worker, "street" magician, or just like going out to bars/clubs and performing some effects, AM/PM will definitely give you at least a few tricks that you will enjoy and use!- and by way the magic market is going, those few effects will be worth moree than the price of this DVD! no? :-P
PS Magicsanta- have you watched the bloopers?hehe |
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
I will watch the bloopers but to be honest I usually don't because what the makers find funny I typically don't. This is a quality collection of magic alright, and you guys sure know how to do the moves.
Hey, I was making the gimmick for The Domino Effect and wanted to thicken the white paper, make it less see though in lit conditions, and putting more paper just seemed a hassle to me (since in order to be tougher than you I used a bowie knife to make it with). What I used was from the White Out company and it is a roll of tape that you put over typos to completely cover them up. I was able to cover the lil' packet in seconds, the tape sticks and isn't going to peel, and it added to mask any print underneath without adding bulk at all. Great stuff and it worked really well. The DVD was absolutely worth the price. Oh, and get a haircut. I do have one complaint and this is so petty it makes even me sick but it drove me nuts. In a couple scenes a horrible shirt is worn that says 99% PURE in giant gold print. I realize in New York that type of thing is hip, but remember, New York isn't as hip as they think. Back to what drove me nuts....there is another guy who was clearly handed the same shirt and he puts it on over his long sleeved dress shirt with the collar showing, kind of like a gawd aweful street version of a sweater vest. Man, you all could not have made that poor guy look any dorkier if you tried in that outfit. If he tried out for the stage version of Revenge of the Nerds they would reject him for being 'too over the top'. It was cruel to do that to him and in future prints you should fuzzy out his features so his grandchildren don't laugh at him. Of course that could just be me.... |
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
If you work in restaurants or anywhere that has sugar packets, The Domino Effect would be worth the price of the DVD. I bet it could have been made into the single trick dvd's that are popular today with a pre-made gaff included. It's a transpo that takes place in the spectators hands, like a C/s or bill routine.
Anyway, MagicSanta covered it all and it's a beautiful transpo. Alex Pandrea & Jonathan Price have gifted hands and great personalities. I like them.
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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alex_pandrea Loyal user 223 Posts |
Hahahha magicsanta that was a great response! ok thank you for advertising my shirt! hehe ...the shirt was actually one of my side projects that I do for fun (design t-shirts) so I'm glad you liked it! lol jk :-P ...but to be honest, I gave a shirt to my friend (it was his bday where I performed the night you were referring to), and for some reason he put it on!! kind of annoying I know haha but what you gonna' do right?
You HAVE to watch the bloopers...i am sure you will love them..there are so many "inside magician" jokes that are priceless. PS: I did cut my hair actually haha...but not all the way...its still long...but for some reasons the ladies like it so I can't complain! ;-) |
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Mercury52 Inner circle Kevin Reylek 2239 Posts |
Thanks for your thoughts Santa and Chris!
Santa - Cool idea on the new item for touching up Domino Effect. As for the knife, Alex actually usually uses something bigger to make the gimmick, but we had to size it down so it could fit on camera! Maybe Alex will post a picture... I've known Alex since he had "regular" hair, and I don't think he'll ever go backto that look. He has gotten a "trim" since the DVD though, lol! And you should definitely check out the bloopers if you haven't yet! Thanks for the feedback, would love to hear some performance stories sometime! Kevin
Kevin Reylek
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Mercury52 Inner circle Kevin Reylek 2239 Posts |
Well, I have to retract something from my previous post. I said that I didn't think that Alex would ever go back to "regular" hair.
So today we have a quick get-together, and Alex shows up with a brand-spanking-new haircut and proves me wrong! Santa, you'll have to check out the next DVD to see if you approve of the new look! Kevin
Kevin Reylek
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
I'm happy, he's a nice looking kid but the hair was bad (I can say that cuz he's younger than my kid)
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alex_pandrea Loyal user 223 Posts |
Wow wow, this is all very interesting stuff, but lets get back to the magic! hehe :-P
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solareflipz Veteran user Orlando, Fl 308 Posts |
Really Alex? You look like a guy again? Haha jk!
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alex_pandrea Loyal user 223 Posts |
Haha ya sean, you seem excited about that for some weird reason hehe :- )))jkjk
anywayyy ..back to the DVD? ok good :-P |
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Xcath1 Inner circle 3052 Posts |
I also have to say the Domino effect is the "Extreme Burn" of sugar packet effects, easily a top 10 walk around type effect. I admit, I have never heard of these guys but this trick is just too easy and too good looking not to do. The flip stick pen routine also looks great but is quite a bit more knacky.
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LiquidSn Elite user New York 472 Posts |
Buy his dvd.
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Based on their chops and personalities, Alex and Jonathan must fry audiences in the New York area. I hope we get to see more from them in the future!
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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Mercury52 Inner circle Kevin Reylek 2239 Posts |
I just heard from Alex that he'll be presenting a lecture on June 5th somewhere in the area. I don't have all the details yet, but I imagine he'll be posting.
Odds are pretty good that a few AM/PM pieces will be presented at the lecture Thanks for all the feedback so far! Kevin
Kevin Reylek
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
I think we'll hear more from Alex and Jonathan in the future. They are extremely talenetd.
That Domino effect is brilliant. Well worth the price of the DVD.
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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Mercury52 Inner circle Kevin Reylek 2239 Posts |
Thanks for the comments guys. Glad people are enjoying the material.
Here's some info for the lecture that I mentioned a few posts above. Hope to see some of you there! The lecture will be held on Friday, June 5th at the SAM Parent Assembly Number 1 at 7:30PM at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center at 1425 Madison Ave (98th St) at Goldwurm Auditorium on the Main Floor. Alex will be presenting effects from the AM/PM DVD, as well as unpublished material. A special guest may also be a part of the lecture. For more information, visit http://sampa1.com/index.htm Kevin
Kevin Reylek
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
I bet in person, Alex will bow people away at the lecture. I'm not exaggerating when I say these two fellows are gifted. They have that special touch when it comes to performing!
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
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JPFIVE16 New user 5 Posts |
SPECIAL GUEST??? IM EXCITED...
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Mercury52 Inner circle Kevin Reylek 2239 Posts |
Heh, I didn't want to speak for you or make any guarantees!
:)
Kevin Reylek
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