|
|
Go to page 1~2 [Next] | ||||||||||
Tim Trono Inner circle 1114 Posts |
I just finished watching the Charming Chinese Challenge DVD produced by Bob Kohler. WOW! Don't walk but run and buy this. I recall first seeing Joshua Jay do Troy Hooser's routine some time ago at an A-1 Convention. I was amazed. Then I played around with it when Troy's book, "DesTROYers" came out. The DVD certainly makes the routine easier to learn and there are some unbelievable additions, ideas, handlings, etc. by Troy, Apollo, Thomas Wayne, and Shoot Ogawa. Shoot has a BRILLIANT idea for the first penetration. It looks so clean and magical. Several of the sequences are new and never before published.
This is just a beautiful, clean, crisp, and amazing routine. With all of the additional ideas you can essentially pick and choose. The explanations are very clear, the DVD well produced, etc. This is one of those cool routines where it is a joy to perform because of the interesting techniques. In addition, it is a very strong performance piece for your audiences. It is practical, visual, and magical. Bob, Troy, Thomas, Apollo, and Shoot did a superb job. Two thumbs up! I've been waiting for this for some time and it was worth the wait. STRONGLY recommended. Tim Trono |
|||||||||
GeorgeG Special user Thousand Oaks, CA 977 Posts |
Thanks for the review, Tim. I saw the short demo that Bob has on his website and to be frank it didn't impress me. I just didn't see anything exciting about some coin with a hole in it penetrating a ribbon. I guess there is more to the routine that is not revealed in that short glimpse. I know Troy's reputation and his name on the DVD was enough for me to look into this new release. I guess I may need to reconsider and...hmm, I will also need to get some chinese coins(I assume these are not included with the DVD).
|
|||||||||
magicday Regular user 195 Posts |
Hi Tim,
Where did you get the DVD, I've ordered but the dealer said it not release yet? |
|||||||||
ixnay66 Inner circle Denver 1525 Posts |
I ordered it 2 weeks ago from Bob Kohler's website. He advertised he was releasing it early and you could only get it at that time from his website. I know I can get DVDs cheaper elsewhere but I wanted it then. Unfortunately he didn't have it either and I'm still waiting for him to get the DVDs.
|
|||||||||
Jeffrey Cowan Regular user Los Angeles, CA 130 Posts |
It's my understanding that Bob only just received the DVDs, and that they're on their way to those who ordered them.
|
|||||||||
joseph Eternal Order Please ignore my 17407 Posts |
No, the coins are extra, and Hocus Pocus has them for $7.50 each.
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler." (Einstein)...
|
|||||||||
MJ Marrs Inner circle Los Angeles 1124 Posts |
I ordered mine about two weeks ago also. However, I'm sure that it's worth the wait; plus I've got more than enough to work on right now.
As far as the coins go, Sterling makes the best ones to use for this routine. Those are the ones that Troy Hooser uses. The Johnson ones are beautiful, but they're too thick. "Misdirections" magic shop (up in San Francisco) carries them (I ordered three sets of four coins just to make sure that I'll have some for the future). I've seen some guys performing this routine and I know for sure that it will be something that I'll be adding to my repetoire. |
|||||||||
Andrew E. Miller Inner circle Southern California 1428 Posts |
I just ordered this to see what new input there was. I learned the original routine from Silver Surf and have not used it a lot. I probably should though. It is a fun routine.
Andrew |
|||||||||
Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
I don't think this is a very interesting effect for Laymen. It's the kind of thing that gets magicians excited and part of that is advertising hype ( just like with cigarettes to young people ).
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
|||||||||
Tim Trono Inner circle 1114 Posts |
I got my unit FedEx'd from the replicator so it is en route to Bob Kohler and to Murphy's Magic Supplies and thus should be available soon.
Chris, I'd have to respectfully disagree. I have been SLAMMED this weekend with shows for Project Graduations (I was performing last night until 1 AM and again tonight until 3 or 4 AM) and have been using CCC. It gets a great response. I think partly due to the clarity of the effect and the cleanliness of the sequences. There are no places really where the spectators can think "he did something... I don't know what, but he did something". I also think in many ways it is stronger than a finger ring and string routine. My thinking here is that with the ring and string routine you are essentially doing it over and over just because you can. With CCC you are going through each of the 3 coins. It’s like showing 3 coins and thus making each of them fly across instead of showing 3 and making one fly over and over again. I don’t know if that makes sense but it is a different "feel". I have been using Shoot Ogawa's opening sequence and it is devastating. Also this routine allows the "in the spectator's hand" finish which really leaves them screaming. I had one girl screaming and running away from me (because of the effect I swear LOL LOL) with coins in tow (I had to go get them from her). Again, I can see why you might think this Chris, but from using it, I can vouch for its strength. It's the straightforwardness, the clarity, etc. that, in my opinion, makes this great and a real worker. Obviously not every item is for everyone and you have to go with your gut as to what works and doesn’t work for you. Also a huge plus is that it is so intriguing from a method standpoint it is fun to do. Tommy Wonder discusses this generally in his lecture video. If an effect is intriguing and magical to you, you in turn naturally pass this on to your audiences (he discusses taking the extra effort to ensure his walk around items reset so he doesn't have to think about them and thus they are more magical to him and come across as more magical - VERY true point to those out there working). Tim |
|||||||||
Andrew E. Miller Inner circle Southern California 1428 Posts |
Chris, the Charming Chinese Challenge is not like that at all. This is a professional coin routine that has remained underground for years until published in Silver Surf and Destroyers. Even then the routine was not widely known. The only reason why anything receives hype is because of the consumers. Hype or not this routine is diabolical. Once again you are putting down something you obviously have never used for laymen before. I however have. I am sure a bunch of other people who love the routine have used it too.
Andrew |
|||||||||
Maestro Special user 801 Posts |
Bob Kohler recommended Sasco Chinese coins for this routine (because johnson coins are too thick, apparently).
Could somebody please give me a link to where I could find some of these coins? I have looked, but I haven't found a site that actually sells them yet. Thanks. |
|||||||||
Chris S Veteran user 393 Posts |
I have performed it many times for laypeople, and I think it also misses the mark. Nothing more than a a polite "ooo" at the best of times. Put it up against the simplest of matrix routines or Kennedy's indomitable Translocation and it runs a poor second(maybe its the ribbon, maybe its the coins - I just don't know). Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember a well-known English magician posting elsewhere on this board that it left layaudiences distinctly nonplussed.
Oh - and if you are looking for good coins, head down to your regional chinatown. I found literally dozens strung onto a cheap talisman.Perfect width and size, and dirt cheap. They actually look identical to the ones Curtis Kam uses in PoS II
May your moral compass guide you true - South West is where the honourable man fare. Pity those who lose their way...
|
|||||||||
MJ Marrs Inner circle Los Angeles 1124 Posts |
Are you sure that Kohler recommended Sasco? I thought that he said Troy Hooser uses the Sterling coins and that they work the best for the routine. Maybe I'm wrong. Either way, I checked out the Sterling website: http://www.sterlingmagic.com and saw some nice coins.
As far as coins from Chinatown, I found some that are half dollar size which are beautiful, but they are a little on the light side. There are some heavier ones but they aren't as shiny looking as I'd like. Anyways, good luck. |
|||||||||
Andrew E. Miller Inner circle Southern California 1428 Posts |
I cannot find the Chinese coins on Sterling's site that they use on this DVD.
Andrew |
|||||||||
MJ Marrs Inner circle Los Angeles 1124 Posts |
Go to the site, click on Products, and scroll down a little. There isn't a picture, but rather the listing of Chinese coins that are black and brass for $9.50 each. I ordered through Misdirections, but I think that you can get them a little cheaper at Hocus Pocus. (Sterling is wholesale only.)
By the way, I don't know how the Pewter coins that Sterling also makes will work. They look like they may be a little too thick. |
|||||||||
Andrew E. Miller Inner circle Southern California 1428 Posts |
I looked on Sterling's site and only found the pewter coins. I thought they looked terrible. I want to get them from Misdirections, but where on that huge site!!?? I'll keep searching. I also didn't find any half dollar sized chinese coin on Hocus Pocus.
Andrew |
|||||||||
MJ Marrs Inner circle Los Angeles 1124 Posts |
If get to Sterling's site, there will be a "Products?" listed. If you click on it, then you'll be shown different sets of coins, boxes, etc. A little bit down you should see a LISTING (no picture) of brilliant brass and black Chinese coins, half dollar size.
In any event, if you call Misdirections the guy on the phone will know what you're looking for. I checked the Hocus Pocus site and I couldn't find anything from Sterling except Hopping Half; therefore, you should probably call if you're looking at getting the coins from them. I believe that Brad Burt's shop in San Diego will be carrying some as well (I emailed Mr. Burt inquiring whether or not he had any Sterling coins; he sent me a message that he ordered some after I had already placed an order with Misdirections). By the way, I checked (in the "Show Me the Money" section, Chinese Challenge DVD, late March) and Bob Kohler does mention that Troy Hooser uses Sterling coins. |
|||||||||
Tim Trono Inner circle 1114 Posts |
Chris, not every routine works for everyone and this may be the case with your experience with CCC. I have had routines I thought I'd kill with fall flat. It turned out they just were not for me but I had seen others rock with them. I can only speak for myself and I have had absolute tremendous reactions with this. I have also seen Troy and Josh Jay kill with it. Some routines juts do not fit certain people for certain reasons. It doesn't make it a bad item... it just makes it a bad "fit".
The Sterling (brass/black) coins ARE the recommended ones. Tim Trono |
|||||||||
ixnay66 Inner circle Denver 1525 Posts |
I've always done it with Johnson Halfs and have never had a problem with them.
|
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Dvd, Video tape, Audio tape & Compact discs. » » Charming Chinese Challenge DVD (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |