Product description : This is a compilation of 9 tricks (some are complete routines others are just effects) that can be done with ONLY a deck of card and some rubberbands (1 or 2 for most of the effects). From fancy aces production to sandwich, you'll never see rubberband the same after this DVD.
Price and where to buy it : This is sold at $29.95 and you can find it in nearly every Murphys partner (so you can get it at your favorite magic shop).
What you get : You get a DVD with 9 routines (a bonus effect and a quick lesson on how to shuffle and control). You also get 5 rubberbands so you can get started right out of the box.
The pros and the cons : Here is the core of my review, let's begin with the cons, as I will usually be doing, I prefer to keep the good things for the end.
THE CONS :
I didn't thought it would be that hard ! Don't get me wrong, there are no trick on this that are impossible to do. But I expected something a little bit easier to do, there is some work to put into these effects to make them look good. Since you're using rubberbands, they're in constant tension so you have to deal with it.
The teaching could have been a little bit better. There are no voices instructions on the DVD so it's a little bit hard to follow. Also, the different ways you have to twist, turn the rubberband can be a little awkard at some point.
THE PROS :
It's refreshing to use such objects that are not very often put together. The use of some properties of rubberbands makes the magic very visual, very straight forward, just what I like !
The quality, besides the negative I gave, is very cool and you feel they put some efforts to have a kind of an atmosphere in the DVD. I already felt that with Voices by Jeff Prace, it's very cool if magic DVD are now becoming structured and more.. « fun » to watch ? Good point anyway.
Some parts of the teaching are crystal clear, they put informations on the screen so you know how many degrees you have to twist the band and so on which is very appreciated.
Some of the tricks are highly visual and very direct, the perfect magic for me. I never thought I would enjoy so much a sandwhich done with rubberbands and cards but it was very cool.
The ace production is awesome, check it out, it's called « SY Pyramid » and the ending is so cool, I think it's the coolest I've ever seen.
There isn't that much setup, some cards you have to put on top for some routines but most of them are quite direct. Also the routine with the gun is very impressive and the card gets shot with force, it's weird !
Creativity will spark after watching this DVD since I've never used rubberband and cards together, I definately have more ideas for the future.
They do include some rubberbands to get you started which is very nice, you don't have to go to the shop before performing the routines, definately a nice touch. Also, they do show you which kind and brand of rubberband to choose in order to perform the tricks.
Overall rating : This DVD may not suit your style but you can't deny the ingenious method and the good tricks which are on it, there is something that you will perform at least once to try, I'm sure. I always carry rubberbands and cards with me so I will be doing some moves, the trick « Just blow » will be my go to effect! 3/4 hearts for me, a good DVD, not the best I've seen but a good one.
As for the difficulty, I would be rating it between 3 and 4/5 stars since you have to master some grips and techniques you're not used to. Not impossible but not easy !
Similar products : There are a lot of DVD about rubberbands but I think it's the first of its kind, the first about putting cards and rubberbands together.
Thanks to Murphys Magic for sending me this product !