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Pre-Review 'Disclosure'/'Disclaimer':

Ok many of you probably know that Jay Sankey and I are good friends and that we've worked together on a project or two in the past, and we also are consultants to one another.

I get feedback from him on my stuff, and he gets feedback from me on a lot of his stuff. Additionally, I do not receive any sort of compensation whatsoever for reviewing or 'pitching' his products (I was briefly involved with this project . . . I offered feedback and suggestion on which effects from past projects should be included.).

I tell you that up front just to sort of clear the air and to let you know that when I give Jay feedback, I'm brutally honest with him. I tell him if I think he has a crappy idea or a good idea. He wouldn't have it any other way, nor would I. So I want to make it clear that Jay's products get the same level of scrutiny as any other products I review.

On to the review:

This offering from Sankey Magic is perfect for fans and people who are unfamiliar with Jay's work. This is a 5 DVD set (each sold individually). Basically these DVDs are a collection of footage from previous DVDs. His best stuff combined from various different past projects.

The beauty of this from a fan's perspective is that you have all of Jay's killer stuff at your finger tips. You don't have to dig through your collection to find what you're looking for. After watching these, I realized that there was some footage that I didn't recognize, and I thought I had everything from Jay.

For anyone unfamiliar with Jay's work or those who haven't made the full-on-die-hard-Sankey-fan leap yet, this is perfect. Pick your favorite subject (cards, coins, mentalism, street magic, ordinary objects) and get Sankey's Best. You'll quickly know if you like Jay's material or not. My gut tells me that you will.

One of my favorite things about this set is that you get to see all different sides of Jay from several different projects . . . 'Serious Jay', 'Funny Jay', 'Professional Jay', 'Crazy Jay', 'Insane Jay', it's fun to see the variety.

For each of the five sets (Cards, Coins, Mentalism, Street Magic, Ordinary Objects), you will find the above commentary as well as specifics about the particular DVD. First the effect title, then description from the ad copy, then my opinion, so onward with . . . Coins:

RECURRENCY

(4/5)
A coin appears and REAPPEARS on, inside and beneath an ordinary wallet resting on the table! Perfect for bars and clubs!

This is a fun and surprising routine reminiscent of card under glass but it's with coins and a wallet. It does require that you are working in a specific environment, but it's a very well structure routine that builds nicely.

SLOW MOTION COINS

(4/5)
Jay's super lean, wonderfully structured 3 coins to 3 pockets handling!

You get to meet Jay's wife, Lisa, again (we met her in the Mentalism DVD as well). The structure of this routine allows you to get way ahead of your audience, and the psychology of it really leads the audience down a path that just seriously fools them.

NEST EGG

(4.5/5)
A marked coin appears inside a matchbox inside the card case!

This is coin in nest of boxes made simple. It's very simple and very astonishing.

UPS & DOWNS

(5/5)
A single coin penetrates down and UP through a solid table!

The MOST visual coin-through-table effect I've ever seen. You actually see it appear on top of the table as you press it through the bottom of the table. Unbelievably visual.

CASH FLOW

(5/5)
Truly astounding 4 coin production. You won't believe your eyes.

One of the hardest things to do on the DVD, but the effect is super visual and super magical.

MEXICAN JUMPING COINS

(4/5)
Jay's acclaimed 'one behind' handling PACKED with innovative sleights!

The coolest thing about this is that you learn a great false count with coins that is very deceptive. The effect is a coins across routine. Also on this DVD is Mr. Clean Coins Across which is a much better version of the plot. Either way, this effect is still worth studying for the psychology and the new move you will learn.

HYPOTHESIS PRODUCTION

(4.5/5)
Created for professional walkaround work, this extremely practical coin production sequence is now a part of repertoires around the world!

This is a great handling for being able to produce as many coins as you want from your bare hand. It's a very simple and elegant handling. The routine Jay presents is very down to earth and makes the routine that much stronger.

MASS CONSUMPTION

(4/5)
An insane series of vanishes and appearances. One innovative sleight after another!

This is a weird piece with some very clever vanishes and reappearances of coins. The premise is fun and the visuals are amazing.

UNIQUELY

(4.5/5)
A surreal transposition between a borrowed coin and the torn corner of a playing card!

Try this with a business card instead of a playing card . . . you won't regret it. The effect is that of a transposition of a coin and the corner of a playing card.

MR.CLEAN COINS ACROSS

(5/5)
One of the most acclaimed coins across handling in all of modern coin magic!

Best coins across routine ever!

SLICK SPLITS

(5/5)
Hypervisual four coin production!

Best coin split ever!

NO WAY OUT

(3.5/5)
A 2-coin transpo with a BIG difference. Great commercial twist on a classic plot!

A nice presentational premise. It's a two coin transpo where one of the coins is wrapped in scotch tape. It's very simple and very magical.

P.O.V CHANGE

(4/5)
Strong theatre meets super visual coin change!

Super, super visual coin change. Both hands are shown empty and one coin visually changes into another coin. This also adds a nice presentational angle that makes the effect even more sneaky and clever.

NO JACKET REQUIRED

(4/5)
One by one four coins vanish and appear in four different locations!

This is a very straight-forward coins to pocket routine. The structure is sneaky, and the moves are easy.

FIFTH QUARTER

(4/5)
Jay squeezes the very most out of the Pop-Up Move complete with a big surprise finish!

This is a simple effect that has a nice surprise ending. This is a really easy effect to add to your current repertoire.

FOUR SEASONS

(4/5)
A series of one-coin changes, each more visual than the last! Perfect opening effect for walkaround work!

This is a great way to draw in an audience immediately. Before they even know you're a magician you've already nailed them with a quick three phase 'spellbound' routine with a 'button you found on the ground.'

ROLLOVER

(4.5/5)
A hit-and-run coins across!

An excellent application of a classic old move. This is a very visual coins across.

STRIKE THREE

(4/5)
An elegant handling with 3 coins, a handkerchief and a pen! Learn Jay's handling of Williamson's 'Striking Vanish!'

This is another very simple and down to earth routine . . . the vanish and reappearance of three coins.

THROUGH THICK AND THIN

(2/5)
An especially clever 3-phase coin through the table handling!

I don't like the handling of this one. It's a coin through table effect with a marked coin, but there are a few moments that I think are a little fishy.

PUSH BUTTON

(5/5)
A high-tech '4 coins and card case' close-up extravaganza!

This is probably my all time favorite Sankey Effect. Four coins magically penetrate a card box. It's very visual and very magical.

If you take the average rating of each trick above, you get a 4.3 out of 5 stars. Add to that the inexpensive price, and Jay's experience (he's been performing since he was a teenager) and you've got a 4.5 or better. One of my favorite things about Jay and his magic is that he never stops thinking, and he shares with the student bits of wisdom and thoughts that just can't be found on other magic projects. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, a Sankey fan or have never heard of Sankey, there is something for you in this DVD. Get it!

Final Verdict:
4.5 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM!

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