Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Cat's in The Cradle by Harry Chapin

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 . . . Street Magic:

CARBON PAPER (5/5)

The smoke burn off the back of a card travels to the back of a card held in the spectator's own hands!

Talk about 'Street.' This is a seriously freaky effect on the spectator. Wayne Houchin (with Jay's persmission) recently featured this on his DVD, The Art of Magic . Killer.

SERIAL KILLER (4/5)

Predict the serial number of any bill!

This is a very straight-forward way to predict/divine the serial number on a borrowed bill. The structure makes it so that the heat of the 'moment' is well covered.

TWO KINDS (3/5)

'Early Jay' handling for a double prediction. The clever presentation does most of the work!

This is clever with a decent kicker, but it's a little slow getting to the 'punch line.'

IDENTIFYING FEATURES (3/5)

A very fresh transposition between two dollar bills!

I'm not a fan of this effect, but I've seen it's impact on lay people, and it's pretty solid. You can pretty much do this any time if you've got a dollar bill on you. You then borrow a bill and go, so I like the 'impromptu-ness' of it.

SOFT SPOT (4.5/5)

Borrow a ring of keys and magically cause a key to pass off and onto the ring!

This one is very 'street' for sure. Borrow a set of keys, and one key magically falls off and magically relinks back on the key ring. It's very visual and very clever.

SOLO (4/5)

A shocking card trick with ONLY ONE CARD!

I like this one as far as the effect goes . . . it's a little slow, but the it's a clever way to magically change one card to another with the card seeming to be nowhere near the deck. It also has a nice presentational premise.

POSH (3/5)

A marked coin travels to the magician's pocket twice- under test conditions.

I wouldn't use this as a stand-alone. It would be something to mix in with another routine. This one is all about being able to pull of the personality to do it. If you can get the rhythm and personality, then this could be pretty darn baflling.

BURDEN OF PROOF (3.5/5)

A twist tie melts onto a finger ring and can only be removed by the spectator!

This is a cool trick, but you have to do it as an opener. I'm not sure how 'street' it is, but it's a decent effect with a fun and interactive presentation.

PROXIMITY (3.5/5)

Jay created this 'lost Gem' many years ago and has used it in his impromptu work ever since!

This is a simple impromptu effect . . . not earth-shattering, but definitely good for those 'show me a trick' moments.

IN A PINCH (4/5)

Impromptu 2 coin transpo. Looks PERFECT!

This is a very visual transposition of 2 coins. You just need to keep a quarter on you and you're set to do this effect . . . assuming you can do the Tenkai Pinch.

BODYGUARDS (4/5)

Jay's mean and lean handling of Elmsley's 'Between Your Palms' plot!

This is a very simple effect that can be done with a borrowed and shuffled deck. Magically remove a card from between the spectator's hands.

VITAL SIGNS (4/5)

Low tech, high IMPACT!

You get to meet Jay's wife as he performs for her this simple little effect. It's basically a transpo of two matches (one burnt and one not) from your hand to the spectator's hand.

HYPNOVANISH (3.5/5)

Learn how to make a borrowed coin vanish and appear, anytime, anywhere! You can do it in the NUDE and still show your hands completely empty!

This is sort of a style thing. You have to be able to 'sell' the body language of the effect to make it work. The vanish is very clever. As the ad copy says, you can be fully nude and borrow the coin and show both hands empty before and after the vanish.

LAYING ON OF HANDS (4.5/5)

A 3-phase mental card effect that can close any show without breaking a sweat!

The trick this is based on is one of the first things I ever learned in magic. The build up, structure and the presentation of this effect is very powerful. Each phase quickly builds as you prove that your finger tips are so sensitive that you can extract a thought from someone's head merely by touching them.

KNOT POSSIBLE (4.5/5)

Jay's inspired variation on the classic linking rubber bands effect!

Linking rubber bands . . . this is a way, based on presentation, to link rubber bands and hand them out to keep.

REUNITED (4.5/5)

Tear and restore a paper match, anytime, anywhere! 100% impromptu!

Borrow a match book and go . . . very simple and very 'Street.' Tear and restore a match while it's lit. It's very visual and even sort of dramatic.

DROP ZONE PRODUCTION (4/5)

Make a window in the air with your fingers, then have a coin 'fall out of nowhere!'

This is a very visual coin production, and it's pretty easy to get into. Another one you could do nude. You truly seem to show both sides of both hands, yet a coin appears seemingly from nowhere.

BLACK MARKET (4.5/5)

A killer mental effect with a simple book of matches!

If you can master Tamariz's Crossing The Gaze then this is a killer effect with a very creepy feel to it.

FORCED ENTRY (5/5)

Jam an ordinary straw through a bottle cap- then restore the cap!

This is a very clean penetration of a straw through a bottle cap. The moves are super simple and clever. Also, the audience can watch very closely as the bottle cap is removed from the straw. They can immediately can examine the straw and bottle cap. The routine is very well constructed.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE (4/5)

A 2-phase routine with a borrowed ring and bill. Features a SWEET presentation!

Borrow a ring, and borrow a bill and cause the ring to penetrate the rolled up bill held between the spectator's hands. It's got a great presentational hook and is a believable premise that will suck the audience right in.

If you take the average rating of each trick above, you get a 4 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!