Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Crazy Life by Slash

Let me start by first saying that overall I liked this DVD and will be recommending it when all is said and done. However, I'm very confused about something. Let's take a look at a transcription of the intro on the DVD. Then I'll explain my confusion.

The following was transcribed verbatim by me from the DVD:

Hi guys. For those of you that don't know me, I'm John Stessel, and I wanted to thoroughly thank you for purchasing this project. This has been a work for a long time, and it's been an idea I've been wanting to put out for a very long time. The concept of "My World" is been something I've been adapting to all of my magic since I can first remember.

I created the concept about four years ago and it really sparked this different type of creative energy in me and it made me completely blow up every idea I had just to fit "my world." So without further ado, thank you for purchasing this project, and I hope you guys enjoy it. Let's get into it.

He then proceeds to perform and explain several effects which we'll talk about in a moment.

Then at the end of the DVD he gives some shout outs to some magi friends. Then says the following (again transcribed verbatim):

Before I end, I did not tell you guys yet the big concept to "welcome to my world" is that "my world" isn't a closing feature, by that I mean once you're in, you're in.

So um "welcome to my world" is actually an open-ended project. I have a ton of stuff that didn't actually make it onto the DVD.

After the above he continues on by letting us know that if you sign up for his list, he'll continue to send you more videos for free via email as a continuation of the project. I think that's a great and generous idea. However that's it. The confusion comes in when you hear (or read) the intro. When I first heard the intro, I was expecting the whole DVD to be about some principle or concept. He talks about adapting the concept to all of his magic, and how he created the concept four years ago. I'm just a bit confused about what, exactly, he is "adapting to all of [his] magic." I'm also confused about what concept he created four years ago . . . the idea to send out videos via email? Maybe I'm just missing the boat, but I just didn't feel or get it.

However, with that said, the effects and methods taught on the DVD (with one exception - Bendable) are "worthy." So let's take a look at a few things.

John Stessel

Based on this DVD, I like John Stessel. He's a smart guy who is creative and works on his magic to improve it based on experience. He seemed to work hard to give credit (though he actually missed a credit to yours truly) and recognition to those gone before. He's a very likable guy for sure.

Production Quality

The navigation menu was simple and clean - thank you! The video and audio quality were top notch . . . all studio quality. Each effect was quasi-performed for the camera. It was more like a patter-less walk through. I kind of like that because it was enough for you to see the effect (with one exception - Ice Breaker). However, you weren't exposed to crappy audience interaction with crap patter and put-and-take that we see so often these days. After each performance, we're given a very clear and easy to follow explanation immediately followed by another explanation from over the shoulder.

Make sure you don't skip the over the shoulder explanations because you'll find further tips, pointers and alternate handling ideas that weren't shown in the first explanation.

Overall production quality/teaching/etc - excellent. No complaints.

Ad Copy Honesty

As you know, this category (Ad Copy Integrity) is one of the most important factors for my review criteria. For the most part the ad copy is accurate. However, I will point out a couple of things that are not. First, there is a lot of hype like, "Earthly laws of physics don't apply here" or hyperbolized claims like the ". . . effects will cause your spectators to question their perceptions and reconsider their notions of the impossible." I can live with that. It's hype, but it's not too crazy.

However, in one effect a claim of no sleight of hand is mentioned. That's not true. It's almost true, and the slieght of hand required is minimal and pretty easy, but it still exists. Finally, however, the biggest claim that I have a problem with is that the Black Hole card box gimmick can be examined. The way it is used in the DVD, it cannot be examined. Further, when Stessel explains what is needed to make it examinable, the gimmick becomes almost unusable, and the box still isn't examinable. However, I don't feel that it needs to be examined, so the fact that it's not examinable is not a problem. What is a problem is the false claim that it is examinable.

The video trailer shows a lot of footage of live performances. None of that is on the DVD, or if it is, I couldn't find it. I'm a little bummed by that, but it's not the end of the world. The DVD still gives you all that you need to learn the effects. Just don't expect to see the performances from the trailer anywhere on the DVD. Finally, the video teaser says that there are 9 new and organic effects. While I can pretty much agree that all of the effects are organic, there are only 7, not 9

Effects

Below you'll find a brief mention of each effect and a few points on each one.

ARROW

Here is a simple yet visual card discovery that's been done before in different forms. However, you'll learn two utility moves that are kind of fun. The first, Arrow Shot, is a simple and pretty easy move to cause a card to jump/pop out of the deck into your hand. The second move, Arrow Spin, is a knacky yet cool move to cause a card to fly and spin out of the deck straight up in the air. Both of these moves are pretty practical and can be learned with a fair bit of practice.

MERGE

This is a very visual and clever color change that allows a card to visually and instantly change even while wrapped in a rubber band. You'll learn a couple of cool alternative handling ideas as well. You're also given some good tips on clean up. He kept referring to this as "the orginal handling of Merge." It wasn't until the end of the DVD during the credits where he explained that variations of the effect where published in a previous collaborative DVD himself and Justin Miller. This original version, however, was not on the JM collaborative project, so he published it here.

The move is easy, visual and very practical. You'll need to come up some reason why you're wrapping the card in the rubber band, but that's a small price to pay for something this visual.

ICEBREAKER

This effect was hard to see on the DVD. Changing a blue Icebreaker Mint container to a green one in not-so-good lighting isn't much of an effect. He should have (at least for the DVD) done a change from green (mint) to red (cinnamon). Other than that, the effect is pretty solid, but very angly. He teaches an alternative method that is 100% angle proof, but it's not as powerful as the angly version. He also adds a handling by Jeff Prace that I thought was very simple and effective. Though it's angly, it is visual and organic. The container is not examinable. However I don't think it needs to be, especially since you immediately can dump out mints from the container right into the spectator's hand.

BENDABLE

The method on this didn't look very convincing to me, and the gimmick is a little awkward to handle. It's a smart idea, and I'll certainly admit that the method may be more convincing that I think just because I'm seeing it as a magician not a lay person. Take a look at the video trailer. About 35 seconds in, you'll see the effect where the bendy part of a straw moves on the straw. If you feel that looks good, then you'll be happy with it. The gimmick works, but it'll take a little bit of practice to be able to handle it smoothly.

BLACK HOLE

Well . . . this is the one that I mentioned earlier where I was not credited. This is essentially the same thing as my Prometheus Box from my DVD Gemstones. I released this about 5 years before this DVD was released. However, Stessel does mention that he's been playing around with this idea since he was 12, so unless he's only 17, his predates mine. Either way, I'm not offended. I just chalk it up to independent creativity. I've done the same thing in the past, and frankly, someone probably fiddled around with this before both of us.

The construction of the boxes are ever so slightly different from each other. His has some pros over mine, and mine has some pros over his. Further, you are taught 3 different applications for the box on this DVD, all of which are simple and clever.

Just keep in mind that the box can NOT be examined (neither can mine) as the ad copy claims. Further, even though an "examinable" alternative is taught, it is still NOT examinable. But that's not an issue in my book. It's the kind of thing where the box is kind of above suspicion. Plus the spectator even handles the box in some of the routines.

CAP OFF

Before the performance on the DVD, Stessel makes a big deal about saying that this does NOT use loops. Then he does the effect. Ok . . . technically it does not use Loops. However it still uses the same basic concept . . . just a different hook up. Further, the explanation of how big to make the gimmick is never really clear. You'll get the basic gist of it by watching the explanation, but you'll have to fiddle around with it to get it exactly right.

POPCORN

This uses the exact same gimmick as Cap Off. In both cases, the effects are visual and easy. However, I'm not convinced that the particular hook up is the best way to go. However, the gimmick and hook up are pretty easy. So if you like the visuals (both are shown in the trailer), then I think you'll be happy with the method.

Final Thoughts

As I mentioned in the beginning, I am recommending this DVD. Seven effects that are pretty easy, pretty practical and pretty visual for only $30 bucks is a reasonable price. When you consider that you'll also be getting more videos via email for life (theoretically), this makes the $30 even easier to swallow. My only two real concerns are the few spots in the ad copy that were not quite as accurate as I felt they should be, and secondly, the confusion about the "concept." Frankly, I can just ignore the confusion about the concept in my rating. The errors in the ad copy are mostly forgivable.

Final Verdict:
3.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.