Price$70.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedApr 15, 2009
The Classic Magic of Michael Vincent
Michael Vincent
Alakazam Magic
(Based on 2 reviews)
Once in every generation is born an individual whose work becomes known worldwide as a touchstone for excellence. With the hands of an artist and the soul of a poet, Michael is just such an individual.
His sleight-of-hand is masterful, his presentations are inventive and his performances are the epitome of class and sophistication.
As the only magician in history to have won the prestigious title of "Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year" three times, Michael has spent the better part of three decades honing his skills to become one of finest magicians that Great Britain has ever produced.
This DVD collection showcases his world-class magic in front of a live audience and features some of the most stunning magic ever filmed. As you watch it, you will experience for yourself why Michael's stunning presentations are regarded by audiences and fellow professionals alike as some of the very best in the world today.
This Alakazam production is the first in an ongoing series... Lookout for further releases from "The Michael Vincent Collection."
Contents
Disc One - Michael's Parlour Show
Routines Performed and Explained:
The Intuition Speller.
Inspired by an original effect of Harry Lorayne's, Michael introduces you to a machiavellian piece of misdirection which creates an impossible spelling effect.
Kismet.
Michael's impromptu handling for Al Koran's Double Thought, featuring a wonderful strategy of Dai Vernon and audience management.
My Card, Your Card, Everybody's Card.
The history for this effect can be traced back to Robert Houdin's "Secrets of Conjuring and Magic". Michael's handling and presentation brings this ancient effect right up to date for the 21st Century. This routine features Michael's handling for the obscure Second-From-The-Top-Change.
The Amazing Discovery.
This popular effect has made rounds in the last few years. Michael share's his professional presentation. His handling and performance tips elevate The Multiple Selection routine to another level. His performance in the live show was a tour de force!
Plus bonus performances of: The Rhapsody in Silver, The Cups and Balls and The Knotted Silks.
Disc Two - Close-up Show in The Bar
Routines Performed and Explained:
Brainwave "My Way."
This routine is one of the highlights of this DVD. International card expert Darwin Ortiz had this to say about Michael's Brainwave: "Sleight of Hand techniques have reached such a point, you'll never need to present the classic Brainwave with a gimmick deck ever again. This routine is just about perfect".
Michael has taken Dai Vernon's "Brainwave" effect and turned it on its head into masterpiece of construction and design. With this routine, you will come to appreciate "The Power of Assumptions" and "Audience Attention Control". Also featured is an under used principle in magic, creating an effect in the mind of the audiences before any technique has taken place. This principle alone is worth the price of this DVD presentation for it opens up untold possibilities.
Pandora's Paradox.
There is a world of difference between a card trick and card magic. This routine pushes the boundaries in terms of what is possible with a deck of cards. With credit to Bruno Hennig, Tommy Wonder and Roberto Giobbi, Michael has taken the classic "Signed Card in Box" and amplified the effect with an elegant presentation and technical mastery, to produce an experience equal to any theatrical presentation. We think this routine will become a huge favourite.
Vincent's Aces.
Featuring: The Ace Production, "The Rising Aces", 21st Century Collectors, Cy Enfield's Aces for Connoisseurs and The Henry Christ Fabulous Four Ace Routine.
Foursome.
Featuring Michael's handling for the Spread Cull.
Match Made in Heaven.
Dai Vernon's "Matching The Cards" meets The Aronson Stack.
Prologue to Triumph.
If you enjoyed Dai Vernon's original "Triumph", then you will love Michael's build up to this classic effect. This routine features some interesting applications for Larry Jennings's Larreverse and Edward Marlo's "One Hand Bottom Deal".
Plus bonus performance only of: The Coins Across / Chinese Connection and a discussion on the inspirations for the routine including learning references. Also a bonus PDF teaching the Wild Card routine featuring Michael's breathtaking colour change.
Disc Three - Sleight-of-Hand Mastery - The Path Way to Excellence
A discussion of how to improve your magic, raise your own standards and how to master and improve the basic techniques in sleight-of-hand. This is the beginning chapter in an on-going course in sleight of hand mastery with Michael Vincent. We begin here with the basic foundations of card handling.
Michael will share with you his practice drills for:
- The Control of a Card
- The Double Lift
- The Palm
- The Top Change
- The Force
- The False Shuffle
Praise for the Magic of Michael Vincent:
"Michael's magic is simply exquisite." Harry Lorayne. Apocalypse Magazine 1982.
"Your handling of the Brainwave effect is just about perfect, sleight of hand techniques have reached such a point that you will never need to perform the Brainwave effect with a gimmick deck ever again." Darwin Ortiz 2008.
"Michael is a soft-spoken individual but his performances' amplify this facet of his personality to the extent that one is irresistibly led to conclude that here is a magical talent of noteworthy merit. Underlying this congenial demeanour is a savoir-faire that bespeaks sophistication beyond his years." James Patton. Editor of The Magicana Column, for Genii Magazine. Volume 53, No3 September 1989
"Michael Vincent has a performing style that is flawless. In the 30 years I've been performing Sleight of Hand, it is rare that I've seen someone who is able to combine flawless execution, steely assurance and a delightful presentational ability in the unique way that he has. Like Leipzig, he is deadly sure of his success. Like Vernon, he thinks constantly about magic and like Mike Skinner, everyone who watches him ends up liking him." Steven Youell 2009
"It is always a joy to watch you fluidly play with the pasteboards." Jon Racherbaumer 2009
Reviews
(Top ▲)
The review could end up being very long, but I'll try to keep it short. But even if it drags on, remember, that it ain't about how fast I get there; ain't about what's waiting on the other side; it's the climb!
Overall I liked this set of videos a lot. However, there are some issues that need to be addressed, but before I get there, let me point out that Michael Vincent is an excellent performer. He really brought me back and helped me feel like a lay person again. Not because I didn't know how the tricks were done - though there were many that did fool me - but because he really latched onto the classic principles, moves and effects and just mastered them to the point of darn near perfection.
He has a very like-able personality and a good stage presence, a true professional in every sense of the word, and he didn't once crack a hackneyed stock patter joke that I can recall. He didn't embarrass or mock or even tease his spectators, but rather, he embraced them (not literally) and connected with them.
Most of his effects had good presentational premises and had some level of meaning rather than the typical meaningless put-and-take that is so prevalent today. Mr. Vincent truly has respect for our art and its history. He was mentored by some great men, and I feel that he is now a guy that should be doing the mentoring. He's an incredible technician and just an excellent representation of what a good professional sleight of hand magician should be.
So we know that Vincent is Solid. What about the effects?
The effects were also incredible as was his delivery of them. There were many cases where I was totally blown away by how impossible some of these effects were. Just one example was his Intuition Speller. A borrowed deck that is thoroughly shuffled by the audience . . . Vincent takes the deck and does not alter the order, but merely begins spelling a card (by dealing one at a time) that he claims just popped into his head. When he finishes spelling the - let's say - Ace of Clubs, sure enough, the next card is the Ace of Clubs. It just seemed impossible.
Vincent's work on some classic moves that have been lost to the new "hip" magicians of today is incredible. They're too busy trying pull their pants up to study this stuff. He has truly mastered some really great moves and effects that anyone would benefit from studying.
So, the effects are good; Vincent is good; what about the teaching segment?
Well . . . mostly this is solid. However, there are a few tricks that are just not taught in the teaching segments. Additionally, some of the moves and techniques were glossed over too quickly and not very clearly taught. The missing explanations and glossed over moves is a pretty big hit in my book.
The Effects and Vincent are solid. The explanations were pretty good; what about the production quality?
Well . . . there were some issues. In a few of the performance sections, you couldn't get the impact of the effect because the lighting was bad. Also, a minor annoyance was the fact that the opening teaser was very long, and in fact, it ended - or so I thought - with a full performance of an effect. Then when I thought they were going to cut to the explanation or move on to the next effect, the teaser continues on. Then after the teaser and a couple of effects, we are shown the full performance of the aforementioned effect again.
Also, the menus weren't as straight forward as they could've been. Further, there was a menu item in the bonus section of DVD #2 that was entitled "Wild Card Plot." However, when I clicked on it, it just went to a screen with text explaining that the DVD has a PDF on it that gives detailed credits for all of the effects found on the disk.
On the third disk there is only one routine. However there are some excellent interview segments as well as some good advice on learning magic in general. Vincent taps into the theories of the legends such as economy of motion and naturalness. In this segment, Vincent channels Slydini, Vernon and several others. The whole third DVD had very little tricks but was very magical. The interview segments for some reason really struck an emotional chord with me. They were powerful and meaningful and really brought me back to the "good ol' days" of magic.
Finally, it's 3 disks for $70 that come packaged together in one box. Frankly, I think that all of the material could have fit onto one maybe two disks. However, these days, disks are running $35.00 each, so you're essentially getting three disks for the price of two.
Factoring in all the good and all the bad (not much bad), I think that this set is a series of disks that just about any skill level can benefit from having in their library. Leaving us with a final verdict of 4 stars with a Stone Status of GEM!
Overall I liked this set of videos a lot. However, there are some issues that need to be addressed, but before I get there, let me point out that Michael Vincent is an excellent performer. He really brought me back and helped me feel like a lay person again. Not because I didn't know how the tricks were done - though there were many that did fool me - but because he really latched onto the classic principles, moves and effects and just mastered them to the point of darn near perfection.
He has a very like-able personality and a good stage presence, a true professional in every sense of the word, and he didn't once crack a hackneyed stock patter joke that I can recall. He didn't embarrass or mock or even tease his spectators, but rather, he embraced them (not literally) and connected with them.
Most of his effects had good presentational premises and had some level of meaning rather than the typical meaningless put-and-take that is so prevalent today. Mr. Vincent truly has respect for our art and its history. He was mentored by some great men, and I feel that he is now a guy that should be doing the mentoring. He's an incredible technician and just an excellent representation of what a good professional sleight of hand magician should be.
So we know that Vincent is Solid. What about the effects?
The effects were also incredible as was his delivery of them. There were many cases where I was totally blown away by how impossible some of these effects were. Just one example was his Intuition Speller. A borrowed deck that is thoroughly shuffled by the audience . . . Vincent takes the deck and does not alter the order, but merely begins spelling a card (by dealing one at a time) that he claims just popped into his head. When he finishes spelling the - let's say - Ace of Clubs, sure enough, the next card is the Ace of Clubs. It just seemed impossible.
Vincent's work on some classic moves that have been lost to the new "hip" magicians of today is incredible. They're too busy trying pull their pants up to study this stuff. He has truly mastered some really great moves and effects that anyone would benefit from studying.
So, the effects are good; Vincent is good; what about the teaching segment?
Well . . . mostly this is solid. However, there are a few tricks that are just not taught in the teaching segments. Additionally, some of the moves and techniques were glossed over too quickly and not very clearly taught. The missing explanations and glossed over moves is a pretty big hit in my book.
The Effects and Vincent are solid. The explanations were pretty good; what about the production quality?
Well . . . there were some issues. In a few of the performance sections, you couldn't get the impact of the effect because the lighting was bad. Also, a minor annoyance was the fact that the opening teaser was very long, and in fact, it ended - or so I thought - with a full performance of an effect. Then when I thought they were going to cut to the explanation or move on to the next effect, the teaser continues on. Then after the teaser and a couple of effects, we are shown the full performance of the aforementioned effect again.
Also, the menus weren't as straight forward as they could've been. Further, there was a menu item in the bonus section of DVD #2 that was entitled "Wild Card Plot." However, when I clicked on it, it just went to a screen with text explaining that the DVD has a PDF on it that gives detailed credits for all of the effects found on the disk.
On the third disk there is only one routine. However there are some excellent interview segments as well as some good advice on learning magic in general. Vincent taps into the theories of the legends such as economy of motion and naturalness. In this segment, Vincent channels Slydini, Vernon and several others. The whole third DVD had very little tricks but was very magical. The interview segments for some reason really struck an emotional chord with me. They were powerful and meaningful and really brought me back to the "good ol' days" of magic.
Finally, it's 3 disks for $70 that come packaged together in one box. Frankly, I think that all of the material could have fit onto one maybe two disks. However, these days, disks are running $35.00 each, so you're essentially getting three disks for the price of two.
Factoring in all the good and all the bad (not much bad), I think that this set is a series of disks that just about any skill level can benefit from having in their library. Leaving us with a final verdict of 4 stars with a Stone Status of GEM!
(Top ▲)
ok when you pay your 70 dollars for this set you get
a 3 dvd set,which kicks ass i will go over each dvd in the manner of jeff stone (he he)
DVD 1
michaels parlour show:this was fantastic he starts with a very elegant coin routine which leads in to his cups and balls
and then to totally fool me the knotted silks.these effects arent explained but are a joy to watch,he then goes in to several card effects all of them i will do. disc 1 10/10
DVD 2
close up magic in the bar:once again brilliant stuff from mr vincent all the effects are explained and i will do vincents aces
more than any other effect on the disc. disc 2 10/10
DVD 3
sleight of hand mastery the pathway to excellence:on this disc
mr vincent goes in to detail about basic sleights with cards and i did learn a few things but if your experienced with cards then this disc wont be of any use to you. disc 3 8.5/10
overall this was an excellent set and encourage any one to get these
a 3 dvd set,which kicks ass i will go over each dvd in the manner of jeff stone (he he)
DVD 1
michaels parlour show:this was fantastic he starts with a very elegant coin routine which leads in to his cups and balls
and then to totally fool me the knotted silks.these effects arent explained but are a joy to watch,he then goes in to several card effects all of them i will do. disc 1 10/10
DVD 2
close up magic in the bar:once again brilliant stuff from mr vincent all the effects are explained and i will do vincents aces
more than any other effect on the disc. disc 2 10/10
DVD 3
sleight of hand mastery the pathway to excellence:on this disc
mr vincent goes in to detail about basic sleights with cards and i did learn a few things but if your experienced with cards then this disc wont be of any use to you. disc 3 8.5/10
overall this was an excellent set and encourage any one to get these