Stretcher
Jay Sankey
Sankey Magic
(Based on 2 reviews)
Easy to do + extremely visual!
Works with any tab from a can of soda or beer!
Effect:
The magician asks someone to snap off the tab from a can of soda or beer. The performer then holds the borrowed tab at the tips of his fingers and slowly, impossibly, STRETCHES the tab to an insane length!
The impossibly stretched tab can even be closely examined!
To finish, the stretched tab is visually shrunk back down to its regular size and the magician shows his hands completely empty!
Comes complete with 127-minute DVD + specially-machined gimmicks
FEATURES 15 AWESOME BONUS EFFECTS including restorations, transformations, appearances, vanishes, links, penetrations, transpositions, even a levitation!
1.SPACED OUT
Mysteriously slide the opening from the top of the can, and permanently 'relocate' the opening on the SIDE of the can! Then hand out the can to be examined!
2.TIN + BONES
A jaw-dropping, 3-phase transposition effect with two playing cards and a soda can. At the end, one of the cards vanishes and appears INSIDE THE CAN!
3.STRING THEORY
Learn the devious secrets to linking a soda tab onto a loop of string just tied by the spectator!
4.INCEPTION
Cause a borrowed and marked coin to magically appear inside a can of beer or soda!
5.CRUNCH TIME
Inexplicably SMASH an empty soda can down through a table top, and crunch it into a 'squashed' can at the same time!
6.RECONNECTION
Borrow a can, snap off the tab, and a moment later immediately reconnect the tab and hand out the can!
7.CLIMBER
This looks crazy. 'Gather' a little bit of soda or beer in the bottom of a plastic drinking straw. Then -just by giving the straw a little shake- the liquid flows UP the straw! (And yes, you can hand out the straw to beexamined.)
8.UNSTABBED
After undeniably piercing the side of a can with a wooden stirstick, the magician makes the hole disappear with the 'healing power of his touch!'
9.HEIST
An extremely practical and powerful transposition between a coin and a soda tab.
10.COLD CASH
How many mentalism effects do you know involving a can of soda or beer?Well, now you know one!
11.RE:FILL
What makes 'more sense' than a magician being able to inexplicably refill and empty can of soda? Jay shares two inspired handlings for this awesome effect, one for close-up, and one for stand-up!
12.TEMPORARY INSANITY
This deception with a plastic straw and a soda tab is so darn sneaky, Jay has used it to fool many experienced magicians!
13.BREAK + ENTER
Jay takes his original 'Heist' effect to a whole new level. Two coins change places inside a soda can, even though one of the coins is too large to even fit through the opening of the can!
14.PIERCING
Snap off the tab from a can of beer, and then magically push the tab through the side of the can. Then do it again. And again!
15.SOLE FOOD
Producing a full can of soda from inside your shoe is a great way to astound your friends, family, anyone!
Soda and beer cans are EVERYWHERE. They are the perfect 'ordinary' magic prop.
The 'Uncanny Collection' features an amazing variety effects bound to inspire your own creativity, and provide you with many mind-bending effects you're going to be excited to start performing right away.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Some Kind of Monster by Metallica
Stretcher by Jay Sankey Reviewed:
Two gimmicks, 1 DVD, 16 effects, over 2 hours of material and $40 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Full Disclosure:
Jay and I have been close friends for nearly a decade now. We are in contact with each other several times per week, and we often consult and offer input on each other's projects. This particular project, Stretcher, is one that I did not consult on.
Effect
With this DVD, you get the title effect, Stretcher, where a borrowed soda/beer can tab is stretched from its normal size to about three times its length. Additionally, you get 15 more effects. See the ad copy for details on the effects. All of the effects have one thing in common: they use a soda/beer can and/or the can tab.
All of these effects are the type of thing you could do in a casual setting, hanging with friends, a house party, and most (if not all) of them can be done in a professional show. Obviously, you would only pick out one or two (maybe three at the most) effects to do in the same "show." The idea behind this is to be able to learn multiple effects relating to an object that is everywhere, soda/beer cans. This sets you up to be able to sort of "riff" an effect with an ordinary object laying around in the space organically.
In a few cases, Jay took a classic effect that's traditionally done with a different prop, and he updated it to be done with a soda can. But it's not as simple as simply using a soda can instead of a salt shaker for "salt shaker through table (for example)." He goes above and beyond by adding logic, reason and justification to the handling and presentation. He always added a new dimension to the effect.
Other effects are inspired are more original; others, still, are inspired by existing can effects. There's a huge collection and broad range of effects here . . . something for everyone.
Method
The methods range from nearly self-working to basic sleight of hand — sleight of hand that will take practice. Some use gimmicks (e.g., Stretcher, Spaced Out, Temporary Insanity, Climber). Others use props such as flash paper, straws, stir sticks, coins, string, etc. Others use just the can itself. In some cases the can needs a small amount of preparation; in other cases, no preparation is needed.
None of the methods are hard, though some will require much more practice than others. Everything is well within the reach of any skill level. The methods end clean in 99% of the cases. Often Jay gives multiple options for handling and method as well: one for stand up, one for seated, parlor, close up, etc.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is solid. There are no outrageous claims or untrue statements. S.O.L.I.D.
Product Quality
Included with the DVD are two gimmicks for the Stretcher effect. They are well made and will last a long time. The DVD itself, is a mix of clips from other projects that have can effects on them along with new footage and clips/effects specifically for this project. Generally speaking, the lighting is solid, the audio is excellent, etc. There are a couple of cases (mostly the clips from the Bending The Real project) where the footage was not as "HD" as the rest of the project. However, it's almost not worth mentioning, because it did not effect the learning process whatsoever, and the footage was still very clear and solid.
Final Thoughts
This project is typical Sankey: a butt-load of material (over two hours), multiple ideas around the same concept (cans), multiple ideas for handling and presentation of each effect, real world material that you can really perform that ranges from easy to medium level technical skills.
For $40 bucks, you get more than your money's worthy. If you're looking for some simple to do casual (and professional) effects that can be done with one of the most organic and ubiquitous "props" in the world (i.e., soda and/or beer cans), then you must own this DVD.
Final Verdict:
5 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM!
(Top ▲)
Note: I have consulted on a few Sankey Magic projects in the past, but I did not have any creative input on this particular product.
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An entire DVD of magic with soda cans, tabs, and straws is something that only the legendary Jay Sankey make interesting or entertaining, let alone informational.
Most of these effects are for casual close up magic settings like a school cafeteria or outdoor picnic. There are also a few interesting ideas for stand up shows. Now I know a soda can will not fit in all situations. If you are working a cocktail party, none of these effects will be very useful. If you are a teen who does magic in the school cafeteria, or if you’re a professional that works at a lot of bars or out door events, then the effects in here will be gold.
As much of a Sankey fan I am, I was skeptical about an entire DVD of soda can magic, but these effects are fun, clever, and deceptive. A few of the effects even caught me off guard. I know while I won’t be using a lot of these effects in professional situations, but in casual situations, I’ve been using a few of these effects. Now with summertime here, I know I’ll be performing at many outdoor events where there will be coolers filled with soda cans.
The title effect “Stretcher” didn’t excite me as much as some of the other routines on here, but I had to do a gig at a high school cafeteria, and so I tried this out. The initial stretch seemed to work well for the teenagers, but almost all of them were disappointed when the stretched tab was shrunk back down to normal size. I won’t continue to use this particular effect, but I’m sure some people will get use out of it. That’s the great thing with a DVD like this. Three magicians can watch it and each get two or three different ideas that excites them.
I also think if you are a teen getting ready to do a school talent show, I think a few of the stand up effects here will be useful, and inexpensive for you to work on and perform for a large group. Combine these with Paul Harris’s “Fizz Master” and you might even have a full routine with a six pack of Coke!
My only complaint is the camera work, and lack thereof. There were whole sections where Jay was talking and his head was out of frame, and there are sections from previous DVD projects, so the the camera work and quality changes throughout the DVD. However none of these were enough to make the teaching unclear, so it’s more of an annoyance than a roadblock.
Overall, this is a worthy investment if you are constantly around soda or beer cans in your every day or professional life. You will be able to just pick up an item that’s just lying around, and seemingly perform miracles!
Four and a Half Stars
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An entire DVD of magic with soda cans, tabs, and straws is something that only the legendary Jay Sankey make interesting or entertaining, let alone informational.
Most of these effects are for casual close up magic settings like a school cafeteria or outdoor picnic. There are also a few interesting ideas for stand up shows. Now I know a soda can will not fit in all situations. If you are working a cocktail party, none of these effects will be very useful. If you are a teen who does magic in the school cafeteria, or if you’re a professional that works at a lot of bars or out door events, then the effects in here will be gold.
As much of a Sankey fan I am, I was skeptical about an entire DVD of soda can magic, but these effects are fun, clever, and deceptive. A few of the effects even caught me off guard. I know while I won’t be using a lot of these effects in professional situations, but in casual situations, I’ve been using a few of these effects. Now with summertime here, I know I’ll be performing at many outdoor events where there will be coolers filled with soda cans.
The title effect “Stretcher” didn’t excite me as much as some of the other routines on here, but I had to do a gig at a high school cafeteria, and so I tried this out. The initial stretch seemed to work well for the teenagers, but almost all of them were disappointed when the stretched tab was shrunk back down to normal size. I won’t continue to use this particular effect, but I’m sure some people will get use out of it. That’s the great thing with a DVD like this. Three magicians can watch it and each get two or three different ideas that excites them.
I also think if you are a teen getting ready to do a school talent show, I think a few of the stand up effects here will be useful, and inexpensive for you to work on and perform for a large group. Combine these with Paul Harris’s “Fizz Master” and you might even have a full routine with a six pack of Coke!
My only complaint is the camera work, and lack thereof. There were whole sections where Jay was talking and his head was out of frame, and there are sections from previous DVD projects, so the the camera work and quality changes throughout the DVD. However none of these were enough to make the teaching unclear, so it’s more of an annoyance than a roadblock.
Overall, this is a worthy investment if you are constantly around soda or beer cans in your every day or professional life. You will be able to just pick up an item that’s just lying around, and seemingly perform miracles!
Four and a Half Stars