Price$29.95
Media TypeTrick
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedJan 21, 2015
Camouflage
Sankey, Jay
Sankey Magic
(Based on 3 reviews)
The secret gimmick also works with ANY brand of playing cards in the world.
Some of the tricks taught are:
APERTURE - A pencil is slowly pushed through the pack. A moment later, the deck is completely undamaged and can be handed out to be examined. NO DECK SWITCH IS INVOLVED.
51GONE - The pack of cards visually disappears from inside the card case, leaving only the selected card. And yes, the card case can be examined! A perfect closing effect.
COLLAPSIBLE - Two halves of a deck of cards visually FUSE together into one solid pack. The pack can be immediately handed out for examination. A perfect opening effect.
Comes complete with the very special gimmick + a full-length instructional DVD!
Reviews
(Top ▲)
PROS
The three effects taught are pretty decent.
The gimmick is not bad, but it is not new either.
CONS
The gimmick was not new to me. Also, I didn't find the gimmick to be that great. I have been using a home-made similar gimmick that looks much better because it is made from the real thing.
The instruction was seriously lacking. Sankey generally goes into great detail explaining how to perform his effects with many routines and alternative handlings. Not so much in this DVD. I think he could have fleshed out some good routines based on the three effects.
I just don't think he put as much thought into this release as he has with others.
VERDICT
Not his best work.
The three effects taught are pretty decent.
The gimmick is not bad, but it is not new either.
CONS
The gimmick was not new to me. Also, I didn't find the gimmick to be that great. I have been using a home-made similar gimmick that looks much better because it is made from the real thing.
The instruction was seriously lacking. Sankey generally goes into great detail explaining how to perform his effects with many routines and alternative handlings. Not so much in this DVD. I think he could have fleshed out some good routines based on the three effects.
I just don't think he put as much thought into this release as he has with others.
VERDICT
Not his best work.
(Top ▲)
Camouflage is a clever gimmick that enables the performer to create and perform many different illusions. This trick comes with a short DVD (21 minutes) and the gimmick in unfinished form, enough to make several different gimmicks and still have some raw gimmick material left over.
The DVD only has two tracks; Preview and Explanation. The Preview track is the promotional video and it accurately shows the tricks you will be able to perform with the gimmick. The arts-and-crafts time needed to create each gimmick ranges from one to three minutes and it is very easy to build.
The ad copy is accurate, except that it claims that it comes with a “full length instructional DVD!” Well, I am not sure what “full length” means, but this DVD isn't it. I was a bit surprised at how quickly Sankey rushed through the discussion of his ideas. I felt the speedy way in which Jay ran through the effects on the DVD was uncharacteristic of Jay’s prior teaching. I always enjoy watching his instruction so I was a bit let down by this DVD, which did not provide for the full routines and the detailed explanations that I was expecting. However, I was able to figure everything out and any questions I had I was able to figure out myself. The production quality was very good and the DVD was easy to watch, hear and understand.
The first effect Sankey explains is Collapsible. It immediately reminded me of Paul Harris’s Screwed Deck (which is a great trick). And, Sankey in fact credited Paul Harris with the inspiration for this effect. Basically you show a card box split in half (hinged on one side by the uncut paper) and show that the cards inside are cut in half. One, two, three and the cards fuse together. Although the card box cannot be inspected, the cards can be instantly used to perform any trick. This effect is explained by Sankey and he instructs you how to make the gimmick, but does not show you the process. The instruction is clear enough to enable you to construct this gimmick. This gimmick is the most complicated one to be made, which does not mean it is difficult. In fact, this one will take about three minutes to build. A bit of scissor and tape action and you are on your way. The reset is almost instant. This is a very easy trick to perform.
51GONE is the next explained trick. It too is very easy to perform. Here, the performer shows a full deck in the tuck box and pulls out one card (the spectator’s selected card) and the rest of the deck is shown to have disappeared when the box is inspected. Although the one card can’t be inspected, the box can be handed out. Jay does not perform a full routine, but gives you enough to make up your own. This is a simple revelation of a chosen card. The gimmick is simple and easy to make. The trick is easy to perform and the resent is almost instant. Although Sankey briefly discussed other ideas using this gimmick, he does not demonstrate them. He suggests using the card box as a production box for non-card related items such as rope or sponge balls. It is easy to conceptualize and will be easy to execute, despite the lack of performance and demonstration.
Sankey then suggests a levitating deck effect, but breezes through that idea so quickly, without any real explanation and no demonstration. This was the biggest disappointed of the DVD.
Aperture is the final effect on the DVD. It is explained and demonstrated, but the angles on the camera were off so his demonstration was not great. In Aperture, the performer takes a pencil and pushes it through an entire deck of cards (from top to bottom) and seconds later is able to show that the cards don’t have a single mark or trace of a hole on them. There are some angle issues with this trick and I would have liked to see a live demonstration or even a full studio routine with the classic Sankey patter that I love.
With this gimmick material, there are many possibilities for the creative mind. In fact, I own another widely marketed trick, by another creator, using the same gimmick, for many years. However, that gimmick is significantly more complicated than Camouflage and the effect is completely different than anything explained above.
Although I would have liked to see more detailed handling instructions from Sankey and was saddened that the DVD was rushed and did not come with detailed instructions and performances, it is still an excellent gimmick that allows you to create many effects.
The DVD only has two tracks; Preview and Explanation. The Preview track is the promotional video and it accurately shows the tricks you will be able to perform with the gimmick. The arts-and-crafts time needed to create each gimmick ranges from one to three minutes and it is very easy to build.
The ad copy is accurate, except that it claims that it comes with a “full length instructional DVD!” Well, I am not sure what “full length” means, but this DVD isn't it. I was a bit surprised at how quickly Sankey rushed through the discussion of his ideas. I felt the speedy way in which Jay ran through the effects on the DVD was uncharacteristic of Jay’s prior teaching. I always enjoy watching his instruction so I was a bit let down by this DVD, which did not provide for the full routines and the detailed explanations that I was expecting. However, I was able to figure everything out and any questions I had I was able to figure out myself. The production quality was very good and the DVD was easy to watch, hear and understand.
The first effect Sankey explains is Collapsible. It immediately reminded me of Paul Harris’s Screwed Deck (which is a great trick). And, Sankey in fact credited Paul Harris with the inspiration for this effect. Basically you show a card box split in half (hinged on one side by the uncut paper) and show that the cards inside are cut in half. One, two, three and the cards fuse together. Although the card box cannot be inspected, the cards can be instantly used to perform any trick. This effect is explained by Sankey and he instructs you how to make the gimmick, but does not show you the process. The instruction is clear enough to enable you to construct this gimmick. This gimmick is the most complicated one to be made, which does not mean it is difficult. In fact, this one will take about three minutes to build. A bit of scissor and tape action and you are on your way. The reset is almost instant. This is a very easy trick to perform.
51GONE is the next explained trick. It too is very easy to perform. Here, the performer shows a full deck in the tuck box and pulls out one card (the spectator’s selected card) and the rest of the deck is shown to have disappeared when the box is inspected. Although the one card can’t be inspected, the box can be handed out. Jay does not perform a full routine, but gives you enough to make up your own. This is a simple revelation of a chosen card. The gimmick is simple and easy to make. The trick is easy to perform and the resent is almost instant. Although Sankey briefly discussed other ideas using this gimmick, he does not demonstrate them. He suggests using the card box as a production box for non-card related items such as rope or sponge balls. It is easy to conceptualize and will be easy to execute, despite the lack of performance and demonstration.
Sankey then suggests a levitating deck effect, but breezes through that idea so quickly, without any real explanation and no demonstration. This was the biggest disappointed of the DVD.
Aperture is the final effect on the DVD. It is explained and demonstrated, but the angles on the camera were off so his demonstration was not great. In Aperture, the performer takes a pencil and pushes it through an entire deck of cards (from top to bottom) and seconds later is able to show that the cards don’t have a single mark or trace of a hole on them. There are some angle issues with this trick and I would have liked to see a live demonstration or even a full studio routine with the classic Sankey patter that I love.
With this gimmick material, there are many possibilities for the creative mind. In fact, I own another widely marketed trick, by another creator, using the same gimmick, for many years. However, that gimmick is significantly more complicated than Camouflage and the effect is completely different than anything explained above.
Although I would have liked to see more detailed handling instructions from Sankey and was saddened that the DVD was rushed and did not come with detailed instructions and performances, it is still an excellent gimmick that allows you to create many effects.
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Free by Stryper
Jay Sankey: Camouflage Review
Enough stuff to make about a dozen or more gimmicks, about a half-dozen effects you can do with the gimmicks, one DVD and $30 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect/Method
There are several ideas shown on the DVD. Watch the ad trailer and read the ad copy for a sense of what is possible. What you're getting is a very simple and humble "thing" that you can use to make a whole bunch of gimmicks. It takes seconds to make a gimmick. The reason you have to make your own gimmick is simply because the size of the gimmick is determined by the effect you're doing and personal choices you make.
Rather than include a whole bunch of different shapes and sizes, you receive two large gimmicks that can be cut down to fit what you need. You can make several gimmicks out of the two large ones that you are supplied. This should last you for quite a while. The method (i.e., "operating" the gimmick) is super easy to do. It will take a little practice to handle everything properly, but it's very doable.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is very solid. There is one minor issue, but it's more of a product quality (i.e., teaching) problem, so we'll address that in the next section. The same "issue" exists in the ad trailer as well, but again, it's a more of a product quality thing.
Just one point of clarification: the claim that you can do a levitation with this gimmick is true. However, you still need some form of I.T., loops, etc. This gimmick just allows you to make the apparent levitation of a deck of cards easier.
Product Quality
Gimmick
The gimmick is very sturdy and well made, and very durable. It looks great, and you're supplied enough to make nearly 2 dozen — you'll never need that many — gimmicks. You just need a pair of scissors, tape and a minute of your time to make what you need.
DVD Production
The DVD is well shot, lit, mic'd, etc. — typical Sankey. The DVD menu, however, just had a "trailer" button and an "explanation" button. I would have liked to have been able to have chapters to select each effect as needed. However, as you'll see in the next section, there was an issue that made it so that the above type of menu wouldn't quite have worked.
Teaching
I have to say, I was a little bit disappointed with the teaching segment(s) which is very unusual for a Sankey Magic product. To make the gimmick, you simply need to cut out a segment, trim it down, and connect it to whatever it needs to be connected to, depending on which version of the gimmick you're making.
It's simple to make, but when creating a gimmick myself, I found that I had a few questions about cutting it and handling once it has been put together. There were no tips or finer handling points, etc. on the DVD.
With a little experimenting, I was able to get what I needed figured out, but there is still one point I'm not clear about. It won't impact the handling of the effect necessarily, but it would have been nice if more details were covered.
Regarding each effect, for the most part, Jay just kind of walked through the handling very briefly. An example of what I'm talking about is the effect mentioned in the ad copy where a pencil is pushed through the deck. In the ad copy, it says that the deck can be handed out a moment later and be fully examinable. Well this is true; the deck can be fully examined without a deck switch. However, you do have to ditch the gimmick, which I have no problem with, and I don't feel that the ad copy was dishonest in its statement. The problem, however, is that nowhere in the DVD is this covered.
A brief walk through of the handling is shown, but nothing covering how to cleanly get the gimmick out of play so that the deck can be handed out. The point of the ad copy claim was to emphasize the fact that the deck is unharmed and not switched. It's just a bit of an issue that the DVD didn't really cover how to get rid of the gimmick.
It just felt like the explanations were rushed through and not enough attention was given to each effect or the gimmick. Because all the effects were sort of all talked about together at once, this is why it would have been hard to find a clear break for making chapters in the DVD menu.
Final Thoughts
The good news is that the effects are very clean and clear and look as good as shown and/or claimed in the sales copy. The method is super clever, easy, and nearly self-working. The concept lends itself to a variety of effects limited to, as they say, your own imagination. This is a utility concept that has a ton of potential for many uses. The basics of the concept are definitely covered, and you'll learn everything you need to know to use this gimmick with the only two exceptions of a minor issue you may run into while customizing your gimmick, and the fact that details regarding ditching the gimmick were missing on the handling of the pencil through deck.
You will easily be able to start using this right away if you like the concept. Even if you're not a card person, there are applications for you as well. You can show a card box with a deck of cards in it. Then instantly with no switches, reach into the card box and produce anything (assuming it will fit in the card box).
So for $30 bucks you're getting a clever concept with the stuff to customize nearly 2 dozen gimmicks that can do many, many, many things. Just be prepared to spend a little more time fidgeting, testing and practicing on your own.
Final Verdict:
3.5 Stars with a Stone Status of gem.