Price$120.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedMar 16, 2003
Bill Malone On the Loose DVD Library, Volumes 1-4
Bill Malone
L&L Publishing
(Based on 4 reviews)
For the last 25 years, Bill has made his living performingmagic and along the way, he’s made numerous appearances on national television (including NBC’s “World’s Greatest Magic” and “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous”) in addition to performing for high profile clients that, if listed, would read like a “Who’s Who” of corporate America.
In the “On The Loose” series, you’ll see why Bill is one of the most entertaining and successful magicians of our time—and you’ll learn some powerful, commercial magic at the same time. Besides tricks, you’ll be privy to inside information from a guy who really knows the business side of magic—tips that will help to bring your own performances to life and make your business as an entertainer more successful.
With Bill Malone, it’s all about presentation, style and timing, so sit back and enjoy your front row seats for one of the funniest magicians on the planet. You’re entering the Malone Zone—and Bill is on the loose!
Reviews
(Top ▲)
I had seen very little of Bill Malone's work prior to these DVDs. Now I can see why he's become so popular in the magic world.
I'm posting my review of these DVDs as a set, instead of individually. Overall, the DVDs seem well-produced. The material is interesting and varies in theme and complexity. I'm convinced almost any magician at any skill level could find one or two useful things on these DVDs.
With that said, here are some specific comments.
Volume 1
Three-card Monte can be played many ways. Some rely purely on skill and focus on the gambling aspects. With Michael Skinner's "Ultimate Three Card Monte" (sold separately), you get a truly magical effect with very little effort.
This volume also contains Bill's famous "Sam the Bellhop" routine. Even if you don't learn the routine, his thoughts on the effect are worth hearing. "I Don't Even Have a Pocket" is one of my personal favorites -- a wonderfully strange ending to an ambitious card routine. "I Should Have Done It Myself" has a nice build to a surprising ending. Again, even if you don't do the routine, there are lessons to be learned.
One of my two criticisms of these DVDs comes on this tape. During one of his moments of "wisdom", Bill suggests that magicians should use whatever funny lines they like in their routines. I would agree with this for Bill. A major part of his character is based on these silly lines. However, I feel it's irresponsible for someone of his stature to be suggesting that this is OK for everyone. How about this, instead: everyone should figure out what's right for their own character and personality?
Volume 2
If you want to do the "Bill in Lemon", it would be worth your time and money to check out Bill's version. Likewise, if you want to have an audience member cut the aces, check out "Cut 'em High and Tie". Finally, I was delighted to see an old Marlo classic presented with a plot in "Think Touch Turn"!
Volume 3
My favorite version of "Mental Photography" has always been by Al Goshman. I'm sure this is because he was the first person I ever saw perform the effect. Regardless, Bill's version is worth checking out.
Like the others in this series, you'll find a nice bunch of "standard" routines that have been infused with Bill's presentational points.
My second criticism of these videos was evident in this and the following volumes. There were some "unfortunate" camera shots that should have been replaced with another camera. I missed quite a few important shots because the camera was focused on the wrong area.
Volume 4
My favorites on this volume were "Radical Aces", a four ace production from a shuffled deck, and "Skinner's Matches", a complete impromptu match routine using moves you probably already know.
The one surprise on this video was the "Two Card Impossible Location". This is a fooler! Did I mention that it's easy, too?
Conclusion
If you're looking for some new close-up material, read the contents of these DVDs. If you find something interesting, you can rest assured that it'll probably be worth learning.
I'm posting my review of these DVDs as a set, instead of individually. Overall, the DVDs seem well-produced. The material is interesting and varies in theme and complexity. I'm convinced almost any magician at any skill level could find one or two useful things on these DVDs.
With that said, here are some specific comments.
Volume 1
Three-card Monte can be played many ways. Some rely purely on skill and focus on the gambling aspects. With Michael Skinner's "Ultimate Three Card Monte" (sold separately), you get a truly magical effect with very little effort.
This volume also contains Bill's famous "Sam the Bellhop" routine. Even if you don't learn the routine, his thoughts on the effect are worth hearing. "I Don't Even Have a Pocket" is one of my personal favorites -- a wonderfully strange ending to an ambitious card routine. "I Should Have Done It Myself" has a nice build to a surprising ending. Again, even if you don't do the routine, there are lessons to be learned.
One of my two criticisms of these DVDs comes on this tape. During one of his moments of "wisdom", Bill suggests that magicians should use whatever funny lines they like in their routines. I would agree with this for Bill. A major part of his character is based on these silly lines. However, I feel it's irresponsible for someone of his stature to be suggesting that this is OK for everyone. How about this, instead: everyone should figure out what's right for their own character and personality?
Volume 2
If you want to do the "Bill in Lemon", it would be worth your time and money to check out Bill's version. Likewise, if you want to have an audience member cut the aces, check out "Cut 'em High and Tie". Finally, I was delighted to see an old Marlo classic presented with a plot in "Think Touch Turn"!
Volume 3
My favorite version of "Mental Photography" has always been by Al Goshman. I'm sure this is because he was the first person I ever saw perform the effect. Regardless, Bill's version is worth checking out.
Like the others in this series, you'll find a nice bunch of "standard" routines that have been infused with Bill's presentational points.
My second criticism of these videos was evident in this and the following volumes. There were some "unfortunate" camera shots that should have been replaced with another camera. I missed quite a few important shots because the camera was focused on the wrong area.
Volume 4
My favorites on this volume were "Radical Aces", a four ace production from a shuffled deck, and "Skinner's Matches", a complete impromptu match routine using moves you probably already know.
The one surprise on this video was the "Two Card Impossible Location". This is a fooler! Did I mention that it's easy, too?
Conclusion
If you're looking for some new close-up material, read the contents of these DVDs. If you find something interesting, you can rest assured that it'll probably be worth learning.
(Top ▲)
Bill Malone is one of my favorite magicians. He is excellent and fluent at handling cards and he is one of the most talented performers I have ever seen. He is, in one word, hilarious. His DVD set, "On the Loose", demonstrates this in an incredible fashion. Bill's charisma and ability to entertain is one of the best I have ever seen, along with Gregory Wilson and perhaps Lennart Green and Lee Asher (don't ask me why, I just feel that way, but you'll know what I mean about Gregory Wilson, because he is just ridiculously skilled and talented in performing and entertaining, but I'm digressing from the topic...) He gets the audience so animated and so involved.
One of the things I have observed about the DVD sets is this - perhaps it is a bit insignificant, but this is basically it; you can see the "evolution", so to speak, of the audience. In the first DVD, the audience is slightly shy and maybe a touch uncomfortable. They aren't really that involved. As the DVDs go down the line, in the third volume, the audience (which is the same throughout the DVD set) have become so involved, so animated in the performances - they react to almost everything, and a sense of communication between Bill Malone and the audience has been cultivated and built upon throughout the DVD set. This is just one of the many examples how Bill is such a performer - the audience is transformed from a shy group to a really lively crowd that participates in almost everything Bill does - with (almost) every thing he does, they evolve, from giggling, to sometimes screaming, laughing out loud, and chanting along in the words "Bill Ma-lone!". It is amazing to see this transformation, and it displays Bill's charisma and the way he can connect with his audience so freely.
Bill is also one hilarious guy - he intersperses his performances with hilarious stuff, little stories, and the occasional coughing up of cards. His skill in cards is apparent; he is such a smooth handler - it is like he is treating the cards like fragile glass - gently but firmly. The effects performed AND taught on this DVD set are gems. They are mostly rehashes of old effects and Bill's variations/improvements on them. However, these improvements he makes almost takes the old effect and transforms it, putting it into an entirely new dimension.
The DVD set consists of four volumes. In my opinion, Volume 1 and 2 are the best of the DVD set, if you are on a budget. However, all four volumes are still highly recommended. Just seeing Bill perform is nearly enough to cover the amount of money that you pay for the set. He is so entertaining. He captivates the audience from start to finish.
Oh, and don't think that this DVD set is all performance and explanation - something like The Very Best of Jay Sankey (which btw was also produced by LL Publishing and has a very similar audience) - Bill has bonus material, including several flashy cuts, false shuffles and other material. In addition to that, he also provides invaluable business tips for the professional working magician that he has used for the past 25 or so years he has been performing. This only adds on to the overall value of this DVD set.
Volume 1
This, along with Volume 2, is my favorite volume out of the four. Seeing Bill perform for the first time in my life (other than his Sam the Bellhop performance), I didn't know what to expect, and I was totally blown away by his performances. Now, even when I know the explanations, I am still amazed when I watch him perform. He does everything so effortlessly. For those first-timers who haven't watched Bill perform yet and have bought this DVD set - be prepared!
Ultimate Three Card Monte - the performance explodes off with Bill's presentation of Michael Skinner's Ultimate Three-Card Monte - one of the first effects I bought in magic. Michael Skinner's Ultimate Three-Card Monte is a gem - it is one of the most incredible effects I have ever seen, even if it is gimmicked. Bill's presentation only builds upon its impact even more - the way he presents it enhances its overall impact ten-fold.
Sam the Bellhop - this is Bill's signature effect! When I saw him perform it on World's Greatest Magic (or was it Champions of Magic? I get confused, it was a long time ago), I was blown away. It's a stacked deck effect - using the entire deck to explain a story. Just seeing Bill do all those false shuffles and cuts at that blinding speed during the effect still hurts my eyes...
I Don't Even Have a Pocket - an Ambitious Card effect. It is short and sweet. The first phase utilises one of my favorite moves, Flip Flop Plop from Art of Astonishment, a sort of three-card Monte toss kind of move with the entire deck. Several other phases include the Braue pop-up move, the Paintbrush Change, and it culminates with, as the name implies, the card travelling to the breastpocket of the performer - when the performer doesn't even have a breastpocket! Following that, the entire deck vanishes except for the selection. Neat. Bill actually explains that he came up with the "invisible breastpocket" thing by accident - a nifty little story he told there.
I Should Have Done it Myself - when I saw this one performed, I couldn't help but burst out laughing. I personally can't do it - the card refuses to stick, if you know what I mean - but just seeing the impact of the effect makes me want to learn it. It doesn't use much sleight of hand, except for a subtle little thing that, I think, was from Larry Jennings. I can't really recall now. Hilarious.
Cheating in Las Vegas with the Aces - a nice four-ace revelation. There are several other four-ace revelations scattered throughout the DVD set, but this, along with Radical Aces, is the best.
Back the Way they Were - Bill Malone presents his take on Dr. Daley's Last Trick. If you don't know what this is, go to the penguinmagic Instant Downloads and look for the renamed "Daley Show". Two aces transpose with the other two aces. Bill Malone presents this in such a fashion that he transforms such a simple effect into a piece of eye-popping magic.
Test of Strength - Slydini Silks. I just love seeing the confused look on the spectators' faces when Bill performed this on the DVD set. In one phase, the spectator is even allowed to tie the knot himself - yet the knot still separates. Truly one of magic's great classics, made even better by the man himself - Bill Ma-lone!
Volume 2
Do you know why I absolutely love this volume? It contains two of the most INCREDIBLE effects I have ever come across in my life - two that I use on a regular basis, namely, My Favorite Opener, and Think Touch Turn. The "evolution" begins, and the audience seem to be less shy and slightly more involved in this volume.
Counterfeit Money - Bill's presentation for Bill In Lemon! A spectator's bill makes an appearance inside a lemon. It still cracks me up whenever I think about the lemon appearing from inside his shoe.
Cut 'Em High And Tie - a very nice Spectator Cuts to the Aces routine involving four spectators. It also blends in nicely with his performing style.
Think Touch Turn - one of my favorite effects in the entire set. This Ed Marlo concept is incredible, and it gets some of the greatest reactions I have ever seen. The best part is that no false counts at all are used - and the surprise ending just totally takes them off-guard and blows them away. I was astounded when I first watched this performed.
Favorite Opener - you've got to be kidding. This is hands down MY favorite opener. Don't let its simplicity fool you. In fact, its simplicity belies its true impact and powerful nature - the effect itself is so simple - and I didn't think that something like this would receive reactions - yet, upon following Bill's advice, (as seen in the description - 'This is strong - try it and you will see how powerful this really is!') and indeed, it is powerful - more than powerful in fact. I went out to perform this doubtful, and I have become a believer, because this has received the most enormous reactions I could imagine possible from an effect as simple as this.
Matrix Presentation - just for the record, Bill's Rub-a-dub Vanish as demonstrated in this effect is just incredible. I have never seen anything like it before. This is a four-coin four card matrix - with no extra coins whatsoever. The second phase of this effect involves the spectator and it is very entertaining to watch.
End of Story - think Gemini Twins on steroids! Bill enhances Gemini Twins by Brother John Hamman - working on the story and ending up with an amazing ending (that requires a table but no matter). I was fried by this performance.
Volume 3
Volume 3 contains several rehashes of old classics. Bill's performances as are always, entertaining, and by this time, the audience is really involved. They become so animated and displays Bill's ability to connect with his spectators.
Direct from the Factory - Bill's incredible handling for Mental Photography Deck. The way he presents this just blows me away. It is so smooth and swift, incorporating Steve Draun's Midnight Shift and several others into the routine, and with his presentation, it was amazing, even though I knew the secret beforehand.
The Kings Produce - the description says it all - an easy to do ace production using a combination of Ed Marlo's ideas. Very visual. The four aces get trapped one at a time in-between two kings.
Maxi-Twist - I didn't really watch through this performance but I've heard good things about it. I have seen the original version though and it kills. When I watch Volume 3 again, I will be waiting to see how Bill has improved it.
Apex Aces 2002 - another ace revelation. There are many scattered throughout the DVD set. Could someone give me some idea as to where I may find the original Apex Aces? Thanks, all help appreciated!
Name and Number and You can Do it too! - Two card classics come together with Bill’s magical blend of Paul Cummins’ masterpiece, Count On It, and David Solomon’s ingenious Cutting Tens! I perform Cutting Tens a lot and I was extremely excited to see how Bill would improve on this. He has done a great job and I was extremely impressed.
Bill's Cards Across - this is a nice Cards Across - perhaps a bit complicated, but still very amazing. I prefer something easy like Las Vegas Leaper in Art of Astonishment for a Cards Across routine, but this one was excellent as well. Was it even shown on Champions of Magic? I had no idea!
Standing Ovation Invisible Deck - this is handsdown the best presentation of the Invisible Deck. This one involves the audience so much. The way he reveals the facedown card is just so mind-blowing. He does nothing to the original handling of the deck - rather, he includes some presentational aspects to it that just increase its impact ten times!
Volume 4
This was my least favorite of the four sets - not to say that it was bad. The material, all in all, is still excellent, especially his incredible handling for Paul Harris' Reset and the effect Radical Aces. It also has significantly more material than the other volumes, but it is the most, so to speak, plain of the four volumes.
Twisting Flush - basically a twisting aces routine incorporated with a gambling kind of feel.
How Cheaters Cheat - an incredible Invisible Palm effect that flows nicely with the gambling theme!
Radical Aces - in this one, the spectator is allowed to shuffle and cut the deck as many times as he wants - yet the performer still finds the four aces in a very visual, astonishing manner! This one, along with Cheating in Las Vegas with Aces (Volume 1) were my favorite ace revelations in the set.
Resetting Reset - one of my favorite handlings for Paul Harris' Reset, along with ReTest by Gaston Quieto and Reset with a Hook from Gregory Wilson's Card Stunts. If you haven't heard of Reset (!!!) before, basically, four aces are set aside on the table, and in the performer's hands, he holds the four kings. The Kings individually change into aces, but after the performer presses the reset button, the aces change right back into Kings, leaving on the table, the four aces.
Good Trick, Bad Trick - like Bill said, if you "miss" this one, i.e. you don't get the right card at first, the overall impact at the end of the effect is stronger. A nice way of doing a fan force which doesn't always work, but with the "out" Bill provides, it provides additional impact to the effect.
Skinner's Matches - Michael Skinner (again). This one uses matches, taking a break from cards. An impromptu matchstick routine that ends with the matchstick in the performer's hands vanishing and returning back to the matchbook in the spectator's hands all the time.
Walk-Around Knives - for those with Color-changing Knives, this is an incredible routine for walk-around (as the name implies). Bill presents this in an absolutely hilarious fashion, leaving the spectator bewildered and befuddled, as the spectator himself is given an opportunity to try it himself.
Four Burglars - you know that trick everyone wants to show you? The one where the guy puts the four aces into hte middle of the deck and they all jump to the top? Bill Malone thinks of everything - even this little insignificant effect. He has transformed it into a nifty little effect with a double climax ending, transforming all the aces into jacks. Easy and pretty fun to do.
Only Had Two - my favorite effect in this Volume. It is so easy yet it blows spectators away every time. This is a stunning revelation of two cards with a deck disapperance. It is so easy to accomplish yet it harnesses such great impact. I enjoy performing this one a lot. You can imagine the ending of the effect from the name of the trick itself.
Two-Card Impossible Location - excellent for showing other magicians, this is a magician fooler. In fact, this is more suited towards showing other magicians, as are all other Impossible Card Location effects, than showing to laymen. Uses a very devious concept by Marlo (again) to locate two selections.
Bill Malone on the Multiple Selection - this one was just plain amazing. Bill Malone reveals, I think, 13 cards in the most amazing fashion all at once with the deck disappearance again at the end. This one was just plain fun to watch as Bill revealed all the selections in very unorthodox (at least in my opinion) methods. The cards are revealed in pockets, under the drinking glass, blah, blah. Incredible.
The amount of material within these sets are staggering. There is always definitely something you will use in here. The effects and business tips provided by Bill Malone are incredible. This is one of the best DVD sets in my drawer. The material is mind-blowing and Bill is extremely entertaining. You will have fun just sitting back, relaxing and watching Bill blow the audience away. Business tips for working magicians or those who are looking to become one are provided, and they are excellent.
If you have never seen Bill perform before, or even if you have, buy this DVD set. The wisdom and knowledge you will gain from here is unparalleled, keeping in mind that this is not for beginners. If you are fairly experienced in card magic, this is up your alley. The entertainment value is top-notch (along with On the Spot by Gregory Wilson but both are entirely different videos), and I have thoroughly enjoyed this DVD set, as have many many other satisfied people who have bought this set.
This DVD set is HIGHLY recommended by me. I have learnt a TON from this set and I am using a lot of the material in here. Bill Malone is the man - and this is displayed in this DVD set. I have virtually no complaints whatsoever about On the Loose - it's that good. I have never bought anything else that provides as much enlightenment and value as Bill Malone's "On the Loose" set has (except for all of Gregory Wilson's videos and DVDs). Oh, one complaint other people might have, (which is very insignificant) is that Bill is a leftie so he holds the deck in his right hand, which means all the explanations, so to speak, are laterally inverted. However, even though I'm a right-hander, I do everything with the deck in my right hand, so I generally have no problems with that. (it makes my fans suck because I can't see all the indexes, which means I can't do stuff like Deep Thought by Ray Kosby that I want to learn and perform.)
The mix and match of cards and other genres of magic is great. It allows the watcher to pick and choose, instead of just having to stick with cards the entire time. Whatever you do, fast forward to Favorite Opener first - because that is hands down the best effect on "On the Loose". Once you learn it and try it, you will see what I mean - I could not believe that something so simple as that could have such impact.
Until then, I hope this review helped... in fact, I think I overtyped, but I enjoy doing this. Oh, and if you're debating (like I've seen many people do before) between this and The Very Best of Jay Sankey, it's obvious which one is the better pick - On the Loose. The material in TVBO Jay Sankey cannot even compare with that in On the Loose. Both sets are very similar, but Bill Malone's just has that special advantage because he is so gosh darn entertaining. Buy this set now - and be prepared - because you're entering the Malone zone - and Bill is on the loose!
BILL MA-LONE! BILL MA-LONE! BILL MA-LONE! BILL MA-LONE!
One of the things I have observed about the DVD sets is this - perhaps it is a bit insignificant, but this is basically it; you can see the "evolution", so to speak, of the audience. In the first DVD, the audience is slightly shy and maybe a touch uncomfortable. They aren't really that involved. As the DVDs go down the line, in the third volume, the audience (which is the same throughout the DVD set) have become so involved, so animated in the performances - they react to almost everything, and a sense of communication between Bill Malone and the audience has been cultivated and built upon throughout the DVD set. This is just one of the many examples how Bill is such a performer - the audience is transformed from a shy group to a really lively crowd that participates in almost everything Bill does - with (almost) every thing he does, they evolve, from giggling, to sometimes screaming, laughing out loud, and chanting along in the words "Bill Ma-lone!". It is amazing to see this transformation, and it displays Bill's charisma and the way he can connect with his audience so freely.
Bill is also one hilarious guy - he intersperses his performances with hilarious stuff, little stories, and the occasional coughing up of cards. His skill in cards is apparent; he is such a smooth handler - it is like he is treating the cards like fragile glass - gently but firmly. The effects performed AND taught on this DVD set are gems. They are mostly rehashes of old effects and Bill's variations/improvements on them. However, these improvements he makes almost takes the old effect and transforms it, putting it into an entirely new dimension.
The DVD set consists of four volumes. In my opinion, Volume 1 and 2 are the best of the DVD set, if you are on a budget. However, all four volumes are still highly recommended. Just seeing Bill perform is nearly enough to cover the amount of money that you pay for the set. He is so entertaining. He captivates the audience from start to finish.
Oh, and don't think that this DVD set is all performance and explanation - something like The Very Best of Jay Sankey (which btw was also produced by LL Publishing and has a very similar audience) - Bill has bonus material, including several flashy cuts, false shuffles and other material. In addition to that, he also provides invaluable business tips for the professional working magician that he has used for the past 25 or so years he has been performing. This only adds on to the overall value of this DVD set.
Volume 1
This, along with Volume 2, is my favorite volume out of the four. Seeing Bill perform for the first time in my life (other than his Sam the Bellhop performance), I didn't know what to expect, and I was totally blown away by his performances. Now, even when I know the explanations, I am still amazed when I watch him perform. He does everything so effortlessly. For those first-timers who haven't watched Bill perform yet and have bought this DVD set - be prepared!
Ultimate Three Card Monte - the performance explodes off with Bill's presentation of Michael Skinner's Ultimate Three-Card Monte - one of the first effects I bought in magic. Michael Skinner's Ultimate Three-Card Monte is a gem - it is one of the most incredible effects I have ever seen, even if it is gimmicked. Bill's presentation only builds upon its impact even more - the way he presents it enhances its overall impact ten-fold.
Sam the Bellhop - this is Bill's signature effect! When I saw him perform it on World's Greatest Magic (or was it Champions of Magic? I get confused, it was a long time ago), I was blown away. It's a stacked deck effect - using the entire deck to explain a story. Just seeing Bill do all those false shuffles and cuts at that blinding speed during the effect still hurts my eyes...
I Don't Even Have a Pocket - an Ambitious Card effect. It is short and sweet. The first phase utilises one of my favorite moves, Flip Flop Plop from Art of Astonishment, a sort of three-card Monte toss kind of move with the entire deck. Several other phases include the Braue pop-up move, the Paintbrush Change, and it culminates with, as the name implies, the card travelling to the breastpocket of the performer - when the performer doesn't even have a breastpocket! Following that, the entire deck vanishes except for the selection. Neat. Bill actually explains that he came up with the "invisible breastpocket" thing by accident - a nifty little story he told there.
I Should Have Done it Myself - when I saw this one performed, I couldn't help but burst out laughing. I personally can't do it - the card refuses to stick, if you know what I mean - but just seeing the impact of the effect makes me want to learn it. It doesn't use much sleight of hand, except for a subtle little thing that, I think, was from Larry Jennings. I can't really recall now. Hilarious.
Cheating in Las Vegas with the Aces - a nice four-ace revelation. There are several other four-ace revelations scattered throughout the DVD set, but this, along with Radical Aces, is the best.
Back the Way they Were - Bill Malone presents his take on Dr. Daley's Last Trick. If you don't know what this is, go to the penguinmagic Instant Downloads and look for the renamed "Daley Show". Two aces transpose with the other two aces. Bill Malone presents this in such a fashion that he transforms such a simple effect into a piece of eye-popping magic.
Test of Strength - Slydini Silks. I just love seeing the confused look on the spectators' faces when Bill performed this on the DVD set. In one phase, the spectator is even allowed to tie the knot himself - yet the knot still separates. Truly one of magic's great classics, made even better by the man himself - Bill Ma-lone!
Volume 2
Do you know why I absolutely love this volume? It contains two of the most INCREDIBLE effects I have ever come across in my life - two that I use on a regular basis, namely, My Favorite Opener, and Think Touch Turn. The "evolution" begins, and the audience seem to be less shy and slightly more involved in this volume.
Counterfeit Money - Bill's presentation for Bill In Lemon! A spectator's bill makes an appearance inside a lemon. It still cracks me up whenever I think about the lemon appearing from inside his shoe.
Cut 'Em High And Tie - a very nice Spectator Cuts to the Aces routine involving four spectators. It also blends in nicely with his performing style.
Think Touch Turn - one of my favorite effects in the entire set. This Ed Marlo concept is incredible, and it gets some of the greatest reactions I have ever seen. The best part is that no false counts at all are used - and the surprise ending just totally takes them off-guard and blows them away. I was astounded when I first watched this performed.
Favorite Opener - you've got to be kidding. This is hands down MY favorite opener. Don't let its simplicity fool you. In fact, its simplicity belies its true impact and powerful nature - the effect itself is so simple - and I didn't think that something like this would receive reactions - yet, upon following Bill's advice, (as seen in the description - 'This is strong - try it and you will see how powerful this really is!') and indeed, it is powerful - more than powerful in fact. I went out to perform this doubtful, and I have become a believer, because this has received the most enormous reactions I could imagine possible from an effect as simple as this.
Matrix Presentation - just for the record, Bill's Rub-a-dub Vanish as demonstrated in this effect is just incredible. I have never seen anything like it before. This is a four-coin four card matrix - with no extra coins whatsoever. The second phase of this effect involves the spectator and it is very entertaining to watch.
End of Story - think Gemini Twins on steroids! Bill enhances Gemini Twins by Brother John Hamman - working on the story and ending up with an amazing ending (that requires a table but no matter). I was fried by this performance.
Volume 3
Volume 3 contains several rehashes of old classics. Bill's performances as are always, entertaining, and by this time, the audience is really involved. They become so animated and displays Bill's ability to connect with his spectators.
Direct from the Factory - Bill's incredible handling for Mental Photography Deck. The way he presents this just blows me away. It is so smooth and swift, incorporating Steve Draun's Midnight Shift and several others into the routine, and with his presentation, it was amazing, even though I knew the secret beforehand.
The Kings Produce - the description says it all - an easy to do ace production using a combination of Ed Marlo's ideas. Very visual. The four aces get trapped one at a time in-between two kings.
Maxi-Twist - I didn't really watch through this performance but I've heard good things about it. I have seen the original version though and it kills. When I watch Volume 3 again, I will be waiting to see how Bill has improved it.
Apex Aces 2002 - another ace revelation. There are many scattered throughout the DVD set. Could someone give me some idea as to where I may find the original Apex Aces? Thanks, all help appreciated!
Name and Number and You can Do it too! - Two card classics come together with Bill’s magical blend of Paul Cummins’ masterpiece, Count On It, and David Solomon’s ingenious Cutting Tens! I perform Cutting Tens a lot and I was extremely excited to see how Bill would improve on this. He has done a great job and I was extremely impressed.
Bill's Cards Across - this is a nice Cards Across - perhaps a bit complicated, but still very amazing. I prefer something easy like Las Vegas Leaper in Art of Astonishment for a Cards Across routine, but this one was excellent as well. Was it even shown on Champions of Magic? I had no idea!
Standing Ovation Invisible Deck - this is handsdown the best presentation of the Invisible Deck. This one involves the audience so much. The way he reveals the facedown card is just so mind-blowing. He does nothing to the original handling of the deck - rather, he includes some presentational aspects to it that just increase its impact ten times!
Volume 4
This was my least favorite of the four sets - not to say that it was bad. The material, all in all, is still excellent, especially his incredible handling for Paul Harris' Reset and the effect Radical Aces. It also has significantly more material than the other volumes, but it is the most, so to speak, plain of the four volumes.
Twisting Flush - basically a twisting aces routine incorporated with a gambling kind of feel.
How Cheaters Cheat - an incredible Invisible Palm effect that flows nicely with the gambling theme!
Radical Aces - in this one, the spectator is allowed to shuffle and cut the deck as many times as he wants - yet the performer still finds the four aces in a very visual, astonishing manner! This one, along with Cheating in Las Vegas with Aces (Volume 1) were my favorite ace revelations in the set.
Resetting Reset - one of my favorite handlings for Paul Harris' Reset, along with ReTest by Gaston Quieto and Reset with a Hook from Gregory Wilson's Card Stunts. If you haven't heard of Reset (!!!) before, basically, four aces are set aside on the table, and in the performer's hands, he holds the four kings. The Kings individually change into aces, but after the performer presses the reset button, the aces change right back into Kings, leaving on the table, the four aces.
Good Trick, Bad Trick - like Bill said, if you "miss" this one, i.e. you don't get the right card at first, the overall impact at the end of the effect is stronger. A nice way of doing a fan force which doesn't always work, but with the "out" Bill provides, it provides additional impact to the effect.
Skinner's Matches - Michael Skinner (again). This one uses matches, taking a break from cards. An impromptu matchstick routine that ends with the matchstick in the performer's hands vanishing and returning back to the matchbook in the spectator's hands all the time.
Walk-Around Knives - for those with Color-changing Knives, this is an incredible routine for walk-around (as the name implies). Bill presents this in an absolutely hilarious fashion, leaving the spectator bewildered and befuddled, as the spectator himself is given an opportunity to try it himself.
Four Burglars - you know that trick everyone wants to show you? The one where the guy puts the four aces into hte middle of the deck and they all jump to the top? Bill Malone thinks of everything - even this little insignificant effect. He has transformed it into a nifty little effect with a double climax ending, transforming all the aces into jacks. Easy and pretty fun to do.
Only Had Two - my favorite effect in this Volume. It is so easy yet it blows spectators away every time. This is a stunning revelation of two cards with a deck disapperance. It is so easy to accomplish yet it harnesses such great impact. I enjoy performing this one a lot. You can imagine the ending of the effect from the name of the trick itself.
Two-Card Impossible Location - excellent for showing other magicians, this is a magician fooler. In fact, this is more suited towards showing other magicians, as are all other Impossible Card Location effects, than showing to laymen. Uses a very devious concept by Marlo (again) to locate two selections.
Bill Malone on the Multiple Selection - this one was just plain amazing. Bill Malone reveals, I think, 13 cards in the most amazing fashion all at once with the deck disappearance again at the end. This one was just plain fun to watch as Bill revealed all the selections in very unorthodox (at least in my opinion) methods. The cards are revealed in pockets, under the drinking glass, blah, blah. Incredible.
The amount of material within these sets are staggering. There is always definitely something you will use in here. The effects and business tips provided by Bill Malone are incredible. This is one of the best DVD sets in my drawer. The material is mind-blowing and Bill is extremely entertaining. You will have fun just sitting back, relaxing and watching Bill blow the audience away. Business tips for working magicians or those who are looking to become one are provided, and they are excellent.
If you have never seen Bill perform before, or even if you have, buy this DVD set. The wisdom and knowledge you will gain from here is unparalleled, keeping in mind that this is not for beginners. If you are fairly experienced in card magic, this is up your alley. The entertainment value is top-notch (along with On the Spot by Gregory Wilson but both are entirely different videos), and I have thoroughly enjoyed this DVD set, as have many many other satisfied people who have bought this set.
This DVD set is HIGHLY recommended by me. I have learnt a TON from this set and I am using a lot of the material in here. Bill Malone is the man - and this is displayed in this DVD set. I have virtually no complaints whatsoever about On the Loose - it's that good. I have never bought anything else that provides as much enlightenment and value as Bill Malone's "On the Loose" set has (except for all of Gregory Wilson's videos and DVDs). Oh, one complaint other people might have, (which is very insignificant) is that Bill is a leftie so he holds the deck in his right hand, which means all the explanations, so to speak, are laterally inverted. However, even though I'm a right-hander, I do everything with the deck in my right hand, so I generally have no problems with that. (it makes my fans suck because I can't see all the indexes, which means I can't do stuff like Deep Thought by Ray Kosby that I want to learn and perform.)
The mix and match of cards and other genres of magic is great. It allows the watcher to pick and choose, instead of just having to stick with cards the entire time. Whatever you do, fast forward to Favorite Opener first - because that is hands down the best effect on "On the Loose". Once you learn it and try it, you will see what I mean - I could not believe that something so simple as that could have such impact.
Until then, I hope this review helped... in fact, I think I overtyped, but I enjoy doing this. Oh, and if you're debating (like I've seen many people do before) between this and The Very Best of Jay Sankey, it's obvious which one is the better pick - On the Loose. The material in TVBO Jay Sankey cannot even compare with that in On the Loose. Both sets are very similar, but Bill Malone's just has that special advantage because he is so gosh darn entertaining. Buy this set now - and be prepared - because you're entering the Malone zone - and Bill is on the loose!
BILL MA-LONE! BILL MA-LONE! BILL MA-LONE! BILL MA-LONE!
(Top ▲)
GO AND BUY THESE DVD'S!!
Not only do you get the enjoyment of watching Bill perform. (When did you last watch an instructional video and switch off and just enjoy the performance part, then realise with glee that you are soon going to learn how to perform the tricks you've just seen?)
I was surprised at just how good Bill is. I've been a card guy for many years now and learned a great deal from his adaptations and use of sleights I had thought unworkable.
As well as top notch material, Bill pops up and passes on tips and advice that will certainly make you stop and think. The tapes won't make you perform like Bill (and you may not have the energy for it anyway!) but you will benefit from some class 'A' material.
Bill Malone! Bill Malone!
Not only do you get the enjoyment of watching Bill perform. (When did you last watch an instructional video and switch off and just enjoy the performance part, then realise with glee that you are soon going to learn how to perform the tricks you've just seen?)
I was surprised at just how good Bill is. I've been a card guy for many years now and learned a great deal from his adaptations and use of sleights I had thought unworkable.
As well as top notch material, Bill pops up and passes on tips and advice that will certainly make you stop and think. The tapes won't make you perform like Bill (and you may not have the energy for it anyway!) but you will benefit from some class 'A' material.
Bill Malone! Bill Malone!
(Top ▲)
Absolutely brilliant material on these DVDs and the production is very good. On top of the great card material, Bill presents other effects that are easily portable in the pocket yet pack a great punch. Along with his own material, Bill includes a lot of items that he has reworked and added just that little extra to.
Plenty of moves for the "move monkies" as Bill calls them. Some of which require some work and others that just need proper timing. I would highly recommened these tapes to someone looking for useful material.
Plenty of moves for the "move monkies" as Bill calls them. Some of which require some work and others that just need proper timing. I would highly recommened these tapes to someone looking for useful material.