Al Schneider: Cups & Balls
Schneider, Al
L&L Publishing
From the L & L Underground Research Facility
These experiments push the envelope of existing Cups and Balls technology far beyond its normal limits. The goal for this project is more repeatability, more shock, and more practicality. We believe these goals have been realized in the Vessels and Orbs Project. What's more, you'll be privy to new and innovative strategies, subtleties and moves never before seen, including the Tweezers Palm, Al Schneider's new and devilishly deceptive small ball vanish. Many of magic's greatest minds have been taken in by this move.
Today's tendency is for magicians to walk around more and to stand at a table side when performing. Several of these routines were specifically designed to do that. The others were created for more formal, full-feature Cups and Balls performances.
Here's what's contained in this confidential file:
LA Street Cups - The mandate here is to simply be able to pick up the cups and go. There are no loads from the body which means that this routine can be done in your birthday suit if you wish (though not recommended!) Then, you can repeat the routine immediately in tough, real-world environments...and fool them again! This is the perfect routine for strolling magicians and street performers and remains one of the most talked-about routines from the Al Schneider Magic book.
Classic Cups and Balls - This is a formal sit-down routine with a fairly traditional presentation of three cups, three balls, and three final loads. However, a lot of sophistication is thrown in. The small ball sequences are superb and the final loads are strong enough that the entire routine can be immediately performed again...and it will still kill them!
OMG - This is what people exclaim when they watch this! This one-cup routine was developed for the table hopper. Carry the cup in a bag and stand by the table to do this routine. Its two phases were designed to generate the OMG response. And there are no body or pocket steals - it's all in the hands, bag, and cup.
Crystal Connection - This experiment features a three-cup formal routine with as much flash as can be put into the finish of a Cups and Balls routine. At its conclusion, two cups are lifted to reveal they are full of crystal shards. The audience won't know what hit them!
Oriental Bowl Routine - This was developed as a very formal full-feature routine. The goal was to capture the feeling and atmosphere of Japanese tea ceremonies and contains wooden bowls, large sponge balls, silks, and much pomp and flair! This could easily be used as a full stage routine!
3X4 Bowl Routine - The goal of this experiment was to take single bowl routines not only to the next level but to the extreme. The name of the game is rapid repetition featuring just about every effect possible with sponge balls. They disappear, reappear, penetrate up and down...and they do it extremely fast. There are fourteen...yes, fourteen...separate magical occurrences in this one routine.
Running Time Approximately: 1hr 40min
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Overview
Al Schneider Cups and Balls produced by L & L Publishing is a collection of five Cups & Balls routines for various settings. Familiarity with the Cups and Balls is recommended since many of the techniques offered up are advanced moves. The settings these routines are designed for are the street without any loads, a formal sit down, a single cup table hopping routine, a formal routine where crystals fall out of two of the cups, an Oriental version and finally an extreme single cup routine.Effect
A cup or usually three cups are introduced and a ball. Yet, under the watchful eyes of the spectators, the ball appears and disappears from one cup to another. In the end a supersized ball ends up under the cup. This and multiple variations are explained on this DVD.Method
The methods explained are advanced handlings and thinking when it comes to a Cups and Balls routine. The methods discussed are nuanced methods whereby knowledge of basic Cups and Balls should already be known.Product Quality
The quality of the DVD was probably considered high end at the time of the production. Now in our HD world, we would consider this a low quality production. I find Schneider difficult to watch. He is very mechanical and the scripting is nonexistent or hackneyed. Although, the scripting is poor and his presentational style is disjointed that does not diminish the value of what he is teaching, it just makes it difficult to watch.Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy states exactly what is on the DVD.(Top ▲)
Among many other contributions to magic, Mr. Schneider is known for his deep thinking and a devotion to creating a truly magical effect. Towards this end, many of the techniques and ideas explored on this DVD are deceptive and extremely clever. In particular, his new steals and the handling of the cups have been streamlined, made more deceptive and will fool even an informed viewer. Mr. Schneider also offers some interesting ideas that make formal sit down routines more practical, some very deceptive final load sequences (both for single and multiple cup routines,) and an idea for a final load (the appearance of a cup full of crystals or other small objects) that will leave an audience flabbergasted. The sponge ball and bowl routines were less impressive than the cups and balls, though even they had some very deceptive moments.
Unfortunately, many of the routines were repetitive and confusing, and it’s doubtful many performers would use them as is. However, it would be difficult to appreciate the best use of Mr. Schneider’s new techniques without the context of a routine, making the performances useful for that reason alone. And again, despite them being confusing and repetitive, even after learning the techniques being used, this reviewer was fooled again and again by the construction of the sleights and handling, so the individual elements of the various routines are well worth studying.
A final point worth mentioning is that each of the routines taught on the disc has a stated goal. If one were to measure the effect of the routines against those goals, Mr. Schneider clearly attained his objective. And while the viewer may not share the same goals, knowing what the creator was out to achieve and studying how he accomplished it is an extremely worthwhile endeavor. Few magicians take the time to identify what they want the audience to experience, let alone put in the work to accomplish that. Studying a knowledgeable and thoughtful magician’s approach to this task is something any performer would benefit from.
While Mr. Schneider is not a dynamic performer, he doesn’t pretend to be. He is a brilliant thinker. Based on that alone, this disc is a great resource, not just for the cups and balls worker, but for anyone looking to improve their magic. While I wouldn’t recommend anyone perform the routines he offers as is, the thoughtful magician could utilize elements and sleights found on this disc in any routine, and dramatically improve the deceptiveness of it. Even if the viewer doesn’t apply the techniques offered, Mr. Schneider’s approach, his dedication and his solutions are worth the study of any committed performer. Highly recommended.
(Top ▲)
It's not uncommon for a cups and balls routine to be closer to a Land of Confusion (thank you Genesis) than a masterpiece of magic. Al Schneider is somewhere in between the two leaning more toward the masterpiece side of grid. On this DVD you get 6 cup and ball (or bowl) routines. In general, Schneider's technique is pretty much flawless. His presentations, however are pretty darn dry. Yet oddly, his presentational ideas are very good. I just don't think he's implementing them as well as maybe another performer why more of a dynamic personality might.
That's the good news. As you know, I rarely allow the performance to impact the DVD review. I focus on effect construction and method doability. In this case, in addition to high marks in both of those categories, you also get Schneider's performance concepts. Granted, you'll need to take them and add a bit more personality than what is shown here. So the good news is that Schneider's presentational ideas are excellent. His technique is nearly flawless. The routines are mostly (from a technical standpoint) closer to masterpiece than confusion.
Overall, I think there is something for everyone on the DVD from beginners to advanced performers. Many of the moves that you'll learn are amazing and are very baffling. Much of what you'll see on this DVD looks like real magic. Let's just take a peak at the individual effects:
Effects
LA Street Cups (3 stars)
This one is probably my least favorite of the bunch because it, more than any other on this DVD, is this land of confusion I mentioned. It's very unclear and confusing to watch. Yet, it has the incredible advantage of having a final production that does not require you to do a steal of any kind. So, as the ad copy claims, you can do this one totally in the buff.
Classic Cups and Balls (3.5 stars)
This one is a bit of the land of confusion as well. However, bonus points for the fun (albeit poorly delivered) presentational patter. There is a lot of potential there. This is a pretty traditional cups and balls routine. However, Schneider's vanishes are just so clean and beautiful.
OMG (3.5 stars)
This is good for strolling. It's a pretty quick 1 cup routine with some very magical moments, and again Schneider's beautiful technique.
Crystal Connection (4.5 stars)
Probably the best routine on the DVD. It'll take a little bit of one time prop construction, but when you're done, you have a killer final load. At one point in the routine, you'll lift up a cup and show the ball underneath. Then put the cup back down . . . or lift again . . . clearly nothing else is inside. Yet, you set the cup down (no switch, no secret load) and lift it up again and the whole thing is full of crystal rocks. Then you reveal the same thing under a second cup. Beautiful.
Oriental Bowl Routine (4.5 stars)
It's a close call between this one and the previous one. They're both excellent routines. What I like about this one (in addition to the beauty of the effect) is that it's a full presentational piece done completely to music. There is a lot of stuff to build and a lot of set up to do this, and it requires that you're seated at a table that has been set up for the show. But it's worth it. It would work well as a stage or parlour piece for sure. The moves are flawless. There are several parts in the routine that just feel impossible.
The props add some theater and decor to the routine. The music further adds to it. Also, this effect, more than any of the others, was clearly communicated to the audience. What he was trying to "say" and do and accomplish with the routine was absolutely clear, ironically without the use of words. Further, when he explained in the teaching section what he was trying to accomplish, it was exactly what I thought he was trying to accomplish.
3x4 Bowl Routine (3 stars)
This has some good moves and some awkward moves. Overall, it's not bad. It's a shorter routine with some ball through table moments that are pretty cool.
Final Thoughts
Overall this is a pretty solid DVD. The average trick rating is 3.67 . . . that ain't too shabby. When you add in the fact that Schneider has some serious technical chops, some great moves and clever presentation ideas . . .
Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.