Price$40.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedSep 13, 2012
The Multiple Revelation Project
Gladwin, Andi and James, Rob
Vanishing Inc.
(Based on 2 reviews)
Consisting of two DVDs and a book, The Multiple Revelation Project is a unique way of learning this reputation-making routine. The first DVD focuses on everything you need to know to perform this unique effect, including six of the best ways to control cards. The second DVD teaches over 65 different ways to reveal the spectator's selection. Together, the set teaches you how to add improvisation to your magic and use the best controls, revelations and gags for your particular audience. No performance will ever be the same again.
Whether you are an amateur performing at a party, a professional doing walkaround, or a hobbyist at a dinner party this DVD set will be an incredible addition to your arsenal of moves.
Between them, professional close-up magicians Andi Gladwin and Rob James have been closing their performances with this routine for over fifteen years. There are no better people to teach you how to close your act with it too.
Included: 2 DVDs, a full-color book and a beautiful slipcase.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Shout it Out Loud by Stryper
The Multiple Revelation Project Reviewed
Two DVDs, one booklet, more information than you ever thought existed about the Multiple Selection Routine and $40 bucks. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
An old classic effect where a group of people (say 10) select a card. Each of the cards are lost in the deck, and then found in a variety of ways.
Method
The method is standard card stuff: card controls, false shuffles, and a variety of unique ways to reveal a card. This DVD set teaches several methods for each step of the routine. Further, over 70 different card revelations are taught . . . yep . . . 70!
The method is, as I pointed out, standard card handling. If you're have even a basic level of card handling skills then you'll be able to perform a version of this effect with all of the methods and ideas taught here.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is solid, but there is a small potentially misleading point. It says that this is all done with "just an ordinary deck of cards." There are, however, some revelations taught that require stuff other than "just" the cards. Some require a "card to wallet" wallet. One revelation uses a comedy card gag that is not "just" the deck of cards. Another revelation uses Kennedy's Destination Box which is a marketed product. The inner workings of which are not taught, rightfully so.
However, it was one of the revelations shown in the performance segment at the beginning of the DVD, so I was hoping to learn it. I didn't know it was a marketed product while I was watching the performance on the DVD.
The reason I point this out is because the ad copy claims that using "just and ordinary deck of cards" you can do this routine where each revelation builds and builds with "increasingly impressive" revelations. Well, both Andi Gladwin and Rob James teach us to build our revelations and that they end with the final big revelation. In both cases, they use a marketed product (Kennedy's box and a Card to Wallet). There's another revelation that involves the Omni Deck (another marketed product). So the main point of the project is slightly missed. They do, however, teach 70 revelations and 99% of them don't use any extra stuff, and amongst them, there are ones that can be closers, but none of them compare to the closing power of the two marketed products that the creators use.
Product Quality
The DVDs and booklet are well made. This set is a resource product, the kind of thing that you'll come back to over and over again to learn this or that, etc. That being the case, ease of navigation is a critical component. Fortunately, you're covered. It's super clear and easy to navigate.
The only complaint I have about the quality is that it is one of the most boring DVD sets I've ever watched. It was very difficult to get through. I have no idea what the run time was . . . 4 hours, I think. Every possible thing you can imagine about this subject was covered on this project. In fact, they probably could have left out a few things, shortened the set, and spiced it up just a little bit to make it easier to watch and less dry.
That aside, the material is taught well and thoroughly and clearly. As far as raw information dissemination, this thing is amazing . . . you just have to push through the boring.
Final Thoughts
This effect, while a classic, is one of the worst plots in magic in my opinion. However, that has nothing to do with whether or not this is a good product. If you are performing or wanting to learn how to perform a multiple selection routine, then this DVD set is a must for your collection. If you're David Roth and never (ish) do card tricks, you can skip this.
If you like this effect or the idea of the effect even a little bit, then you'll love this DVD set. Further, even though I hate this plot, I would purchase this DVD just for the 70 plus revelations taught.
This is an extremely thorough resource of different ways to reveal a selected card. Even if you don't do multiple selections, all of us likely have at least one "pick a card" trick in our repertoire. This is an excellent resource for learning to reveal that selected card in your pick a card trick.
Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.
(Top ▲)
The Multiple Selection Project is a 2 DVD set by Andi Gladwin and Rob James covering their approach to the classic effect of finding not one, but a large number of cards selected by the audience. Many authors have tackled the plot and shared their approach, most notably Doc Eason and Paul Cummins, two modern masters who co-wrote Fusillade, a treatise on the multiple selection. The effect is fantastic (one that I almost always close with) and, when done well, includes spectacle, variety, drama and comedy, all in one roller coaster ride of a routine.
The DVD set begins with performances by Mr. Gladwin and Mr. James, demonstrating their approach to the routine. They then breakdown the effect into sections: the introduction, having cards selected, controlling them, convincing the audience they are lost, the revelations and then the final climax of the routine. They expand on each section, discussing tips and ideas to make the trick more effective, including ideas on speeding up the selection process (including several different controls), the importance of building the effect in the audience’s mind, the effective use of forces and convincing the audience that the selections are truly lost in the deck.
The authors also spend a good deal of time discussing the idea of improvisation and creating unique performances. Even if the performer uses the same set of revelations, finding the selections out of order, incorporating the environment or audience comments and thinking on the fly create a powerful effect on the spectators, not to mention making it a very exciting approach for a magician who does the same tricks over and over again. But they don’t just mention this as an approach. They also provide a number of concrete examples of ideas and strategies anyone can incorporate in their own routine to make it more improvisational. Any performer who takes this section to heart will immediately find a huge difference in the impact of their magic.
They go on to cover presentational approaches, several different ways to end the routine, good venues for the effect, and a variety of other useful tips and techniques, clearly garnered from a great deal of experience performing the effect. Last on the first disc, they provide a basic, if somewhat simple, routine for someone who has never performed the multiple selection so that they can dip their toes in the water, so to speak.
Then come the revelations. While this doesn’t (and couldn’t) include even all the best revelations in the world, it does provide a broad menu of fantastic reveals to choose from. They range in difficulty, allowing one to choose revelations based on ability, but they also categorize them by effect so that the performer can make sure to vary the way the cards are revealed. A nice addition to this portion of the disc are sections on both comic reveals as well as ways to use duplicates (of forced cards) that allow for some stunning revelations. The explanations for many of these revelations also include tips and the real work that will make learning these techniques a lot easier.
If that weren’t enough, the DVD set comes with a booklet that includes additional information, as well as expanding on or emphasizing points made on the DVD. There are sections on the history of the routine, jazzing, selections, revelations, as well as their top ten tips and additional credits. They even include a revelations chart, an extremely useful tool that lists all the revelations by their ideal audience, difficultly level as well as strength of effect.
The Multiple Revelation Project is a great resource for both someone who has never tried the effect, as well as for performers who do it all the time. For those with no experience, all the basics are covered, including how to perform it effectively as well as offering a number of introductory revelations. For the experienced magician advanced ideas are given, as well as some wonderful revelations some may have never encountered. The Multiple Revelation is a brilliant effect, and, once you try performing it, you’ll never look back. As a piece of magic it offers endless variety and opportunity for the performer who keeps his or her mind open, and this DVD is a wonderful resource to anyone interested in exploring the effect. I highly recommend it.
The DVD set begins with performances by Mr. Gladwin and Mr. James, demonstrating their approach to the routine. They then breakdown the effect into sections: the introduction, having cards selected, controlling them, convincing the audience they are lost, the revelations and then the final climax of the routine. They expand on each section, discussing tips and ideas to make the trick more effective, including ideas on speeding up the selection process (including several different controls), the importance of building the effect in the audience’s mind, the effective use of forces and convincing the audience that the selections are truly lost in the deck.
The authors also spend a good deal of time discussing the idea of improvisation and creating unique performances. Even if the performer uses the same set of revelations, finding the selections out of order, incorporating the environment or audience comments and thinking on the fly create a powerful effect on the spectators, not to mention making it a very exciting approach for a magician who does the same tricks over and over again. But they don’t just mention this as an approach. They also provide a number of concrete examples of ideas and strategies anyone can incorporate in their own routine to make it more improvisational. Any performer who takes this section to heart will immediately find a huge difference in the impact of their magic.
They go on to cover presentational approaches, several different ways to end the routine, good venues for the effect, and a variety of other useful tips and techniques, clearly garnered from a great deal of experience performing the effect. Last on the first disc, they provide a basic, if somewhat simple, routine for someone who has never performed the multiple selection so that they can dip their toes in the water, so to speak.
Then come the revelations. While this doesn’t (and couldn’t) include even all the best revelations in the world, it does provide a broad menu of fantastic reveals to choose from. They range in difficulty, allowing one to choose revelations based on ability, but they also categorize them by effect so that the performer can make sure to vary the way the cards are revealed. A nice addition to this portion of the disc are sections on both comic reveals as well as ways to use duplicates (of forced cards) that allow for some stunning revelations. The explanations for many of these revelations also include tips and the real work that will make learning these techniques a lot easier.
If that weren’t enough, the DVD set comes with a booklet that includes additional information, as well as expanding on or emphasizing points made on the DVD. There are sections on the history of the routine, jazzing, selections, revelations, as well as their top ten tips and additional credits. They even include a revelations chart, an extremely useful tool that lists all the revelations by their ideal audience, difficultly level as well as strength of effect.
The Multiple Revelation Project is a great resource for both someone who has never tried the effect, as well as for performers who do it all the time. For those with no experience, all the basics are covered, including how to perform it effectively as well as offering a number of introductory revelations. For the experienced magician advanced ideas are given, as well as some wonderful revelations some may have never encountered. The Multiple Revelation is a brilliant effect, and, once you try performing it, you’ll never look back. As a piece of magic it offers endless variety and opportunity for the performer who keeps his or her mind open, and this DVD is a wonderful resource to anyone interested in exploring the effect. I highly recommend it.