The Step System Vol. 2

Smith, Lee

RSVP - Russ Stevens

(Based on 1 review)
Welcome to 'The Step System' the brand new two disc set from UK magician Lee Smith. So, what is 'The Step System'? Well, it stands for Simple Tricks Extraordinary Power and proves that YOU can get fantastic reactions and make a great living performing effects that really are simple to do. The reactions on these DVDs prove it!

CONTENTS:

VOLUME 2

Just Think
You predict a card that the spectator merely thinks of and repeat the feat for an amazing kicker ending.

Business Lunch
Lee's preferred handling for the Out to Lunch principle, leaving the spectator with the best memento they could have, your business card. The ultimate giveaway routine that's sure to leave a lasting impression with your audience.
Key To Amazement
A self-working miracle where a thought of card is found under seemingly impossible conditions. This will freak out magicians and lay people alike!

Crazy Cuffs
A classic of magic explained. A borrowed ring jumps onto the band for a kicker ending.

Coming Together
A performance only of Paul Green's wonderful effect where two signatures end up on the same card. If you like Anniversary Waltz you will love this. Watch Lee's take on this for Walkaround performances.

Fifth Element
Lee's take on Paul Harris' 'Whack My Pack' plot. Sure-Fire and plays great to the largest of groups.

Bonaces
A brand new four ace routine, released here for the very first time! This is a multi-phase routine that you will learn and use!

Strike Two
Taking an old classic and bringing it right up-to-date, watch as Lee gets screams and gasps with this multi-phase lighter routine explained in complete detail. Another routine that you WILL USE!

Running Time Approximately: 1hr 50mins

Reviews

Joe Diamond

Official Reviewer

Jan 07, 2011

These DVDs come from charming new comer Lee Smith. Lee is a nice English fellow who is a real world worker. His material is solid, and his technical chops are on par with his people skills. He knows how to get big reactions from people, and what he focuses on these DVDs is simple tricks. These aren’t easy. They are quick, engaging, and have a nice flow to them.

Some of the effects are a little confusing, however the flow of the larger routine helps these moments. Lee performs mostly in bars and loud clubs, and so his material is designed to work in these environments.

While he does all of this right, I do have some problems with both of these DVDs. The biggest one is the gentleman who sits in for the explanations. The task of this person is supposed to help keep the discussion organized, and ask potential questions the home viewer may ask. All he helps with is making sure they constantly repeat themselves, and complimenting Lee how great the material is. Before we even see any effects on volume one, they talk for seven minutes about Lee’s opening effect. Everything they say could have been summed up in about half that time, maybe less.

I also feel that both these discs could have been complied onto one disc. That said, the material plays really well, is very versatile, and extremely visual. Many of the routines are focused on card changes, double lifts, and passes, but this is well within the skill range of most performers. However, there are some effects that aren’t particularly good or original, such as his rubber band routine, or his performance of Paul Green’s Coming Together. His technique is a little sloppy at times, and there isn’t much as far as the scripting goes.

Some of the effects aren’t taught on video, but on a PDF file of his lecture notes on Volume One. Unfortunately, these aren’t extremely well written, and could have been much more in depth. All these negatives out of the way, you can tell Lee is a hard worker who knows how to entertain his audiences, and several of the routines look great.

Strike Two is a visually striking color changing knife kind of routine, but with lighters. It’s quick, visual, simple, and looks like real magic in Lee’s hands. Fifth Element is a neat version of Whack My Pack that uses no table, and is ten times faster!

I think if you are a real world worker, you’ll be able to see past the negatives on these discs, and find some really good material. As a worker, I enjoyed the material. However, as a reviewer, I regret that I can only give this two and a half stars.
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