Filmed at The Session Convention, “Center Stage” is John Guastaferro’s most recent release. This two DVD set includes a variety of card magic, a ring and straw routine, as well as a novel way to introduce a close up set. A number of the routines have already been in print, though several have been updated, and a few are being seen on video for the first time.

The majority of the content is card magic, though it’s not just limited to close up, as a number of the effects will play well onstage. Mr. Guastaferro has a reputation for creating clever, elegant and efficient magic, and this collection is no different. His talent lies in combining sleight of hand and subtlety to create something greater than the sum of its parts. By and large the methods are simple as well, though not in a pejorative sense. He pares the method down to its necessary components, combining elements when he can, always focusing on the end effect. One of the major themes expressed is the idea of “one degree,” a concept he wrote a book on earlier in his career. A “one degree” change to a routine is a small improvement with a huge impact. It’s a subtle refinement that can alter an entire effect. He goes on to illustrate this idea with examples drawn from many of the routines taught on the set.

The routines taught cover a broad spectrum. Highlights include a version of Homing Card done with four aces instead of the deck, an ace assembly that would play well onstage and a multiple selection routine where the performer reads each of the spectator’s minds before magically producing their cards. Other interesting ideas include an efficient version of the classic Biddle Trick, opening a close up set by producing all the props you’ll use, a couple of unexpected and interesting four ace routines and an amazing signed card routine wherein the selection magically disappears from and appears in a transparent luggage tag. Not every routine was a home run, but even those that weren’t included ideas worth exploring.

For a project filmed at a magic convention lecture, the camera work was sufficient. Multiple camera angles were used, and everything that needed to be seen was visible. At times the instruction was a little fast paced, but everything one would need to know was covered.

The DVD also includes an interview with Mr. Guastaferro that seemed at times a bit more like a profile than a discussion of how to perform effective magic. Still, a number of great concepts were introduced, including involving the spectator, getting one’s magic to play bigger, and adding a kicker to routines to exceed expectations. My interest was particularly piqued when Mr. Guastaferro started drawing parallels between his career in marketing and magic. He discussed the concept of a personal brand, developing an awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, and how his goal in life is to create extraordinary moments for people, both in AND out of magic; all very thought provoking stuff. He ends with some thoughts on where to find inspiration that would be practical and useful to any performer.

If you’re a fan of John Guastaferro, you’ll like this DVD set, although you may already have some of the content in other formats. If you’re not familiar with his work, this is a great introduction and this set is filled with practical, amazing and clever magic. Some of the routines seemed overly complex, with phases that, while amazing, muddied the overall effect a bit. Still, overall it was a good combination of solid magic and useful, applicable theory. If you like powerful, clever, accessible magic, you’ll very much enjoy “Center Stage.”

Well, this product has had quite a bit of buzz going on around it since even before its release. It has only gotten louder since then, and rightly so.

If you are not familiar with John Guastaferro or his work, you should be. He does have great technical skill but rarely uses it in that sense - his work is more about using subtleties and psychology to make his magic stronger, tweaking it by just 'One Degree' at a time. The idea of 'One Degree' came from his book of the same name where he discusses that idea and it was that book which introduced John to the magic world.

This video set was a bit different from most in that it was recorded live at The Session in England this year (2015). The format is not unlike attending a lecture. For the most part, the video quality was good but there were a few parts where the camera was following John with an aura and it just got a little annoying, but it was nothing too horrible.

The ad copy is 100% accurate - no fluff and no filler, just descriptions of exactly what you get on the discs.

The sound quality was not perfect, but it was sufficient. There were a few points where I had to turn my speakers all the way up and I still had some trouble understanding what was being said. The problem with the audio was that the lapel microphone that John was using was tied into the speakers in the room so the audience could hear him. This is fine, but the camera mics were picking up on that feed rather than having their own direct audio source. Except for the few aforementioned spots on both DVDs, you could still understand what was being said.

There were a few times where I wish they would have shown the overhead table shot when John was displaying the condition of the deck or cards on the table, but he did such a great job with explaining everything that it was really a non-issue. The overhead shots, when they were used, were a nice touch.

The layout of the DVD was almost non-existent and as such, made it really easy to navigate the menu. When the DVD starts up, it goes right to the menu with the names of each effect. You have the option to 'Play All' or view each chapter one at a time. Clicking on the chapter will take you straight to the performance. If you want to view just the explanation, you just have to hit the fast forward button once the performance starts. At the finish, the DVD returns to the menu. These features are the same for both discs.

Now for the meat and potatoes, so to speak: The magic! If you have seen his At the Table Lecture through Murphy's, a few of these effects may be familiar to you. To be exact, 4 the 14 effects were shown in the At the Table lecture, and 5 of the 14 have never been shown on video before, so you are getting a good chunk of newer material.

I am not going to get into great detail about all of the effects on the discs, but there are a few that I would like to single out and I will mention why as I talk about each one of those. Here goes...

These days so many magicians like to have a good impromptu effect in their back pocket (so to speak) or up their proverbial sleeve, and so they should. Zen Bend and Ring on Straw fit into this category perfectly and what is more, it can be very interactive. You can invite others to try the Zen Bend along with you, but only you will succeed. The Ring on Straw can use any finger ring, so why not borrow one? Again, this promotes the interactivity. This is a very strong little piece that you can do anywhere you find a drinking straw.

Assembly Line is a great take on the 'Assembly' plot but instead of you holding and moving the cards around, you have four audience volunteers helping you. Four face cards are used for this effect (really, any four of a kind can be used but face cards are more visible). The four volunteers split the deck evenly amongst themselves. One of the four cards (say, the Kings, for our example) is put into each pile, the faces being shown each time; one person removes their King invisibly and hands it to any other person, then that person does the same until one person has received all of the invisible Kings. They pretend to pull them out of their packet and place them on top, then they count off the top four cards, which are seen to be the four Kings! What makes this version so good is not only the interaction between the performer and the audience, but between the audience members themselves. To take it even further, the magic happens in THEIR hands.

Multimental is a great take on the 'Multiple Selection' plot and is very easy to do. I am a fan of the plot myself and though it does fit my parlour style and I have performed a version of it in the past (the Robert-Houdin 'Ladies' Looking Glass'), it is not something I want to perform regularly. If I were to do it, there are only two versions I would use and this is one of them. The other is the Michael Vincent variation on the aforementioned Robert-Houdin effect.

The rest of the effects that I am going to mention all come from the second disc, which in my opinion is the better of the two, though both are very good.

Invisible Opener is the way John presents the classic Invisible Deck. It is actually a combination of a Coin Flurry, rubber band magic and of course, the Invisible Deck. There is nothing new at all about the effects themselves as they are rather standard, but the way he has tied them together is just plain great (read: smart) structuring of not only the effects but also the use of the props.

Biddleless is his take on the classic Biddle Trick that everyone knows. It is an effect that I do very often because it works and audiences love it, but this handling makes it so, so much stronger! If you really want to use the Biddle Trick to slay your magician friends, this would be the version to use. I have since started using this handling myself.

Ace Case is a great effect that is a sort of combination of two great plots: The 'Card to Card Case' plot at the 'Any Card Called For' plot. In this case (no pun intended) you use the four Aces, which are lost into the deck and found one at a time. Two of them are located by using the box (no, not both at once, but separately) and they can even name which of the remaining Aces appears inside the box. This is easy to do and is very strong.

Intro-Verted is a very magical effect where the Aces (or any four of a kind) turn face-up in the deck one at a time. At one point, the deck itself turns face up and the Ace turns face down. If you want, you can also perform this effect and end with the deck changing color!

Homage to Homing is a very nice take on the Homing Card - streamlined, very visual and not overly hard but it will take some practice to perform as shown. It would be worth your time and cash to seek out the references mentioned in this one, namely the "Asher Twist" from Lee Asher. It is not a necessary move for this effect, but it makes it so much more magical, though there are some other moves that can easily be used in place of it and still look as magical.

One of my favourite pieces was also the opener to his At the Table Lecture. It is called 'Little White Lies' and it is akin to the Phil Goldstein 'B'Wave' effect but with a prediction and a different kind of kicker ending. This one is simple to do and requires you to either purchase a certain type of wallet or make it yourself, which John describes how to make. I use this one a lot for strolling work and is one of my favourite effects.

The interview at the end of disc 2 provides some great insight into how John thinks as a performer and presenter. He talks about his inspirations and he discusses the 'One-Degree Theory' that I mentioned earlier (you should still buy the book!) and some other things in a Q&A style format. The questions appear in text on the screen, then cuts to a shot of John, one-on-one to the camera, at which point he answers the questions.. The audio in the interview was superb! I wish they had mic'd him directly to the camera during the lecture like this, but I digress.

Overall this is a great DVD set that, while it does not contain theory necessarily, it does show you how John applies subtlties and psychology to effects that he performs and how those two things help to elevate the magic even further in the minds of the audience. What is more, it is something that you can easily apply to your own work. The effects on both discs are very good and very commercial - they are interactive and 99% of them are impromptu.

If you have never seen or read the work of John Guastaferro, start with his book, 'One Degree', and then get this DVD set. Yes, you could just get this DVD set, but personally I think it would be a better benefit to start off the other way around.

If you are already a fan of John and have read his books or seen his past videos, you will already know what to expect with this set and you know how good the material will be.

There is something here for everyone and if you like what you read in the ad copy, you will love what you see!

4.5 stars - Highly recommended!