Price$32.00
Media TypeTrick
CategoryGambling
Date AddedDec 05, 2012
Cover the Spot
Kendall, Ian; Wong, Alan
Alan Wong
(Based on 4 reviews)
When the BBC's Real Hustle team wanted to feature the Spot game they turned to Ian for the real work. Coney Island master of the side show Todd Robbins said, " Ian's tutorial is the best source available for learning the working of this wonderful evil 'game'!"
Peter Duffie in Magic Magazine said "All in all, this is a DVD that provides excellent value for money, tips the 'work' on a little known game, and is definitely worth checking out."
Comes complete with 6 plastic discs (1 red, 5 white) and instructional DVD.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Cover the Spot by Ian Kendall and manufactured by Alan Wong is a portable "Bunko" game that can entertain and occupy your peers for quite a while. This is not a magic trick per se but falls in line with the Three Card Monte, the Shell Game and the Endless Chain. If you find those types of routines your cup of tea then you might want to add Cover The Spot to your arsenal.
What you get are six plastic circles, a large red one and six smaller white ones. The circles are made of a fairly thick plastic and I can't see anything happening to them unless the are severely mishandled. In addition, they are lightweight so they will not add much bulk to your pocket. After a brief demonstration by the performer, the spectators take turns trying to completely cover the large red circle by dropping in place the six smaller circles. Unless you know the secret it is very difficult to accomplish. There is no sleight of hand and this is all a demonstration of skill by the performer. This can be set up as a bar bet, a challenge or a contest for some sort of prize.
The DVD provided is very basic which is a static camera shot either on Ian Kendall or the table where he is demonstrating. This video will certainly not win an Academy Award, however, everything needed to understand and accomplish the feat is explained clearly and thoroughly.
The product as a whole delivers exactly what was stated in the ad copy and is completely accurate. If you are expecting something magical to happen this is not for you. The only negative I can see, and this is only due to my own OCD about keeping my props clean and orderly, is that for the asking price a vinyl sleeve somewhat akin to a CD sleeve should have been provided to keep the props together, clean and free from possible abuse. If you like challenges, puzzles and bar bets this may be for you.
What you get are six plastic circles, a large red one and six smaller white ones. The circles are made of a fairly thick plastic and I can't see anything happening to them unless the are severely mishandled. In addition, they are lightweight so they will not add much bulk to your pocket. After a brief demonstration by the performer, the spectators take turns trying to completely cover the large red circle by dropping in place the six smaller circles. Unless you know the secret it is very difficult to accomplish. There is no sleight of hand and this is all a demonstration of skill by the performer. This can be set up as a bar bet, a challenge or a contest for some sort of prize.
The DVD provided is very basic which is a static camera shot either on Ian Kendall or the table where he is demonstrating. This video will certainly not win an Academy Award, however, everything needed to understand and accomplish the feat is explained clearly and thoroughly.
The product as a whole delivers exactly what was stated in the ad copy and is completely accurate. If you are expecting something magical to happen this is not for you. The only negative I can see, and this is only due to my own OCD about keeping my props clean and orderly, is that for the asking price a vinyl sleeve somewhat akin to a CD sleeve should have been provided to keep the props together, clean and free from possible abuse. If you like challenges, puzzles and bar bets this may be for you.
(Top ▲)
Ah . . . the classic carnival game. Many a sucker has had to by a round o' drinks thanks to this clever carny con. It's Sad But True (thank you Metallica) but a sucker IS born every minute. I guess David Hannum was right.
What you are forking over $32 bucks for is a poorly produced DVD along with the well made props needed to play this game. For the uninitiated, basically it's a bar bet, carny con, etc. where you have a big plastic red disk and 5 smaller white disks. The object is to drop the white disks on the red one in such a way that the entire red disk is covered - not even a hair of red is showing.
Sounds easy, but it's quite tricky. This DVD covers in depth exactly how to win the game, how to practice and all the little tricks you can do to con others. Frankly I don't see much of a magical application for this, but I could see myself showing my friends this effect. Also, if you're a three shell or endless chain kind of guy/gal - I'm not - this could likely find a home in your act.
I mentioned the poor DVD production. Though it is grainy and Ian Kendall's tutorial is pretty dry, you can still easily see and hear what you need to see and hear. There's no doubt it's produced well enough to learn the effect.
Final Thoughts
This game was shown on the BBC show, The Real Hustle (starring R. Paul Wilson). Unlike most of the other cons featured, they did not reveal the method for this one. If you're interested in the plot, you'll likely find satisfaction with this product. $32 bucks isn't too bad, so all in all if you have a use for this I recommend this as a great solution.
Final Verdict:
4.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem
(Top ▲)
I like studying the history of gambling games and cons because so many of them are tied in with magic, and if they are not, many of them can fit well into a magical presentation.
Cover the Spot is no exception and even if you do not use it in a magic show or in a con game demonstration, it is fun to just have lying around the house for when company comes over. Cover the Spot is not really a true con game but it is skill-based, but there are dishonest operators/demonstrators out there than can turn it into a con. The basic idea is that you have a single larger red spot and five smaller white discs. To play, you must drop the white discs from a height (you cannot place them down or adjust them once they have landed) to cover the entire red spot. If there is even the tiniest bit of red showing anywhere, you lose. If not, you win!
On this DVD Ian Kendall talks about the history of the game and gives quite a lot of information. In the teaching portion, he shows you how to properly place the discs, what to do and what not to do, how to correct for bad throws and much more. It is really a very thorough instruction. I will say that at times he seemed a little robotic during the history section, but even then it was not too bad.
You get a set of 5 very good quality plastic practice discs, a great quality red "spot" and the DVD. The video and audio were clear and crisp and the lighting was good but the video almost reminds me of the higher quality VHS recordings. I have no idea if it was transferred to disc from VHS or not. There is no menu because it starts with the history, which is about 3 minutes long and goes right into the instructional part, which is about 17 minutes long. The ad copy is 100% accurate.
As I said before, this game is skill-based so it will take some practice to get it down but you will have a lot of fun practicing and playing once you do get the hang of it.
If this game is something that you would like to learn more about, if you have a con/Bunco game demonstration show or if you just want to learn how to play so you can play at home, get it. The instruction is great, the discs are good quality and the price for what you get is pretty good, I think.
4.5 stars.
Cover the Spot is no exception and even if you do not use it in a magic show or in a con game demonstration, it is fun to just have lying around the house for when company comes over. Cover the Spot is not really a true con game but it is skill-based, but there are dishonest operators/demonstrators out there than can turn it into a con. The basic idea is that you have a single larger red spot and five smaller white discs. To play, you must drop the white discs from a height (you cannot place them down or adjust them once they have landed) to cover the entire red spot. If there is even the tiniest bit of red showing anywhere, you lose. If not, you win!
On this DVD Ian Kendall talks about the history of the game and gives quite a lot of information. In the teaching portion, he shows you how to properly place the discs, what to do and what not to do, how to correct for bad throws and much more. It is really a very thorough instruction. I will say that at times he seemed a little robotic during the history section, but even then it was not too bad.
You get a set of 5 very good quality plastic practice discs, a great quality red "spot" and the DVD. The video and audio were clear and crisp and the lighting was good but the video almost reminds me of the higher quality VHS recordings. I have no idea if it was transferred to disc from VHS or not. There is no menu because it starts with the history, which is about 3 minutes long and goes right into the instructional part, which is about 17 minutes long. The ad copy is 100% accurate.
As I said before, this game is skill-based so it will take some practice to get it down but you will have a lot of fun practicing and playing once you do get the hang of it.
If this game is something that you would like to learn more about, if you have a con/Bunco game demonstration show or if you just want to learn how to play so you can play at home, get it. The instruction is great, the discs are good quality and the price for what you get is pretty good, I think.
4.5 stars.
(Top ▲)
Worth the money!!!
As a magician interested in bunko games and cons, I have always loved this game. Ian Kendall knows everything there is about this game, so I purchased this item, and am pleased with it.
First thing I did, before watching the instructional DVD, was try to cover the red spot with the white discs, multiple times, and sadly, I did not come close to accomplishing it. It REALLY is that difficult.
Then, I watched the included DVD. My first impressions was that the quality of the DVD was fair at best. Talking head, plain background, fair sound quality. However, once Ian begins to explain his knowledge, the quality of the information far outweighs the quality of the production values.
Ian explains the placement of each disc, in order to win the game. EVen then, practice is necessary, because as he explains, a fraction off of the target placement means the red spot does not get covered. His explanations are great.
The included props are not tin or aluminum, but rather a very durable plastic, such as what a DVD case is made from. Somewhat flexible, and washable!
Overall, I'm happy with my set. The only 1/2-star I withheld is that the discs are not close to the size of a standard carnival set,, and they are not the tin discs that real carnivals use. But as a teaching tool, and as something to be carried around with you, they work really well.
As a magician interested in bunko games and cons, I have always loved this game. Ian Kendall knows everything there is about this game, so I purchased this item, and am pleased with it.
First thing I did, before watching the instructional DVD, was try to cover the red spot with the white discs, multiple times, and sadly, I did not come close to accomplishing it. It REALLY is that difficult.
Then, I watched the included DVD. My first impressions was that the quality of the DVD was fair at best. Talking head, plain background, fair sound quality. However, once Ian begins to explain his knowledge, the quality of the information far outweighs the quality of the production values.
Ian explains the placement of each disc, in order to win the game. EVen then, practice is necessary, because as he explains, a fraction off of the target placement means the red spot does not get covered. His explanations are great.
The included props are not tin or aluminum, but rather a very durable plastic, such as what a DVD case is made from. Somewhat flexible, and washable!
Overall, I'm happy with my set. The only 1/2-star I withheld is that the discs are not close to the size of a standard carnival set,, and they are not the tin discs that real carnivals use. But as a teaching tool, and as something to be carried around with you, they work really well.