Price$24.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryGeneral, Close Up
Date AddedOct 21, 2015
Unbound: Gimmickless Invisible
Darryl Davis
Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.
(Based on 3 reviews)
- Alan Ackerman
The classic Invisible Deck is hailed by many to be one of the best card tricks in the world. Darryl Davis, reinvented this timeless classic to require nothing more than a standard deck of cards, even borrowed, if you wish. Toss your gimmicked Invisible Decks to the side, because Darryl strips away all the gimmickery and teaches you how to easily perform this legendary effect with nothing but the trusty deck in your pocket.
Can't perform Invisible Deck with a borrowed deck? Now you can. Strip off the weight of all those gimmicks and perform Invisible Deck like never before, raw and clean.
Darryl easily and slowly walks you through every nuance of Unbound, making it easy to perform and diabolically effective. Prologue, commentary and bonus original effect taught by Alan Ackerman Completely gimmickless Totally impromptu Easy to learn & perform Easy setup Use borrowed deck Over an hour of detailed instruction Alan Ackerman bonus effect & interview
Reviews
(Top ▲)
“Unbound” by Darryl Davis teaches Mr. Davis’ handling of the impromptu invisible deck, building on the ideas of Alex Elmsley and Alan Ackerman. In Mr. Davis’ hands, the reveal of the selection looks identical to the reveal of the original Invisible Deck and is quite beautiful. Like all impromptu versions of the Invisible Deck, though, there are compromises, which should be kept in mind when considering purchasing the DVD.
In performance, the magician displays a number of cards, any of which the spectator may freely think of. After a single shuffle the spectator names their thought of card and the magician spreads the deck to display a single reversed card that turns out to be the spectator’s selection. This is the same basic effect as in Mr. Elmsley’s original routine, with two critical changes. First, in Mr. Davis’ handling the deck never leaves the spectator’s sight, and second, the reveal of the selection is casual and utterly convincing. While these two changes may appear minor, they make a huge difference in the appearance of the effect.
The instruction is clear with excellent camerawork, shot with multiple angles and including additional information regarding critical elements to the effect. In addition to the basic method, Mr. Davis also teaches a version of Brainwave (that isn’t impromptu, though it is practical), a handling that allows the spectator to simply name a card (without looking at any cards), as well as offering some additional undeveloped ideas worth exploring. Alan Ackerman appears as a guest on the DVD, and it’s an absolutely treat to listen to him speak about the history of the effect and his experience with it. Mr. Ackerman then goes on to perform a close up set that opens with his version of the impromptu Invisible Deck, follows with a triumph, a pseudo memory routine and ends with a spectacular finale where the magician shows that, despite the spectator having shuffled, every four of a kind are grouped together throughout the deck. He then teaches each effect in this set, start to finish.
As with Mr. Elmsley’s original handling, this version doesn’t end clean, though both Mr. Davis and Mr. Ackerman offer follow up routines that can be used to clean up the deck. If used as a closer, this isn’t a problem, and if used as an opener, the follow up routines are solid, if not as impressive as the Invisible Deck.
If you are familiar with Mr. Elmsley’s method, watch the trailer to see how Mr. Davis handles the reveal of the selection and decide for yourself if the improved handling is worth it. If you aren’t familiar with the original, this is an excellent approach to the impromptu Invisible Deck and is worth your consideration.
In performance, the magician displays a number of cards, any of which the spectator may freely think of. After a single shuffle the spectator names their thought of card and the magician spreads the deck to display a single reversed card that turns out to be the spectator’s selection. This is the same basic effect as in Mr. Elmsley’s original routine, with two critical changes. First, in Mr. Davis’ handling the deck never leaves the spectator’s sight, and second, the reveal of the selection is casual and utterly convincing. While these two changes may appear minor, they make a huge difference in the appearance of the effect.
The instruction is clear with excellent camerawork, shot with multiple angles and including additional information regarding critical elements to the effect. In addition to the basic method, Mr. Davis also teaches a version of Brainwave (that isn’t impromptu, though it is practical), a handling that allows the spectator to simply name a card (without looking at any cards), as well as offering some additional undeveloped ideas worth exploring. Alan Ackerman appears as a guest on the DVD, and it’s an absolutely treat to listen to him speak about the history of the effect and his experience with it. Mr. Ackerman then goes on to perform a close up set that opens with his version of the impromptu Invisible Deck, follows with a triumph, a pseudo memory routine and ends with a spectacular finale where the magician shows that, despite the spectator having shuffled, every four of a kind are grouped together throughout the deck. He then teaches each effect in this set, start to finish.
As with Mr. Elmsley’s original handling, this version doesn’t end clean, though both Mr. Davis and Mr. Ackerman offer follow up routines that can be used to clean up the deck. If used as a closer, this isn’t a problem, and if used as an opener, the follow up routines are solid, if not as impressive as the Invisible Deck.
If you are familiar with Mr. Elmsley’s method, watch the trailer to see how Mr. Davis handles the reveal of the selection and decide for yourself if the improved handling is worth it. If you aren’t familiar with the original, this is an excellent approach to the impromptu Invisible Deck and is worth your consideration.
(Top ▲)
First things first, we have to clarify something: This is NOT an Invisible Deck of any sort, impromptu or otherwise, as advertised. With a traditional Invisible Deck, the selection is only named before the cards are taken from a box and the named card is seen to be the only one reversed in the deck. The impromptu version of this effect is more like an ‘All-Outs Think-of-a-Card’ meets ‘Brainwave’ where the deck is removed first, the card is seen in a spread and thought of and ends without the kicker of the odd-backed card that you normally have with Brainwave.
There have been many presentations used for the gimmicked Invisible Deck over the years and one of the arguments (or chief complaints) that you often see is that at the end of some of them, the audience may think that you cleverly reversed the card without them seeing it as you took it out of the box. This impromptu method leads somewhere down that path.
To get it out of the way: This is a release from Murphy’s Magic and while the lighting, sound and audio quality were very good, the camera work at some points was rather shoddy. This is most notable during the explanation of the Ackerman Opener; the camera was zoomed in tightly around his hands and the cards and with all the motion, the camera was moving all over trying to keep up with it and the focus was constantly in and out. However, throughout, you could clearly hear Alan explaining everything clearly. This issue might make comprehension difficult for some viewers and it was quite annoying. The ad copy is good, but as I already mentioned, I dispute the claim that this is an “Invisible Deck”.
Darryl is a good teacher and teaches you everything you need to know in order to do this. He does tell you about his inspiration and gives you some verbal references to check out.
The technique used here is not new and Darryl points this out. It is his take on the Alex Elmsley technique, which can be found in The Complete Works of Alex Elmsley, Volume 2 and starting on page 338. Darwin Ortiz also uses this technique in one of his Oil & Water routines and he cited Joshua Jay as the person that he saw using it previous to that application. It does require a Faro technique but it does not require you to split the deck exactly in half, nor does it require a perfect weave per se. The technique as used here differs a bit from those above, but if you have the Elmsley book, it will give you an idea of what you are up against.
Getting into position for the reveal will require some practice, as will the spreading of the faces. The latter requires a rather light touch so that you do not expose something that you are not supposed to expose. As far as getting the cards into the initial “reveal position”, if you are proficient as something like the Neal Elias Multiple Shift (although that has nothing to do with this effect), you may not have as hard a time with it.
The first thing Darryl teaches is the impromptu handling for this. The number of cards that are presented for selection is very limited – it has to be for this to work, however, the choice is free and the bank of cards is different each time you do the effect. The card is only thought of – it is not touched or removed in any way. After that, you go into the effect using the technique presented and only then is the card named out loud, the cards spread faces to the audience and they see one card reversed, which ends up being their selection. Basically, the effect from the audience side is that you show a spread of cards, they think of one, you close the spread, shuffle the cards and spread through them and they see their card reversed in the deck. It is all done in the hands.
At the end of the impromptu handling you are left dirty, but Darryl teaches a way to clean it up. The clean-up is really only necessary if you are using a borrowed deck for this as you cannot hand it back without doing anything. The clean-up involves another effect to accomplish, namely a handling for Triumph, and it serves the purpose.
Further along, Darryl teaches you how to “gimmick” a card box (not really gimmicked, rather it is altered) so that you can set the deck up in position ahead of time. It is not the most practical thing and it would have to be performed in a more theatrical setting where you can set the deck on a table or in a case where it will not get moved or bumped around. I hesitate to say that it would have to be an opener, but it would be better suited that way in this particular case. This presentation of the “Invisible Deck” appears in performance to be much closer to the gimmicked version that you would buy in a magic shop, but the selection and handling is not as fair and free as the gimmicked version.
Earlier I mentioned the Brainwave and not surprisingly, Darryl teaches you a handling to do exactly that effect using this technique. The selection is again limited but within those limits, the card they choose is freely selected. In this particular case, the bank is always the same every time you perform this. This particular effect in my opinion is a much better use of the technique involved for the “Impromptu Invisible Deck”.
The next section is a jam session with Alan Ackerman where he discusses the various points and techniques of the uses that Darryl presents on this DVD, as well as presenting some of his own. You will also see and learn the Ackerman Opener, which uses the original Elmsley technique with the Ackerman touch, along with some very good Marlo applications sprinkled in. In my opinion, this is the best part of the whole disc. While the technique used for the first part is similar to the “Impromptu Invisible Deck”, the presentation is much different and is more of a coincidence effect. Another portion of the Ackerman Opener involves the use of a memorized stack, but fear not: If you do not have use or have not memorized a particular stack, Alan teaches you how to do this with other stacks (non-memorized, such as the Si Stebbins) too. Alan then gives you some handling tips for doing a Faro Shuffle which if you are a beginner, you might find useful.
The price point for this DVD is quite good for what you are getting. I think that even $30 would not have been too high.
While the technique on this video works very well with practice and the impromptu effect itself is not bad, it will not be for everyone. There is certainly quite a bit of material (as it relates to the “impromptu Invisible Deck”) packed onto this disc and if you like what you see in the trailer and/or read in the ad copy, you might like this one. Just do not call it an ‘Invisible Deck’, okay?
There have been many presentations used for the gimmicked Invisible Deck over the years and one of the arguments (or chief complaints) that you often see is that at the end of some of them, the audience may think that you cleverly reversed the card without them seeing it as you took it out of the box. This impromptu method leads somewhere down that path.
To get it out of the way: This is a release from Murphy’s Magic and while the lighting, sound and audio quality were very good, the camera work at some points was rather shoddy. This is most notable during the explanation of the Ackerman Opener; the camera was zoomed in tightly around his hands and the cards and with all the motion, the camera was moving all over trying to keep up with it and the focus was constantly in and out. However, throughout, you could clearly hear Alan explaining everything clearly. This issue might make comprehension difficult for some viewers and it was quite annoying. The ad copy is good, but as I already mentioned, I dispute the claim that this is an “Invisible Deck”.
Darryl is a good teacher and teaches you everything you need to know in order to do this. He does tell you about his inspiration and gives you some verbal references to check out.
The technique used here is not new and Darryl points this out. It is his take on the Alex Elmsley technique, which can be found in The Complete Works of Alex Elmsley, Volume 2 and starting on page 338. Darwin Ortiz also uses this technique in one of his Oil & Water routines and he cited Joshua Jay as the person that he saw using it previous to that application. It does require a Faro technique but it does not require you to split the deck exactly in half, nor does it require a perfect weave per se. The technique as used here differs a bit from those above, but if you have the Elmsley book, it will give you an idea of what you are up against.
Getting into position for the reveal will require some practice, as will the spreading of the faces. The latter requires a rather light touch so that you do not expose something that you are not supposed to expose. As far as getting the cards into the initial “reveal position”, if you are proficient as something like the Neal Elias Multiple Shift (although that has nothing to do with this effect), you may not have as hard a time with it.
The first thing Darryl teaches is the impromptu handling for this. The number of cards that are presented for selection is very limited – it has to be for this to work, however, the choice is free and the bank of cards is different each time you do the effect. The card is only thought of – it is not touched or removed in any way. After that, you go into the effect using the technique presented and only then is the card named out loud, the cards spread faces to the audience and they see one card reversed, which ends up being their selection. Basically, the effect from the audience side is that you show a spread of cards, they think of one, you close the spread, shuffle the cards and spread through them and they see their card reversed in the deck. It is all done in the hands.
At the end of the impromptu handling you are left dirty, but Darryl teaches a way to clean it up. The clean-up is really only necessary if you are using a borrowed deck for this as you cannot hand it back without doing anything. The clean-up involves another effect to accomplish, namely a handling for Triumph, and it serves the purpose.
Further along, Darryl teaches you how to “gimmick” a card box (not really gimmicked, rather it is altered) so that you can set the deck up in position ahead of time. It is not the most practical thing and it would have to be performed in a more theatrical setting where you can set the deck on a table or in a case where it will not get moved or bumped around. I hesitate to say that it would have to be an opener, but it would be better suited that way in this particular case. This presentation of the “Invisible Deck” appears in performance to be much closer to the gimmicked version that you would buy in a magic shop, but the selection and handling is not as fair and free as the gimmicked version.
Earlier I mentioned the Brainwave and not surprisingly, Darryl teaches you a handling to do exactly that effect using this technique. The selection is again limited but within those limits, the card they choose is freely selected. In this particular case, the bank is always the same every time you perform this. This particular effect in my opinion is a much better use of the technique involved for the “Impromptu Invisible Deck”.
The next section is a jam session with Alan Ackerman where he discusses the various points and techniques of the uses that Darryl presents on this DVD, as well as presenting some of his own. You will also see and learn the Ackerman Opener, which uses the original Elmsley technique with the Ackerman touch, along with some very good Marlo applications sprinkled in. In my opinion, this is the best part of the whole disc. While the technique used for the first part is similar to the “Impromptu Invisible Deck”, the presentation is much different and is more of a coincidence effect. Another portion of the Ackerman Opener involves the use of a memorized stack, but fear not: If you do not have use or have not memorized a particular stack, Alan teaches you how to do this with other stacks (non-memorized, such as the Si Stebbins) too. Alan then gives you some handling tips for doing a Faro Shuffle which if you are a beginner, you might find useful.
The price point for this DVD is quite good for what you are getting. I think that even $30 would not have been too high.
While the technique on this video works very well with practice and the impromptu effect itself is not bad, it will not be for everyone. There is certainly quite a bit of material (as it relates to the “impromptu Invisible Deck”) packed onto this disc and if you like what you see in the trailer and/or read in the ad copy, you might like this one. Just do not call it an ‘Invisible Deck’, okay?
(Top ▲)
PROS
The invisible deck is considered one of the best tricks in the world. The problem with it is the deck can’t be examined. Darryl presents an invisible deck routine that is totally impromptu, with a borrowed deck if desired.
The effect is really stunning!
After the effect, the deck is not immediately examinable. However, he shows a routine that cleans up the deck. The cleanup effect is a pretty impressive Triumph. In the explanation, Darryl says that this Triumph is not as strong as the unbound effect. But, if you have borrowed the deck, it is necessary to clean up. He says that he follows up the Triumph routine with a third, really powerful effect, such as card to pocket. The audience will remember the first and last effects, and the middle Triumph is simply a necessary step in between. I personally think that the Triumph routine is very strong to a lay audience. In his live performance, the audience seemed pretty stunned by his Triumph effect as well.
There is also an awesome Brainwave routine using the same methods.
Darryl and his good friend and master mentalist Darryl Williams present a really powerful version of this effect that eliminates most of the difficult moves. This routine combines mentalism with the invisible deck concept. I really like this one, and I think it could be incorporated very nicely into a very entertaining routine. I just love this concept!
There is a section of ideas that have not been developed yet. I like this section because it gives the viewer a bunch of ideas that they may want to use in their own version of the effect. One of those ideas talks about how to gimmick a box of cards to make the effect easier to do.
After this is a discussion between Darryl and Allen Ackerman. It was a great segment that was not only a discussion but a little jam session with Allen showing various moves and effects. This was tremendous!
CONS
First, let me say that I think this DVD is just great! I think it brings the concept of the invisible deck to a whole new level. However, if we are speaking technically, this effect is not completely true to the ad copy. In the original invisible deck, the participant merely thinks of any card. In Darryl’s impromptu version, the cards are spread and the participant merely thinks of any card they see. Granted, this is a very impressive trick, but it is not a completely free choice to think of any card at all.
The ad copy also says it is easy to learn and perform. While it is not the hardest to perform, it is going to take some practice to get it right. I would not consider this a beginner effect. I would say more like an intermediate skill level effect. I would think that most anyone could learn to do this and could do it with a bit of practice.
VERDICT
If anyone has any interest in the invisible deck routine, then this is a must have! Excellent DVD!
The invisible deck is considered one of the best tricks in the world. The problem with it is the deck can’t be examined. Darryl presents an invisible deck routine that is totally impromptu, with a borrowed deck if desired.
The effect is really stunning!
After the effect, the deck is not immediately examinable. However, he shows a routine that cleans up the deck. The cleanup effect is a pretty impressive Triumph. In the explanation, Darryl says that this Triumph is not as strong as the unbound effect. But, if you have borrowed the deck, it is necessary to clean up. He says that he follows up the Triumph routine with a third, really powerful effect, such as card to pocket. The audience will remember the first and last effects, and the middle Triumph is simply a necessary step in between. I personally think that the Triumph routine is very strong to a lay audience. In his live performance, the audience seemed pretty stunned by his Triumph effect as well.
There is also an awesome Brainwave routine using the same methods.
Darryl and his good friend and master mentalist Darryl Williams present a really powerful version of this effect that eliminates most of the difficult moves. This routine combines mentalism with the invisible deck concept. I really like this one, and I think it could be incorporated very nicely into a very entertaining routine. I just love this concept!
There is a section of ideas that have not been developed yet. I like this section because it gives the viewer a bunch of ideas that they may want to use in their own version of the effect. One of those ideas talks about how to gimmick a box of cards to make the effect easier to do.
After this is a discussion between Darryl and Allen Ackerman. It was a great segment that was not only a discussion but a little jam session with Allen showing various moves and effects. This was tremendous!
CONS
First, let me say that I think this DVD is just great! I think it brings the concept of the invisible deck to a whole new level. However, if we are speaking technically, this effect is not completely true to the ad copy. In the original invisible deck, the participant merely thinks of any card. In Darryl’s impromptu version, the cards are spread and the participant merely thinks of any card they see. Granted, this is a very impressive trick, but it is not a completely free choice to think of any card at all.
The ad copy also says it is easy to learn and perform. While it is not the hardest to perform, it is going to take some practice to get it right. I would not consider this a beginner effect. I would say more like an intermediate skill level effect. I would think that most anyone could learn to do this and could do it with a bit of practice.
VERDICT
If anyone has any interest in the invisible deck routine, then this is a must have! Excellent DVD!