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The VS Project

Pickford, Peter

Alakazam UK

(Based on 2 reviews)

The VS Project (2 DVD)


Alakazam Magic are truly proud to offer the magic fraternity the underground card magic of Paul Pickford.

The VS Project showcases some of Paul's outstanding card creations, his approach to sleight of hand, the psychology of timing and misdirection as well as his interpretation of some classic effects. Paramount on these DVD's is Paul's use and handling of a superb, and often over looked, Marlo sleight including all of his finesses, subtleties and timing, in exacting detail.

It's time to take up your pack of cards, get comfortable and watch and learn some exceptional card magic you will enjoy performing, and your audiences will enjoy seeing, over and over again.

EFFECTS FEATURED ON THIS DVD INCLUDE;

HOFZINSER'S ACES

A extremely quick and magical version of this classic in Magic. This is ideal as an opener and is guaranteed to take them by surprise. Plus an explanation of a bonus version that stays true to the original plot.

DOUBLE THOUGHT
Based on Derren Brown's effect "Double Think". The magician slowly reveals the name of a chosen card by reading body language. He then proves that he knew the name of a merely thought of card, right from the very beginning.

ACE/KING TRANSPO
The aces are instantly produced from a shuffled pack and placed into the box. The magician attempts to find the kings but finds the aces again instead. The cards in the box turn out to be the kings.

2 OUT OF 3 AIN'T BAD
First spectator removes a card, second peeks at a card and a third merely thinks of a card. All three cards are found from a shuffled pack ending with the magician getting the thought of card, on the nail, every time.

FOURWAY
The magician has four attempts to find a chosen card. All four cards are wrong then one card magically changes into the chosen card and as a kicker the other cards suddenly change into its three mates.

PSYCHIC ACE OF SPADES
The ace of spades is placed into the box. A card is merely thought of. Astonishingly the two cards change places.

2 THOUGHT OF CARDS
Two spectators each think of a card. The magician places a card inside the box. Without any questions he finds the first thought of card. The other thought of card turns out to be the one placed into the box.

3 CARD SANDWICH
Three cards chosen and a rollercoaster sandwich routine with multiple moments of magic.

THE MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT
The name of a randomly chosen stranger is used to find a chosen card. Please do not overlook this effect, it gets great reactions despite the simple method.

INEVITABLE
The spectator makes a series of choices, narrowing the deck down to one card. Amazingly, it matches the card being held in full view on the magicians outstretched palm from the very start. No wordplay, no equivoque, an extremely direct version of the classic "Open Prediction" effect.

COMPUTER PACK
The pack is used as a computer, producing information that leads to a chosen card. All seems to have gone wrong until the magician turns the tables, leading to a kicker ending. This is Paul's version of the classic effect "Dunbury Delusion".

ACS TO POCKET
A chosen card is lost in the pack which is then placed into the box. Only the four aces remain. Suddenly the aces go on a magical journey, leaving a surprise discovery of the chosen card.

THE TRAVELLERS
This is Paul's version of the all time classic "The Travellers". It is a tour de force of many magical moments and has produced gasps from a room full of magicians on more than one occasion.

COLOUR MARK
The magician shows the spectators is skills by finding all the best cards in a shuffled deck. He then amazes them even more by revealing just how he did it.

BRAINWHACKED
Based on the Paul Harris effect "Wack The Pack", a merely thought of card, disappears from under the spectators hand and reappears inside the cardbox. Taking the Paul Harris classic to the next level, this effect stuns both laypeople and magicians alike.

Reviews

Stuart Philip

Official Reviewer

Oct 21, 2015

The VS project is a double DVD set that is centered around one sleight. The move is taught on the first DVD in a few minutes. The concept is simple, but the execution will require some practice. With fluency you will be able to perform the most amazing and surprising effects.

The move was created by Paul Pickford. Pickford teaches the DVD and 15 routines. Pickford either demonstrates the routine to actual spectators in a studio setting to the guys from Alakazam. He then teaches each routine one step at a time. Some of the routines are more complicated than others and will require a fundamental knowledge of card sleights. If you do not like making and holding breaks, this project is not for you. Because of the level of difficulty, and the requisite knowledge needed of basic card magic, I do not recommend this for beginners. The move will take some practice to get it to a point where it is second nature and undetectable.

This DVD project is filmed with the usual excellent production quality seen from Alakazam. The ad copy is accurate and there are descriptions of the various routines taught. At times the DVD can be a bit tedious do to the great amount taught so it will likely require several sittings to watch and digest the material.

The best part of the tricks and effects that are centered around this move is that it can be performed with any shuffled and borrowed at any time. You cannot perform this without a table as the move requires the cards to be resting on a table. When you watch the DVD you will understand why that is so.

Pickford teaches his routines well and borrows moves from other magicians and properly credits them for the same.

With the VS project, Pickford reinvents some classic routines and allows you to perform what appears to be miracles.
(Top ▲)

Doc Johnson

Official Reviewer

Dec 21, 2014

REVIEW

This project is based around a phenomenal switch move developed by Paul Pickford. The move is not extremely difficult, but will take a bit of practice. He explains a large number of effects using the move. Most of the effects are very good, and a handful of them are just tremendous!

Not only does he teach the move and the effects, but he really explains the nuances of how to perform to make effects seem just impossible.

CAUTION

The move is not that hard, but it will take some practice to get it working. There are some moves that I just don’t do because my hands just don’t cooperate well enough. I practiced this move for about fifteen minutes and started to get it working reasonably well.

One more caution. He only performs the switch on a table, and these routines really do require the table.

VERDICT

Awesome move and excellent routines.


(Top ▲)