Price$19.95
Media TypeDVD
CategoryGeneral, Close Up, Gambling
Date AddedOct 02, 2006
Total Control with Cards
Rudy Hunter
Magic Makers Inc.
(Based on 2 reviews)
On this DVD you will learn how to take a regular deck of cards, make one very simple improvement and then gain total control over a spectator's selected card or cards!
Learn step by step with Magic Expert Rudy Hunter as he shares with you his method of Total Control. It's easy to master and extremely deceptive! As an added bonus: Rudy teaches his famous "Total Control Aces" effect!
Reviews
(Top ▲)
I disagree with transtremm's review written for this particular product. I agree that the production and teaching is excellent, there is no doubt about that. However I have found this utility item extremely useful. Without giving away the secret, I can tell you that there is a gimmick and Rudy teaches you how to make it (in under a minute). Once added to the deck, it does pretty much give you total control.
The reason I disagree with transtremm's review is because this gimmick once made can be added to any deck. However Rudy does not teach this, it is something I came up with on my own. It is a shame that this idea was not included in the DVD as it would have improved it substantially. A deck with the total control gimmick added is totally impractical in terms of allowing the spectator to handle it, but if you add or remove the gimmick to suit, it becomes a powerful utility devise. Overall I feel that this utility gimmick is worth having and is particularly useful for gambling demonstrations/exposes.
Anyway, that's just my two cents.
The reason I disagree with transtremm's review is because this gimmick once made can be added to any deck. However Rudy does not teach this, it is something I came up with on my own. It is a shame that this idea was not included in the DVD as it would have improved it substantially. A deck with the total control gimmick added is totally impractical in terms of allowing the spectator to handle it, but if you add or remove the gimmick to suit, it becomes a powerful utility devise. Overall I feel that this utility gimmick is worth having and is particularly useful for gambling demonstrations/exposes.
Anyway, that's just my two cents.
(Top ▲)
This is a 16 minuet utility video by Ruddy Hunter describing in detail, his original method of card control. This method does not use any sleight of hand. There are two routines taught on this DVD. The image quality, production values, and method of teaching are all excellent.
Rudy Hunter’s, “Total Control” is an original version of a very old method also known as.... [sorry I can’t tell you, that would give away the secret] …needless to say Reginald Scott probably knew of this method. It is an excellent method to control a card, it will especially baffle magicians because all the cards can be loosely dribbled on the table before and after they are shuffled, no breaks are held. The technique is also very easy, a beginner to card magic will be able to perform miracles with, “Total Control.” So we have a baffling yet easy method of card control. Here’s the bad news…
It is not completely impromptu. A very simple and fast preparation is needed; it will take about 20 seconds to do this. You can not borrow a friend’s deck and perform, “Total Control” on the spot. It is however, useful for walk arounds when you carry your own deck with you. The big draw back is the deck will be, “dirty” unable to be inspected by the spectator. Hunter does teach a method to clean up, but it is weak.
Hunter teaches how to perform “Total Control” using a table. His handling can be adapted for stand-up use, however no stand-up adaptation is taught.
Two routines are taught on this DVD: magician cuts the aces and spectator cuts the aces. These are original routines by Hunter, they are nice but, there are better methods to achieve the same effect (read Royal Road to Card Magic, “Poker Players Picnic).
This is a nice DVD to study and learn from. You will immediately learn a new method of card control; it is easy to do yet very deceptive and does not require sleight of hand. The big question is…Will any serious magician actually use this method? The answer is… Probably not. The fact is, all serious magicians need to learn good sleight of hand card control. A good sleight of hand control method will allow you to use a borrowed deck, or a completely unprepared deck. All beginners to card magic MUST take the time and practice good card control.
I recommend this DVD to the, “Arm-Chair Magician” a person who wants to learn a little magic for simple entertainment, not the serious magic student. Let’s say you want to show off during your next poker game, or at a slow moment at the office, get this DVD. It’s a good technique that can be easily mastered in a few seconds. If you have no prior experience with card control this will make you look like a pro. I also recommend it for a person who wants a special technique to fool an experienced magician with one trick, it will. It is not a good method for everyday use.
It is difficult to rate this DVD. On one hand it is a well produced, well taught instruction. The video delivers on everything it promises (5 stars). On the other hand it is not a useful technique for the serious magician (1 star). Averaging the two gives 3 stars, not bad.
Rudy Hunter’s, “Total Control” is an original version of a very old method also known as.... [sorry I can’t tell you, that would give away the secret] …needless to say Reginald Scott probably knew of this method. It is an excellent method to control a card, it will especially baffle magicians because all the cards can be loosely dribbled on the table before and after they are shuffled, no breaks are held. The technique is also very easy, a beginner to card magic will be able to perform miracles with, “Total Control.” So we have a baffling yet easy method of card control. Here’s the bad news…
It is not completely impromptu. A very simple and fast preparation is needed; it will take about 20 seconds to do this. You can not borrow a friend’s deck and perform, “Total Control” on the spot. It is however, useful for walk arounds when you carry your own deck with you. The big draw back is the deck will be, “dirty” unable to be inspected by the spectator. Hunter does teach a method to clean up, but it is weak.
Hunter teaches how to perform “Total Control” using a table. His handling can be adapted for stand-up use, however no stand-up adaptation is taught.
Two routines are taught on this DVD: magician cuts the aces and spectator cuts the aces. These are original routines by Hunter, they are nice but, there are better methods to achieve the same effect (read Royal Road to Card Magic, “Poker Players Picnic).
This is a nice DVD to study and learn from. You will immediately learn a new method of card control; it is easy to do yet very deceptive and does not require sleight of hand. The big question is…Will any serious magician actually use this method? The answer is… Probably not. The fact is, all serious magicians need to learn good sleight of hand card control. A good sleight of hand control method will allow you to use a borrowed deck, or a completely unprepared deck. All beginners to card magic MUST take the time and practice good card control.
I recommend this DVD to the, “Arm-Chair Magician” a person who wants to learn a little magic for simple entertainment, not the serious magic student. Let’s say you want to show off during your next poker game, or at a slow moment at the office, get this DVD. It’s a good technique that can be easily mastered in a few seconds. If you have no prior experience with card control this will make you look like a pro. I also recommend it for a person who wants a special technique to fool an experienced magician with one trick, it will. It is not a good method for everyday use.
It is difficult to rate this DVD. On one hand it is a well produced, well taught instruction. The video delivers on everything it promises (5 stars). On the other hand it is not a useful technique for the serious magician (1 star). Averaging the two gives 3 stars, not bad.