Price$20.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryClose Up
Date AddedMar 07, 2009
Ring String And Ding
Paul Hyland
(Based on 1 review)
Inspired by Bob Miller's Relentless Ring & String Routine, Paul Hyland refines classic moves and adds new ones to develop the theatre of the ring and string effect in a new way. Among his innovations are an amazing in-the-spectator's-hands ring release, a convincing display of a spectator's ring on the lace when it's really almost off, and a plot which employs the bell as a zany prop to get attention, generate laughs and win the audience over from the start. The performance can be cut short or interrupted as required; after any one of a number of climaxes, it leads to a wonderfully offbeat finale. Welcome to Ring, String And Ding!
Running Time Approximately 58min
Reviews
(Top ▲)
If you're looking to learn a finger ring on string routine and you feel you've exhausted good printed resources, then you should consider this DVD.
I think its strength is that you'll see how one man has solved the problem of stringing together (yes, that's a pun) a series of stunts to create a complete sequence. It begins with some knot effects, segues into multiple penetrations, and ends with a clapper vanishing from a small bell. That's the "ding" referenced in the title.
Now that I've said something somewhat nice, or at least neutral, let me tell you about this product's flaws. I had trouble getting the disc to play. Regular DVD players balked at the disc, but my Mac was able to play it fine. Once I got it running, I found its organization lacking with few useful chapter marks. While watching the video I kept pausing it to answer knocking at my apartment door until I realized that the sounds were actually offscreen noise on the disc. Very distracting.
Personally, I found the routine unremarkable. It's about 6 minutes long and includes too many, in opinion, effects. But perhaps my reaction was colored by the nonplussed reaction of the audience in the example performance included on the disc. When the magician has to goad the audience into applause, it's time to stop filming and give them a pep talk, if not replace them with spectators who will at least feign interest.
The disc is almost an hour long, so after the 6 minute performance, you'll find 52 minutes of discussion. This might lead you to conclude that the instruction is detailed and comprehensive, ala recent Jay Sankey releases, but that's not the case. The explanations are slow moving and filmed from an overhead angle from the spectator's perspective which makes them less useful than intended. About half the disc is a panel discussion that repeats much of the other explanations and, while personable enough, isn't very efficient for learning. There are lots of other works referenced, so with some digging you can find the source material if you find the disc's summaries to be insufficient.
It's not that Ring, String and Ding is bad. Clearly Paul Hyland has put a lot of effort and time into crafting his routine and feels it plays great for him. It's just that overall I found this product lacking as a learning tool and I can't find anything that makes it stand out from the crowd.
I think its strength is that you'll see how one man has solved the problem of stringing together (yes, that's a pun) a series of stunts to create a complete sequence. It begins with some knot effects, segues into multiple penetrations, and ends with a clapper vanishing from a small bell. That's the "ding" referenced in the title.
Now that I've said something somewhat nice, or at least neutral, let me tell you about this product's flaws. I had trouble getting the disc to play. Regular DVD players balked at the disc, but my Mac was able to play it fine. Once I got it running, I found its organization lacking with few useful chapter marks. While watching the video I kept pausing it to answer knocking at my apartment door until I realized that the sounds were actually offscreen noise on the disc. Very distracting.
Personally, I found the routine unremarkable. It's about 6 minutes long and includes too many, in opinion, effects. But perhaps my reaction was colored by the nonplussed reaction of the audience in the example performance included on the disc. When the magician has to goad the audience into applause, it's time to stop filming and give them a pep talk, if not replace them with spectators who will at least feign interest.
The disc is almost an hour long, so after the 6 minute performance, you'll find 52 minutes of discussion. This might lead you to conclude that the instruction is detailed and comprehensive, ala recent Jay Sankey releases, but that's not the case. The explanations are slow moving and filmed from an overhead angle from the spectator's perspective which makes them less useful than intended. About half the disc is a panel discussion that repeats much of the other explanations and, while personable enough, isn't very efficient for learning. There are lots of other works referenced, so with some digging you can find the source material if you find the disc's summaries to be insufficient.
It's not that Ring, String and Ding is bad. Clearly Paul Hyland has put a lot of effort and time into crafting his routine and feels it plays great for him. It's just that overall I found this product lacking as a learning tool and I can't find anything that makes it stand out from the crowd.