Here is my in-depth review of Spellebrity by Nikolas Mavresis.
REVIEW PHILOSOPHY
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YOUTUBE REVIEW
If you want to watch the review, here is the YouTube version.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I received the review copy for the honest review. As always, I will do my best to give you all the details about the product. It will be brutally honest if it needed to be. So you can rest assure that this review will be unbiased as always.
WHAT ARE THEY ABOUT?
This is the description of the video:
'First imagine being able to have a spectator select a random card from a stack of shuffled celebrity names. Then the spectator spells out the celebrity name as they deal down, and to their amazement, they find their selection!’
Does it live with the promise? Let us take a look.
QUALITY OF THE TUTORIAL
The video last about 55 minutes and 9 seconds.
There are studio performances for live (magician) audiences. The explanation is done by XXXXXXXX. There are multiple camera angles, both close up and medium angle, and thus everything is crystal clear.
Length (in minutes) of the main parts :
Introduction - 1:25
Performance: Celebrities - 3:34
Set Up: Celebrities - 2:27
Explanation: Celebrities - 11:42
Performance: Playing Cards (Simplified) - 2:25
Explanation: Playing Cards (Simplified) - 13:47
Performance: Playing Cards (Advanced) - 3:05
Explanation: Playing Cards (Advanced) - 14:03
There are 3 routines taught in this download. All routines feel very different but they all come with the same principle.
In the following paragraphs, I will go over and give a thorough review for each effect.
Celebrities
Effect: Spectator locates the selection (celebrity card) by spelling the name of it, despite the cards are shuffled and selection is a free choice.
Let me say it first. The effect is super clean and convincing.
A pile of cards with celebrities names are shuffled freely, selection is made without force. And the procedure is minimalistic.
Since the effect is performed with cards written with celebrities name (24 cards), you need to do a one-time preparation.
No sleight-of-hand is required at all. The principle will do all the work for you. The principle is an old-time one which is often under utilised these days. It has huge potential in card magic. This high-quality effect is a proof of it.
Various handlings are taught in the tutorial. For those who may want to make the effect more convincing, these handlings are quite helpful, though they are not something which are not unknown of by experience performers.
Overall, the effect is clean and impactful. It works for the smartest audience since the principle is well utilised here. I like this effect much, and I think you will too.
Playing Cards (Simplified)
Effect: Two spectators shuffle half the deck genuinely. Each of them selects a card from corresponding pile, physically and mentally. Then the spectator who mentally selected the card spells the card in mind and deals each card on the table. Both selections are found in a stunning manner.
The principle remains the same, but the effect looks totally different.
A slight preparation is required for each performance, but it takes only 1-2 mins.
The effect is very clean in a way that selections are free choices and shuffle are genuine. In the original performance, only the physically selected is found. However, a method to find the mentally selected card is also taught in the tutorial, though sleights are involved.
This effect is very effective to many kinds of audience. Though spelling is involved which may not be too usable with some languages, it looks totally natural to English-speaking audience. I think this is so strong that it will be the one performed most by buyers of this download.
Playing Cards (Advanced)
Effect: This version is similar to the effect above, except both selections are found at the same time. It’s like a coincidence effect.
Even the effect is ‘advanced’ version, the sleight is not beyond the reach of most magicians. It’s in fact rather easy, and it may only take some practice before you can confidently perform this piece of magic.
In terms of impact to audience, I think the ’simplified' version plays better because it’s more subtle. That being said, this version is still very strong. It’s a fooler to the most knowledgeable audience.
DIFFICULTY
All versions are quite easy. I don’t see any effects which is beyond the reach of average magicians.
RESET TIME
For the playing card version, a simple setup is required. Once it is done, you can repeat the same effect without reset. Therefore, you are performing in table-hopping environment, you can repeat the effect as long as the whole deck is not shuffled.
KEY POINTS OF THE PRODUCT
Easy-to-do with great impact.
Clever principle
Setup is required
Need table to perform
They are spelling tricks
FINAL VERDICT
Though I am not a big fan of spelling tricks (because I am from Hong Kong where audience usually use Cantonese), I am very delighted by Spellebrity.
It somehow looks different from traditional spelling tricks which procedures are redundant. The effects here are very direct with great impact.
Based on the same principle, you can create your own version of tricks with ease. In fact, there are cues in the tutorial of how you may adapt the principle to your tricks.
Besides, the shooting of the tutorial is professionally done. I think it sets a great example of how a good tutorial should be done. It’s concise, clear, and with beautiful editing.
At current price of $12, it’s superior to many downloads on the market. All the materials in Spellebrity is usable and can be expanded to longer routines. The principle is not confined to spelling tricks, and I am sure you can come up with more applications if you thoroughly understand it. The price is bargain and you won’t regret getting it if you love high quality magic.
Therefore, I will give my highest recommendation to card lovers who like simple but powerful effects. This is something that you will definitely use. And you will love how they will fool your magician buddies.
Tutorial Quality: 10/10
Effectiveness of Tricks: 10/10
Practical: 10/10
Creativity: 9/10
Cost Performance: 10/10
Final Score: 10/10
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