While Cellini has lots of solid information to impart that can improve anyone’s close-up and stand-up magic, as well as help you work the streets and get paid for it, this DVD is a mixed bag. Cellini demonstrates effects and techniques and serves solid advice, but doesn’t offer in-depth explanation on the routines.
Solid Street Advice
The DVD’s strength is Cellini’s advice on performing in the streets. Here he offers excellent advice on using color, sound and movement to attract crowds in noisy and busy venues; choosing pouches and tables; creating borders using ropes; putting together costumes; building a crowd; using a topit and passing the hat.Cellini performs several effects but doesn’t explain the routines step-by-step. He tends to only review and explain key moves. While you can learn a technique from the brief explanation and then go back and review the performance section to learn the routine, this DVD is not your classic instructional title.
Lecture, Not Instructional DVD
Since most magic lectures are designed to impart limited information and whet the appetite of audience members so that they purchase DVDs, books and props, I’m pretty sure that this is the case here. Lecture attendees are given some insight into the routines, but if they want to actually learn them, they’re encouraged to purchase a book or DVD.The video is a single-camera shot of a lecture. There is no editing to allow for close-ups or to better explain a particular concept. At times, the action disappears behind Cellini’s body when he turns to his left, but the video is generally easy to follow and understand. The audio is adequate.
The Effects
On this DVD you’ll see Cellini perform his hank routine (handkerchief vanishes and reappears and then changes color), coin routine (coin vanishes and reappears several times and then turns into a big coin), cigarette routine (continuous production of cigarettes, vanishes and productions and a vanish and reappearance in the mouth), rope routine (cut and restored and a variation on Professor’s Nightmare) and Cups & Balls.There’s also a segment on using a Loop ball and performing a salt pour. Cellini’s two-ring Linking Ring routine is used to close the lecture and is not explained.
Other Cellini DVDs
This DVD is worthwhile for the advice that is serves on performing in the streets, but if you want to learn the routines, The Cellini, Art of Street Performing, New Orleans, Volume II DVD offers far better explanation of the hank, coin, cigarette and rope routines, as well as the cups and balls. And for excellent advice on street magic, check out Cellini’s other DVD, Cellini Presents the Art of Street Performing, Boston, Volume III.-Wayne N. Kawamoto
MSRP (US): $53
Dealers can purchase from Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc.
