First impressions… not the best

I must admit that when I first started watching I felt like the course was a bit confused about its level. Daryl was at pains to point out this was a master course and that you should first watch a ‘basic’ course (presumably this companion disc).

However, in spite of that, the first 20 minutes or so is spent showing you different types of props you could use and even classifying them. It felt slightly pointless and slightly pretentious – but the saving grace is that Daryl is such a good communicator that it isn’t too wearing. And the somewhat portentous cymbal roll for each main title screen made me chuckle!

The definitions section was more obviously useful – since it is helpful to be able accurately to describe moves etc. And the discussion on misdirection was also helpful.

Moves and more

Daryl then takes you through all the basic moves you can imagine: how to load cups, how to palm balls, fake transfers and shuttle passes etc. etc. But it is not just the basic moves – many more advanced techniques are taught and useful moves like the Charlie Miller move. And all the classic bits of business – like cup through cup (and some nice finesses on that) or deeper on the inside than outside, or wand through cup.

The teaching is excellent and clear – with multiple camera angles being used where that is helpful. And at this point I want to suggest that it is actually an excellent starting point in and of itself – there is no need to watch a primer first.

In addition to teaching the moves, there are plenty of tips along the way and it is here that Daryl’s enormous knowledge and research come in to play. There are tips from Slydini and Michael Ammar. Insights on different performing conditions. And many references to routines and performances by other great magicians (Tommy Wonder, David Williamson, Dai Vernon and Jay Marshall to name just a few) – which would give you a ton of further work to research if you are serious about developing your routine.

Daryl’s Routine

The final element on the first DVD is Daryl’s routine. Now although this is a great routine, I was a little disappointed. Because on a DVD titled Master Course in Cups and Balls you might have expected a full on 3 cup routine. But Daryl’s routine is more akin to a Chop Cup routine – with one cup – albeit an ungimmicked one. It is a super routine, but I was looking forward to seeing Daryl’s own unique take on a 3 cup routine. But maybe that’s just me.

The nice thing about his routine is it is more or less impromptu. This is great because with only minimal preparation you can borrow all the key elements. It is well structured and there is some really helpful coverage and reflection on the final loads.

Master Course in Cups and Balls Volume 2

The second disk definitely assumes you have seen the first since it contains less detail on the individual moves and elements. Instead it simply teaches three routines. A nice touch is the way they are taught with see through glasses so you can see what is going on!

First up is Nick Trost’s essentially sleight free routine. I didn’t even know Nick Trost had done a cups and balls routine! If I’m honest it felt a trifle long to me – a few too many phases – but nonetheless it would make a great routine to start with and includes some nice subtleties.

Next up is the big daddy – Dai Vernon’s routine. So many modern routines based on this. There’s a reason it’s a classic. And Daryl performs it beautifully. Everything is clearly explained, again with clear glasses.

In a nice touch there is a second performance after the explanation to help you learn the timing of the thing.

The third routine was new to me – to my shame – since it is apparently in the Stars of Magic book (it is – I just checked my original edition!). It is Dai Vernon’s impromptu routine. It has a certain amount of overlap with his normal routine but some interesting variations.

Again, there are lots of tips on audience interaction and handling – even the type of clothing you should wear! Daryl knows what he’s talking about and so this is full of gems.

At £14.99 a volume these are a very good value introduction to this classic of the magic world which helpfully brings together both the essential moves and some classic routines from different places. The Master Course in Cups and Balls would be an excellent place to start your voyage of discovery and a handy reference even for those who have been performing for a while.

You can purchase the Master Course in Cups and Balls Volume 1 and Volume 2 from our friends at MagicShop.co.uk.

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

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The post Daryl – Master Course in Cups and Balls – Review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.

And I would suggest that if you have any interest in card or close up magic at all and you haven’t seen it then you really need to. It is excellent. It covers the immaculate card magic (and one coin item) of Daryl. There is a reason he is known as “the magician’s magician.” Each routine is beautifully constructed and his attention to detail is extraordinary – more on that later.

Stephen Minch is a great writer – the style is slightly tongue in cheek which makes it a joy to read, without getting in the way of the clarity of the explanations. It has been lavishly illustrated (243 photographic illustrations in a 171-page book!) with some extra photos in this re-release than in the original. The cover design is in colour and is suitably nostalgia-invoking.

The routines

These are largely Daryl’s takes on classic card routines. A Boomerang Card (a card spun out is caught in the deck sandwiched between 2 earlier choices) then two variations on that theme. His take on Elmsley’s ‘Between your palms’ – a signed card lost in the pack turns out to be the card another spectator has been holding between their hands since the outset, and in a final kicker 3 ‘wrong guesses’ turn out to be the mates of the signed card.

There’s a Triumph routine with a very convincing display sequence, a mid-air card-stab using two packets of cards, a Four Ace Assembly (that doesn’t use 4 aces!), and a twist on Vernon’s classic Twisting the Aces – with a final climax where the fourth ace appears face up in the tabled deck.

The coin routine is a lovely “Passage of Silver”/travelling coin routine where 4 coins invisibly travel from one hand to join 4 in the other. And there is an extra routine in this new edition – Double Dazzling Triumph – where a triumph routine appears to go wrong – but the two face up cards turn out to indicate the location of two selections, and there’s an added kicker where the deck is separated into red and black at the end.

The level

This is definitely an intermediate to advanced level book. All the sleights are explained in the book, but standard sleights only briefly. I would the book assumes at least some basic knowledge of card magic, though full references are given to chase up the details.

Even if you already perform versions of these effects there is much to learn from the Puerto Rican Gambler’s careful construction of the routines and wonderful performance tips. In many instances he provides variations for individual elements of the routines to fit different performing scenarios – everything has been both carefully thought out and carries the feel of being well road-tested in the real world.

We think this is a super book – and it rather makes me want to look up the other recent Daryl re-release – For your entertainment pleasure. if you’re still wavering – it comes with a conditional guarantee:

The contents of this volume are fully and conditionally guaranteed to beguile, hoax, deceive, humbug, flimflam, bedazzle, amaze, hoodwink, fool, astound, flabbergast, bamboozle, imboggle, razzle-dazzle, snare, chicane, hornswoggle, hamstring, illude, mislead, hocus, trick and completely entertain in an ingeniously artful manner – if used as recommended.”

Secrets of a Puerto Rican Gambler is available from the Merchant of Magic – only £22.99 (at the time of writing).

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

The post Stephen Minch – Secrets of a Puerto Rican Gambler – review appeared first on Bicycle Cards.