Salt Pour: Part Two

Well, I finally had a chance to spend some time by myself and watch
Levent's Salt Pour DVD and play with the accompanying gimmick.
Suffice to say, it is a masterpiece.

As I said in my last newsletter, I used to smash a silver
glitter ball into a stream of glitter at the end of my
manipulative act when I was a teenager. I just used an empty film
canister because it was small enough for my hand to get the job
done. But it was cumbersome to handle and start the stream
flowing.

Levent does a deep dive into the effect and provides not only
detailed history of the evolution of the effect, but also
performs variations from famous performers who popularized the
effect over the past 50 or so years. He also reveals several
different gimmicks and explains the benefits of his gimmick
design over the others. Lastly, he shares his own handling from
his act and explains exactly how to perform it, one step at a
time.

It's clear that Levent has a deep affection for the history of
the trick (and magic, in general). As he frenetically explains
the evolution of the effect, he holds up several books throughout
the video and explains why the books are so valuable in learning
the effect. His DVD not only educated me, but made want to rush
out and buy all the books he held up. It reminded me of the old
dealer pitches we used to watch at Larry Weeks' conventions!

His performance of the variations on the theme are all
excellently done and well explained. If you are looking for
high-end, lavish special effects and sets, sorry, this ain't it.
It's Levent in front of a backdrop, lecturing to you and teaching
you the effect. There's plenty of time spent on the movements and
misdirection and finesses with the gimmick, with lots of
close-ups when needed. He is a wonderful teacher. You will learn!

I am amazed that he has priced the DVD and gimmick for only
$39.00. He could easily get 3 or 4 times the price. It is very
generous of him to make this so affordable for the magic buying
public, and you should buy it while you can.

You can watch him perform the Salt Pour and purchase the DVD and
gimmick here:

http://www.LeventMagic.com

Until next time,

Steven

Salt Pours: Part One

Greetings from the other side of the screen. Hope all is well.
Thanks to those of you who purchased some of the items I had up
on eBay last two weeks. Trying to save up some cash for a new big
screen TV. I thought I knew the model I wanted, but after a
lengthy education from the Sears TV Manager I learned I needed an
LCD instead of a plasma due to the lighting in the playroom. Having
two windows on one side and two skylights above really washes out
the image. Who knew TVs could be this freaking complicated?

I'm still trying to figure out just what I am going to do for
this upcoming church show on April 17th. So far I only have an
opener -- B'Wave -- and a closer -- a straitjacket escape. I
rehearsed the straitjacket in the privacy of my office with my
office mate, and I discovered I have put on a few pounds since I
last performed it 7 years ago. So that combined with my lack of
flexibility is definitely making even a gimmicked straitjacket
escape a bit of a challenge. Heck, I'm only 10 pounds heavier ;)

I thought the last MUM issue with Bob Little on the cover was a
good read. I first met Bob at a Tannens Jubilee in the 1970's and
thought he was fun and cool as all get-up. Over the years I hung
out at his booth at conventions more than anyone else's.

One of the articles that really caught my attention was Dennis
Loomis' variations on the old salt pour. Back in the 1970's when
I was working on my manipulative act, I used a set of silver
rhinestone billiard balls and smashed the last ball into a long
pour of silver glitter. I just used a Kodak film canister with a
hole punched in the top with a little cork in the hole. I thought
that's how everyone did it.

Loomis' article actually encouraged me to revisit the Ethereal
Salt Shaker from Vernet. I always loved this prop but never owned
it, so I searched online using Froogle to find the least
expensive deal at Penguin and bought it. I've been playing with
it all week. I love it.

Then I purchased Levent's gimmick and CD. I knew Levent way back
when through Eric Decamps. The kid always impressed me with his
mad manipulative skills, ideas and knowledge. The CD and gimmick
arrived yesterday and if I get some time this weekend, I will
check it out and let you know what I think next week.

Back to the church show, I think I can use the salt vanish with
a D'Lite (though I'll need to pick one up) to talk about how we
are called to be the salt and light. I was looking for my FISM
flash to vanish the salt in a burst of light, but I found out it
is broken. Then I searched for my Flash Burst but haven't a clue
where it is. I may have sold it after I bought it because it looked
too complex to control.

If you have any other interesting ideas, let me know. I am
experimenting with a Professor's Nightmare routine but want to
end with one long rope. The good thing about YouTube is that there are
enough routines lifted off DVDs to give me some good ideas. The
bad news is there are a lot of videos on YouTube which should not
be there.

Until next time,


Steven