Dan Tong: FINALLY! - 50 Years Of Magic Volume 2

"Does the world need another video?... Well it 'does' need a video from this man. Danny Tong is a man who has done it all. Anytime a pro like Danny Tong wants to tip some prize information, I am ready to receive it. I was so glad to hear that we are able to have some pearls of wisdom from one of my favorite entertainers. I treasure the times that I have spent with him and can’t wait to have him on my television anytime I want."
- Doc Eason

"The Egg Bag routine is alone worth the price of the DVD. The other items are a great bonus."
-Tom Craven

VOLUME II:

Malini Egg Bag: This 3 phase routine with spectator ends with the production of a glass liquid. Joe Lefler said, "This routine has to be seen to be believed".

Chop Cup: A short, fast rountine with this prop that does not promote a gambling theme.

Card on the Ribbon: A slight change in the presentation of this great Jack Chanin trick creates a second effect and leaves you clean.

Thompson’s Aces: As an opener for a card routine, this in the hands, ace production would be hard to beat. From a shuffled deck, you will produce the four aces, one at a time, while cutting the cards. Combine this production sequence with "Christopher’s Red and Black Aces" (Daley’s Last Trick) and you will have an easy to follow routine that does not require the spectator to take a card.

Ropes: A rope routine that runs the gamut from C & R rope to Professor’s Nightmare to a 3 to 1 restoration. A complete act on it’s own.

Bonus:
Jack: A minor change in this old trick adds another laugh and extends the climax.

Running Time Approximately 1hr 18min

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REVIEW BY NING of THE LITTLE MAGIC SHOP

Dan Tong, Finally, 50 Years of Magic #2

Here's what you get:
This DVD by Dan Tong is over an hour long and is very professionally made and produced :) Solid magic effects like his famous Mallini egg bag (very cool kicker- he produces a full glass of wine!), chop cup, card on ribbon, Thompson's Aces and several rope routines are featured.

Now this is what's great about it:
Like the first in the series, this DVD is smartly produced with great effort put into it. The effects taught are great for close up workers and performers who do table hopping :) His Malini Egg Bag routine is the best and I enjoyed his rope routines as well. Dan Tong's rope routine incorporated the Prof's Nightmare qith cut and restored rope and finally a restoration routine ^_^ The bonus material in this DVD is a very nice classic card effect which not many may know. Don't forget his wicked chop cup routine too!

So, in a nutshell:
Recommended! His Malini Egg Bag teaching is brilliant and the presentation, probably one of the best ever. I really like his style of thinking and the effects are practical yet strong. Great for a magician looking for solid material that really works ;)

Cheers,
Ning ^_^

Now available at
www.TheLittleMagicShop.com

Dealers can purchase this directly from Murphy’s Magic Supplies, Inc. www.murphysmagicsupplies.com

I've seen this dvd before and I like his effects. You won't need knuckle busting sleights to do his effects.

His egg bag routine is very good and has audience participation. His stuffs are suitable for restaurant workers too.

The most important feature of these two DVDs, to me, is the presentation of solid-structured magic routines.

The deliberate multi-phase routines that lead up to logical (or at least motivated) finale is really classical structured magic. No, one-phase effects with little build that is so popluar with many of today releases.

This is the pre-Blaine close-up magic that is really a good education in fundamental close-up routining. It is the type of magic that all the current 'street magicians' and top magicians learned and forms the basis of their modern-presented material.

The routines are designed to ENTERTAIN in commercial close-up settings. Not, just shock or get a 'what the $%^&' reaction from friends or a TV shoot. If you are an aspiring magician looking to perform close-up for $ for restaurants and private parties, these are routines that will work for you.

The only thing to note is that the routines are designed for formal settings that require a table (in many routines) and a jacket (in several cases). This is NOT street material. If you think bringing a table around for close-up is troublesome and out-of-place - rethink that thought. A table helps frame your magic, create a performance stage for close-up and draw people to watch a 'mini-show'. Bob Chua uses a table in all his close-up gigs. His magic presentations kills, and more importantly, entertains the audience; which is why is one of the top booked close-up workers in the market.

As Magicdow said, the sleights are very manageble, making it an excellent DVD set for beginners to intermediate - level skill magicians. But, content-wise, it is suitable for anyone.

If your close-up magic grounding is not learnt from the now-vintage, Stars of Magic, Vernon, Marlo, Larry Jennings etc works, this is a small investment to be exposed to real-world close-up magic entertainment.

Best,

J C