Yesterday's video was the Wizard Product Review of February 2011. The regular hosts of that show are Craig Petty and David Penn two fans of magic. Let's not call them magicians. And here is what they did in that video. They hyped Calen Morelli's DVD Function 9 into heaven saying that it is the best DVD of the year and that Calen is the second coming of Tommy Wonder.
I can understand how they come to that conclusion. But that also tells me at what evolutionary step they are when it comes to magic. I took a look at that DVD in question because I wanted to have an opinion of my own about this. And here is my review of the DVD. It is a good DVD for beginners. No more than that. Calen has a card under the shoe routine. I can honestly say that most venues that I perform this would not be good to do. I work surrounded, meaning that there are even people behind people watching. Naturally the first row blocks the view and that is the reason why most of my magic happens at chest level. Having a card appear under a shoe is equivalent to a man with a large hat sitting in front of you in a movie theater. So I do card to pocket. Card under shoe can be done only with few people watching. Card in pocket can be done anytime, anywhere, close up and on stage. So why should a professional even bother considering to include a card under shoe routine? And if that professional had a reason, he would also have a better structure than the one suggested by Calen Morelli. Craig Petty and David Penn seem to have missed the point in their review. And they seem to miss a lot of points in general.
If you keep watching the video, even after they insulted Tommy Wonder post mortem they do a "funny" bit (13:30) where they have Jonathan from World Magic Store read a little bit that they removed all products by Joe Monti from their website, basically because Joe Monti calls Craig Petty and David Penn fags in a YouTube comment. While I certainly think that the comment of Joe Monti is not helpful in any way I cannot help to notice why he thinks that way. Craig Petty and David Penn certainly seem gay. Maybe it's the English accent, maybe it's the metro sexual look. Somewhere along those lines there is a closet. Both simply don't come across as straight. But hey whatever float your boat. I'm not judging life styles here. But banning Joe Monti's products because he hates Craig Petty and David Penn is childish. No wait actually it is not, but announcing it in public is.
So to end this tragic topic. Craig Petty and David Penn are fans of magic. They like gimmicks, they are not very organized about they magic thoughts which seem to be all over the place and they certainly are into whatever the flavour of the month is. They are magic consumer whores and in no way serious magicians who's words may have some value. Take it with a grain of salt.
I am writing this because quite a few of you suggested to give my weekly award to both of them. And while I see alot of failure all over the place, I cannot help to notice the lack of magic.
PS. Craig Petty looked better when he was still fatter.
4 comments:
Agree with this blog. I was ashamed watching them praise and hail the Calen DVD.
a) Calen: "this routine gets great audience reactions", yet when you see him perform he seems dull as hell. DOesnt get audience reactions at all on most of the routines. "that was pretty cool huh"
b) i disliked most of the effects to be honest. Absolutely nothing that i'd ever use.
c) i was totally emberassed watching these 2 clowns making comparisons with Tommy Wonder. He isnt even in Tommy's shadow as far as i'm concerned.
you can indeed see that these guys are two magic nerds who just like anything new and great, they like props, flashy DVD's e,d,
Craig Petty is a crook! He bought some stuff from me a while back and the deal was money and a handful of his products.
I took less money than I wanted to help the guy and I got the money but he never sent his products to me. After several months of writing to him and being ignored then I just figured FUCK HIM!
I agree that Calen's DVD 'Function 9' is only good for beginners. Some effects did have funny ideas that may inspire you to think of better versions in my opinion.
It is a very bad idea to compare current product with giant like the late Tommy Wonder.
I thought it just China that suppliers of ripped off products create a 'demand' on magic props. Now this trend arrives to the Western World that using product reviews as a tempation to create sort of demand by hyping, and even over hyping the latest of the month.
I'll reiterate what's been said. Though I like watching the WPR, their praise of Function 9 was over the top. If I were to rate it, 70% - good, but nothing amazing. If they think this deserves 100%, I wonder what they're going to be giving John Bannon's Bullet Party.
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