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MagicianDM![]() Loyal user 213 Posts ![]() |
Hey everyone, here is my review..
Gaff: Home Made Gimmicks Review Gaff: is a 4 DVD set that takes gaff cards and gaff effects to a whole new level. This DVD has over 40 effects, instructions on how to make your own gaff cards and some very clever effects. The DVD Set comes with a file with gaff cards which you can easily make - everything is explained in this DVD set. It is a good idea to have a color printer and a computer which can read DVD's. The idea of having a folder with ready to print gaff cards was very clever in my opinion. Also, it would make life easier if you buy some blank cards - however on the DVD it teaches how to make your own blank cards. On to the DVD's. First DVD - Introduction to Gaff. This DVD is an introduction to the DVD Set. It goes over about the history of this DVD Set. It tells you why the DVD Set was made, the problems with modern gaff card magic which the DVD solves - like being able to hand out the gaff cards at the end of the effect to the spectator as a souvenir. Next, the DVD goes over some basic card fundamentals - like Double Lifts, False Shuffles, some Color Changes, some forces and a Gaff force - you open a sealed, cellophane wrapped deck, take out the cards, riffle through the deck, spectator says stop anywhere - and the card is forced on them. very good. Then it goes into information on how to make the Gaff cards - Basic Card Gaffing. Everything on those DVD's is explained very, very clearly. The teaching on the DVD's is very good, everything is neat and in place on the close-up pad which makes learning very easy. It also has music added to make everything more exciting and fun. The DVD shows how to make blank cards using erasing techniques, how to print your own gaff cards which are stored on this DVD, how to make the cards last for tons of performances if needed, so your homemade cards won't smudge, rub off in a performance or anything. It includes instructions how to get the cards printed so Gaff Cards get printed on top of them perfectly. It also shows how to peel cards and glue them together - to make double facers and double backers. There is a section on the DVD called "Extras" where you learn 6 simple effects - quick types of effects which utilize Gaffcards; like showing a card, then doing something magical to it which gives a very magical result - like making the pips fall down, after giving the card a spin the card ending up all "swirly" etc. After this, it shows effects with a "Hidden Chamber" gimmick - it allows you to produce for example coins from a deck of cards, after cleanly showing the deck. And that is the first DVD of the 4 DVD Set - Introduction to Gaff. Second DVD - Volume 1 - Cardfinders This DVD is entitled Cardfinders because in this DVD the basic idea of the effect is that a spectator chooses a card, and then you reveal it in some mysterious way. You will need to make Gaff cards for those effects, and you will have to use knowledge from the first DVD and also this DVD will explain the gaffs needed for those tricks. I think the highlight of this DVD is a trick called "The Silent Card Trick". I thought the idea of the effect was very, very good. What happens is, with no talking, the performer's patter and instructions for the trick is printed on the back of the first 10-20 cards as the audience knows. The performer points to the first card, which has "Welcome to the Silent Card Trick" printed on the back. He places that card face down on the table, and points to the next card which will have further instructions like "I will riffle through the cards and you tell me when to stop" etc. The spectator tells the magician when to stop riffling, for example at the King of Diamonds. The magician points to the backs of the top cards that say "Is this your card", etc., and the magician fails because the two cards he removes are not the spectator's selection. However, the magician tries one last time, and he turns the ribbon-spreaded instructions cards over - and they all turn into the selected card. Very visual and clever I thought. You print the instructions on to the cards, and those GAFF Prints are stored on the Introduction to Gaff DVD. This DVD has nice effects with Gaff cards. Third DVD - Volume 2 - Let's Go Mental This DVD is about Mentalism combined with GAFF cards. This DVD is awesome. The highlights of this DVD is 497 for me. The effect is, a spectator chooses a card, 7 of Clubs. The mentalist asks the spectator to multiply the number of the card by itself, times it by ten, and then add the original number. The result is 497 and the suit is Clubs. The spectator does all of this silently in their head. The mentalist says he has the card they are now thinking of on the table. He then turns over the card on the table and it is 497 of Clubs, with all 497 Clubs on the card! The print for this card is included on the DVD, and I thought it was awesome. I thought there were some very good effects on the DVD. It is cards combined with Mentalism. Fourth DVD - Volume 3 - Creative Card Magic This is a very cool DVD. As the title says - it is creative card magic. Every trick here has it's own gaff which you have to make. The first trick is "Bite-Out Card" - you can perform the "Bite-Out Coin" and follow it with this, because both effects are as visual. There is a version without a gimmick, and one with a gimmick. Good effect. Another great effect on this DVD is Hybrid, which is a Torn and Restored Card but you restore the card with a piece from a completely different card and the wrong way. Cool effect. I think most people will be using Bite-Out Card, it is a pretty easy trick but you need to acquire a "knack" for it. The angles are alright but not very good. However it is very visual. The ideas on this DVD are very good. Overall, I think this is a great DVD Set. Everything is explained perfectly, there is some music played to add some "beat" to the DVD's which doesn't distract from the teaching, There are some very good GAFF card prints included, like Gaff Prints to make your own 3 Card Monte etc. I think if you have a color printer, a computer which can read DVD's, you will be ready to make the Gaff cards. It will be easier if you buy some blank decks however. You will probably have the other stuff needed around the house like to coat the card so the printing does not rub off. This DVD Set is awesome. I recommend this DVD Set. I give it 10/10.
The ultimate, most visual and practical ambitious card routine finisher - HERE!
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Review King![]() Eternal Order 14446 Posts ![]() |
I had never heard of this DVD before. Thanks for posting and giving a review.
I found a trailer on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ_GeDjK1TE
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |