Smooth Operations Review
Overview
Smooth Operations was in all a great purchase, whilst I thought the flourishes contained inside it were mediocre, everything else was very good, and I will be using 4 of the 5(actually 6 if you include the Visa Exchange) effects and 2 of the productions. There is also some comedic effects in there, that you may enjoy reading. Obviously Kevin Ho’s blend of flourishing and magic won’t be for all, but if you’ve seen Kevin Ho and like his style this book is truly a great investment.
Value For Money
At $25 I don’t think we can really complain, it’s not a hard-back book with hundreds of pages but more of a small booklet(similar to a magazine), but everything is printed on good quality glossy paper and there are lots of full color illustrations, it’s a wonderfully produced book and is well worth the small price tag.
EFFECTS
Overview
Thankfully the effects are amazing, all of them are really, really nice and I can’t complain about any of them being badly taught or illogical or anything, it’s just amazing, thanks Kev!
PUNK'D
The Official Spam
This version of Re-Set is simple, instant, and leaves you completely clean. Imagine two four-of-a-kinds, like the four Aces and four Jacks, instantly changing places with each other, and then back again moments later.
How It Looks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d1yD3vNEEs&feature=related
What I think
This is one of my favourite versions of reset, because everything is logical, as you can see in the video it takes about 30 seconds, plus you end totally clean, all the sleights are broken down and illustrated and it’s very easy to understand, it’s a classic example of the simplest routines being the best.
Difficulty: 3/10
Rating: 8.5/10
LONG DIVISION
The Official Spam
This clever routine is fun to do and gets killer reactions.
A card is produced, equalling the value of two spectators chosen cards. This single card is then visually stretched into a long card, which the spectators help split into their respective selections.
What I think of it
This is one of the routines I won’t be using, it’s very difficult to get the ‘stretching’ smooth, the instructions are easy to follow and are well illustrated but it is a knacky thing to do well. Definitely a cool idea though.
Difficulty: 8/10(to do it well)
Rating: 6.5/10
CHASER
The Official Spam
The magician offers to demonstrate different aspects of sleight of hand. What follows is a fast-paced sequence of cards appearing, teleporting, changing, and transposing with each other in a casual, highly visual manner.
What I think
In my opinion the best trick in the book, it’s basically a sandwich routine with a twist, it has a motivated plot and because the spam is vague, here’s how the routine actually goes:
A card is selected and outjogged, you tell them about the different type of sleight of hand, “the first is the type you can see”.
As you say that you dribble the cards and 2 black kings appear.
You separate the kings from the deck and you tell them that “the next is the type of sleight of hand is invisible”.
And you shake the deck and the outjogged card vanishes and appears in between the 2 kings.
You then put the selected card on the table and say that “the other type of sleight of hand happens before you know it”.
You then reveal that the Kings have turned into aces.
In the last phase you lay the Aces on the table and take the selection on top of the deck, you say that “the last type of sleight of hand you know exactly what’s going to happen, but you don’t know how.”
And in an instant the selection in your hand transforms into 2 face up aces with a face down card in between, which is their selection and the kings are revealed on the table.
As you can tell it’s an awesome effect and the only difficult part is the beginning production of the two kings(superflip) which can easily be substituted.
Difficulty with Superflip: 7.5/10
Without Superflip: 5.5/10
Rating: 10/10
COLLECTORS: REDUX
The Official Spam
In the process of finding three spectators' selections, the four Queens (or any four-of-a-kind) are found in an insanely chaotic and visual way that only Kevin would think of.
What it looks like
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jey2aU-XN4c
What I think
It’s so smooth, and such a beautiful end display, it also is much easier than it looks, it takes a bit of practice to do the whole thing without pausing but most of the work is done before you do the flourishy bit, during the flourishy bit you only need to produce 4 cards as opposed to the 7 you end up with. Very nice routine.
Difficulty, to do it smoothly: 6/10
Rating: 9/10
CONSPIRACY OF FOUR
The Official Spam
An extremely visual and fun handling of a classic plot.
The magician offers to find a four-of-a-kind other than the four Aces. All goes well until the fourth and final production - it's an Ace. However, within the blink of an eye, the other three cards instantly turn into the other three Aces, forming a complete four-of-a-kind after all.
What I think
The kicker ending gets them real good in this one, the only thing I wasn’t fond of was the switch at the end, but I’ve replaced it with something better(in my opinion), and this effect is one of my favourites.
Difficulty: 6/10
Rating: 9.5/10