Review Request: Steet Cups and Balls DVD (Gazzo)

[Snicket]

I have heard a lot of great things about Gazzo's routine, and I like the short demo on Penguin's site, however, I hear that all the props are very expensive, especially if you plan to use all of Gazzo's stuff.
I can't find any reviews on it and I would like some comparison between Gazzo's routine and Vernon's routine.

[Binary]

Props wise, for the final load, you will need somewhere to get the load from. In gazzo's case this is his pouch at the front, and if you want the gazzo brand one, its pretty pricey as I am sure you can find out on google.

[reallyhotpants]

Gazzo has the street performer thing going for him and he has a potty mouth.  Nothing wrong with it... I happen to like that kind of humor, but don't use it myself. 

Now comparing the 2 routines.  The phases and the loads (of course) as different, but the techniques used are pretty much the same.  Oh yeah, Gazzo does not use a wand, he has a magic stick...wands are for fairies.

I think you can get a lot more out of it if you learned and understood the various moves using the cups and balls.  Then make up a routine that flows from one phase to another, that's the "fun" part.

On a personal note, I like the Vernon routine more.  You tend to show more effects in a much shorter routine.  Plus there's the wand spin... I mean stick spin.  I can not count the number of hours I've spend just working on that.

-kent

[SportzFSU]

Is the Vernon routine the one from Stars of Magic?

[Snicket]

Props wise, for the final load, you will need somewhere to get the load from. In gazzo's case this is his pouch at the front, and if you want the gazzo brand one, its pretty pricey as I am sure you can find out on google.

Are there any other pouches suitable for this load that are cheap?

And why are cups so expensive?  I see cups ranging now from $15.00 - $287.00
I don't have a professional set of cups, but why do they cost that much and which ones are more suitable for the Gazzo or Vernon routine?

[reallyhotpants]

Is the Vernon routine the one from Stars of Magic?

The routine from stars of magic is almost the same.  It does not have the description for nesting the cups and stick spin.  Probably because it's written to be an impromptu routine.

Are there any other pouches suitable for this load that are cheap?

And why are cups so expensive?  I see cups ranging now from $15.00 - $287.00
I don't have a professional set of cups, but why do they cost that much and which ones are more suitable for the Gazzo or Vernon routine?

A large fanny pack will work.  It depends on where you pull your loads from.  I have tried using ball holders, but can't seem to get them to work right for me.  I still work with the loads from my coat pocket.

Cups can get very expensive, just ask Pepka.  He has a very nice set .  They can get very expensive because of the quality of work and material that goes into them.  I'm not sure what kind of cups you are looking at, but I just found out about these from Rings and Things

http://www.rnt2.com/productlist.aspx?categoryno=JR&newcategory=Y

I'm checking out those Jim Sisti cups, looks good and great value.  Screw the webcam, I know what I'll be getting instead.

On the subject of what cups for which routine.  There is no what cups are for what routine ... it's the end result.  Again it's what do you want/can stuff in them for your final loads.  Just make it up.

At a dinner party I went through a short routine with tea cups, cherries, and final load with strawberries.  Strange and slightly sticky but it worked.


I hope this helps.


-kent

[Magi-Ken]

   I do not have the DVD nor have I seen it.  The closest I have come is chatting with Gazzo on line.  However, John Lovick writes a decent and fair sounding review of Gazzo's Street Cups DVD in the February issue of Magic Magazine (2007) -- pages 46-47, that you might want to take a look at.  It covers the good and the bad in the DVD.  He concludes that the value of the DVD is not so much in the explaination or moves for the cups and balls themselves (earlier he points out that there is, technically speaking, nothing new there) but rather the strong point of the DVD is in understanding how to work as a street performer.  In that, Lovick says, "Gazzo gives away the store."

  As to the price of cups, you are right, there is a wide range indeed.  It all depends on what you want to do with them.  Who are you looking to impress?  Are you working for magicians or lay audiences?  Are you a collector?  Before what size group and on what size surface will you be expected to work?   To make the trick work well, you probably do not need gold plated cups, unless somehow that point is essential to your routine's story line.
  A good solid sturdy cup that will not easily dent or break and with enough weight to sit still on its own and not accidently tip over in use is recommended for general purposes.  After that, a sufficient recess between nesting cups that will hide a ball or two without this gap being overly obvious is critical.  A fine touch is the sound of the cups.  A good ringing, or at least clear clanging, is important in attracting a crowd and producing a positive impression; especially in doing certain moves.  The addition of a chop cup feature is also a nice add-on for those who desire it.  A fine finish that does not require high maintainence in polishing and/or recoating will be important too.  In a pinch, nearly any loosly nesting, opaque cup will do if it has some weight to it, that also helps.  Check out the India made bassware in your local market or dollar type store.  occasionally that will work well.  Some votive candles come in nice metal cups too (stainless steel at Target).  I have even used very large plastic tumblers; not ideal, but usable, and they fit my theme at the time.  What do I have and really use?  One set of old Charlie Miller solid copper cups and my work horse, a set of brass cups with polyurathane topcoat and a chop cup feature (I do not know who made them).
  Spend what you can afford.  Get good with the basic moves.  The moves and routine are more important than the actual cups.  A good worker can do wonders with a kid's magic kit set of small hard plastic ones if need be.  Although better balls than typically provided with those would be very much preferred.

Ken