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« on: August 14, 2006, 10:03:45 am » |
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Northbound
By Sean FieldsI’ve been meaning to review this for a while now, but I wanted to actually get out and perform it before I did so that the review could be a bit more informative for anyone considering buying this effect. Over the weekend I had the chance to perform Northbound on four different occasions, and while I’m still getting comfortable with the effect, I feel I have a good idea on the effectiveness of Northbound. So on with the review. The EffectThe magician borrows a spectator’s ring and vanishes it. He then asks the spectator to feel the end of his necklace beneath his shirt. The spectator does, feeling his ring through the magician’s shirt. The magician removes his necklace, showing that the impossible is true--the spectator’s ring has somehow traveled to the magician’s necklace. You can see a demo of Northbound here: http://www.elmwoodmagic.com/?nd=full&key=3618.
I love this effect. It’s very open for patter, and the effect uses a personal, borrowed item. One could easily adapt some of Derren Brown’s presentational ideas for his floating ring (Absolute Magic) for Northbound. So far this has gotten me great reactions. In addition to the four laymen I’ve performed the effect for, I also, to my surprise, fooled a couple magicians with this.
A great effect in my opinion. It’s easy to perform, and so far people seem to really react to it. In my opinion this is the best ring flight out there, especially for anyone doing walk-around/ street magic.The VanishThe vanish seen in the demo is Sean Fields’ Northbound Vanish. It’s pretty angle sensitive and a bit dependent on your hand size. It isn’t for me. Fortunately, Sean goes over several more vanishes you can use for Northbound after the credits roll. I picked one from there and it’s working great so far.The GimmickThe gimmick for Northbound is barely even a gimmick. If you don’t like working with gimmicks (I prefer not to myself) don’t let this effect turn you off. The gimmick is something everyone has in his or her home. I’ve been carrying the gimmick for a few days now and I don’t think twice about it being there. Also, for anyone who owns the DVD, I discovered a couple little things that make the gimmick even more invisible than it already is—shoot me a PM with evidence that you own the DVD and I’ll share. Also, everything is examinable—there’s nothing to find on your necklace or their ring.TeachingThe teaching was very thorough. Sean goes over about a dozen different vanishes to use with Northbound and covers the reappearance on the necklace with as much detail as is needed.
The one thing that I think would have helped me learn the effect a bit quicker was if I could have seen Sean perform the effect for live people. Seeing him use a few different vanishes, how he manages his spectators, etc., would have really helped me in understanding how this effect plays for a real audience, as well as give me an idea behind the timing and psychology for the vanish and the reappearance. Before I performed Northbound for the first time, I workshopped the effect with a few magician friends of mine whose opinions I value until I felt comfortable with it. If anyone owns Northbound and would like some ideas on the timing and psychology of the effect, shoot me a PM with evidence that you own the DVD and I’ll be happy to share what I’ve worked out.ProductionThe production is average. It’s similar to SAW, for anyone who owns it. The credits and main menu are done nicely.DifficultyI’d put Northbound at about a 3 or 4 on a 1-10 scale of difficulty. The actual moves are pretty simple; it’s the timing and psychology that is going to make or break the effect. Again, I put a lot of thought into this aspect and I have worked out what I feel is an effective presentation. Overall I’d put Northbound in the “easy” category. The effect is accomplished more with a clever method than it is with difficult sleight of hand.Northbound and SAWThere is some indirect information on for how to perform SAW using a borrowed a finger ring. While I haven’t performed SAW using a borrowed ring yet, I’ve already performed both effects together—I borrow a ring, make it appear on my necklace, then after giving the spectator their ring back, I show them something else I can do by proceeding to saw my necklace into my throat.ThreadboundThreadbound is a bonus effect on the DVD. It’s Sean’s handling of Gypsy Thread. Very clever idea that uses the Northbound Vanish concept. The effect is accurate to the product’s description (see below).Price The price is going to be about $25. Well worth it in my opinion. For me this is going to be one of my signature effects—I’m already hooked on performing it and I know that I’m going to get a lot of mileage out of this.The Product Listing(My comments are bolded.)
Pushing the boundaries of conventional magic, Sean Fields presents Northbound.
Ring Flight.
Redefined.
The original Ring to Necklace just got better! Imagine borrowing a spectator’s ring, and causing it to vanish, only to have it IMMEDIATELY reappear on your necklace! Imagine being able to do this without wires, reels, pulls, magnets, or thread. Eclipsing what can be accomplished with a gimmick, this TECHNIQUE is simple, elegant, and practical. This has been one of Sean's most sought after effects, absolutely stunning some of the worlds BEST magicians.
Key points:
* NO thread, wires, magnets, pulls, reels, NOTHING!
* The ring is ALWAYS under your control and safe.
* The ring can be both SEEN and FELT on your necklace, UNDER your shirt, BEFORE your hands go ANYWHERE near the necklace.
* ANGLEPROOF (But not with the vanish seen in the demo—Sean does teach different vanishes that are angleproof though.)
* The basic concept is SO simple, you can adapt various elements of the routine to better suit your style.
* INSTANT RESET.
Any ring. Any necklace. Anywhere. Any time. (This doesn’t mean it’s impromptu though—although it’s pretty close to it.)
This is the ring flight you have been waiting for! Northbound - The revolutionary ring flight!
Also taught on the disc is Sean's handling of the Gypsy Thread effect, Threadbound. Magicians worldwide have hailed Sean's handling of this classic as "brilliant" and "stunning".
In Threadbound, the effect happens almost ENTIRELY in the spectators hands! Picture this:
The spectator unwinds a length of thread from a spool, rips it into several pieces, and balls it up. The magician tightens the ball of thread and hands it back, and his hands are seen UNMISTAKABLY EMPTY. The spectator then unravels the thread, and it is RESTORED!
What people are saying about 'Northbound':
"Sean Fields' Northbound is the kind of trick that I would have created. It's practically impromptu & unbelievably powerful."
- Wayne Houchin
"My ring... But it was... You were holding... How did... Your necklace... I didn't... Wrath of Kahn...Mega Blocks... Twizzler Candy... AAAAAAAAARGH!!!"
- David Acer
"I've been performing a version of Koran's Ring Flite for years so I'm a little upset with Sean for making learn something new."
- Nathan Kranzo
"Northbound is basically too cool for school! Old school that is! It is new school visual and actually a fun trick to do! That is a rare thing nowdays. I should not have to tell you get this."
- Tony Miller
Running Time Approximately 44minClosingIf you’re looking for an easy ring flight that doesn’t require you to carry a key case or a wooden box—something you can perform all the time wherever you go, Northbound is for you. It gave me exactly what I was looking for and so far I’ve had a lot of fun performing the effect. I’m not going to give this a product rating as every product reviewed seems to get a 10/10 these days--whether it's deserved or not. I will, however, say that I highly recommend Northbound, I think it’s well worth the money, and if you’re interested in performing what you see in the demo you will not be disappointed. Northbound is a beautiful piece of magic in my opinion, and I’m glad Sean Fields released it.
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