The title of the review says it all. Jeff is a genius and it shows, his tricks are fantastic and his explanations are clear. The problem is the production. Someone at penguin thought it was a good idea to film a guy wearing a black coat against a black background with bright lights, that looks about as good as you think it does. The other problem is for some reason Jay Noblezada is working a camera, and I don't think he was ever once show how to properly shoot film. When it cuts to his camera you can bank on things going out of frame as he asks the same question 5 or 6 times. He's a grating distraction. He's an ok magician but he contributed nothing to this DVD.

Other than Jay and the frankly amateurish staging, this DVD is a great value.

Jeff Sheridan is a little boring to watch. Maybe to say he is a little "dry" would be more appropriate. But with that said, he does do some good magic, and I like the effects on this dvd. It would have been a much better viewing experience if you could have gotten Jay Noblezada to just sit down and stay out of the way. To video Jay while he too is videoing was not a good idea and distracts from this production. Noblezada is just in the way of this video. Jay, go away......

There's s saying that if you want recorded credit for effects that nobody else will ever perform then get them published in the Linking Ring, ideally without illustrations. This DVD is kind of like that.

I've never met Jeff Sheridan and get the sense that in person he is a wonderful person and a delightful performer. However, this DVD has him looking like a disembodied and somewhat ghoulish head/hands. Also, between the (lack of) sound quality and his extemporaneous presentation he sounds a bit like Christopher Walken.

Once passed the production issues there is a ponderous series of effects, many just different versions of the same thing and most that are, sorry other reviewers, not worth performing. For example, He has a nice idea for a T/R card except there's only one tear, the card can't be signed, it can't be selected, and it can't be examined either before or after the effect. Likewise, other effects he teaches have versions that already exist and provide more impact with less effort. Also, many of the effects need to be openers or require cagey get-readys involving fiddling in pockets or behind a performance case.

That said, there is an interesting false knot described with the first effect that, along with getting the DVD as an "Open Box" special, makes me feel not so bad about buying it.

Jeff Sheridan is a performing legend and on this DVD he tips the real work on material that can be used on the street, busking, stage or close up and kid shows.

Some effects are great, some I will never use. Most of the things are best performed in a stage show setting. Thats where its real value is. Brilliant thinking on some of the effects others were thrown in there just to extra chapters I guess.

This is often in the "Open" or "Cool" box and for $5 or less, it's a real bargain. Sheridan's magic is strong and thoughtful, and he's clearly a perfectionist and well-heeled Pro. There's some excellent rope work and many creative ideas shown.
The production values leave something to be desired, and it's not Jeff's fault. Perhaps having the "moderator" (Noblezada) also act as a hand-held cameraman on a two-person shoot seemed "edgy" at the time (or, more likely, some budgetary concern) but it just comes off as distracting and unprofessional. Live and learn, but it shouldn't reflect badly on the quality of Jeff Sheridan's magic.

Who isn't buying this..??

Great effects! Great thinking!

Simply put.

I am very happy that I made this purchase. I have Jeff’s Card Manipulation Course DVD’s so I thought this would be nice to see other tricks he performs. I thought the production of the DVD was good. All the tricks were explained very well. And I really like that a lot of these tricks can be performed close-up as well as in a parlor setting. And of course many can play very well on stage too. I never really got into rope magic before but after watching some of his rope routines I now want to learn! Traveling Knot, Twin Cut and Restored Rope, New Grandmothers Necklace (Rope Thru Neck) Knotted Rope Through Mic Stand (or any similar object) and Rope Thru Wrist are really clever and really practical. His work on the Torn and Restored Card was also really good and you actually get 3 different versions of it. And finally the last trick I liked a lot and is on genus level is Shoelaced. You have to make the deck yourself but if you have the time and supplies it will be so worth it. All in all you get so many cleverly thought out tricks that are worth every penny!