I'm pretty shocked at all the good reviews for this dvd. I think they must be coming from people
who have just been introduced to contact juggling and are still on that initial "high" they get from
seeing something so cool.
The DVD? It's not good. If it was aimed at beginners, it fails
to teach the basics. Not only does it fail to teach isolations or one-ball moves (there are about 3
on the whole dvd) but it doesn't even help guide you in what ball to get as a beginner. If it was
aimed at advanced, it is lacking in multi-ball patterns, stalls, and more.
Better bet? Buy
a Fushigi. You get a great ball (3 inches) for beginning work AND the DVD provided is fantastic
compared to this one (and all for just $20!!). Sorry, but this DVD was not good at all. Sure,
you CAN learn a few moves, but there are many other resources that are better (and cheaper!).
7 of 7 magicians found this helpful.
I am very sorry to say this but I am a juggler (and contact juggler) before being a magician and I
do not think this dvd is worth getting. The only positive thing is that it introduces the contact
juggling to magicians. But the caracter is not entertaining (personally), the tricks are only basics
and they are badly executed. If you really are interested in contact juggling you should really go
for "contact juggling" (part 1 and 2) of Maldonaldo, Edson and Holwick, or the brand new "In
isolation". Once again sorry to say bad things about a penguin's dvd because most of their products
are great.
Lozax
3 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
This DVD was my "introduction" to contact juggling. I almost gave up on it after watching this
video. He skips over most all of the beginner stuff. He doesn't spend that much time on advanced
stuff...To be honest I am not sure what skill level this is intended for. By trying to make a DVD to
serve everyone, CONTACT has succeeded in creating a DVD that serves no one. My advice, by a ball and
do a quick google search for a Contact juggling forum...there is only one that i know of...You will
learn so much more from the knowledgeable people there--and its free!
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
This DVD Tutorial is... eh... let's say it could be better.
Tyas really doesn't give you the
"umph" you get from other video's like Fushigi.
Tyas seems a bit stiff working with the Acrylic
Ball, like he learned it maybe a year ago, less fluid than those with more time under their belt.
Don't get me wrong, he's very talented, but it doesn't seem fluid (like Michael Motion from
Labyrinth) and he seems distracted throughout the instructions.
Otherwise it's ok, I gave it 2
stars due to the fact that he seemed to be pressed for time instead of taking the time and care to
teach you how to Contact Juggle; pretty much you do not learn "fundamentals" or get any kind of
assistance (you will struggle, it takes lots of practice... I recommend getting hand and wrist
strenghteners prior to its arrival) with the basics nor the advancement. This just seemed like a
"look what I can do" video and if you just keep practicing it'll work for you too!
If he was
more in depth with ideas and ways to make the basics easier to learn and showed more attention to
those buying the video instead of constantly glancing off and smiling at someone or blowing off the
precision of moves by saying "if you practice you'll get it" I might have learned more and
understood the mechanics.
This is decent if you're wanting to see how it's done, or you could
just put Labyrinth in slow mo on the Michael Motion parts and pretty much get the same instruction.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
Contact juggling was something I was keen to learn just for the sake of being able to do it. This
DVD is a really good DVD for newcomers because it covers the essential moves and teaches you how to
grow confident with handling the contact balls. If however you're keen to become a contact juggler
and are aiming for a high standard I think there are a few other specialist DVDs on the market which
would be better for you (ones which go into a lot more depth).
If you're a newbie and want
to learn this just for the sake of learning it then this is for you.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
It could have been more descriptive and it only covered the basics for 1 ball. There could have been
more isolations but he taught the one he did do well. He is a great teacher and very funny. I
learned a lot from this dvd
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
This isn't really a magic trick but it is a great, entertaining skill that will baffle people. Some
of the moves are pretty easy to learn, while other moves will take a lot of practice. If you are
serious about learning this and are willing to put in the time, then pick this up. Like the coin
roll, and just standard juggling, it's something you can do to capture the attention of your
audience. Pick this up and you'll be glad you did.
1 of 1 magicians found this helpful.
this isnt my type of magic, but a friend got it for me as a gift and i have loved it ever since. it
is such a graceful and beautiful "act" that will grab the attention of anyone on the streets. it is
well taught. combine this into your magic act and you have a great routine!
1 of 1 magicians found this helpful.
Tyas made me unafraid to drop my contact juggling ball. If there is one great positive point that I
got from this DVD it would be this: It's ok to be a beginner at something. Tyas has taken me from
knowing nothing about contact juggling to being to perform all the basics. I still have no problem
entertaining random strangers with my simple and humble contact juggling manipulations. This is a
good DVD for those who would like to step into the world of contact juggling. Do not buy this if you
are already acquainted with the skill. This is like the first taste of a life long addiction to
little see-through spheres.
1 of 1 magicians found this helpful.
I will say that I was happy when I received this dvd, but not that impressed. While Contact does
have some strong points, it lacks so much and leaves the viewer hungry for more.
PROS
-Tyas' teaching style is very light hearted and easy going. I'm actually suprised he hasn't
released more dvds on penguin magic, for he is a superb instructor.
-There is a watch and learn
section that repeats the same move over and over again. I first thought this was a waste of time,
but the more I wanted to perfect my juggling, I found myself going back to it to get the moves
right.
-The interview with Tyas on the bonus material was very informal. Giving some history
and also some sources for contact juggling.
-The music doesn't suck.
CONS
-There
are not that many tricks. I really think I could've used more single ball moves.
-Too short.
WAY too short. The dvd is finished in about 30 minutes. I would say the price is a just a bit too
much if it weren't for the bonus material.
-I would have love to see more footage of Tyas
performing on stage. Even just some more clips would have been good motivation for us beginners.
Final Thoughts
If I could, I would give this dvd a 3.5 out of 5. While it's a great
starting point, it's just a bit incomplete. All in all, the price is a bit much but worth it, and
for learning a beautiful art with a great teacher, you might give it a shot.
ONE LAST THING
Tyas recommends that people don't start with a clear acrylic ball. Most beginners are so
paranoid that they'll drop it, and for me, this couldn't be further from the truth. Besides an
acrylic ball, I also bought some rubber balls, which are excellent to practice with. You can find
out what ball size is right for you, and if you drop them (and believe me, YOU WILL), you'll be able
to catch them on the bounce if you're on pavement or a wooden floor.
Today, when you order "CONTACT Starring Tyas Frantz", you'll instantly be emailed a Penguin Magic gift certificate. You can spend it on anything you like at Penguin, just like cash. Just complete your order as normal, and within seconds you'll get an email with your gift certificate.
FREE SHIPPING TO THE UNITED STATES. This product qualifies for PENGUIN FLAT-PACK™ (World-wide free shipping)
Worst contact dvd ever!
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Meh
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Ok
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Good introduction
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