Home/Salesroom/The Al Schneider Technique (4 DVD's) The Schneider Technique (4DVD's) Description   The set of DVD's titled "The Al Schneider Technique" consists of four DVD's. The World Magic Center is offering the whole set only. I am not selling single parts of the set. INTRODUCTION I was talking to Frank Tougas the other day and he said that for years many people have tried to duplicate the skill with which I perform sleight-of-hand. This skill has promoted a reputation of me being a magician's magician in that my work constantly impresses if not downright deceives the average magician. I essentially use very basic moves in such a way they become new moves that really appear as magic. I feel the DVD's capture this and communicate this different approach to magic. However, Frank said that is not the real strength of the set. He believes that the real lesson is the manner with which the magic is presented. The audience is carefully and casually led down a golden path of mental destruction. The viewer is not only exposed to magic being performed at a high level of technical skill but the viewer is exposed to a style that is very disarming, charming and comfortable. Frank said that many would be attempting to duplicate this style after viewing these DVD's. As I write this, something occurs to me. For years I have shown my magic to fellow magicians. I have received respect for performing complex sleight-of-hand very well. However, I have never had the reputation of being a performer. Well, I do not hold that view. When I perform in formal settings in front of laymen I always receive sincere applause and appreciation from them. I have always questioned why magicians claim that I am a magician's magician and not a real performer. It brings to mind an incident when I did a small dealer's presentation at some convention long ago. Bob Little was on right after I did my bit. As I walked off stage and he was walking on stage he had to stop me and say this, "You know everyone says you are not really a performer, but man you are really good!" I now realize why most magicians believe I am not a performer. When I talk with magicians and show them tricks, the magicians believe I am sharing something with them personally. They do not believe I am performing. This is my style. I do not perform for my audience's. I share my magic with them. This is very endearing. The DVD's demonstrate this. A comment I constantly get from those that have seen the DVD's say that the relationship established with the audience's during the performance sequences is very, very good. This is my normal way of performing. It is also how I perform for magicians! When I perform for magician's they perceive that I am sharing personal feelings and ideas with a friend. This is not perceived as performing. The result is that they think I can talk magic but not do it. When one is truly fooled; one is not aware that one is fooled. A mystery is not magic. Volume One presents ideas about magic theory and some basic moves. Volume Two and Three present close up tricks. Volume Four presents stand up tricks. (These can be done close up. Read on.) Here is a discussion about each volume. VOLUME ONE: THEORY The material in Volume One began with a book on theory, which has been available on this web site for some years. During this period of time many have written to me expressing appreciation for that material. It is forward thinking and is very leading edge. During the construction of the material for the DVD shoot, I attempted to put this material together as a visual presentation. To test this concept I did a lecture with it in Chicago. My goal was to do the presentation live for people before putting it onto tape. That lecture went very well. The guys from Chicago are very sharp and we had some interesting discussions. Some things I put onto the tape were tested in this environment. With that experience I was able to build a very nice presentation for the first volume. The plan was to introduce some concept of theory from the book on magic theory from the web site. Then a trick would be presented incorporating the idea just presented. Then the trick would be explained relative to the idea being presented. The hope was to transform some dry theoretical information into an attention getting visual experience. In general, this has been accomplished. The tricks were designed to startle knowledgeable performers with the hope of getting them to rewind the presentation to see what really happened. I have sat beside seasoned magicians while they watched the tape. There are gasps and comments such as, "What the…" and, "Damn, that went right by me." Understand that this material is very basic. The concepts of deception transform very standard moves into feats of magic that deceive even the most seasoned of magicians. The purpose of the material on the first volume was to primarily show what makes magic, magic and what you can do to make your material powerful. The DVD touches on what the essence of magic is. To my knowledge the real meaning of what makes magic, magic has never been presented in any form. It has been discussed in the book of theory in this web site and is presented with strength in the DVD. If you are serious at all about understanding what makes magic, magic; you will watch this tape some day. The first volume also serves to introduce some basic moves, which are used in routines on the other DVD's. You may wonder why I say some of these things with such belief and strength. Understand that I have worked on this for over 42 years. I have taught hundreds of people these methods and seen them step forward and fool people in an entertaining way. These principles have been incorporated in my methods and routines that have found their way throughout the entire world. Many, many times I have been at a convention where I have watched a talented young man doing miracles and moving up the ladder of success. I see my moves in his hands. Often the person does not know what he is doing came from my mind. Occasionally the person recognizes me and offers a few words of appreciation for what I have done. I appreciate that greatly. Many say I am not a performer. Well, watch the other three DVD's in this series and decide for yourself. Those people that are in the audience during the shoots are in many audiences during many other performers' shoots. One of those people approached me after a couple performances and said to me, "You know, I have seen a lot of performers here. You are different than the others. When they do things you can kind of see things. With you there is nothing to see. It just, kind of happens." The point is this. Volume One contains the essence of what makes magic, magic. There is no superior technology. VOLUME TWO: CLOSE UP The tricks in this volume are: Ambitious Card Card-to-Card Case Dynamic Coin Tri Vanish Coins Across Off Crossed Cards Sly Napkins Himber Wallet Routine One Half Gone Hugs and Kisses Matrix As I look over this list to tell you which has served me best over the years, I see that they all have a place in my routines. In fact, if you simply did each of these tricks as presented, you would have a quality act. Here are some thoughts that come to mind. I have done Ambitious Card by borrowing a deck and pulling it on an unsuspecting audience. Once was during a lunch meeting at one of my computer contracts. Two moves into the routine the whole room was laughing so much I couldn't continue. A striking thing about this routine is that it uses the Bert Allerton's "Eye Popper" sequence. I have shown this at several lectures. Magicians constantly tell me that they never thought in a million years the move would work. They say, though, that when they see it they cannot believe how good it looks. The routine itself is very simple and direct. It is predictable but never fails to please. Here are a few words about the other effects. I did the Card-in-Card Case sequence once for a very sophisticated guy at some convention and he said he first thought I somehow got a spectator to sign a duplicate card that I slipped into the box before doing the trick. Dynamic coin is a nice introduction to other material. Then there is Tri Vanish. If you do it once, you will use it whenever you can. Three coins disappear and suddenly appear. It uses lapping and is a routine designed to capitalize on Tony Slydini's technology. It differs from his style in that you sit straight forward and do not need the wide hand motions to distract. Then we come to "Coins Across", "Off" and "Crossed Cards." These are three heavy hitters each of which has a history all its own. Here are a few words about "Crossed Cards." I was doing this routine for three Germans in an out of the way room at a convention in England. The Germans were jabbering amongst themselves while I was performing. Not knowing German, I asked what they were talking about. One guy said the other was saying how slowly you (meaning me) moved; yet there was no motion that gave the deception away. The vanish of the last coin in the version presented on the DVD is particularly striking. One would swear it is lapped. However, you can play the routine over and over and you will not detect where the coin goes. One moment you see it, then it is gone and both hands are shown both sides. I performed this several times at an SAM convention. I did it at a booth then during a close up show that was put on six-foot high screens for all to see. While doing the routine at the show, a friend heard several people behind him comment on seeing the routine at the booth and not being able to discern where the last coin went. They would say, "Now watch here, there it is … now it is gone. Did you see where it went?" Moving on to Sly Napkins. This is a very good impromptu routine with a napkin torn up and rolled into two balls. This is another tribute to Tony Slydini. In the Himber Wallet routine money is printed and money is printed and money is printed. No skill here, just a clever routine. Then there is "One Half Gone". Again, little skill is required. Whenever I would do this at conventions and then wander around and talk to the dealers they would say, "Are you doing that trick again? Ten times today I have guys looking for the coins and a coin box to fit." Once again, do this once and it will be in every show. "Hugs and Kisses", and "Matrix" of course are legendary. But here is a word about "Matrix". No one does it this way anymore. This is the simplest and most effective way. Watch the reaction of the audience on the DVD. That is what you want. VOLUME THREE: MORE CLOSE UP The tricks in this volume are: Source Coin Thru Hank Ring and Pencil Split Silver Coin and Coin Cups and Balls Face-to-Face Aces Serpent String Prof Nightmare Two-Card Transposition Marked Deck Card To Envelope Vanishing Dime Ring Gag Universal Card Copper Silver Transposition Card Palm Transposition While we cannot go over the history of all routines, let's touch on some of the more noteworthy. Ring and Pencil It uses a graduation type ring and a pencil. You can do it anywhere and it is often remembered after much more sophisticated tricks. The ring is placed on a pencil. They hold the ends. The ring jumps to your finger on the other hand. No gimmicks or extra rings. This requires some skill to do. Coin and Cone This is a heavy, heavy hitter, possibly better than "Matrix". It is a pretty trick in which a silver dollar is covered with a cone made from typing paper. Another coin, a silver dollar sized oriental coin is held in the hand, Spellbound style. The oriental coin is covered and changes places with the silver coin under the cone. This is repeated three more times. Very powerful. Serpent String This is an example of my habit of adapting stage tricks to close-up. That's all it is. But there is one touch that is how to make the gimmick that enables the trick to work. A piece of string is tied into a loose knot. The knot unties itself. You know how this works. I showed this to a non-magic friend once. He is a very astute and smart person. This got him bad. He asked me where I got a piece of string that came in such small spring-loaded sections. It is an example of someone being fooled so bad they did not know they were fooled. Cups and Balls This routine required six years to develop. It began with the Dai Vernon routine. Pro performers including Suzanne the Magician have performed it under many conditions. There are several things that make this routine outstanding. There are no fancy or flashy moves. All moves are stable and common sense. A new move was developed specifically for this routine. Old moves were analyzed and improved considerably. The segments of the routine with the little balls are very significant. It is not just juggling as in many cups and ball routines. A reason for this is due to the fact that between each magical event, all three balls are visible to the audience. Thus, the audience can track where each is, and hence, have a clear idea of where the magic is happening. In one sequence a ball seems to leap instantaneously from one cup to another. It startles the most seasoned magician. The last phase of the routine consists of a sequence of actions for loading the final big balls. The audience is hit with several surprises in a row to cover the loading of the big balls. The final outstanding feature of this routine is that the last cup raised can produce a volume of loose material. This can range from marbles to even sand if you so choose. I once used imitation diamonds made of cut glass. Often after seeing this production of material, old time magicians would approach and say, "Ya know, ya went right by me with that load of diamonds!" The amazing part is that it is incredibly easy to do. VOLUME FOUR: STAGE STUFF While these routines have been developed to be done on stage, they have also been designed to be done very near the audience. With each of these you could stand up behind the table and perform any one of these with very good results. You can observe this in the fourth DVD. The audience is one arms length away from me during the performance and the show rolled on very well. In fact the "Zombie" routine can be done close up and surrounded. I performed it at the Magic Castle long ago in that small close up room. The room was jammed. People were standing on both sides of the room. The ball actually floated about three inches from someone's head that was standing to my left during the performance. These routines can be used in close up quarters and are very good for stand up gigs. The tricks consist of: Linking Rings A Rope Knot Routine Golf Balls Coin Tray Routine Fusion Zombie I'll touch on just a few of these. Rings I went to a lecture in Chicago long ago to hear Al Koran give a lecture. He told the story about a tradition of performing at some club in England. The tradition required all performers to do a show at a local prison. At that time the inmates were rebelling. He had heard that in a previous show there, a performer was hit in the head with a beer bottle. In fear, he picked up a set of rings to do a quick ring routine to get on and off the stage. In this lock down environment, in front of a really tough audience he said the rings went over very, very well. He said that after that, when doing a strictly magic show (as opposed to mentalism), he would open with the rings. The ring routine presented in this DVD well as an opener although several magicians I know that perform this routine use it as their closing routine. They feel it is that strong. Shortly after developing it in Detroit I happened to present it at the local IBM meeting. Karrell Fox was in attendance and said to the entire club that the routine was the best-organized and most entertaining routine he had seen. The following Saturday he had me teach it to him at the magic shop. Frank Tougas, one of the people that do this routine, happened to be in Florida at some club meeting. He performed it there. Bev Bergeron happened to be at the meeting and came up at its end and told Frank that it was the best ring routine he had ever seen. What makes the routine so effective? It has a logical sequence of events that is somewhat predictable. The rings are shown to be separate. Then they link into a single chain with some byplay in which the rings seem to behave by themselves. Then at the end the chain suddenly falls apart to single rings. Once again there are no fancy moves here. All consists of tried and true stable moves. The sequence of moves is short, logical and entertaining. A Rope Knot Routine I do this every show and some of my close up shows. You learn to tie a knot with one hand. The method is different than the traditional. This method works every time. You can do it with ties, belts and even a large scarf rolled into a tube. Do it with both hands easily. The knot sequence is good too. Golf Balls This is an out of the pocket routine, which ends with a Giant Golf ball. I got the big golf ball with a kid's golf at home toy kit. At the end of the routine a single ball is seen resting on your palm up hand. The other hand covers it for a second and the ball is big. This is not recommended for close up, as the angles are bad. Coin Tray This could be done anywhere. How about for people waiting in line to get into a show? The audience counts ten coins and holds onto them. They give you three coins one at a time. Each time you vanish each coin in a man's pocket hank. The coin is really gone. Just before the last coin goes, the spectator feels the coin in the hank. It goes anyway. The hank is empty and can be given to a spectator. But watch the expression on the face of the lady helping me on the DVD at the end of the trick. This is what you want to happen in your show. Zombie This is legendary. This routine can be done and has been done many times close up. It can also be done and has been done surrounded. This is a serious routine. However, the audience laughs and screams during its performance. I did this at a magic manipulation contest. There were so many people laughing and screaming during the performance the judges disqualified the routine as manipulation and said it should have been done during the comedy magic part of the contest. During the routine the ball takes on a personality of its own and tries to run the show. It is a short routine about a minute and a half long. It is very fast paced and gets a punch every time. I must finish my show with this whether it is stand up or close up. A WORD ABOUT THE DVD PLAN The production of the four DVD's is part of a larger plan. When putting together material for the shoot, I attempted to put everything I had done into the shows. Then, after the DVD's came out I planed to pick up each item presented and produce a book filling in more details than would be convenient to explain in the DVD's. These books have taken the form of the .pdf books I have been selling on the Internet. Presently books that expand on the material on the DVD include: Schneider Coins Across, which goes into more detail about the coins across routine presented in Volume Two. Classic Matrix, which expands on the Matrix routine presented in Volume Two. The Schneider Vanish and Schneider Classic Vanish .pdf books go into much more detail about those vanishes that were presented in Volume One. Some new books are now ready for sale, which continues to implement the plan to provide in depth information about the tricks on the DVD's. These include: The Theory and Practice of Magic Deception is a book, which discusses the theory from volume one in much more detail. Cross Cards expands on that routine which was presented in Volume Two. The Card to Card Case .pdf covers the details of extracting a card from an empty card case and doing the card palm presented in Volume Two. More material is in production.