Jon Racherbaumer's review in MUM
Publicly reviewing the works of friends or
colleagues is usually a no-win proposition. One either diplomatically
writes adroitly worded essays or chooses to be cautiously ambiguous. In
private, one can side-step reviewing anything, remain cordially neutral,
simply praise what is obviously praiseworthy, or remain mum about
anything that might be worthy of condemnation or disapproval. In this
regard, I’m reminded of author John Barth’s comment (regarding
colleagues): “I haven’t read many of my contemporaries. They haven’t read
me either, and so we are even.” This being said, Steve Draun is an
esteemed colleague of mine, and I have always regarded him as being a
serious student of magic—someone who fastidiously set the bar high
for himself. In other words, he consistently and deeply cared about
perfecting whatever he studied, performed, and wrote about.
Steve and I met over forty years ago
because he, Dave Solomon, Simon Aronson, Jimmy Nuzzo, Bill Malone, and I
were all somehow linked with Ed Marlo, who was then at the epicenter of
the Chicago Card Scene. Nuzzo and Draun, in fact, took private lessons
from Marlo, who by the way only gave lessons to those he thought were
dedicated and promising. Steve not only learned the hard stuff, he
practiced long and hard until he could actually do the stuff—and he did
the stuff expertly. But what impressed me most about Steve was how picky
he was about what kind of tricks he learned. He was eclectic and he not a
camp-follower or acolyte of anyone. And he eventually developed his own
canon—one he could ably defend and champion—learned from many masters,
past and present. Also, he was never ambitious or preening about building
a “reputation” (one came in spite of this) nor did he rush his ideas into
print. Instead he waited several years before publishing his first book.
In other words, Steve was patient and cautious. He waited until his
approaches, ideas, presentations, finesses, and methods fully marinated
and ripened. In a way, you can say that his tacit motto has always been,
“No trick before its time…”
Well, now the time is right and L & L
Publishing has released three DVDs that are a potent distillation of
Steve’s life work in magic. All three volumes represent his working
repertoire—one sharply honed by having put each effect and routine to
every test possible, in every kind of venue. What is particularly
noteworthy is that Steve’s material impresses fast company and lay
persons, and does so without alienating either. As Ed Marlo once said:
“Steve is very discriminating in his choice of methods and effects. All
the effects he does are direct and the plots are easily understood by
laymen and magicians but their methodology is skillfully concealed from
even the most knowledgeable expert.” This is evident on these DVD in
spades, a pun Marlo would have appreciated.
For my money, the magician Steve most
closely resembles—at least in his attitude and range of mastery—is Michael
Skinner. Each included other types of magic besides expert card conjuring.
Steve, for example, is equally a home performing his version of Slydini’s
knotted silks as he is dispatching a challenging card effect like “Topsy
Turvy.” There are 28 routines fully and incisively explained on these
DVDs, plus there are two intensive workshops on the Pass, Cuts, and
Changes. In short, Steve has not held back anything. In fact, the material
on these DVDs rise like a geyser from the underground where they have
gestated until now. Check out Steve’s photograph on these DVDs. You will
see mischief and certitude in his eyes as he sports a slightly
self-effacing, ironic grin. This is a portrait of a happy man—one who has
finally and gleefully tipped his mitt, who is now supremely happy having
done so. Therefore, my advice is straight-forward: Scoop up and treasure
these gifts. I had to wait forty years; you can have them now.
Highly recommended.
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DVD
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Standing Room Only
"My life's work in front of a live audience"
Steve Draun
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Table of contents Volume 1
| Over the
years, Steve Draun has gained a laudable reputation as
one of the finest sleight-of-hand experts in the magic
underground. By perfecting and re-perfecting his magic,
magicians from around the world were invariably fooled,
stunned and affected. Back in the day, Steve Draun's
work was often discussed in hushed tones. However, as
time went on, Draun's focus shifted from fooling the
greatest minds in magic to performing for laymen. Now,
his vast and varied audiences see only the best of the
best of the best.
AMBITIOUS CARD - Anyone can construct
an Ambitious Card routine. You just combine a number of
different phases. However, constructing a routine that's
magical from the instant it starts and builds upwards
from there is rarely done. This is one of the best!!
$100 BILL SWITCH - A hilarious
presentation which solves many problems - including the
clean up!
KNOTTED SILKS - New wrinkles added to
Slydini's classic routine, including a surprise Vernon
variation.
VANISHING CIGARETTE - A lit cigarette
completely and mysteriously vanishes. A super-clean
handling that leaves them shaking their heads!
COLOR CHANGING KNIVES - Pocket knives
repeatedly change color and then - get this! - are
handed out for examination. You'll love the strong
finish for this classic - and the fact that it
automatically resets!
3 CARD MONTE - A powerful routine that
will leave the spectators rubbing their eyes in
disbelief! You'll also learn a new and unique ending.
CARDS ACROSS - A thoroughly
professional routine with an original handling. You'll
also pick up some valuable insights into palming,
holding out and adding cards.
RING FLIGHT - The classic Flying Ring
plot combined with information on how to construct your
own gimmick that will rival anything currently on the
market.
LINKING RINGS - Vernon's Symphony of
the Rings with the Draun touch. Also discussed is a flaw
that occurs when the routine is performed close up to
which a very clever solution is offered that reinforces
the illusion that all of the rings have been examined
Table of contents Volume 3
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In the foreword to Steve
Draun's lecture notes, card legend Edward
Marlo wrote, "Steve is very discriminating
in his choice of methods and effects. All
the effects he does are direct and their
plots are easily understood by laymen or
magicians but their methodology is
skillfully concealed from even the most
knowledgeable expert." Now, for the first
time in front of a live audience, you will
see Steve Draun, one of Marlo's best and
most gifted students, at the top of his
form.
PERFECT COIN VANISH - A
silver dollar is vanished with both sleeves
rolled up. Both hands are shown empty front
and back - the hands are held out in front
of the body the entire time - and then the
coin is reproduced!
ALL BACKS ROUTINE - A
spectator is asked to select a card and is
surprised to find that it has a back design
on both sides. The performer fans the cards
and shows that all of the cards have backs
on both sides. Suddenly, the deck is
returned to normal with backs and faces -
and can be used for more effects as it is
perfectly normal!
QUICK CULL - After the
spectator shuffles the cards, the performer
finds the Aces with just a few flourishes.
CENTER DEAL - A bluff
Center Deal with a setup that looks so real,
you'd swear that the Aces were in the center
of the deck!
COUNTING PUZZLE -
Magicians will see an Elmsley Count but the
results still don't seem possible! The
ending even fools those who think they know
the secret.
BLUFF ACES - Some brand
new twists on Marlo's classic effect.
TRAVELERS - An updated
version of Dai Vernon's timeless trick. The
application of more modern palms and
subtleties makes this standard even more
deceptive.
COPPER/SILVER - A
practical, efficient and deceptive handling
for a great classic of coin magic.
ONE WAY DEAL - This is one
of the tricks that made Steve Draun's
reputation. An ordinary deck is shuffled by
the spectator and the magician deals himself
a full house in seven hands of 7-Card Stud
Poker.
TOPSY TURVEY - This is
Steve Draun's handling of a trick invented
by Marlo and included in his Riffle Shuffle
trilogy. Most agree that it's the best of
the seven versions created since the
original.
BONUS MATERIAL
CUT, PASS, CHANGE & SQUARE
WORKSHOP - Learn advanced card techniques
from the master. Though challenging, these
moves, including work on running cuts, the
Thumb Pass, the Mercury Change, and squaring
a squared deck, will enable you to lift your
card magic head and shoulders above the
average card worker. |
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Table of contents Volume 2
| Though
long acclaimed as a cardman, Steve Draun has approached
dice, coins, linking rings and virtually all substrates
of magic with equal passion and perseverance. It's for
this great effort, and for his long-time experience,
that such a high degree of bafflement permeates the
magic of Steve Draun. This is also why his material is
so greatly worthy of study and appreciation by anyone
who seeks to better their own performance of magic.
OUT OF THIS WORLD - If you could
accomplish this classic effect by real magic, it might
look very much like this - the clean-up is that good!
FAN GLIMPSE - If you are not already
familiar with this now-standard method of glimpsing a
peeked card, you are in for a real treat. If you already
use it, you'll find some interesting presentational
ideas.
FACE-UP ACES - A quick, surprising
trick taught to Steve Draun by Ed Marlo. Some original
ideas were added and what emerged impresses all who see
it.
TENKAI PENNIES - An impossible-looking
technique is used to accomplish this standard, but still
powerful, trick.
MEMORY TRICK - A long-forgotten plot
is updated and you're going to love the results!
DECK VANISH - A stunning trick that
features several new palming techniques. Also, a
well-kept secret move for showing your pocket empty is
revealed that you will use all of the time.
WEB SHUFFLE - A great method for
simultaneously culling and stacking using the riffle
shuffle.
UNEXPECTED LOCATION - The spectator is
in control throughout. They shuffle, cut, remember a
card, and then cut and shuffle some more. After all of
that, the performer, after some amusing by-play, reveals
the selection!
BONUS MATERIAL
BONUS TRICK: PORTENT ACES - One of
Steve Draun's best items! An Ace-cutting trick par
excellence! MASTER PASS CLASS WORKSHOP - Learn the moves
that Steve Draun made his mark in the world of card
magic with including his touches on the Classic Pass,
the Table Pass, the Herrmann Turnover Pass, and his own
remarkable Midnight Shift. You'll also learn Jack
Sandwich, a strong trick that incorporates some of the
powerful techniques taught in this special workshop. If
you've ever wanted to learn, or improve, the Pass,
you'll find this Workshop to be an invaluable resource. |
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Special Offer
The three volume set will include a free copy of "Draun
on Dice" a VHS tape the still sells for $35 in DVD format. This offer
will expire when supplies are depleted.
The price of all four items shown below
plus free shipping is only $99
ORDER HERE
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