"The Unexpected" DVD by Marc Spelmann and Peter Nardi
Suggested Retail USD$65.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"The Unexpected", a two disc set by Marc Spelmann, is a marvelous collection of slick pieces of mentalism that, if not strictly impromptu, are at least easy to get into, get out of, and get great reactions from.

The impromptu thing is the big deal here. Spelmann and Nardi say quite simply that the material here is meant for impromptu performances, "those times when..." kind of things. Now, it has come to pass in the world of magic that "impromptu" is one of those terms that means something different to each person and/or creator. For my own take on it, "impromptu" means something I can do at a moment's notice without anything other than the stuff I usually carry on me: wallet, bills, change, pen, watch, business cards and the like. If you think like that, then a great deal of the material here truly does live up to the "impromptu" label.

The material also lives up to a few other things, namely simple executions, flexible presentations, and the potential for a truckload of impact. Where some will feel let down will be in the "plain jane" demonstrations and the oh-so-simple and usually oh-so-common methods employed by Spelmann and Nardi.

As for the material itself, there's a lot of it, too much to cover it all in detail (we're talking almost four hours of video here) so let's hit the ones on the far ends of the spectrum.

"Fist Full of Dollars" has you holding your hands in two fists, telling the spectator that one hand holds a bill of some sort and the other hand is empty. If they pick the hand with the bill, they get it. Of course, they never win, but upon looking at the bill it's seen that you predicted which hand they would choose ahead of time. This is a neat idea, one I like, but I didn't care for the clothing requirements or the set-up required. It did get the wheels turning, and that's something.

"Drinks on the Patio" is one of my favorites, not for the theme but for a nice Nardi subtlety. It begins with a number of cards upon which is written types of liquors and wines ("Jack Daniels", "pink champagne", and the like). A process of elimination follows, with a neat prediction matching the remaining card. Most folks will pass on this one due to the well-known and little-respected method; me, I'll probably end up making us of this one way or the other.

"Take Note" is a one-in-three prediction effect using three bills of different values. A spectator picks one and their pick matches a prior prediction. I don't care for multiple-out routines, but this one has a nice piece of work or two thrown in that did appeal to me. Another one that got me a -thinkin'.

"Perfect ESP" got me. Badly. Figures are drawn on business cards, forming two sets. One set is given to a spectator, mixed by them, and you place a card down as a prediction. The spectator places one of their cards down. This continues until finally the cards are turned over and shown to all match. It's "Symbology" done quite sneakily and it's a good piece.

"Single Handed Geller" is a one-handed coin bend. This one goes beyond impromptu (for obvious reasons) and it's a so-so effect. I'd stick to the coin bend I already do, but if you're looking for one, this is adequate.

"Underhand Thoughts" is something I've been doing for a while, courtesy of John Riggs. It's a drawing duplication done with card sleights (which probably will repulse some purists) but it's a great piece of business.

"A Tribute to Mr. Kane" is mildly interesting, but no great shakes. There are better mathematical bits out there that don't have the weaknesses of this one. Still, it'll play and, if you really want to do it, it's certainly easy enough to get into.

Along the way, there are also multiple predictions, a serial number reading, and, probably because there's a law that says every mentalism video must contain one, a book test. Surprisingly, there's also a discussion of a short and simple two-person code.

Now the fun and not-so-fun stuff.

First, if you've been in mentalism and magic for a while, you'll find most of the material is familiar. There are some original ideas here and there ("Perfect ESP" is probably my pick of the discs) but if you're looking for all new methods each and every time, you're out of luck and in for some disappointment. However, the ideas of doing this stuff impromptu -- and wringing more out of it than Nardi and Spelmann demonstrate -- will usually make up for it.

Second, "impromptu" is in the eye of the beholder here. For the most part, you'll need business cards, bills of some sort, and a pen or marker and you're good to go. In a few cases you'll need to make a trip to the bathroom to set things up (at least as presented on the discs -- a little thought can get you around having to use the "weak bladder ploy"). In a few rare cases, you move out of the world of impromptu and into the one of carrying things with minor set-ups. The majority of the pieces are perfect for those times when doing something impromptu is called for, but certainly not all of them are.

Third, the performances on the discs really are demonstrations. Things are kept very barebones (Spelmann and Nardi even joke about their "psychic powers", to the point where it's fun watching them run through their stuff). in regard to presentations. Nothing wrong with that since, if you get these discs, you should know you're going to put in more time working on making them your own personal pieces than in working through the mechanics. So forget about these things being shot in front of live audiences and forget word-by-word presentations; neither are here and, honestly, probably wouldn't elevate the value of the material anyway.

And the material is, on the whole, quite valuable. What is there that is not interesting is more than made up for with other material that will get you thinking.

Spelmann makes a comment at one point that sums up the material on these discs, saying to the effect that this is not material you prepare and carry with you and build an act around; rather, it's material you learn and keep in the back of your mind for those times when you want to do something and need ideas. This material is exactly that and, when "those times" come, it's material that will certainly hold its own. I'd argue that Spelmann sells a couple of pieces short and that they do belong in a structured act, but, hey, I'm picky that way.

All in all, this is a great set of material and thinking that pretty much accomplishes what it sets out to do and that makes it a worthwhile investment.

"The Unexpected" by Marc Spelman and Peter Nardi
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Material: 9
The material is supposed to be impromptu mental pieces, and quite often it is (if you loosen the definition a bit to include pieces done with commonly carried objects). Like any collection, there are hits and misses, but for the most part this is a great collection of material for those times when you're put on the spot (or put yourself there).

Practicality: 10
Little or no set-up, little or no reset, different handlings for different situations... The material here is all really quite practical.

Quality of Production: 9
The camera work is great, but the sound needs some help in places. A little training with mikes would have helped a lot, too. Overall, though, this is a very well produced video.

Quality of Instruction: 10
It's too guys talking about things, and I always love that approach. It works remarkably well here as Spelman and Nardi both cover the basics and the more advanced workings excellently and make it all entertaining besides.

Presentation: 9
It's all about making things look mental, and almost always the material succeeds. Of particular interest is the flexibility built into the presentations, which goes a long way in making some of these things quite easy to personalize to your own style.


Shane

Available direct from your favorite dealer. Dealers, please contact Murphy's Magic Supplies, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-853-7403 or visit Murphy's Magic Supplies website.