"Loops Volumes 1 and 2" DVD Set by Yigal Mesika and Finn Jon
Suggested Retail USD$75.00
Available from your favorite dealer
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

"Loops Volumes 1 and 2", a deluxe 2-DVD boxed set by Finn Jon and Yigal Mesiak, is quite simply a must-have for anyone working with loops or who wants to. The material here is so good, the teaching so comprehensive, it's even converted your humble reviewer from a thread hater to a lover in a little over two hours (which has to be some sort of record for ideological changes).

Yep, this is going to be a rave review, but "Loops" is worth raving about.

The first thing you notice about "Loops" is that it's not your usual disc collection. Packaged in a tin box, you figure -- and accurately so -- that this is something special. Brother, that's a runner-up for understatement of the year.

"Loops" is comprised of two discs -- Volume 1 featuring Finn Jon, the creator of the loops, and Volume 2 featuring Yigal Mesika, who has done more for the use of loops than anyone on the planet -- and an "Inner Circle" card (more on that later). Between the two discs, there are almost two hours of careful and thorough instruction by both the creator and innovator of loops, covering pretty much everything you need to know to get started with loops.

Volume 1, featuring Finn Jon, serves as an introduction to loops, their basic handlings and the thinking behind their use. Along with covering things like set-ups, resets, and the like, Jon also introduces some of his pet routines, whose titles are self-explanatory: "Floating Cigarette", "Bending Knife", "Floating Bubble", "Jumping Bill", "PK Touch", and "Floating Card". These are simple routines, with simple handlings, that will get anyone started in the proper use of loops. More than that, Jon's thinking is explored admirably by Luna Shimada, the host of the discs, and serve as a nice starting point to begin creating other loop effects.

Volume 2 builds on Volume 1 nicely and logically. Having gone through the first disc, you've gained a good knowledge of working the loops; now Volume 2, with Yigal Mesika, takes you to a whole new level. Mesika begins with storing and carrying the loops, then moves into an easy set-up. From there, he covers handling variations that, though a bit more involved than those on Volume 1, are nonetheless fairly simple and easy to grasp. After that, Mesika breaks out some of the routines possible with Jon's loops and Mesika's handlings. There are a number of pieces here, from forks that spin around on the table to finger rings that magically suspend themselves against your fingers before floating in mid-air to pens that move around in the spectator's hand to a very nice "Haunted Deck" variation (and, of course, no compilation on loops would be complete without at least one "floating bill").

In addition to the discs and the golden material contained on them, you are also given a plastic credit card-looking prop called an "Inner Circle" card, devised and taught by Mesika. This is a nice, easy-to-manage way of carrying your loops with you without worrying about tangling or breaking and a great addition to this boxed set.

That's it for the summary, so let's get to the nuts-and-bolts of things.

First up, this is a set designed for those both new to loops and old hands with the gimmick; Jon and Mesika handle that bridge very nicely with Jon keeping things simple and Mesika presenting more difficult and involved handlings and routines. The result is that there really is something for everyone here.

The problem will likely lie with truly advanced loop workers. Not being one of them, I have to say this is purely speculation on my part, but I suspect that if you've been using loops for a while, most of this material will have dawned on you at one time or the other; you may be a bit disappointed in that. However, it's all about the handlings and both Jon and Mesika could teach anyone a thing or three about that. For those advanced folks, the gold is in the handlings more than in the effects.

Second, the "Inner Circle" card, which is such a neat idea, is very, very fragile. You'll need to exercise a great deal of care in using it and, even then, it won't last for too long. Don't buy this set specifically for this prop; get it for the information.

Third, Luna Shimada hosts the discs, conducting light interviews between pieces on both discs. She does a great job of managing a discussion with Jon and Mesika over loops and, perhaps, this is where the real gold lies. From these discussions, you'll hear some great thoughts about the psychology of loops, the handling of practicality issues, and so much more. These discussions, more than anything else, made me feel comfortable about loops and put aside my dislike for them.

And how I did dislike them.

It's a testament to the quality of these discs that I put aside that dislike. Jon and Mesika do such a superb job of describing their handlings and ideas that, well, their love the loops became contagious. So I bought some loops (none are supplied in the set, which is a bit of a let-down; how perfect would it have been to also be given a supply of loops in addition to everything else? Talk about a must-have set!) and started to work. I really don't think I'll leave the house without 'em now. And that's about as high a compliment as I can pay to "Loops".

At the end of the day, "Loops" is a DVD set that is a must-have for anyone currently working with loops or who wants to. It's a great foundation to build your own material on and a treasure trove of routines and thinking if you just want to get out there and knock 'em for a loop (sorry) with striking, visual magic.

If you're into loops, you have to have "Loops". It's as simple as that.

"Loops Volumes 1 and 2" DVD Set by Yigal Mesika and Finn Jon
In a Blink: 9 Out of 10

Material: 10
This is pretty much everything you need to know about getting started with loops and then some, covering everything from set-ups to handlings to some very effective magic accomplished with Jon's creation. This set is a must-have for anyone working with loops or who would like to.

Practicality: 9
It's all about loops, so you know the limitations inherent in them. However, with Jon and Mesika at the helm of this, most of the limitations are gone as are the worries. You're still stuck with one problem that isn't addressed here (but is on the follow-up -- and sold separately -- DVD) but that's about it. All in all, the loops have been made very practical.

Quality of Production: 10
Great camera work, great sound, and simple-to-use navigation. Everything's a thumbs-up here.

Quality of Instruction: 9
Jon and Mesika do a great job of teaching their material and, with the help of host Luna Shimada, go into various facets of "looping". Some of the explanations would have benefited from using more visible loops, but otherwise you'll have little problem learning from these masters.

Presentation: 10
Verbal components are non-existant: even performances are done strictly as part of the explanation. But it's all about getting used to using the loops correctly, and the presentations are about the handlings, which are as natural as you could ever ask for.


Shane

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