Casanova Concept Review

Official Review

December 16th, 2010 10:03am Rating:

Reviewed by Gordon Meyer

You might wonder what the "Casanova Concept" is. I sure did, and it wasn't until about 20 minutes into the DVD that it's finally revealed. Actually, it's shown earlier, but after the third or fourth description of it one of the DVD's hosts finally labels it in an "oh by the way" moment. Further obfuscating the "concept" is the fact that its sometimes referred to as the Casanova Principle instead. And that's the problem with this DVD. It's an instructional mess and is clearly not scripted or rehearsed. Misstatements, some of which are corrected with onscreen text, abound. Tricks are explained before they're performed so you have no idea what they're intended to achieve. Frankly, at best the instructional approach is unprofessional. But worse, it's disrespectful of the purchasers time. This DVD could have easily been half of its current length and still conveyed everything necessary. The Casanova Principle is, in reality, a gaff. A 1970s mentalism gaff that has been applied to card magic. The scrolling credits at the end of the DVD quickly mention Syd Bergson's El Numero for the inspiration, but refer to Richard Osterlind's DVD as the source. Oddly, the magician credited with developing the Casanova Principle, Steve Hayne, never appears on the video. This leads to more awkward instructions as we're treated to third-person descriptions of Hayne's handling of the effect. If you're guessing this results in rather superficial discussion, you're right. There are many reviews here at My Lovely Assistant that criticize DVDs that are poorly produced. This will not be one of them. If anything, this DVD is over-produced. The uneven music track and masturbatory title sequences are, perhaps, intended to distract you from noticing that if this material had been submitted to a magazine, instead of being packaged, hyped, and sold, you could have learned it in 15 minutes and then gotten on with your life. I suggest you just do the latter and use the 90 minutes for better things. I have no doubt that strong magic can be created with these methods. Unfortunately the DVD does not include any strong performances to learn from, it goes on far too long, and just overall it feels like it was created only to milk $30 out of your wallet. Don't encourage them.

Product info for Casanova Concept

 (1)

View Clip

Steve Haynes has tweaked and developed this closely guarded secret for 17 YEARS! Now, it can be yours! The Casanova Concept is an easy to apply principle that will allow you to perform bona-fide miracles with both playing cards and business cards. It's simple and straightforward, requires the minimum of sleight of hand and will go straight into your repertoire. This is NOT a trick; it's a principle that can be applied to hundreds of routines.

Featured on this DVD:

Stroller Controller - A freely selected card is signed front and back, and then lost in the deck. You cleanly reach into your pocket and withdraw their card, showing that you had it BEFORE they even signed it!

Thru & Through - A signed Card Thru Window with a FACE UP, SIGNED selection!

Rip Trip - A signed business card is torn but miraculously restores itself!

Homing On Easy Street - A signed card disappears from the deck and appears in your pocket. TWICE! This is easy-peasy!

And, Steve Haynes' signature piece - the Casanova Closer...

Your spectator selects two cards and SIGNS them both. One is placed in their own wallet (or pocket). The other is lost in the deck. Within seconds you open your own wallet to reveal the signed selection which was apparently lost in the deck.

As your spectator is still reeling, you offer to repeat the effect. You re-open your wallet (which was empty only moments ago) and slowly withdraw a face-down card. Your spectator's eyes are popping out of their head - 'How did that signed selection get back into your wallet'?

It didn't. It's the OTHER signed card! The one that should have been in the spectators' wallet. And when they look in their pocket they find the first signed card! Then they faint!

BOTH CARDS ARE GENUINELY SIGNED BY THE SPECTATOR AND YOU NEVER TOUCH THE SPECTATOR'S WALLET!

NOTE: The Casanova Closer utilises a gimmicked wallet (not supplied). But, this is just one way to employ the Casanova Concept. The DVD also features a second method using nothing but a deck of cards and an ungimmicked wallet!

PRAISE FOR THE CASANOVA CONCEPT:

"Every ten years or so a paradigm popping concept of pure power filters through into this dimension with the potential to re-shape a chunk of the astonishment landscape. Steve Haynes' "Casanova Closer" is one of those long awaited pieces of strange. If you're doing any effect that involves signed cards moving from here to there, changing places or appearing in impossible locations...you may want to ponder the the possibility of super charging it with Casanova."
- Paul Harris

"It looks great! I can't wait to get my copy."
- Paul Green, Professional Magician

"Very Inventive, Very Creative And Very, Very Clean!"
- Steve Thomas, Professional Magician

"The Casanova concept opens the door for a myriad of effects. It's limitless. When I saw the card through glass, I jumped out of my seat. I couldn't believe my eyes. Rewind. Play. Rewind. Play. Rewind. Play..."
- Aaron Delong, Professional Magician

"Okay, so I want to learn the Casanova Closer NOW! That routine is killer, man! It floored me!"
- Cameron Francis, Professional Magician

Running Time Approximately 1hr 24min