What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

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r paul wilson
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What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby r paul wilson » January 26th, 2013, 5:51 pm

As many of you know, last year Jason England and I embarked on our "Unreal Tour" around the United States to interview magicians, film collections and record new tricks and ideas for the magic fraternity.

The first product of this was "The Unreal Work 2", which was released before Christmas, has been a huge success so far and will soon be available on DVD.

The Unreal Work short films started going online about two weeks ago. These are interviews on subjects relating to magic and magicians designed to stimulate thought and discussion in the magic community and to offer the public an insight into our little world. The third one goes online in a few days and will discuss the public's perception of magic.

The Unreal Sessions is the third product of our tour and is strictly for magicians only. The sessions feature tricks, sleights and ideas from myself and Jason England with a guest contributor to each edition. In addition to the three items taught there will also be a performance-only piece of "Buried Treasure" that viewers must find and learn from the printed page.

The Unreal Sessions is a fresh idea and, we hope, a great way to share material.

Each episode costs $9.95, which is often the price for a single effect or move. For this we offer three items, sometimes four, plus a great trick to dig out of your library.

We are also offering a subscription to all ten episodes for $64.95 making every episode a real bargain at just $6.50. Subscribers will also receive access to full-length interviews and additional content.

Many of you have voiced concerns about buying online content but "Unreal" customers will all be given the chance to own DVDs of the same content for the cost of shipping and handling.

The Unreal project is all about sharing our experiences and offering real value for money. Everything is filmed on the road and on location with professional sound and video.

Purchasers of the online version of Unreal Work 2 will be offered the DVDs for the cost of shipping and handling and the same deal will be offered to "Unreal Sessions" subscribers.

When the "Unreal Sessions" hits DVD, subscribers will get the same deal and will save on the final price of the DVD sets, while getting full access to the material as it comes out.

What will be on the sessions?

Future episodes will feature a fantastic effect from Asi Wind that went straight into our repertoires, is incredibly commercial and fooled Jason England on camera (he blinks twice - that's his tell); an unpublished Vernon idea from Gary Plants; a magical, fun, rubber band interlude from Christian Engblom; the real work on a classic effect from Johnny Thompson; a magical sequence with a surprise ending from Lance Pierce; an incredibly useful sleight with hundreds of applications from Mark Mason; a miracle oil and water routine from David Solomon and an ingenious sleight from Steve Reynolds.

This week's premier episode features:

Instant Aces - Paul's version of a Marlo classic. Hands are shown empty, waved over the tabled deck and four aces instantly appear on top of the deck. In Paul's version you end completely clean!

Conning Caveney - Jason takes a terrific Steve Forte idea and turns it into a powerful, baffling gambling demonstration.

DaZinser - Dani DaOrtiz presents his version of a Hofzinser plot, fooling everyone at the table. Dani places two cards aside and lets the spectator cut any amount of cards. The total of the two cards is the same as that number. He repeats but lets the audience choose the two cards in the fairest manner. Again they add up to the number cut from the deck. A really great trick from a modern master.

Buried Treasure - a classic effect from Bob King, performed by Jason England.

Bonus: Paul teaches a great way to count cards on top of the deck, secretly.

Join the Unreal Session at:

http://shop.dananddave.com/magic-tricks ... sions.html

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mrgoat
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby mrgoat » January 27th, 2013, 5:37 am

Brilliant idea.

Great to see someone like you guys step up and try something new, and provide content at a reasonable price in a manner that is easy to get.

Friction free, as they say.

I'm going to give it a go.

Congrats on the launch.

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AJM
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby AJM » January 27th, 2013, 6:10 am

Sounds very interesting indeed - I was very impressed by the content of the Unreal Work videos as well as Brad Henderson's recent documentary.

I wonder how many Real Secrets subscribers will switch to this new offering at renewal time? Completely different products, I know, but wonder if there will be any impact.

Cheers

Andrew

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erdnasephile
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby erdnasephile » January 27th, 2013, 8:48 am

I'm in and looking forward to this!

To Andrew's question: I wonder as well how much crossover there will be. The main appeal of RS seems to be the "toy" factor and exclusivity aspects. Both projects appeal to me in different ways.

I hope that Paul & Jason's as well as John Carney's streaming projects prosper mightily this year. (Although I still prefer books!)

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 27th, 2013, 1:58 pm

This project sounds great, but it bears no relation of any kind to Real Secrets.

I would expect that in the coming months and years you will see more and more information in our field disseminated in this way.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Ian Kendall
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby Ian Kendall » January 27th, 2013, 2:17 pm

It's been trickling this way for a while now. I started the Virtual Sessions seven years ago, and since then there have been several video series presented over the net. Back then, however, there was much less awareness of the possibilities.

r paul wilson
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby r paul wilson » January 27th, 2013, 2:19 pm

I agree with Richard and would hate to lose my Real Secrets monthly packages.

They are all fascinating and I'm completely kicking myself that I didn't have two of them with me a few days ago.

It's a fantastic bargain IMO

P

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AJM
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby AJM » January 27th, 2013, 3:08 pm

My point here is that Paul has given us a good idea of what to expect with each episode in a way that RS didn't.

As a result, with folks now having had experience of almost a year's worth of RS effects they may feel that another year's subscription is not for them.

While I do admire Real Secret's approach, I do feel sometimes that they are their own worst enemy.

That being said, I hope both projects thrive throughout 2013.

Andrew

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Dustin Stinett
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby Dustin Stinett » January 27th, 2013, 4:06 pm

I see that Andrew is, like me, an analyst, so he is thinking exactly like we HAVE to think! While we know that these two lines are completely different, they are still competing for the same dollar. In some casesas in minethose dollars are rather limited these days so a decision must be made. In this case, it is a VERY tough decision!

Dustin
("Rollin' pennies for gas broke." Jeff Foxworthy)

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AJM
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby AJM » January 27th, 2013, 4:26 pm

Well done indeed, sir, I am indeed an analyst during the normal working week (and usually most weekends too, I'm sorry to say).

Regards

Andrew

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erdnasephile
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby erdnasephile » January 27th, 2013, 6:57 pm

Dustin's point is well taken. Lots of quality products chasing fewer dollars.

I think besides the financial issues, the other resources that are limited for me are attention costs and practice time.

There's so much great stuff out right now that I feel like I'm going to miss something while I try to study everything I've purchased. (I haven't even worked through half of Paul and Jason's Unreal Work, vol 2 yet. Now I'm trying to get through Carney's first episode, and Giobbi's latest book--which is truly outstanding, and rereading the Vernon Book of Magic, etc.)

It's absolutely wonderful to have all this stuff available to us (and I'm grateful for it!), but sometimes I think I should just pass up some of the new stuff so I can fully digest what I've got.

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mrgoat
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby mrgoat » January 28th, 2013, 6:08 am

Ian Kendall wrote:It's been trickling this way for a while now. I started the Virtual Sessions seven years ago, and since then there have been several video series presented over the net. Back then, however, there was much less awareness of the possibilities.


Magic is finally catching up with porn in terms of monthly subscriptions for streaming content.

:)

Ian Kendall
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby Ian Kendall » January 28th, 2013, 6:57 am

So that was my mistake? Not enough boobies?

Now you tell me...

Michael Close
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby Michael Close » January 28th, 2013, 8:05 am

Ian, if you recall, that was my initial criticism of your M-U-M column.

Ian Kendall
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby Ian Kendall » January 28th, 2013, 10:09 am

Well, that settles it. I need to add more boobies to my work...

Michael Close
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby Michael Close » January 28th, 2013, 10:18 am

You could write a sequel to Kurtz's Leading with Your Head.

Pete McCabe
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby Pete McCabe » January 28th, 2013, 6:50 pm

You could write "My Breast" by J.G. Thompson Jr.

Pete McCabe
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Re: What are "The Unreal Sessions"?

Postby Pete McCabe » January 28th, 2013, 11:25 pm

The purpose of this post is to knock my previous post off of Today's Active Topics.

"The object of this expedition is to see if we can find any trace of last year's expedition." (Monty Python)


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