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I recently purchased this DVD. Thought I'd share my initial thoughts on what I've got. First the effects:
Carbon Paper: A smoke stain created with a lighter travels from one card to the card the spectator initially chose from the deck.
--Very visual and TACTILE illusion. The spectator can feel the heat from the smoked card on the back of their hand. This one will be added to my routine. Re-sets easily, and has everything you want in a trick. One of my favorites on this DVD. 9/10
What If: A previous prediction written on a piece of paper answers the question 'What would you have done if I chose a different card?' The spectator chooses a card which turns out to be the prediction written down by the magi. The prediction is crumpled up, and the magician answers the question by uncrumpling piece of paper to show the spectator he predicted that card as well.--Nice idea. This also re-sets instantly, and is a cool ending for a fairly mundane predict a card routine. 7/10
Strong Medicine: The corner torn off of a bill vanishes from the hand and appears in a medicine bottle. The bill is then restored to whole.--Nice variation on the bill switch. Once again, re-sets easily (not instantly). Very visual illusion which incorporates bill switch and torn & restored with a signed bill. 8/10
Selective Memory: So-so four ace (or ann other card) routine. Four selected cards change into aces (or whatever--he used jacks). I have not tried this, but I think it has the potential to be picked up on by the spectator. Jay says he has never been caught, so I have to assume it works. Not my favorite routine. Average at 5/10
Outsider: A color changing deck routine. The spectator selects a card from a blue backed deck. It is returned to the deck, and appears as the only face up card in a red backed deck.--Easy to do. Nice visual trick, but it wasn't one of my favorites. I think this would play better for laymen rather than magicians. 6/10
Black Market: Mentalism trick with a book of matches. The spectator takes a book of matches, puts it behind his back and removes one match. Upon returning the matchbook to the magician, it is discovered the match the spectator chose is the only one blackened previously with a marker by the magician. I'm not a huge mentalism fan, and the fact this trick has numerous places where you can have it go 'wrong' make this my least favorite on the disc. It relies too much on the spectator doing exactly what you say, and if anyone is inclined to look before the revelation, the trick is shot. 2/10
Penalty Box: The spectator's selected card vanishes from inside a card case, and reappears in the deck. Told to a jail scenario with the 'murderer' escaping two guards and returning to the scene of the crime. I really like this trick. Great story to go along with the illusion, and involves the spectator. My favorite on the disc. 10/10
Sweet Bread: A sugar packet and a bill change places in the spectator's hand. Nice idea for resturant workers. Very impromptu, and re-sets easily. A cool 'quick trick'. 6/10
180 Degrees: Jay's handling of the Triumph routine. The good things I heard about this routine is the main reason I purchased the DVD. It did not disappoint. Nice clean handling of the Triumph routine which could even leave magicians scratching their head as to how it was done. I can see adding in some other convincers Jay does not to sell the effect even more. 9/10
Chameleon: A spectator selects a card, and it is lost in the deck. The magician has the spectator remove a match from a book of matches to use as a magic wand. The deck and book of matches are covered with a handkerchief, and the spectator is handed the matchbook wadded up in the hankerchief. After some unsuccessful attempts to locate the chosen card, the magician asks the spectator to check the book of matches. It has turned into their selected card. Cool idea, which Jay walks you through how to make. I like this one, but don't think I'll use it. Can't really say why other than it doesn't give me the WOW some of the other routines do. Plus, the chosen matchbook is obviously a gaff. 6/10
Sensations: Copper Silver Transposition with keys and a matchbox. Simple, effective, and great for walk around. 7/10
Signed, Singed & Delivered: A spectator puts his initials on a small piece of tissue paper. It is balled up and given to the spectator to hold. The magician then puts his initials on a piece of tissue paper, wads it up, lights it on fire, and throws the fireball into a glass. Upon examination, the spectator finds his paper contains the magicians initals, and the glass contains a wad of tissue which, when unwadded, reveals the spectator's initials. Cool transposition using flash paper. This would be very effective for bar/resturant work. 8/10
Overall, I really liked the illusions presented on the DVD. A major complaint with the set is the presentation of material. Jay produced this himself, and I really did not like how he elected to film the set. Think 'Blair Witch Project'. A single, hand held camera which moves and shakes quite frequently. Watching too long gave me a headache, which is unfortunate since I really was interested in the material being presented. It is filmed in a dark, concrete walled room, with the only illumination comming from a single bulb overhead lamp. As such, you often are unable to see some parts of the routine depending on reflections, performer position, etc. It does not help Jay is dresssed in dark clothes, and performs either on a dark milk crate or a piece of cardboard.
In going for an 'edgy, gritty' feel, I think Jay went a bit too far.. I would have much preferred a standard studio set, or even giving up the studio, mounting the bloody camera so it didn't shake so much, and stopping the quick cuts.
You also get the standard Jay Sankey 'flight of ideas' during the routine, between the routine, and during the explanations. Some of it is funny, but most of it seems to be forced, and thrown in because people expect Jay to be wild and crazy. I haven't seen Jay live, but I can't see how this much 'weirdness' can be beneficial.
In summation, the illusions are all very good. The production, in my opinion really hurts the presentation. An above average series hampered by a bad decision on the product presentation.

Yes, this was a good one. But don't bother with Volume 2. It's not as good as the first volume.

I liked these DVD's a lot. Both of them. They both have lots of practical, powerful material. I don't get though, in this review why you are marking down SOME of the ratings on these effects because of the fact that you think they are easy to catch on to, you don't like the genre of them, or that won't fool magicians.
For instance, you rated Black Market badly because it was mentalism and the fact that a spectator might look at the match early. First of all, who are we to speculate spectators thoughts. The heat is not on the match and it is inside their fist as you tell them to do. Also what was up with you calling the card matchbook in Chameleon a gaff? It isn't.
My review would be way different. I would rate them on what you have not what you would like to have.
Here is what I would rate them.
Carbon Paper - 10/10
Great magic. The trick allows them to actually feel the magic. It doesn't get anymore powerful. They are heavily involved and it takes place in their own hands.
What If - 10/10
Fantastic idea that really captures an audience by surprise. The magic something is just tossed away like trash and then when it is revealed at the end the audience gets punched in the face. Once again Sankey takes easy material and makes it powerful as heck.
Strong Medicine - 8/10
I think that this effect was very visual and seems impossible to laymen. The routine however did not look very natural and not to much psychology went in to this as far as doing the same sequence the exact same way twice for a person.
Selective Memory - 2/10
This effect just looks terrible! It is so blatant and bad looking I am really surprised Sankey has not been caught on this one. The effect is not powerful, but weak in reactions. The only reason why it gets anything out of ten is just because there is some magic in it..the transformation of four cards.
Ousider - 9/10
This routine is a beautiful, visual color changing deck routine. This is a perfect walk around routine and is very stunning. the change is not covered at all and looks great. Then it is even better because of the incorporation of a selected card. The only problem is angles aren't great on the change. Other than that it is awesome!
Black Market - 8/10
Good effect. Very practical and something you could carry with you. It isn't striking though, just good. The only move in it is great though.
Penalty Box - 10/10
Charming story with a great effect. This one is really powerful. This is something you could really use.
Sweet Bread - 10/10
Very powerful in the hands magic. A sugar packet is something that we have all seen and can be found just about anywhere along with something of the spectator's, which further makes the effect 'personalized in the hands magic.' This one is very practical and blows people away.
180 Degrees - 9/10
Very clean and convincing handling of Triumph that is all in the hands. The only issue I have is that when you do the one move it is very bold.
Chameleon - 9/10
Very powerful magic leaving a spectator with an 'impossible object.' This is a very fun trick and leaves them with a fun souvenir. This isn't terribly practical however, because of all the props required. IT is a bit restricting. You could pull it off in any situation if you tried hard though.
Sensations - 8/10
Once again powerful and practical in the hands magic! This one takes a bit of set-up and really doesn't make sense. When I say that I mean, keeping keys in a match box.
Signed, Singed, and Delivered - 6/10
I thought this trick was somewhat weak and hard to follow because of the size of the objects being used. I don't think you could use fire in too many places and you cannot exactly fit the glass cup used in your pocket.
Overall: Great, powerful, practical magic that really works! The picture and sound quality is great, but the camera work isn't too favorable. It shakes often and the brightness changes a lot too. It is kind of hard on someone's head.
Andrew

If you get bored go to www.a-miller.idz.net and watch some magic.
-Andrew

You guys rate things very highly. I think I might rate about 5 to 10 tricks, if that, that I have EVER seen a 10/10, and definitely not anything on Secret files. I think the DVD is great, but we must have different rating systems or something. The best tricks for practicality, visual nature, and very fooling to laymen, are carbon paper and what if, in my opinion.
-Oz

Andrew, and others who read this thread, you have to realize, when I rate something (anything) average gets a 5/10. To me that is 'average'. To score higher on my scale, you have to be that much above average. I also in my reviews stated my personal bias towards mentalism. That is what is fantastic about magic..different people like different things. As for calling the matchbook card a gaff, I couldn't think of anything else to call something you have to make to create an effect. I haven't come across any matchbooks made out of cards, and I collect them as a hobby!!!
I am glad you spent the time to present your own review of the DVD, and hope you could find the time to do the same for the second one, as I would like to get that too, headache not withstanding...

i have performed selective memory for a group of people down my local pub, after about 15 minutes, and they had absolutely no idea how it was done.
i think you should give it a try, you will be pleasantly surprised

Here is JUST my rating on Volume 1:
Carbon Paper= 10/10
What If= 6/10
Strong Medicine= 9/10
Selective Memory= 1/10
Outside= 9/10
Black Market= 8/10
Penalty Box= 7/10
180 Degrees= 1/10
Sweet Bread= 5/10
Chamelon= 8/10
Sensations= 1/10
Signed, Signed, and Delivered= 10/10
Overall: A Good DVD, but a lot of stinkers on them. 8/10

This is the first Sankey DVD I have purchased and I have to say Sankey IS Crazy.
Carbon Paper= 9/10
What If= 8/10
Strong Medicine= 7/10
Selective Memory= 2/10
Outside= 8/10
Black Market= 8/10
Penalty Box= 5/10
180 Degrees= 3/10
Sweet Bread= 5/10
Chamelon= 8/10
Sensations= 2/10
Signed, Signed, and Delivered= 8/10
I was pretty impressed with most of the stuff

Here's my rating:
Carbon Paper = 9/10 (a very good one but I don't think I'll ever use it because I never carry a lighter with me)
What If = 8/10
Strong Medicine = 10/10 (this one gets extremely good reactions from laymen. I really like this one.)
Selective Memory = 5/10
Outside = 10/10
Black Market = 9/10
Penalty Box = 9/10 (pretty good storyline)
180 Degrees = 6/10
Sweet Bread = 6/10
Chamelon = 9/10 (I like the idea of making a matchbook with a card)
Sensations = 6/10
Signed, Signed, and Delivered = 7/10
I think this volume is a lot better than vol. 2.

I think What if is well worth the price of the tape i was doing it for some friends just for fun and got huge reactions. Now I do the trick alot. People are bolwin away by the effect. Great for walk around.

I have owned this DVd for a while now, and love ALL of the effects on this! especially Chameleon! I have had people react with wild amazed laughter, and have heard such reactions as 'What?!! No f****ng way, man!' For me, Chameleon rocks!

The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.

Carbon Paper seems to get the highest raing by almost everyone here. From gandolf, Andrew, Ozer4, and ShizNick. I'm thinking of adding this effect to my r'epertoire. I just smoked some cards this morning and by afternoon they are perfectly flat after ripping them with other cards. Have you guys performed this to laypeople? If so what are the reaction? Did you like doing this effect?

One hundred percent of the shots you don't take don't go in - Wayne Gretzky
My favorite part is putting the gaffs in the spectators hands..it gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside! - Bob Kohler