20070428

April 28. 2007

Here's what's in this edition of
Jheff's Marketplace of the Mind Newsletter

*** CHILD'S PLAY by Kracker & Frank
*** CHILD'S PLAY II: STEALTH by Kracker & Frank

To make a purchase of any item in the JMOM newsletter,
please go to http://www.MarketplaceoftheMind.com
and use the shopping cart. If you're unable to do
this, you may respond to this e-mail.

To make sure you've not been missing any newsletters, check
out my blog, which is accessible from the main page. All of
the recent past newsletters are archived there.

*********
I've been getting quite a few e-mails regarding the new Bob
Cassidy DVD and the new Richard Osterlind DVD. Since the
new Cassidy DVD is being republished by Meir Yedid, I'm sure
the production quality will be better than the one Bob
originally did. The material in there is strong, but I'll
wait to see this new version before I officially post my
comments.

As to Richard Osterlind's new DVD, No Camera Tricks, I've
decided NOT to carry it. Is that shocking? I'm sure you
want to know why. Well, on his site Richard offers a bonus
fourth disc and a bonus booklet. Unfortunately, I can't
offer the bonuses. If you purchase through me, you'll get a
10% discount (15% if you're a Marketplace member). That's a
$10 to $15 difference. The bonuses have some great stuff in
them. I think it's a no-brainer to conclude that these
bonuses are worth far more than the $10-$15 you'd be saving
when you purchase through me. Finally, and certainly not
the least of the reasons, you'd be supporting Richard. I'll
certainly post my comments on them after I get them. For
details on the discs and the bonuses, I do have a page on my
website about them.

Here's the link to purchase these discs:
http://www.osterlindstore.com/catalog

***** CATCHING UP
I'll be sending out a bunch of newsletters over the next
couple of days. This issue has the Child's Play effects by
Kracker & Frank. That's following by another issue which
will contain my comments on John Rigg's Gods with Feet of
Clay DVD series. Then, I'll have sent out with two items
from Marc Oberon and, hopefully, the new Bob Cassidy DVD.
With the exception of the Cassidy item, my comments for all
the rest are already on my website if you can't wait.

***** TRIO AND THE MEMORY PILL ACT
The creator of the classic Blister effect, Jack Kent Tillar,
has a new book destined to be a mentalism classic. TRIO is
a book comprised of three complete knock-out mentalism acts.
And THE MEMORY PILL ACT, one of Bascom Jones' favorites, is
a complete act, as well. Getting paid to do any one of
these acts will more than cover the cost of both. Step on
over to the Marketplace of the Mind and check them out, if
you haven't already. And, if you have and have not ordered
them, do so. I know that you'll be glad you did.

Incidentally, the price will be going up on May 1 for THE
MEMORY PILL ACT. Those who purchase TMPA at its $19.95
price will be receiving an e-mail about how to obtain the
next e-book, the second volume of The Private Files of Jack
Kent Tillar, before anyone else and a special sale price.

***** MARKETPACE MEMBERSHIP CLUB
The second issue of Jheff's Journal of the Mind features
John Riggs. The issue features some killer stuff that you
don't want to miss. To get it, you need to buy a membership
in the Marketplace of the Mind. For the $37 cost
you get a subscription to the 2007 issues of
Jheff's Journal of the Mind, an all-new e-zine for
mentalists, and an additional 5% discount off merchandise
from the Marketplace of the Mind. There will also be
specials and other stuff throughout the year. Check out the
free preview edition of the Bonus #0 issue featuring Jack
Kent Tillar. Go to the website and click on the banner at
the top. Or use the link below.

Check it out here:
www.marketplaceofthemind.com/jmmc.html

***** THE FRIENDS OF THE MARKETPLACE
Don't forget to check out the new Friends of the Marketplace
section. This is for those creators who are producing
wonderful products that I don't carry. This is because, to
save overhead, I order as needed from my distributor, and
these creators aren't mass distributing it. If you'd like
me to review your product and help you sell it, then you'll
find details about the Friends of the Marketplace program on
the website. There's a button on the left hand side for you
to click on.

Brand new to the section are Loren Tindall's beautiful new
THE DELPHI PORTAL, which is a must-have prop for anyone who
is a reader, and Gene Nielsen's THE MAGICK YEARS, a jam-
packed e-book filled with over 70 professional and varied
routines.

You'll also find John Rigg's John Riggs' first three
volumes of his DVD series, GODS WITH FEET OF CLAY. This
is definitely a series that you don't want to miss. And
then there's Millard Longman's incredible new peek
method,ACIDUS GLOBUS; Alan Strydom's very nice and powerful
routine, CREATING IMPACT; and Enrique Enriquez' The
Invisible Tarot, a wonderful reading system for Tarot cards.
Also,you'll find Reflections, an impressive new prop from
Outlaw Products, who also produced the wonderful Homicide,
Manhattanville, Sinister, and Kioku. You'll also find
links to some other wonderful products. There's the new
version of Nick Morton's A Dangerous Love, which is a
unique book test; Josh Quinn's Ascension, which is a
diabolical reading system using supermarket horoscope
books; Millard Longman's Acidus Novus DVD, a masters
course on one of mentalism's most important techniques;
Bryn Reynold's powerful casino card effect, Double Down,
and his serial number divination gem, simply entitled $.

Remember, I don't make a dime on this stuff. I do this
because I think the stuff is very good and worth it.

http://www.jheff.com/friendsofthemarketplace.html

Until next time. -- Jheff

*********
KRACKER & FRANK
CHILD'S PLAY
Suggested Retail Price: $65; $75 (extended version)
Available at:
http://www.mrmagic-columbus.com/store_page_one.htm

THE BLURB:
This is a twist on the old kids game "Guess Which Hand?".
The game can go on and on and the magician will always be
able guess which hand holds the Listerine packet. A great
Mentalist bit. Child's Play comes with everything you need
to perform, including the gimmick and detailed instructions
and 3 different routines. Magic Magazine March 2006 said, "
Good product worthy of consideration"

We also recommend using "Scorpion" by Outlaw Effects with
our Child's Play products. This effect makes a great add on
to our product. It can be found at www.outlaw-effects.com
. We are not responsible for misuse of the "Scorpion" in
performances.

Optional marbles (colored marbles may vary from shown) for
purchase with this effect or Child's Play II

Five spectators remove marbles from a bag. Magician can
tell who removed the black one. $8.00 Marbles available in
pearlescent red (shown), white, and pearlescent green.

I am not sure if I mentioned it in the literature I sent you
but the CPI (Original Version) also is available in an
extended version. The extended version has a longer cord
and the vibrating unit will then be placed in your coat or
pants pocket. The extended version has a retail of $70.00
($5.00 more than the standard model).

MY COMMENTS:
This is a souped-up version of Charles Gauci's Eye-to-Eye,
which became part of Jason Alexander's award-winning Magic
Castle act. The basic idea is that a spectator holds and
hides an object (or two) in her hands. The performer is
then able to identify which hand has what object. In
Gauci's version, magnets and hidden gimmicks are used. Some
found the placement of those hidden gimmicks to be
uncomfortable and looked for alternative methods. Child's
Play is one of those alternatives that was developed. Like
Gauci's version, strong magnets are still involved and
gimmicks are still hidden on your body, but the body part is
certainly less problematic. With this version, though,
electronics are used in a significant manner and the
gimmicks are concealed on a different body part. The
gimmick is certainly small and practical. You can certainly
use this for an impromptu or walkaround situation, though
there may be some who will be uncomfortable with it. Also,
like the Gauci version, you certainly can't set this up in
front of the spectators.

Another complaint with Gauci's version is that the object is
a marble and not something ordinarily found in one's pocket.
This version uses a package of Listerine breath strips. I'm
not sure I can rank this as an improvement or a drawback.
It's certainly a stylistic difference, though if one wants
to do this impromptu, it's certainly more believable to have
a Listerine packet in your packet than a child's plastic
marble.

Unfortunately, the skimpy two-page instructions do not
provide a detailed routine. It only details how to work the
props. Professional performers should have no trouble
coming up with a routine for this and making it a powerful
routine, but novice performers may not understand the
subtleties necessary to actually make this the stunning
performance piece that performers such as Jason Alexander
and Charles Gauci have done. And this is why I cannot
recommend this effect for the novice performer, but
experienced performers who are looking for a decent
alternative to Gauci's methodology may definitely want to
consider this.

NOTE: The extended version allows you to place the gimmick
in a more deceptive place on your body which is not as close
to the hands as the original (which is definitely not to say
the gimmick is in the hand!).

*********
RON FRANK
CHILD'S PLAY II - STEALTH EDITION
Suggested Retail Price: $225 ($395 deluxe dress model)
Available at:
http://www.mrmagic-columbus.com/store_page_one.htm

THE BLURB:
This new version is 100% electronic and is really baffling!
The idea is the same as in Child's Play, but you can wear
short sleeves, no sleeves, or perform completely nude, if
you desire. The "device" is extremely clever and
undetectable. You won't believe it yourself. Child's Play II
comes with everything you need to perform, including the
gimmick and detailed instructions and several other
routines. Magic Magazine March 2006 said, " Clever idea,good
product worthy of consideration, priced reasonable". Free
set of marbles when purchased direct from this web site or
by phone.   We now have a deluxe dress model available by
special order. If you e-mail or call I will be happy to
give you information as well as pictures.   The e-mail is
mrmagic@columbus.rr.com. We also recommend using "Scorpion"
by Outlaw Effects with our Child's Play products. This
effect makes a great add on to our product.   It can be
found at www.outlaw-effects.com . We are not responsible
for misuse of the "Scorpion" in performances.

MY COMMENTS:
If you see the package, you'd know that the gimmick for this
new version is part of a wristwatch. Even better, this
watch is a real working watch that you can wear. You can
put it on and take it off right in front of the spectators.
This is a significant improvement over the original Child's
Play and makes this a far superior tool for the working
mentalist. You can actually use this for many other
routines and not just the Child's Play routine. By the way,
the free set of marbles that are mentioned above allow you
to do Charles Gauci's Body Language (a version of Max
Maven's Kurotsoke). This model is definitely recommended
for those who don't mind using these types of utility props,
but, like I advised for the original Child's Play, it's not
for the novice performer. See below.

[NOTE: There is a deluxe dress model available for $365.
If you're interested in that, then contact the creators.]

Some of my comments on the original Child's Play still
apply. Here's an edited version of those comments:

"This is a souped-up version of Charles Gauci's Eye-to-Eye,
which became part of Jason Alexander's award-winning Magic
Castle act. The basic idea is that a spectator holds and
hides an object (or two) in her hands. The performer is
then able to identify which hand has what object. In
Gauci's version, magnets and hidden gimmicks are used. Some
found the placement of those hidden gimmicks to be
uncomfortable and looked for alternative methods. Child's
Play is one of those alternatives that was developed. Like
Gauci's version, strong magnets are still involved.

*********

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please go to http://www.MarketplaceoftheMind.com
and use the shopping cart. If you're unable to do
this, you may respond to this e-mail.

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