January 1, 2008
Here's what's in this edition of
Jheff's Marketplace of the Mind Newsletter
*** ANNEMANN 666 VOL.2 & 3 - Stuart Cumberland
*** PLASTIQUE - Larry Becker & Lee Earle
*** DEVIL OF A BAR AND PUB - Larry White, etc.
*** MORE UPDATES ON 3510
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.
*********
Happy New Year! And I hope everyone had a safe and happy
holiday season. As for New Year's resolutions, I'm not sure
I actually followed through on the ones I made last year.
But, hey, I'll give it the ol' try. There is that book
about mentalism that I've been wanting to finish for some
time now. I'll put it at the top of my list for this year
and see what happens . . .
I'm playing a bit of catch up with this issue, but there is
one new item. Stuart Cumberland completed his ANNEMANN 666
trilogy and so this issue has Volume 3 as well as Volume 2,
which I had neglected to add comments on after it had been
released. As I was writing them, I realized that I had
basically the same things to say about both. And as I
started to write my opinions of the individual effects
contained within, I realized that it really wouldn't be
necessary since most who are interested in these two volumes
will have gotten the first volume, or will get the first
volume. But there are things to say about these e-books as
you'll see below.
Unfortunately for me, about the only item from Larry Becker
and Lee Earle that is not available through me is PLASTIQUE.
This is why I've not reviewed it previously. But, for some
good news, I wanted to rectify that, so it's now been added
to the Friends of the Marketplace (which means you're
ordering directly from Larry and Lee).
Finally, though I finished reading Larry White's (et. al.)
DEVIL OF A PUB AND BAR a few weeks ago, other items just
seemed to take precedence and I just kept overlooking adding
my comments.
Okay, there's lot of new stuff coming out in 2008 and after
I give you the latest update on the whole Luke Jermay 3510
situation, I'll give you a rundown of what I know so far for
sure.
**** MORE UPDATES ON 3510
Just after I sent out the last e-mail, Luke released a
supplement to the book. It contained the missing section on
the 10 Card Poker Deal, plus additional thoughts on the
material. He also took full blame for the problems with the
text saying that he had final approval and he didn't catch
the mistake. Well, that's very honorable as that is
certainly going to hurt his reputation some on future
products, but that doesn't let Penguin off the hook despite
what Luke says. They are the publishers and they should've
been able to notice the enormous amount of editing issues
and fixed most of them. Letting it be published that way is
frankly an irrevocably incompetent act on their part. Had
this been self-published, and/or published as an e-book, or
a cheaper booklet at least, I certainly would'nt have been
quite so harsh. But someone else took Luke's work and
published it. And Luke wants to take full blame? That's
sort of like the child who takes blame to let his parents
off the hook. It doesn't hold in that case and it doesn't
hold here. I still find Penguin quite culpable and
untrustworthy with their products.
If anyone wants a copy of the supplement, e-mail me and I'll
send you a copy.
**** PRODUCT UPDATES
Larry Becker and Lee Earle have been very busy and have a
whole bunch of new items coming out. SHHHH!, BAFFLING BS,
and PUZZLE PARADOX are three new items due out within the
next month or two. Also, an old favorite, SZHECHUAN
SAMPLER, is being re-issued as version 2.0, though from the
description I'm not quite sure what's been updated as far as
the routine goes. I'm sure the Chinese menus have been
redesigned (Lee always does brilliant work in that area) and
it seems there are a few tweaks in that design to aid in the
performance. Anyhow, I'm sure Larry will let me know within
minutes of his reading this and I'll let you know in the
next newsletter.
I recently got the beautiful new WITCHES' ALMANAC from
Outlaw Effects. It certainly is one of the best things that
they have produced and definitely the best aged book in
their line. I'll have it up on my website soon with
comments and a link. For now, if you can't wait, go to
www.Outlaw-Effects.com
My distributor is finally getting the Masuda line of
products. And that means that I'll be able to get FROZEN IN
TIME, which I've had quite a few ask about. They should be
available in February and I'll be setting up a webpage soon
so you can order it.
Richard Osterlind has a new, extremely well-made hood to go
with his blindfold. It's called DARK VISION. It's
available now directly from Richard
(www.OsterlindMysteries.com) or you can wait and get it from
me in the next few weeks.
Docc Hilford has a few new items, TOP SHELF and THE TAO OF
DOCC. One is an effect and another is a book. When I'll
have more details, I'll pass them along.
Jay Sankey's REVELATIONS is a T-Shirt that has in its design
revelations for many times, including the 1089 trick and
several card effects. Also, even though EXTREMELY MENTAL
was just made available to me, it's now unavailable and has
been removed from my catalog. I do not know the reason.
Finally, Bryn Reynolds' DOUBLE DOWN has been moved from the
Friends of the Marketplace section. It is now available
from me and is cataloged at the usually discounted price.
**** HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
I will be out of the office right after Christmas and
through New Year's week. So any orders placed after the
20th of December may not be sent out until January 7.
Orders placed after Christmas definitely will not be sent
out until January 7. This excludes e-books and Marketplace
Memberships, of course.
**** PAST NEWSLETTERS NOW ON-LINE
Finally, I broke down and just decided to be plain lazy.
Instead of taking the time to re-format the newsletters and
make them all pretty looking for the blog, I decided I'd
rather spend the time on other more important things like,
oh, keeping the website up to date with the current
mentalism products and my comments.
So, there's a whole new section where you can see all the
past newsletters. If you subscribed and aren't receiving
them, either check to make sure that the newsletters aren't
being considered spam by your Internet provider, or
re-subscribe (which is the easiest).
***** MARKETPLACE MEMBERSHIP CLUB FOR 2008 AVAILABLE NOW!
For extra discounts and six issues of Jheff's Journal of the
Mind, which spotlights mentalism's hottest and most creative
talents each issue, join the 2008 Marketplace of the Mind.
Check out the 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.
Enrique Enriquez has a wonderful new e-book on the Tarot,
LOOKING AT THE MARSEILLES TAROT, which is suitable for both
beginners and experienced readers. Joshua Quinn's DUPLICITY
takes your favorite drawing dupe routine to the next level.
Also new to the section are Ron Martin's THE TAROT READER'S
NOTEBOOK, a must-have for Tarot readers; Patrick Redford's
TRIANGLE, a comic book featuring 3 clever new items; 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.
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
*********
STUART CUMBERLAND
ANNEMANN 666, VOLUME 2 & 3
Suggested Retail Price: $45
Availabe at:
http://www.annemann-666.com
THE BLURB:
VOLUME 2
Six MORE of Annemann's classic effects presented by Stuart
Cumberland.
Get ready to mystify, astound and amaze with SIX more
proven, tested, powerful "plug-and-play" effects that are
reputation makers!
You get:How To Make Wishes Come True! (Stand Head And
Shoulders
Above Any Competition)
If you give personal readings of any kind, this handling and
script will be worth it's weight in gold to you. Seriously.
I'm known as the reader that grants wishes. And you will too
with this ultra simple updated handling of a brilliant
Annemann idea. Your sitter thinks of three wishes and one or
two mysteriously reveal themselves during the
reading--apparently without you even realizing it!
Very memorable, thougthful and emotional.
ONE Newspaper Publicity Angle--
Impromptu Mentalism At It's Best!
A completely impromptu reputation maker that's logical and
mystifying.
This one technique has garnered me MUCH publicity over the
years and it can do the same for you.
Whim Of Tituba
You'll LOVE my simplified handling of this terrific seance
effect. This one never fails to leave audiences speechless.
And the best part? My handling is faster, easier and more
effective than the original.
Thoughts About Tomorrow
You'll never do the PATEO force again! Using your weird
powers of mental influence, you'll sway a volunteer to do
exactly your bidding in a straightforward appearing and
incredible manner. Perfect for lecture/demonstrations.
[A knowledge of billets is assumed and needed for this easy
effect]
Dancing With The Devil--Par Optic Vision With A Kick!
If you're looking for just one effect that packs small and
plays big, this would be one. It's PERFECT for house parties
and has the original mystery with a gorgeous blend of
psychic reading weaved in. You'll be considered a Tarot
Master, even if you don't know the meanings of a single
card! This one REALLY packs a punch!
Geoffrey Ronning's Powerful Number Test--
A Guaranteed Reputation Maker
This very simple and direct routine has a powerhouse effect
on audiences. This is Geoff's CLOSING routine that knocks
audiences out of their seats.
And yet, it's so simple it's genius.
We'll break down the complete routine--the mechanics are
ultra-simple. We'll cover the psychology that makes it whack
people in the head. Everything. You just take it, use it and
leave them knocked out cold.
If this routine doesn't knock them completely out cold, I'll
refund you your money. I already guarantee all of my
products... but I mean it. This one will knock them out.
BONUS: A Thought Readers Thoughts
MORE thoughts, tips and suggestions for becoming a better
mentalist. Tips from the front lines! It's a brutal blast of
honesty and given with the hopes you'll apply the lessons
and succeed!
VOLUME 3
THE BLURB:
ANOTHER Six MORE of Annemann's classic effects presented by
Stuart Cumberland.
Get ready to mystify, astound and amaze with SIX more
proven, tested, powerful "plug-and-play" effects that are
reputation makers!
You get:
Stuart Cumberland's
DEADsimple Seance
A powerful, spooky and memorable seance that's oh-so-easy to
do. You'll learn how to stage it, how to perform it, and how
to make it dramatic and memorable.
Using a classic Annemann handling, you will cause a message
to appear for one spectator.
No pre-show. Although it's NOT recommended, you could
literally walk in, start the seance and a message will be
delivered from a deceased person you could never have known
about beforehand.
I originally planned to package this and sell it for $97.00
alone. Note: A knowledge of the Annemann Act is needed to
perform exactly as described.
Headline Hunter
An updated version of one of Annemann's last contributions
before his death. We'll do away with a slate and turn this
into an impromptu presentation you can do literally anywhere
or anytime there are a couple of newspapers around. I'll
give you the script and two ways you can choose to end.
Dramatic, powerful and very easy to do!
Sefalaljia
A fast-paced and powerful presentation of Sefalaljia. I cut
out all the anti-climactic effects and provide you with a
script that spooks the daylights out of audiences.
Use this routine only if you want to build a reputation for
yourself!
7 Keys To Baldpate
Almost every single performer doing this routine is boring
their audiences to tears. Especially if they are using
expensive mechanical "trick" locks.
I'll teach you a fast-paced and powerful presentation using
a regular lock. It's fast, the script I give you is
excellent and highly usable. An effect that packs small and
plays big.
Mind Or Muscle?
This routine is a staggerer on it's own and a perfect
lead-in to a contact mindreading demonstration. Two
spectators each select a card in an amazingly fair appearing
manner. THEY place the cards back. The mentalist apparently
by holding the first spectators wrist easily finds the card
buried in the deck. Holding the second spectators arm, he is
able to reveal the second card.
Direct, Simple & To-The-Point:
An Example Of Annemann's Genius
An essay that gives you a glimpse of Annemann's core genius
and a discussion of a billet effect that terrifies most
mentalists: "On The Wire".
You'll learn a great effect, understand why Annemann created
the misdirection and staging as he did, and get
encouragement knowing that you don't have to run when you
aren't getting chased.
This essay WILL open your eyes not only on this one effect,
but will give you a deeper understanding of Annemann's
thinking.
Order yours now. Instant PDF Download.
MY COMMENTS:
I used these next two paragraphs to begin my review of
the first volume of this series. It applies to this one.
A mentalist not having the complete works of Annemann, or
being familiar with them, is like a preacher not owning, and
being unfamiliar with, the Bible. I'm serious. Everybody's
looking for the hot new mental effect and they overlook
classics such as Ted Annemann's work. This material was
powerful when he did it nearly one hundred years ago and
it's still powerful now. Sure, it needs to be tweaked a bit
in terms of handling and presentation to reflect modern
times and techniques, but not much.
That's where Stuart Cumberland comes in. He discovered this
eye-opening fact years ago and has been performing almost
exclusively his variations of Annemann's routines. And he
performs at corporate venues collecting four figure fees
while performing routines that are nearly hundred years old!
Ya gotta love it, right?
In this three-part series, Stuart tips the work he's done on
eighteen Annemann classics, six per e-book. I provided my
opinions on the effects in the first e-book, but have
decided that there really is no point in doing so for
volumes two and three. All of the effects are classics, all
of the originals can be found easily in Annemann's books if
you'd like to check them out beforehand, and all of them
cover a variety of different types of routines. Besides, if
you've bought the first volume, then you already know what
to expect in the remaining two. Though this may be obvious,
what I like and can use may not be your choices. Suffice it
to say that these are all brilliant routines, or brilliantly
updated routines, and worthy of study. Definitely
recommended.
*********
LARRY BECKER & LEE EARLE
PLASTIQUE
Suggested Retail Price: $59.50
Available at:
http://www.mentalismunlimited.com/
THE BLURB:
Classy, clever, and contemporary, it's the perfect choice
for stage performers, close-up magicians, walk-around mind
readers - or anybody with 60 bucks!
Predict ... the grand total of a dozen digits chosen at
random by several people, from multiple cards!
Discover...the false signature of a participant 'guilty of
identity theft' - blindfolded!
Confound...with an amazing series of coincidences while the
participants call the shots all the way!
Baffle...their brains out when a participant adds up his
choice of four digits from any card (you don't even know
which one), yet you open your hand to show that exact amount
in pocket change!
Believe...that every colorful, commercial quality card is
totally different on the front side and there are multiple
principles to handle the wise guys! There's not enough room
to list all the details, but start with instant reset,
examinable, and repeatable. Versatile? You bet!
Guaranteed!
MY COMMENTS:
This is a set of props, specifically eleven very well made
and realistic looking plastic club cards, which can be a
complete act in your pocket. There are a total of five
routines explained, with four of them being put together to
form one routine. The fifth is a bonus.
THE GRAND TOTAL is a version of Jack London's Almost Real
Prediction. With each card have sixteen digits on it in
groups of four, like regular credit cards, this lends itself
beautifully to this effect. Three participants freely take
one card. Each thinks of a group of numbers which are
called out and added up. The mentalist reveals the total.
I can be fairly certain that this was the main reason for
this effects creation, and the many other principles packed
into this set are icing on the cake. Very sweet icing, I
might add.
BAFFLE THEIR BRAINS involves a fourth spectator, who had
been doing the adding for the previous routine, and this
person concentrates on just one set of numbers on his
randomly selected card. The performer removes a bit of
change, those numbers are added up, and the totals match.
This one is really easy to do and the cards pretty much do
all the work for you.
IDENTITY THEFT involves the performer being blindfolded
while five participants sign their names on the back of the
cards. One participant, though, signs a different name.
Using the sense of hearing, the performer uses the
participants voices to detect who wrote the false name.
Incidentally, one doesn't have to use a blindfold for this
routine. There are a couple of very devious principles at
work here.
AMAZING COINCIDENCE is Larry Becker's famous "Will The Cards
Match" done with this cards. The ten cards are mixed and
dealt into two piles. The participant directs the performer
to spell each word using the cards. Actually, the
participant can do it, too. After each word, the top cards
of the piles are removed. After all the words are spelled,
the pairs are turned face up and the cards are shown to be
matched. What's clever here is that the match may not be
instantly recognized. When it is, it a great "aha" moment.
CREDIT FOR CLAIRVOYANCE involves the mixing and selection of
one face-down card. That card is signed. The cards are
mixed and turned face up. The performer holds a coin while
the participant grabs his wrist. Moving up and down the
line, the performer feels a slight hesitation over one card.
Doing it again, the coin falls out and onto one card. That
card is turned over and it has the signature.
I do have a few thoughts and concerns about this. First, I
wouldn't do all of these effects in one particular act.
That's way too much. Second, the routines mostly play for a
small group. THE GRAND TOTAL must be done with a minimum of
four people and AMAZING COINCIDENCE and CREDIT FOR
CLAIRVOYANCE both are close-up. And due to the credit card
size props, these are ideal for small group situations,
rather than one-on-one or stage.
Finally, some may be concerend that audiences will question
the cards' authenticity and thus categorize this effect as
mental magic. Sure, bringing out these props may well be
suspicious even to those performers who have solid
justifications, and then again maybe not. It will depend
entirely on whether you're comfortable using these. If you
are, you'll be able to sell the cards as real.
The package includes 4 pages of double-sided instructions
(8.5" x 11") as well as the cards. The only thing missing
is a wet-erase pen that you'll need to write on the back of
the cards. These pens are easily available from any office
supply store. Plastique is undoubtably versatile and
packed with so many principles that it will be hard not to
find a use for them. If using these plastic cards, which
are clever and contemporary, appeals to you, then I highly
recommend them.
*********
THE SCRIBE
DEVIL OF A BAR AND PUB
JMOM Price: $78
Suggested Retail Price: $85
THE BLURB:
The Devil Of A Bar And Pub is known to readers of Linking
Ring, Members of the exclusive Shadow Network and elsewhere.
The Scribe has long written reports about the goings on of
this pub, and the peculiar cast of characters that frequents
it. Those people are the alter egos of a veritable Who's Who
of the magic, bizarre and storytelling world!
Who are they and who is The Scribe? Well, that has never
been made publicly known... Until now! Yes, in addition to
over 60 of the scribe's reports- in addition to never before
published reports- in addition to reprints of the Linking
Ring Pub specials, here you will learn the identity of the
Scribe and his cohorts! We will tell you that editor and
co-publisher of Oracle Magazine, Larry White is the head of
this group, and the rest is a Who's Who of the storytelling,
bizarre and magic world- but to find out WHO's Who, you'll
have to own the book.
Leaping Lizards Magic is proud to have been chosen to bring
this VERY exclusive hard cover collection of storytelling,
bizarre and psychically entertaining magic together for the
first and ONLY time. This dust jacketed hard cover book is
383 pages and is sure to become a collector's item.
Pages 383 - Hardcover
MY COMMENTS:
This is a fun read with some fun material. That's my first
impression after reading this collection, which includes
material by Larry White, Bob Neale and Ed Solomon, among
others. There's not a lot of groundbreaking new principles,
but old ideas dressed up in fun new presentations. Most of
the routines fall into the category of "bizarre magick"
as the blurb points out ("collection of storytelling,
bizarre and psychically entertaining magic"). Each of these
routines are credited to an alias, which, again, is fun, but
I'm not really too satisfied with the "nom-de-plum" gimmick
because one really doesn't know who to credit if you wish to
use an idea. But the material, as I said, is fun to read.
I wouldn't recommend this to all mentalists, but for those
who are interested in these types of routines, I think
you'll enjoy the book a lot.
*********
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