February 15, 2008
Here's what's in this edition of
Jheff's Marketplace of the Mind Newsletter
*** RONNING GUIDE TO MODERN STAGE HYPNOSIS
- Geoff Ronning
*** THE ROSINI SECRET - Docc Hilford
*** SZECHUAN SAMPLER 2.0 - Larry Becker & Lee Earle
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.
*********
It's been awhile since I sent out a newsletter. Does that
mean that nothing new has come out? Nope, but there hasn't
been a lot of stuff released. What has come out, though, is
good stuff. And there's a few more items coming. Larry
Becker & Lee Earle have a brand new effect, Baffling BS, and
Kenton Knepper has a new CD, Subliminal Secrets. Both of
those are already available on the website and my comments
will be added soon.
Other items that I've received include Jason Palter's iKnow,
an effect using iPods and MP3 players and Masuda's Frozen in
Time, which has been around awhile, but my distributor is
now handling it. Both items will be up on the site soon and
I hope to have another newsletter this weekend for these
items. Finally, I received JP and Mahen's Calculus, which
takes advantage of a calculator on your cellphone, but the
CD doesn't play in my computer. Hopefully, I'll get one
that does work.
**** DISCONTINUED ITEMS
Products that have been discontinued and are no longer in
stock or available through me are: Andy Leviss' It's A
Match, Eugene Burger's Ob-Serv-O, Banachek's PK Sharpie,
Harry Lorayne's Mathematical Wizardry, and Kenton Knepper's
Wonder Words CDs Volume 1, 2 and 3.
**** CHARLES GAUCI & MAGIC WAGON
Magic Wagon is releasing an effect entitled Numerical
Correspondence that is very similar to Charles Gauci's
Nostradamus. Unfortunately, I'm vaguely familiar with
Nostradamus and not at all familiar with Magic Wagon's
version. Though the principles Charles Gauci uses are not
new, his prop and routine are unique. Since I'm not really
familiar with both items, I won't accuse Magic Wagon ripping
off Mr. Gauci, but you should just be wary that there are
suspicious similarities.
**** CONVERSATIONS OF THE MIND
Okay, hopefully most of you know about the Marketplace
Membership which features the Journal of the Mind, plus
specials and discounts on merchandise. I've decided to add
a brand new feature called Conversations of the Mind. This
will consist of conference calls to discuss various subjects
and also to converse with top performers in the field. Many
top performers are not releasing books or new material and
do not fit the format of the Journal of the Mind, but they
would be ideal for the new Conversations of the Mind.
Subjects that I've been requested to cover include
structuring acts, effects that can be done totally impromptu
and with ungimmicked items, Q&A routines, marketing, and
selecting material for your act.
These conversations, which will be recorded and available
for download, will be accessible only to those who have
Marketplace Memberships (see below). However, the very
first one will be available to all newsletter subscribers as
that one will be available later as a free preview. I have
tentatively scheduled the first conversation to take place
on Monday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (and it's
very tentative right now). Unfortunately, there is only a
limited number of folks who will be able to participate. I
can't tell you how many yet as I'm still undecided about
which service I'll use to make this happen.
The first topic will be an important one to all mentalists:
the difference between performing mentalism and magic. It's
an issue that I've been working on for awhile (and I'm
planning on finishing my book on this subject to be out by
the year's end). For those magicians who wish to get into
mentalism, I'll discuss the differences and how to make the
mentalism more effective. For mentalists, the information
may help you greatly improve your act. Of course, this
topic is one that I can use to cover quite a few questions
that people have.
Speaking of that, if anyone would like to submit questions
ahead of time to me on this topic, please do so. I will
definitely answer all the questions I have in the allotted
time. And, of course, I will certainly send out details and
instructions as we get closer to the date of the conference
call.
**** PAOLO CAVALLI
Paolo has long been considered one of the most creative
thinkers in mentalism. I've just added six of his works to
my website as part of the Friends of the Marketplace
program. They are Omicron, Sigma, Upsilon, Con-Federacy,
The Watermark Codex, and The Flytrap Experience. I hope to
have comments on them soon.
**** 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.
Outlaw-Effects have a beautiful new aged book called The
Witches' Almanac and it is their best aged book yet. 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. Also new to the section are Ron
Martin's THE TAROT READER'S NOTEBOOK, a must-have for Tarot
readers; Joshua Quinn's DUPLICITY, which takes your favorite
drawing dupe routine to the next level; 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
*********
GEOFFREY RONNING
RONNING GUIDE TO MODERN STAGE HYPNOSIS
JMOM Price: $32
Suggested Retail Price: $34.95
THE BLURB:
How to Start from Scratch, Hypnotize any Group, Create a
Satisfying Show, and Have as Many Bookings as You Desire in
21 Days!
The Ronning Guide to Modern Stage Hypnosis delivers
practical insights into both the on-stage and business
aspects of you career. Plus, it clearly outlines a formula
for success you can adapt to you own individual style.
Geoffrey Ronning's personal experiences make it fascinating
and his enthusiasm and confidence are absolutely contagious.
Ronning breaks down each phase of thee stage performance
into identifiable components and shows you how to work them
in any situation. He tells how to rescue a dying performance
and gain control over an uninterested or drunk audience. He
provides specific tools to apply and workbook exercises that
turn this information into living experience. Doing them
actually builds a firm foundation you can stand on when you
are on stage.
In these pages you will discover:
* The top five reasons hypnotists fail to achieve
success.
* Twelve Rules of routines and three Types of Routines
to Always Avoid
* Ten "Dos" for Stage Hypnosis Success
* The three "Never Do" rules for a Hypnosis Show.
You will also gain similarly practical guidance for getting
work and otherwise increasing your income, including:
* A sure-fire approach to getting bookings - as many as
you want - in a matter of weeks.
* Practices to maximize return bookings.
* Ways to turn every performance into a high-profit
center.
If you are going to learn about something, learn from
someone who walks the talk. Geoffrey Ronning's extremely
successful dual career-on stage as a performer and off stage
as a mentor, coach, and teacher to other successful stage
hypnotists - qualifies him in spades.
Whether you're an aspiring beginner or a seasoned
professional, you will put down this book believing that you
can be a more successful stage hypnotist...and knowing
exactly how you can do it.
Pages 384 - Hardbound
MY COMMENTS:
This is a wonderful book for those interested in adding
stage hypnosis to their repertoire. At least, after reading
it, I felt like I had received all the basics I needed to
get going. In truth, if one is serious, I would recommend
investing a bit more money in training and take one of Geoff
Ronning's courses (or someone else's), but this book does
cover quite a lot of what you need to know.
Though I am acquainted with stage hypnosis, I cannot say
that I am experienced or extremely knowledgeable in this
area. This means that I can't authoritatively compare this
material with similar texts. As to the author, Geoffrey
Ronning, he's been mentoring stage hypnotists and providing
wonderful products for many years now. He definitely knows
his craft. There's also the issue that some feel stage
hypnotism has become too ubiquitous, like magic, and since
the supply of hypnotists is great, it's difficult to get
lucrative performance fees. I can't say one way or the
other whether this is true, though I suspect it depends
largely on the market in your area. One thing's for sure,
if you're interested in stage hypnosis, I'd do research into
the markets you'd want to work in.
There is no doubt that this book seems to be more than
complete in providing knowledge about successfully
performing stage hypnsosis. It covers how to hypnotize
people, how to select the right people, and the theories of
hypnotize, as well as how to construct your act, how to
handle different kinds of situations, and how to market your
act. It's all very clearly explained, but be warned that
Ronning will make you do some of the work. He doesn't give
you a basic act, a basic stage character, or marketing
materials. You'll have to come up with those yourself, but
there's enough info and suggestions in there for you to
easily create what you need. For the price, this is an
excellent basic book on performing stage hypnosis and
highly recommended even for those curious about the subject
of stage hypnosis. Incidentally, I will add that much of his
solid advice on stagecraft and marketing can easily apply to
mentalists.
*********
DOCC HILFORD
THE ROSINI SECRET
JMOM Price: $32
Suggested Retail Price: $35
THE BLURB:
The Ultimate in Close-up Billet Reading
Effect
A small piece of paper is torn from a menu. A participant
writes a brief question on the blank side of the paper and
folds it. The mentalist uses a deck of cards in their box as
a little tray to display the folded paper. The folded paper
is returned to the participant. The cards are removed from
the box and shuffled by the sitter. She removes five cards
and they're returned to the box and put away.
As far as the mentalist is concerned EVERYTHING IS DONE!
The folded paper is burned and the mentalist reveals the
spectator's question through his interpretation of the five
chosen cards.
The mentalist undetectably switched the paper for AN EXACT
DUPLICATE and read the question without any moves. THE
SPECIAL CARD BOX DOES EVERYTHING!
Just let the sitter drop her billet on the card box and with
it seemingly in view at all times, the billet is
automatically switched. As the cards are removed and
replaced in the box, you openly read the message!
You learn how to gimmick any card box with a few minutes of
work and some basic tools like scissors and glue.
A great feature is that everything resets almost
automatically, preparing you for the next table if you do
restaurant work. You can tear a corner from a placemat or
menu to use a billet, WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE DUPLICATE
BILLETS PREVIOUSLY PREPARED.
The read can be done completely surrounded and without
additional props. No "turning away" or "looking into the
crystal". All you need is a box of unprepared playing cards,
an impromptu billet and the Rosini Secret!
Pages 24 - Saddle Stitched, B&W
MY COMMENTS:
Oh, let's not talk about the production quality and the
typos. It's the same as most of Docc's other works. If
this makes you disinterested in this booklet, then so be it.
Move on, thank you very much. For those who are more
concerned about the material inside and don't mind some
typos, let's continue this discussion. Oh, and for those
who don't use playing cards, but do use other types of
cards, like Tarot cards, this method also applies and so
you'll still want to consider this.
This is a slim little booklet that seems to have been an
academic exercise for Docc, but this is definitely effective
and has some great applications. He recounts an experience
about his grandparents and how they had been entertained by
Paul Rosini and his strolling billet routine that used a
deck of cards. Docc was determined to find the simple,
practical method that Rosini used that made it so memorable
for his grandparents. Now, this may or may not be the
method used, but it's certainly a very effective one. The
blurb pretty much gives away that the card box is a
switching box. It takes just a few moments to make and is
quite easy to do. The blurb above is certainly
representative regarding the instant reset and other
features.
In this 24 page, saddle stitched, 8.5" x 5.5" booklet, Docc
supplies a few variations of this routine that can be used
in several different types of venues or styles, and that
includes methods that don't require burning the billet. If
you're interested in doing table-hopping style readings,
this is something that you certainly should look into and is
recommended. Of course, creative performers can also use
this for other purposes.
*********
LARRY BECKER AND LEE EARLE
SZECHUAN SAMPLER 2.0
JMOM Price: 63.00
Suggested Retail Price: $69.50
THE BLURB:
The performer hands four authentic menus from different
Chinese restaurants to a participant, informing, "We're
going to take a virtual tour among these dining
establishments, sampling selections from each place until
we've ordered a four-course meal: an appetizer, main dish,
side dish, and dessert. Note that each restaurant has a wide
variety of selections and all at different prices, yes?" The
participant agrees.
"You will be the host for our culinary caper," explains the
Mentalis, "so hand three of those menus to folks you will
invite to join you. And this, (placing a letter-size card in
full view) is our gift certificate for the expenses, tax and
tip included."
Once the menus are distributed, the 'host' is instructed,
"As our gastronomical guide, you may choose a dish from any
course on the menu - we don't have to go in order. Which
course shall it be? ("A side dish")"
The performer takes out a pad and marking pen and, after
inquiring which item is being ordered, writes it down and
asks, "How much is it?" The amount is openly written down on
the pad.
All of the others each choose a different course and item
from their menus with each name and price duly recorded in a
column on the pad. "I'm certain that each of you will
agree," reminds the Mentalist, "that if you had chosen a
different course, the selection ordered would have varied
and the price would not be the same, correct?" All the
participants agree.
"Let's determine the total bill," suggests the performer,
holding the pad in full view as he adds the price of each
freely selected item. "It appears the dinner will cost
$23.45. Not bad for a party of four. Let's see how much of
that amount the gift certificate covers."
The gift certificate is turned around and is seen to be
printed with the amount $23.45!
This routine comes with professionally designed and printed
menus, all of them (except the paper takeout menu) are
glossy coated for years of use. In addition, each menu has
hidden cues for some of the most outrageous (and definitely
un-PC) gag lines you could possibly imagine, which turn the
effect from mere mental magic into belly-spitting
entertainment.
Szechuan Sampler is ready to go - no setup is required. The
routine uses no forces, no gimmicks, no stooges, and nothing
added or taken away. If you are working a repeat show, you
may rest assured that the final total will be different.
It's the perfect 'packs flat, plays big' presentation that
you can perform right away.
MY COMMENTS:
This is, and has always been, a fun routine to do that can
be quite powerful and I, for one, am incredibly glad that
it's available again. It's also quite easy to do and,
perhaps, can be categorized as "self-working." The
difference between this and the original version is that
some of the menus are now smaller and thus more portable
(they can be packed easily in a briefcase or a large manila
envelope). Also, the menus have a clever crib to help you
remember the gags that Larry and Lee have provided. Of
course, you don't have to use these "non-PC" lines. That
depends entirely on your stage persona, of course. You also
get one double-sided 8.5" by 11" sheet with the
instructions.
*********
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.
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