April 19, 2008
Here's what's in this edition of
Jheff's Marketplace of the Mind Newsletter
*** CASUAL LITTLE MIRACLES - Ron Martin & Larry Baukin
*** THE ASSUMPTION SWINDLE - Jack Kent Tillar
*** CARDIAC - Andrew Gerard
*** 666 MENTALISM - Howard Adams
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 getting kinda comical being single again. See, with
the ex-wife and kids out of the house, I started to use the
big dining room table as an order desk and meticulously laid
out all the orders as they came in. However, I forgot to
tell the cleaning lady not to clear the table, so she, just
as meticulously, put all the stuff back in boxes. It took
me a good hour or so trying to put everything back and find
all the stuff that went with the orders. Even so, some
orders seemed to have been overloooked and I apologize if
there has been a delay. I'm back to using my old method of
processing orders.
Lots of stuff has come out and you'll be getting a bunch of
newsletters over the next week or so. If you can't wait,
then go to the website and you'll see such things as Larry
Becker & Lee Earle's Puzzle Paradox, Royal Magic's Jumbo ESP
Bicycle Deck (which is marked), Kenton Knepper and J. Tank's
Completely Cold Expanded, and Anton Corradin's SWB
(Self-Writing Blackboard). I also got Kerry Summer's Flash
Cards Memorized Deck, but I have not added my comments to it
yet.
And what about those items that I won't catalog? For the
record, if you don't see it on my website, there's probably
a pretty good reason. I'll be sending out comments on such
products as John Sheets' Nailed It and Daniel Madison's
Memento in upcoming newsletters and explaining why I can't
recommend these to mentalists.
By the way, if you don't have the dates of November 9 - 11,
2008, reserved for Mindvention 2008 at the Palace Station in
Las Vegas, you should do so. Once again it will be held at
the Palace Station and this year, which looks like it's a
greatest hits of previous years, will feature Max Maven,
Marc Spelmann, Docc Hilford, Luke Jermay, and Rick Maue.
I'm sure more surprises will be announced, but it should be
fun. Can't wait to register? I certainly wouldn't if you
already know you're coming.
Here's the link:
http://mindvention.net
**** JACK KENT TILLAR AT THE MAGIC CASTLE
Besides having a new book released (see below), Jack Tillar
will be performing at the Magic Castle this coming week,
April 21-27. I know that he'll be performing the lottery
effect from the Assumption Swindle, plus quite a few other
effects from his recent works. You don't want to miss
seeing this icon of mentalism perform his first public shows
in a very long time.
**** FREAKEY
I really do like this. I've been carrying this versatile
utility prop around and "Freakey"-ing people out since I got
it. And it's amazing how many top mentalists I've run into
that when I pull mine out to show it to them, they pull
theirs out. Freakey is simply a set of keys on a key chain.
As keys, they're pretty much indestructible and they make
sense to be in your pocket. I have one routine and about
half a dozen effects I do with it at a moment's notice.
Anyhow, Freakey is difficult to obtain because it takes time
for Gregory Wilson to manufacture them. However, my
distributor has gotten another batch in. I actually bought
an extra set for me, along with stocking up on some. I
don't know how much longer they'll be available before
there's another wait for them to be manufactured. But if
you order now, you can get one. Or two. :-)
http://www.marketplaceofthemind.com/Freakey.html
**** 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!
The new issue of Jheff's Journal of the Mind spotlights Paul
Brook, who just recently published an incredible new book
which is featured in the issue, The Alchemical Tools. To
get this issue, you need to buy a membership in the
Marketplace of the Mind.
For the $37 cost you get a subscription to the 2008 issues
of Jheff's Journal of the Mind, an all-new e-zine for
mentalists, an additional 5% discount off merchandise from
the Marketplace of the Mind, and many other very cool
features. If you want a taste of what you get, 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.
I've just added THE SAFWAN PAPERS by Bryn Reynolds and
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS by Jerome Finley, both solid
collections of memorable, mentalism material. Also,
new to the section are BILL MASON'S SENSATIONAL by E.
Raymond
Carlyle, which is a wonderful Q&A act, and Dr. Bill's
MIRABILL, an elegant update on a Stewart James classic.
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
*********
RON MARTIN & LARRY BAUKIN
CASUAL LITTLE MIRACLES
Suggested Retail Price: $97
Available at:
http://www.mevproshop.com/casual-little-miracles.html
THE BLURB:
They've Done It Again!
Hard on the heels of their recent book "Quick Commercial
Card Readings" comes the newest from two of the best minds
in the business. Another in their series of "real world"
books on readings, Larry and Ron have focused this time on
tea leaf readings. And it's more than "just a book" -- it
contains everything you need to set up at least one business
(more about this in just a moment) as a professional reader.
As a publisher and editor, it was fascinating to see CASUAL
LITTLE MIRACLES evolve from a simple premise -- how to do
tea leaf readings -- into a comprehensive treatise on how to
combine multiple systems for amazingly accurate and
effective readings for a number of different settings.
"Tea leaf readings!?!" you might ask. "Aren't they kind of
... archaic? You know, little old lady stuff?"
Fine. Don't buy this. Then wonder why your competition is
getting all the repeat business you are still struggling
for.
To paraphrase a classic commercial, "This ain't your
grandmother's tea leaf reading system." Needless to say,
when Larry and Ron take on the subject of tea leaf readings,
they inject a lot of creative thinking into the process.
Multiple Systems for the Serious Worker
Both Ron and Larry have been approached over the years to
provide tea leaf readings, but they (and party organizers)
quickly realized that you couldn't hurry a roomful of
clients through a quick tea leaf reading like you can with
card or palm readings. So they tackled the problem of how to
give more readings per hour, and in the process developed a
number of systems for this purpose.
Along with other "hidden systems" that they've used so
successfully in other kinds of readings, they realized that
many of their new systematic methods, with only a little
re-engineering, could also be used to give many other kinds
of reliable and satisfying client readings. In this book,
you'll find several methods -- some very simple, others
requiring a bit more study -- that makes finding things to
say to a client a breeze. These are (like using a memorized
deck in card magic) for the most part methods that offer
nothing visible to your client.
And here's the best part: these systems are fully applicable
to readings vastly different than just tea leaves. Whatever
system you might be comfortable with, these methods will
give you more information than you'll probably ever need for
any client ... or several dozen clients, for that matter.
Take a look at the Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: The Basic Requirements
Chapter 2: The Ritual
Chapter 3: The Setting
Chapter 4: Reading the Leaves
Chapter 5: Cup Maps
Chapter 6: Common Sense Symbol Interpretations
Chapter 7: The Tea Leaf Reading
Chapter 8: Unseen Systems
Chapter 9: Larry's Triple Prediction
Chapter 10: The Universal Shapes Strategy
Chapter 11: The Tarot Tableau
Chapter 12: Ron & Larry's Tarot Card Meanings
Chapter 13: Qabalah Connection
Chapter 14: Ceromancy/Diloggun
Chapter 15: Cowrie Shell Readings
Chapter 16: Further Ideas
As you can see, there's a whole lot more than just tea leaf
reading in this book, including the answer to the age-old
question ... "How do I distinguish myself from every other
reader in my area?"
How To Set Up A Tea Leaf Reading Business
Start with the comprehensive "how-to" information that will
turn you into an expert tea leaf reader in no time at all.
Larry and Ron take you from the very beginning -- the right
cup, the right tea, the "no-brainer" systematic approach to
reading the tea leaves, how and where to present tea leaf
readings, plus a lot more. Then, add the
professionally-designed extras that make the difference
between the run-of-the-mill reader and the professional,
including:
• A full-color table display that doubles as a cue sheet
• A table tent card for group gatherings
• A tea leaf reading handout for every client
• A full-size, 18-page pitch book for additional sales
Admittedly, it would take a good deal of memorization and
years of experience to remember the hundreds of possible
things you might see in a client's cup. But with the
full-color table display that Larry and Ron have designed
for you, you'll be able to give detailed readings from the
very beginning. While it looks like a professional table
display for the benefit of the client, there is a
deceptively simple cue sheet built right in, allowing you to
talk for as long or as short as the situation calls for.
You'll be able to talk about things that matter to them:
conflicts, loves, careers, home, family, events and more.
Every client walks away from their reading with a
professionally-designed handout that includes not only
details on their personal reading, but everything they need
to contact you for future business. And, to establish you as
an instant expert on tea leaf reading, there's a full-size
(8.5" x 11") pitch book that comes in both Microsoft Word
and Adobe Reader PDF formats, so you can customize it with
your own contact and marketing information.
By the way, the tea leaf reading pitch book doubles as a
script for giving lucrative "Tea Leaf Reading" classes and
workshops; Ron has been doing this for a while now, with
great results.
And that's just in the first seven chapters of this 116-page
e-book! If all you wanted to do was open a tea leaf reading
business, everything you need could be found in this book.
But, as they say on the TV infomercials, wait ... there's
more:
The Unseen Systems
A lot of people might have stopped there, and had a very
useful book on how to read tea leaves. But Larry and Ron are
just getting started! Building on the first seven chapters,
they proceed to show you how to weave in additional unseen
reading systems to make the reading even more personal,
including numerology, body type theory, the Universal Shapes
Strategy, the Qabalah, and ... the Tarot.
That's right -- the Tarot.
Larry reveals for the first time his ingenious Tarot
Tableau, a system that can be used stand-alone, if desired,
to provide easy, unique readings for an unlimited number of
people. Used with the tea leaf reading system, however,
Larry's system allows you to create an even more detailed
layer of meaning for your client.
And, in the interest of making this book even more of a
"turnkey" solution, Larry and Ron have devoted a chapter to
their own meanings for the Major Arcana, including lines
from their own professional repetoires.
As Ron says at the end of Chapter Thirteen ("The Qabalah
Connection") ...
"With the common-sense meanings of the original symbols,
adding the numerology information, the Tarot Tableau, the
Qabalah images and your intuition, you should be able to
read anything!"
No kidding.
But we're not done yet ...
How To Wax Poetically
Chapter Fourteen of CASUAL LITTLE MIRACLES teaches you ...
step-by-step ... the ancient art of Wax Reading, based on a
system taught to Larry by an authentic Santeria
practitioner. This very dramatic presentation of divination
is perfect for entertainment venues such as theme parties,
Mardi Gras and Halloween events. This chapter includes a
reprint of the actual chart given to Larry by the Santeria
reader, plus how the five Santeria deities correspond to
numerology, the Tarot and the Earth elements.
In addition, you'll learn how to apply tea leaf reading
techniques to wax and cowrie shell readings, and as icing on
the cake, Ron has designed a beautiful full-color Ceromancy
chart that will look great on your reading table.
For Every Skill Level
Although Ron and Larry are consummate pros who have years of
experience, this book is designed to be immediately useful
for a wide range of people, from the beginner to the
experienced professional. It's for readers, mentalists,
magicians, and everyone in between.
Whatever kind of commercial readings you may do, you should
have this book in your library -- and in your mind! Written
in the usual comprehensive, "no-filler" Martin Baukin style,
this is a book you will come back to again and again.
Each "CASUAL LITTLE MIRACLES" Package includes:
• The CASUAL LITTLE MIRACLES e-book (naturally!)
• Tea Leaf Reading table card
• "Reading Tea Leaves" pitch book/workshop guide
• Tea Leaf Reading tick sheet/handout
• Tarot Tableau cue sheet
• Authentic Ceromancy chart
MY COMMENTS:
This is a must-have book for anyone who's interested in
doing quick, interesting readings, especially tea-leaf
readings. This is one of those types of readings that
readers think is very archaic and unpopular, but nothing
could be further from the truth. The image of gypsys, or
other fortune-tellers, reading tea leaves is one that many
laymen know and are quite interested in. In this follow up
to QUICK COMMERCIAL CARD READINGS, Ron Martin & Larry Baukin
have provided an incredible package of information that's
pretty much all you need to know about putting on, and
profiting from, tea reading parties.
The blurb is accurate. Not only do you get the 117 page
e-book that contains everything you need to know about
tea-leaf readings, but you get a pitch book, a clever table
card, and a tick sheet to be used in a handout. As the
blurb says though, you get more than just tea-leaf reading
info. There's ceromancy (candle drippings into water on a
plate) and the Universal Shapes Strategy. Finally, there is
Larry's Triple Prediction and the Tarot Tableau, which will
enable one to do very quick readings based on Tarot but
without the need for any card to be selected. For those who
are into readings, you get quite a bit for your money and I
certainly recommend this.
*********
JACK KENT TILLAR
THE ASSUMPTION SWINDLE
JMOM Price: $41
Suggested MSRP: $45
THE BLURB:
"This is precisely the type of material that every working
mentalist is searching for. It is powerful, flexible and
proven. It would be difficult to think of a demonstration
that packed flatter or played bigger. Using Jack's
Assumption SWINDLE, you will be able to convince every
member of your audience that you can read their mind AND win
the lottery!" -- Michael Weber
Jack Kent Tillar, the creator of the classic Blister effect,
now presents an incredible new concept that every working
mentalist will find uses for in their repertoire. The
Assumption SWINDLE is one of the most ingenious and
versatile principles in mentalism. It requires no stooges,
no peeks, no electronics, and no gimmicks. It enables the
performer to create unforgettable miracles.
Here are just a few examples:
* Six participants freely choose a lottery number and each
writes it down on a slip of paper. A seventh participant
holds the slips and serves as a judge. The performer
proceeds to reveal each number that was written down and the
judge verifies that each number called out is among the
slips!
* The audience secretly writes down three unusual actions
for the performer to do on stage. Using muscle reading while
blindfolded, the performer is able to accomplish these
tests!
* The performer is able to reveal the total of all the
serial numbers of several bills held by audience members!
Part 1 of this book explains this effect and explores a
variety of other effects using this principle as it can be
applied to playing cards, serial numbers on bills, coupons,
drawings, words, places, trading cards, and many, many other
items that are limited only by one's imagination.
Part 2 explores ways to accomplish an essential technique in
mentalism.
Part 3 will inspire and teach you to create mental and
magical originalities that will fit your audience, your
abilities and your own particular personality!
"I'm really enjoying your material and am savoring every
word! The material is great." -- Michael Weber
122 pages, softbound
MY COMMENTS:
Right off the bat, I must tell you that I'm biased. I
worked with Jack on getting this out to the general
mentalism/magic marketplace, as well as many of Jack's
previous products and I'm working with him on future
products as well. Also, you can guess, then, that I made
sure that the cover blurb, despite from some advertising
hyberbole, was representative of the contents inside.
Indeed, many do feel that this work is one of Jack's best.
I really dare all mentalists to read this and NOT find at
least one idea that they won't use immediately. Jack takes
this one principle, which he's termed The Assumption
Swindle, explains quite a few effects with it, and then
shows you more effects using the principle as a springboard
for even more diabolical purposes. You should see from the
blurb that the principle is very versatile.
So, hopefully, you won't mind my very biased opinion when I
say that I feel this book is definitely worth the price and
that, if I hadn't worked with Jack and already own plenty of
drafts, I wouldn't hesitate to buy this book.
*********
ANDREW GERARD
CARDIAC
JMOM Price: $23
Suggested Retail Price: $24.95
THE BLURB:
Invite a spectator to take your pulse. To ensure there is
nothing restricting your pulse, allow them to check under
your arms and examine your arms completely. They will agree
there are no devices on you.
Ask them to find your pulse. When they have it, ask them to
snap their fingers along with it... They will keep track of
your pulse rate. Tell them no matter what happens to you,
make sure they report ANY changes in your pulse rate.
You close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply and
slowly... ask them if your pulse is getting stronger. They
will agree it's beating harder. Then close your eyes and ask
them if they feel the rate changing... they will say it's
getting slower... and slower... and eventually only 1 beat
every few seconds, and then it speeds back up to normal and
goes faster and faster. Then the performer turns his
attention inward and has a self-induced attack! This is
"cardiac arrest"! The performer takes a deep breath and
holds it and his pulse stops... after a few seconds it eases
back to normal.
Comes complete with 7 page booklet of detailed instructions
and routine.
MY COMMENTS:
I'm certain this is a very powerful routine when Andrew
Gerard performs it and I'm certain it can be for you too.
As of yet, I haven't tried it, but I plan to do so soon.
This method requires no gimmicks and nothing extra besides
your body. It is not as dangerous as other methods which
requires an extra something to make the pulse stop. Now, I
don't know whether or not this particular method that Andrew
Gerard explains can be credited to him, but the routine that
is explained certainly demonstrates that it's been performed
and polished. Be warned, this routine takes a lot of
experienced showmanship, but technically it's not difficult
at all. Of all the methods of pulse stopping methods and
routines that I'm familiar with, I have to admit that, as of
the time of this writing, this is the best one I've run
across.
*********
HOWARD ADAMS
666 MENTALISM
JMOM Price:$32
Suggested Retail Price:$35
THE BLURB:
Howard Adams has been around for a LONG time, and his
specialty is self working and mathematical magic and
mentalism effects. I have no idea how his mind can generate
these kinds of effect with this much variety, but create he
does.
Howard's books and booklets have been released in series
(Such as OICUFESP and MINDESPA) and in books by a variety of
publishers. The commercial effect "Will the card match" is
based on one of Howard's principles. Look at any list of
creators of easy to do, self-working card effects and
Howard's name will be high on the list. Howard's
contributions can be seen in Simply Impromp2 by Aldo
Colombini and Howard's book Mathcasts Aspellonu is often
quoted as a resource for this kind of material.
In this book, Howard has created 66 self working packet
effects using 6 cards each. (thus the title, get it, 666
Mentalism?) Each effect is explained in Howard's straight
forward, no-nonsense and to the point fashion and we have
left them as he wrote them word for word. You can read a
sample here.
I think often, people ignorantly poo poo self working magic
because they don't understand it. It is true that you will
find NO sleight of hand, no finger flinging and no hard to
do gaffs in this book. Instead you get 66 (Plus a few extra
bonuses) simple effects and plot outlines that can be done
100% in the spectator's hands! Many of these do not require
the performer to touch the cards at all. Some could be done
over the phone or through the MAIL. I know of several
performers who have used this kind of magic over the phone
with radio DJ's heard by thousands and thousands of
listeners! To the listening audience, you could read minds
or predict an outcome that you have NO WAY OF INFLUENCING.
The material in this book is great stuff for brainstorming
and workshops. Sure you can do it As-Is, and with a little
thought and personalization, you can take a solid effect and
turn it into a publicity making miracle!
We select books for a variety of reasons. 1– We like them.
2– The author's are people we know of and respect. 3– The
ideas are just darned clever. 4– There is a niche or group
out there we know will enjoy the information.
All of these reasons apply to this book, but there is
another. Howard and Dolores Adams are really wonderful
PEOPLE! Though I was vaguely familiar with Howard and some
of his writings when he first contacted me, I have grown to
look forward to our correspondences and occasional chats by
phone. Howard and Dolores Adams are genuinely wonderful nice
people, and work together as a team very well. Dolores
transcribes most of Howard's hand written notes, and helps
to edit and proof read them.
As you will find, Howard's writing style is VERY brief and
to the point. It is clear, but he does not waste words or
ink. His descriptions are clean cut and straight forward,
and I really suggest you read his introduction before going
forward as I think it sets the stage for how he thinks and
writes very well. Howard is also a perfectionist! He is and
was adamant that we not touch any of his words. Dolores'
proof reading was so thorough, that we didn't have much we
could add or change anyway!
So, what you have here are 66 (Plus a couple bonuses)
self-working mentalism effects using packets of 6 cards
each. You can look forward to 888 mentalism- (88 effects
with 8 cards each) down the road as well. Howard has left
the presentations sketchy, because he intends this to be a
spring board for your own creativity and ideas.
Obviously, one would never do an entire act of such
routines… but the simplicity of them, and the way in which
they work on their own, means that wherever you do decide to
do these effects, you can devote your attention to
presentation and theatre!
Pages 132 - Softcover Perfectbound
MY COMMENTS:
66 mentalism effects with 6 cards. That pretty much says it
all. The blurb gives more detail in case you need it. If
you're not aware of Howard Adams, he's certainly a very
clever and well-respected creator. I'll also note that the
book includes many effects using ESP cards, and many of the
routines can be adapted to other types of cards. Finally,
as you might suspect, I'll mention that many of the effects
are procedural and can be considered by many to be mental
magic. There are some wonderful nuggets here, though.
*********
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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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