May 11, 2008
Here's what's in this edition of
Jheff's Marketplace of the Mind Newsletter
*** WORD WORK VOL. 1 - Alain Nu
*** ILLUSIONS OF INFLUENCE - Samuel Catoe
*** DARK VISION - Richard Osterlind
*** THE BLINDFOLDED CAR DRIVE - Devin Knight
*** ACCURACY - Andrew Gerard
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.
*********
For those of you that this may apply to you: Happy Mother's
Day! I'll be off in a few hours or so to have a nice dinner
out with mother and I certainly hope those who are
celebrating this special day are enjoying it as well.
I've gotten quite a few folks who ordered Freakey who seemed
to not realize that the instruction on the DVD was greatly
slanted, if not completely slanted, towards a magical
performance. One routine by Danny Archer in the bonus
section is a terrific mentalism routine. However, you need
to look at Gregory Wilson's performance and instruction as
useful, but not really suited to a mentalist. Sure, you can
do those routines, and you can use some moves, if you wish.
If you check out my routine from the last newsletter, you'll
note that there are no sleights at all. There are several
good mentalism routines in print that use a copper/silver
coin as a gimmick. A copper/silver key just makes so much
more sense to use. So you need to be creative in your use
of this prop. For those who have purchased and received a
Freakey and want more detail on the routine I included, I'll
certainly provide it.
**** NEW POSTAL RATES
New postal rates take effect May 12. Some rates go up
just a bit. More importantly, I just hope this doesn't
put a big in the already troubled shopping cart module
that figures out shipping rates. If the shipping rates
look odd when you make a purchase, please don't complete
the purchase and make a payment. E-mail me and I'll
figure a way to solve the problem.
**** PRODUCT UPDATES
Wonder Readings is now back and instead of a book and
audiotapes, it's a 6 CD set. With the exception of the
media difference, I'm not sure if there's any significant
difference in the material included. I'll be getting one
next week and then I'll let you know. I'll also be adding
it to the website as soon as possible along with my
comments.
Other new items that will be discussed in upcoming
newsletters and/or added soon to my catalog are Sean Field's
EXPLICIT FOOTAGE: TOME and EXPLICIT FOOTAGE: BENZ, John
Sheets' NAILED IT, and Haim Goldenberg's INSIDE THOUGHTS and
MY PRECIOUS. Some of this stuff is already on the website
with comments. Some of this stuff I will not catalog.
**** 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
*********
ALAIN NU
WORD WORK, VOL.1
Suggested Retail Price: $45
Available at: http://www.shopofsecrets.com
THE BLURB:
Long awaited, Alain’s underground work on “the book test”,
has finally re-surfaced as a new and complete treatise.
Imagine being able to introduce an ordinary book (this can
be a book of any title or author) which you hand to a
volunteer to inspect. The volunteer now decides on a word to
focus on from somewhere in the middle of a couple of
randomly opened-to pages, and then letter by letter, you are
able to correctly divine the thought-of selection.
Immediately, and without any hesitation, you sign the book
inside its front cover and offer it as a gift to your
volunteer. This is just one of the methods that you are
taught by reading this treatment. And it’s “real-world”
work. Alain has used this for over 25 years.
Highlights include:
1) 40 pages covering the method, work and principles of this
effect in full detail.
2) 10 essays covering the history, theory, philosophy, and
principles regarding Alain’s book test criteria that would
be eye-opening to any mentalist. There isn’t a single page
where you won’t read about a subtlety or perspective that
won’t make you stop and think.
3) Methods that are explained both for beginners as well as
more advanced practitioners.
4) Great Examples—using the three books, Alice in
Wonderland, Zen in the Martial Arts, and The 7 Habits of
Highly Effective People. Go to your local bookstore and pick
up one or all of these books after learning the system and
you will be off performing this sooner than you expect!
5) Subtleties galore: All techniques and subtleties
described here can also easily be added to jazz with or
embellish any other book test routine or method.
MY COMMENTS:
Alain Nu is certainly one of mentalism's most pre-eminent
creative thinkers. And he's established his expertise in
two areas - his work on metal bending and book tests. If
you intend to learn his incredible techniques on metal
bending, I urge you to look into one of Alain Nu's exclusive
workshops on the topics which he's been holding annually.
As to his book test work, Alain did release some of his
techniques in a rare publication some years ago, but now
he's releasing more of his techniques in two volumes.
Needless to say, the material in here serves as a brilliant
example of that reputation he's made regarding his work on
book tests.
Though both volumes deal with book tests using ordinary
books, this first volume deals with books that are prepared.
The preparation doesn't take very long and is quite easy to
do. It's necessary for the "Peeky Bank" which is the main
focus on the first section of the book. This dealers with
the selection of a page. The second section features on a
different technique that Alain calls "organigrams" and
focuses on the selection of the word on that page.
Also included in the book is Alain's Principle Guidelines to
using book tests. These preface the rest of the book and
lay out his goals and expectations for using book tests. He
also explains his love/hate relationships with book tests.
What's important to understand is that Alain presents
techniques, not routines. It is up to you to use these
incredible techniques however you need to. That means that
I highly recommend this book for every serious mentalist,
but must caution the beginning or novice mentalists that the
information within will be of no use until one gains a
thorough understanding of routining in general, and
booktests to be specific.
This is an 8.5" by 11", 40-page book. The title does not
mention that it is Volume 1, but the inside clearly does.
*********
SAMUEL CATOE
ILLUSIONS OF INFLUENCE
Suggested Retail Price: $35 ($45 outside U.S.)
To order, send payment via Paypal. The account is:
scatoe@infoave.net
THE BLURB:
Illusions of Influence takes equivoque where it has not gone
before. This book takes a close and detailed look at an oft
misused technique of magic and mentalism. With
contributions from some of mentalism’s brightest minds,
Illusions of Influence teaches equivoque from the ground up.
If you have ever wanted to use equivoque, have used it in
the past, or are using it now; you need this book in your
library.
“This is an important new work on the equivoque that will
encourage those who've been reluctant to try it to go out
and do it. Sam's handling and ideas make the procedure
natural and easy to remember.”
John Riggs
"Its been a number of years when any decent work on "E" has
been written, and I think Sam possibly has written a new
standard."
Billy Enigmar
MY COMMENTS:
There is no question that equivoque (verbal control) is an
essential and powerful technique to the working mentalist.
Unfortunately, there have only been a few good texts on the
subject, notably by Phil Goldstein (Max Maven) and Docc
Hilford. Samuel Catoe has undertaken the task of providing
a primer that explores the subject and is definitely a
must-have for those who are starting out in mentalism, or
have been afraid of trying this technique. After reading
this, you should have much more confidence in your ability
to take any number of objects and control participants to
select one of the objects. Included as bonuses in this work
are Greg Arce's classic Scorch and Floater, two incredible
examples of equivoque. These are in addition to a few more
included routines, including one by Nicholas Belleas. This
52-page, 5.5" by 8.5" booklet is only available from the
author.
To order, send payment via Paypal. The account is:
scatoe@infoave.net
*********
RICHARD OSTERLIND
DARK VISION
JMOM Price: $54
Suggested Retail Price: $60
THE BLURB:
An Advanced Eyeless Vision System for the Working
Professional!
Imagine your head completely covered by a black cloth hood
that has been verified by an audience member as being
completely opaque. Then, imagine performing any number of
sightless vision miracles, limited only by your imagination,
including the Blindfold Drive, a legendary feat of
paranormal ability and performed by the greatest mentalists
in history.
This is what the Dark Vision system will enable you to
accomplish. Designed from the ground up and fashioned to be
used with the Osterlind Stainless Steel Blindfold or on its
own, Dark Vision will convince your audiences that you have
the ability to see using only the power of your mind. The
Dark Vision system consists of the very special hood, each
one hand-made by Sandra Sisti and made from the same quality
materials and exacting specifications as the S.O.S. Bag, and
a booklet written by Richard Osterlind that not only
explains the minute details of handling Dark Vision with the
Stainless Steel Blindfold and also by itself, but also
invaluable tips on how to create and perform a large-scale
publicity stunt such as a Blindfold Drive.
There have been many gimmicked blindfolds and hoods on the
market over the years…but none of them have offered the
versatility, craftsmanship, ease of use or sheer mental
power of Dark Vision.
MY COMMENTS:
By far, this is the best hood I've ever seen. The basic
design isn't new. It uses Lowell Furhman's ideas which many
who've manufactured hoods recently have used.
Unfortunately, previous releases of this hood have featured
material that wasn't durable, professional looking, or
well-crafted. Also, the bags themselves looked like, well,
bags when put over the head. With Dark Vision, the bag is
made of heavy black material, similar to the Richard
Osterlind's S.O.S. Bag. It's hand-crafted to exacting
specifications by Sandy Sisti and the hood itself has
rounded corners so the bag looks like a hood when it's worn.
The accompanying 20-page 5.5" by 8.5" booklet that comes
with it is rather sparse on routine ideas, but then this is
a utility prop and its basic use is well-detailed. If you
want more routining ideas, check out Richard Osterlind's
DVDs or other sources. The book does include how to use it
with the Osterlind Stainless Steel Blindfold and how to use
it to do a blindfold drive, as stated in the blurb. This is
a highly recommended utility prop for the working mentalist.
*********
DEVIN KNIGHT
THE BLINDFOLDED CAR
JMOM Price: $27
Suggested Retail Price: $30
THE BLURB:
Are you ready to take your magic career to the next level?
Enhance your magic career with one of the most amazing
publicity stunts every created. The Blindfolded-Car Drive is
unsurpassed for getting front page publicity.
This isn't your normal blindfold drive. Not only do you
drive a car blindfolded, but the WINDSHIELD IS COVERED WITH
NEWSPAPER at the same time! People may suspect you could see
through a blindfold, but how can you drive with the
windshield covered? Yes, you can even have a reporter ride
in the car with you and have no clue as to how you are
driving the car sight unseen.
This new book by Devin Knight, who was one of the early
innovators of the Blindfolded Car, reveals all the secrets
he has used to garner millions of dollars worth of free
publicity. (Some which is reproduced in the book.)
FOUR DIFFERENT METHODS REVEALED! How to drive a car with its
windshield PAINTED solid black. How to drive a car with a
sunshade over the windshield blocking the view. Two ways to
drive a car with cardboard or newspaper taped over the
windshield!
The Speedway Drive is taught. Learn how to drive a car with
its windshield covered at speeds up to 70MPH around a
speedway. This stunt can be sold to a speedway as a pre-race
event for hundreds of dollars.
Some of these secrets have baffled the smartest minds in
magic. Some have never appeared in print before and many of
these secrets are revealed for the first time. Devin holds
nothing back and reveals how to do this. This book covers
all the legalities of doing this. It tells you when and
where to do it to prevent problems with the police.
Not only is this a great publicity stunt, but this book
shows you how to GET PAID HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR DOING IT!
The book is full of tips and ideas for adding comedy. The
handcuff drive is fully explained in the book adding an
element of danger to any blindfold drive.
This Blindfolded-Car feat appears totally impossible, but
you can learn the secrets just by reading this book. Even if
you never do the feat, the secrets will fascinate you and
add to your magic knowledge. NO GIMMICKS, NO ELECTRONIC
DEVICES ARE USED. No special car is needed.
BONUS EFFECT: Stopping A Car With Your Mind. Learn Devin's
secret of letting a reporter drive your car and causing the
car's engine to stall just by concentrating. Not only that
you can make another car passing you STALL in the road. The
secret is ingenious and NO DAMAGE will come to either car.
It is revealed in print for the first time. It is a great
publicity stunt that may garner you front page coverage if
you pull it off properly.
This is an 8.5 x 11 comb-bound book with 43 pages full of
illustrations detailing everything you need to know. Please
note these feats should only be done on CLOSED ROADS,
Fairgrounds, and parking lots. These feats should never be
done on open highways. This book is sold for educational
purposes only. You use this information at your own risk.
"I found this book to be fascinating as it gives the reader
a feeling about what the real work in such feats is like. It
is real, nitty gritty stuff. If you are a serious mentalist,
it is something you should have in your library. You never
know when you may need this information. The practicality of
these feats should open your mind up to similar mentalism
effects. I DO recommend this book highly."
- Richard Osterlind
"Devin is tipping 'The Real Work' on this one, and it should
be in your library if you are thinking about doing this. A
definite keeper. Good work Devin and thank you for adding
this to our arsenal."
- Tom Jorgenson - Creator of Brazen Blindfold
MY COMMENTS:
As far as I can tell, since I don't have experience doing
these kinds of demonstrations, this is certainly a
thorough work on doing blindfold car drives, even when the
car itself is blindfolded. The description in the blurb is
quite complete and accurate. And, as the blurb points out,
and as must be emphasized, "these feats should only be done
on CLOSED ROADS, Fairgrounds, and parking lots. These feats
should never be done on open highways. This book is sold for
educational purposes only. You use this information at your
own risk."
I think it's pretty obvious that performing this is not for
everybody. But Devin Knight certainly has experience doing
this and, even if you don't or won't actually put this
information into practice, it is a most fascinating book
that will definitely provide information that may come in
handy some time. For this reason, I certainly recommend
this for any professional mentalist.
*********
ANDREW GERARD
ACCURACY
JMOM Price: $23
Suggested Retail Price: $25
THE BLURB:
The performer places a one dollar bill and a one hundred
dollar bill on the table along with a quarter. The spectator
is asked to spin the quarter on the table while the
performer's back is turned.
When the quarter comes to rest the spectator is asked to
remember which side is up. The spectator places the
magician's wallet over the quarter so it is completely
hidden. Next the spectator is asked to hide one bill in each
hand. All this is done while the performer's back is turned.
The performer turns around and removes 3 business cards from
his pocket. He writes down something on each one and places
one in front of each of the spectator's hands and one in
front of the wallet.
From this point the spectator opens his hands, revealing
which bill is in which hand and THEY turn over the business
cards proving both correct! But wait... remember the
quarter? The spectator lifts the wallet revealing the
quarter landed heads side up. Again THEY turn over the
business card revealing the words "Heads Side Up."
This is ACCURACY.
Key points:
* No electronics
* Spectator may keep everything (if you can afford to
give away 101 dollars!)
* No assistants
* No one ahead
* Nothing added or taken away
* No peeking
* Perfect for walk around
* Bonus: Andrew Gerard shares his notes on this routine,
offers a stage idea, and a killer repeat.
MY COMMENTS:
This six-page manuscript details this very clever routine.
The key points that are mentioned are accurate. The only
thing not mentioned is that there is some preparation to the
materials you'll be using, but the preparation is not
difficult and shouldn't take too long. And, once prepared,
you can carry these items very easily in your wallet and
pockets and be ready to go anytime. Also, the need for a
$100 is only for dramatic purposes. You can certainly use a
smaller denomination if you wish. If you give away some or
all of the materials at the end, then obviously you'll have
to prepare quite a few sets (which is the way Andrew Gerard
writes that he dooes).
*********
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