20080601

June 1, 2008

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

*** THE CICARDI PROJECT - Dr. Charles Scott
(with Loren Tindall)
*** SHIPPING CHARGES PROBLEM ALERT
*** CONVERSATIONS OF THE MIND - FINALLY!

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.

*********
This is a very special newsletter, because I had some
important information that was time-sensitive and couldn't
wait. First, Dr. Charles Scott's THE CICARDI PROJECT is an
important new DVD set from Loren Tindall's The Pro Shop.
Right now, for the next few days, there is a very generous
pre-sale offer. In order to take advantage of it, you MUST
be a member of his mailing list. So, I have the blurb and
my comments below. After the pre-sale is over, I'll add it
to the Friends of the Marketplace section of my website.
But I didn't want you to miss out on the sale if you're
interested.

Also, after some technical and other issues, finally
(FINALLY!) set the premiere for the Conversations of the
Mind. I think that some may find that this first one may be
the worth the wait. At least, I hope so. The details are
below.

And then there's the bad news. Yikes! It's that ol'
shipping charges problem that rears its head again.

**** SHIPPING CHARGES PROBLEM
Once again, my **darned** shopping cart is having problems
with the shipping costs module. It's been erratic anyway,
but now it seems to be worse. I hope to have the problem
solved soon. However, in the meantime, if you don't get a
shipping charge on your order, then one of two things will
happen. If you paid by credit card, I'll manually charge a
separate payment on your card for the shipping charges. If
you paid by Paypal, then I'll send you a Paypal bill which
must be paid before I ship the products.

I truly apologize for the inconvenience and hope this is
finally resolved soon.

**** RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

RICHARD OSTERLIND'S DREAM VISION
By far, the best mentalist's hood on the market. If you
don't have a hood in your arsenal, get this.
http://www.marketplaceofthemind.com/Dark_Vision.html

ANDREW GERARD'S PSYCHE
A killer coin bending routine in which the participant's
coin bends in your fingers. Everything can be examined.
http://www.marketplaceofthemind.com/Psyche.html

JACK KENT TILLAR'S THE ASSUMPTION SWINDLE
One diabolical principle and several of the most powerful
mentalism routines are included in this book, featuring the
incredible Lottery Swindle which Jack recently used to close
his act at the Magic Castle.
http://www.marketplaceofthemind.com/Assumption_Swindle.html

ENRIQUE ENRIQUEZ' THE ACT OF IMAGINATION
Now back in stock! This highly acclaimed act is a clever
update of Orvelle Meyer's classic Telepathy in Action. This
bestseller has incredible ideas that any mentalist will find
useful.
http://www.marketplaceofthemind.com/Act_Of_Imagination.html

**** CONVERSATIONS OF THE MIND
Time has flown by and, among other projects, I've been
working on getting a schedule in order for Conversations of
the Mind. Finally, I've set the first conversation to take
place on Wednesday, June 11, at 6 p.m. PST. There's more on
the topic of that conversation below.

For those who are new to my newsletters, this is an all-new
feature that consists of conference calls discussing 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. However, the very first one will
be available to all newsletter subscribers as that one will
be available later for everyone as a preview edition.

So, here's the topic:

Jheff's 10 Secrets to Making Mentalism More Effective,
Successful & Entertaining.

Basically, I'll be online to chat and answer any questions
that you may have starting a few minutes prior to that and
then there will be a question and answer session following
my talk on the topic. Look for more details as to the phone
number and how to join the chat in the next regular
newsletter and a special reminder newsletter that will be
come to you on Monday, June 9.

Until next time. -- Jheff

*********
IMPORTANT:
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SPECIAL 30% DISCOUNT
OFFER WHICH EXPIRES THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE, GO TO
http://www.mevproshop.com
AND JOIN THE MAILING LIST.
THE DISCOUNT WILL NOT BE HONORED IF YOU ARE NOT
A MAILING LIST MEMBER.

DR. CHARLES SCOTT (WITH LOREN TINDALL)
THE CICARDI PROJECT, VOLUME 1
Suggested Retail Price: $150
Available at:
http://www.mevproshop.com/cicardi-project-vol-one.html

THE BLURB:
Quick -- name the mentalist with the longest-running
television show in history.

If you said, "Kreskin", you're wrong: his series that was
broadcast on Canadian television in the 1970s only ran for 5
years, with a total of 90 episodes.

The answer is "Dr. Charles Scott", who produced and appeared
in a weekly one-hour program called MIND PROBE, which ran in
the Kansas City broadcast area for over 10 years (yes,
that's well over 500 episodes).

Think about that for a moment.

Over 500 weekly performances before a REAL live studio
audience ... no rehearsals ... and NO "sneaky" editing --
everything was performed in real time. More than 15,000
people attended the show during its run (with many more
watching at home), many of them returning literally hundreds
of times, and often bringing friends and family members with
them.

And this wasn't unique in Dr. Scott's performing career.
Recently, he was booked in a cabaret venue for a 20-week
run, and every week he had a standing-room-only crowd.

The Secret of Dr. Scott

How Dr. Scott does develop this kind of loyalty from his
audience members?

Here's one of his secrets: he connects with his audiences in
a genuinely forthright manner. He is neither humble nor
bombastic ... he just gets up there and does what he does.
He makes no special claims, nor does he try to downplay what
he is able to do. People walk away from Dr. Scott's
appearances with the impression that they've just witnessed
someone with exceptional abilities, but not an exceptional
ego. This approach (what Dr. Scott refers to as "the Velvet
Glove vs. the Iron Fist") is a key element in his success,
and one that every performer should consider.

Do you think it would be helpful to watch someone present
mentalism in a totally natural and relaxed way, yet still
maintain a consistent level of entertaining professionalism?

That's exactly what you'll see on the two-disc set of The
CICARDI PROJECT, Volume 1.

The first disc of this two-disc set contains a full one-hour
MIND PROBE program, from start to finish. You'll see how Dr.
Scott is introduced, how he establishes instant rapport with
his studio audience, and how he presents six professional
demonstrations highlighting "the power of the mind",
including:

• Tossed Out Deck ala Cicardi

• Cicardi's Three Envelope Test

• ESP Card Demonstration

• Psi-Grafico

• Pure Thought Reading

• Blind-fold Q&A

You've probably seen how most modern day mentalists present
their shows, both on television and on stage. Not too long
ago, there was a "reality show" type of program that
featured a number of mentalists. I was curious what the
average person's take on it was, so I asked a friend of mine
if he'd seen the show. His reply was, "Yeah, we watched a
few minutes of that ... they're trying to find the next big
magician, right?" ... which is not exactly what the
participants and producers had in mind, I imagine.

What's missing in many current and past instructional DVDs
is how a mentalist should really connect with his audience.
Dr. Scott does this effortlessly, and stands far apart from
the crowd of entertainers today, using simple methodologies
to create miracles.

His personality and humbleness combine to create an
unassuming role as Master of Miracles, and yet it is this
very persona that allows him to exercise boldness without
any suspicion from the audience. The first time Millard
Longman saw Dr. Scott, he told me, "He sucks me right in,
he's so easy to watch. He's soft-spoken, yet commanding; his
persona is unassuming, yet gutsy. People actually feel good
about being there as he calmly creates miracles for them."

That's all well and good for Dr. Scott, you may be thinking,
but if you take his suggestions to heart, you can create
similar results with your audiences, too.

An Afternoon with Dr. Scott

Now, just watching Dr. Scott present these straight-forward
demonstrations of mentalism would be educational in and of
itself, so imagine how much more enlightening it would be to
sit with the man himself and have him discuss the
presentations in detail. And that's exactly what you get on
the second disc of this 2-DVD set, which contains almost two
hours of explanations and insights that will allow you to
get the most out of this material. You'll learn Dr. Scott's
incredibly simple methodology which allows you to
concentrate on presentation while at the same time creating
multiple layers that effectively hide the modus operandi.

You'll hear Dr. Scott explain his adaptation of the classic
Tossed Out Deck, and wonder why no one else has thought of
this brilliant approach before. And, after learning his
version of the Three Envelope Test, you'll understand why at
least two full-time professionals told me, "Please tell me
he won't be revealing this ... I use it in every
performance!"

Because he respects the work of other creators in the field,
Dr. Scott does not explain the workings of the specific ESP
card demonstration he performed on the original MIND PROBE,
but he goes one better by revealing a routine that I
personally think is even better, since it has the added
benefit of being performed any time, any place.

And while you may already be performing his classic
Psi-Grafico, you'll definitely want to hear Dr. Scott cover
not only the basics, but the subtle nuances that transform
this presentation into a high point of your appearances. One
person who watched this told me, "I thought I knew
Psi-Grafico, but this opened my mind to possibilities I'd
never imagined." Indeed, Dr. Scott explains how Psi-Grafico
can be presented in a myriad of ways, allowing it to be
changed to fit every audience.

With regard to the Blindfold Q&A portion of this DVD set, it
is only fair to say that Dr. Scott does NOT reveal its
workings on this DVD, since that is what the forthcoming
CICARDI PROJECT Volume 2 will be devoted to. He does,
however, cite the original source for those who don't mind a
little bit of research.

Instead of focusing on the technical aspect of the
presentation, however, Dr. Scott covers the one thing that
is more important than the blindfold methodology: the actual
core of the Q&A act -- how to answer the questions audience
members will ask ... how to avoid the wise-guys ... how to
handle truly sensitive issues that will come up ... how to
engage every member of the audience in a meaningful way ...
and much more.

Anyone can put on a blindfold ... but if you don't know how
the actual nuts and bolts of Q&A go together, it can quickly
become a travesty for performer and audience alike. With Dr.
Scott's approach, based on years of work in the real world,
the Q&A presentation becomes something else entirely, and
can very well be what takes you to the level you've aspired
to.

A Rare Opportunity

Before now, the only way to watch a MIND PROBE show was to
know someone ... who knew someone else ... who had a 4th or
5th generation copy of a VHS tape that was bootlegged in the
first place. This episode of MIND PROBE comes directly from
Dr. Scott's own private collection which is comprised of
shows that were copied off the original studio master tapes.

There are a handful of fulltime professionals who have
spared no expense just to spend a few hours with Dr. Scott
for one-on-one training. You'd certainly recognize some of
their names; some of them, however, prefer to spend their
time on the road rather than on the Internet forums.

"This man interacts with his audience as well as any
mentalist that ever lived. Dr. Scott's show is a master
class in creating miracles."

~~ Millard Longman,
creator of Acidus Novus

Look, you know professional mentalism is much more than
"knowing the secret" ... if that were the case, there would
be hundreds of kids with YouTube accounts appearing on
television every night. The simple fact is that you can have
all the routines on the planet, but they're wasted if you
can't connect with your audience, and that may be the most
important lesson Dr. Scott has to teach.

On this two-disc set you’ll see time-tested ESP
demonstrations presented to a real-world studio audience as
only a seasoned professional like Dr. Charles Scott can --
impeccably. In addition to the live performance, you’ll be
able to sit in on a no-holds-barred discussion of what goes
into a professional mentalism show, including everything
you’ll need for a full one-hour show of your own, using
props you can assemble yourself after a visit to your local
office supply store.

Imagine -- a complete one-hour show in front of a live
audience PLUS almost two hours of explanation from Dr.
Scott: this DVD set is without a doubt an object lesson for
every modern-day mentalist. If you want to model success,
Dr. Scott offers a genuinely approachable example of how to
present yourself and interact with audiences on a completely
human level, without the glibness, rudeness or "show-biz"
feeling that mark the performances of many performers today.

For Professionals Only?

How much does a professional comic pay for one joke?

Or, for that matter, a professional singer for a single
song?

Yes, The CICARDI PROJECT Volume 1 is priced higher than your
typical magic or mentalism video, but this DVD set is about
way more than just new routines ... and it could very well
mean the difference between your creating a real onstage
persona, or merely cookie-cutting what so many others think
is the way to present mentalism ("Look at me! Aren't I
wonderful?").

So from one perspective, The CICARDI PROJECT Volume 1 is for
professionals.

But, as you probably know, it's far easier to create good
habits than to break old ones, so wouldn't it be better if
every beginner were able to watch this DVD?

At the end of the day, however, it comes down to this:
regardless of your skill level, you will benefit from
watching a professional in action, and Dr. Scott is a
consummate pro that has something to teach each and every
one of us.

IMPORTANT:
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SPECIAL 30% DISCOUNT
OFFER WHICH EXPIRES THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE, GO TO
http://www.mevproshop.com
AND JOIN THE MAILING LIST.
THE DISCOUNT WILL NOT BE HONORED IF YOU ARE NOT
A MAILING LIST MEMBER.

MY COMMENTS:
So, did you know that Dr. Charles Scott had the longest
running television show in history that features a
mentalist? If you didn’t, then that’s one great reason to
get this DVD set. You’ll get to sample this TV show and see
why it was successful. If you did know that, then you
already have one great reason to get this DVD set. You’ll
want a sample of this TV show in your collection.

The first disc presents an entire episode of Mind Probe and
the second disc is a must-have chat with Dr. Charles Scott
(aka Cicardi) explaining all the routines on the disc. Now,
I know that some may find the price for this disc rather
steep. In comparison with other two disc sets, it does
appear that way. There are two major reasons why the price
is justified.

The first reason is the inclusion of Psi-Graphico. This is
a Q&A routine that many professionals are using. And though
it did appear in Bascom Jones’ Magick, that issue and the
effect itself, which was marketed for a time, are available
are now not easily obtainable.

The second reason is the Three Envelope Test. This is by
far one of the best three envelope tests out there. There
are some features of it that will blow you away. I will
note that it uses pre-show work. And let me clarify that
the pre-show work is not the usual pre-show work, but just
some actions that need to be done with the audience in order
to save time. Basically, you’re asking them to think of
three things before the start of the show so that you can
get right to the divining in your act. These actions are
not hidden at all and mentioned to the audience during the
routine. You can certainly do this routine in real time and
not do the pre-show work, but by doing so the act moves much
more smoothly and tightly. And, incidentally, Dr. Scott
discusses his philosophies and tips on using pre-show work
on this volume.

These routines should be priced high enough because these
are professional routines that should be invested in by
working performers. They are very strong, reputation
makers. Dr. Scott’s take on blindfold routines and the
Tossed-Out Deck are valuable, too, but the two above
routines are sensational. Also, there is a very nice bonus
ESP card routine (not the one included in the Mind Probe
show) which is Dr. Scott's version of Hen Fetch's
Symbologic.

As to the quibbles, the audio isn’t great. There is some
interference on the Mind Probe disc which is annoying, but
not totally distracting. And Loren’s chat with Cicardi uses
the camera mic so the sound is rather tinny, but still very
audible and clear. Also, the ESP card effect is not
explained because it was a marketed item and it belongs to
Nick Trost. It's no longer available, but it is included in
the The Card Magic of Nick Trost ("Dream of the Hermit"),
which has recently been put back into print.

I think I’ve gushed long enough about this set. If you’re a
professional mentalist, you probably didn’t even need to
read what I said and you’re already planning to order this.
If you’re working on becoming a professional mentalist, then
this disc will go far to not only providing invaluable
information, but provide some material that will serve you
well for all time. When you find material like this, it’s
worth getting at just about any price.

*********
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and use the shopping cart. If you're unable to do
this, you may respond to this e-mail.

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