August 31, 2008
Here's what's in this edition of
Jheff's Marketplace of the Mind Newsletter
*** MONSTER LABOR DAY SALE LAST CALL!!!
*** THE GAME CALLED ON ACCOUNT OF ATTITUDE
*** DIRECTOR'S CUT - Simon Shaw
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.
*********
Okay, this was just supposed to a simple reminder about the
Labor Day sale which will end Monday, September 1, and the
inclusion of one review, but now it's become much more than
that since another creator has become disgruntled with my
opinions of his product. But we'll get to that in a moment.
First up, I just got Docc Hilford's SPLIT UP, which is a
very interesting version of the Split Deck. It doesn't use
the typical special deck, but one that can be freely
examined afterwards. I don't have it up on the website yet,
but I'll do that soon and provide my comments at the same
time.
**** MONSTER LABOR DAY SALE!!!
Now on to the sale. This is a 20% off, subscriber-only sale
which means you won't find out about this by going to your
website. It's only for those get this free newsletter.
And this sale will end Labor Day. For those not in the
U.S., the U.S. Labor Day holiday is Monday, September 1.
Also, please note that these items are pre-sale and will not
be shipping immediately, but they will ship within the next
week or so.
So, just what am I pre-selling for 20% off? How about...
JACK KENT TILLAR'S DUET
This brand new book explores the world of two-person codes.
As Banachek says, “DUET is amazing. With this one book, a
couple can have a career for the rest of their lives.”
There's lots of great stuff in here. Right now, this book
is at the printers as we speak and it will be available
within the next few weeks after Jack personally brings me
copies. This is definitely a pre-sale. Oh, and if you want
it autographed, just say so. Jack will be more than happy
to oblige.
It lists for $49.95. The JMOM price is $45. The sale price
will be $40, or 20% off the MSRP. To get the price, you
MUST use the coupon code "Jack" and don't forget to press
the apply button. Journal of the Mind subscribers can use
their coupon code in addition to the sale code to gain an
even greater discount.
For more info and to order go to:
http://www.marketplaceofthemind.com/Duet.html
DOCC HILFORD'S MONSTER MENTALISM
Finally, the long wait is over. This 4 DVD set from one of
mentalism's most prolific creators is now available. Well,
let's just say L&L has made it available. Murphy's Magic
Supplies (my distributor) won't be getting it for another
week or so and that's why I'm offering this pre-sale. This
is going to be THE hottest mentalism DVD set of the season,
if not the year. You definitely want to get yours. The
website has many more details about the contents and a pic
of the wild covers for the DVDs.
The set lists for $139.95. The JMOM price is $126. The
sale price will be $112, or 20% off the MSRP. To get the
price, you MUST use the coupon code "Docc" and don't forget
to press the apply button. Journal of the Mind subscribers
can use their coupon code in addition to the sale code to
gain an even greater discount.
For more info and to order go to:
http://www.marketplaceofthemind.com/Monster_Mentalism.html
Okay, that's the sale! The sale ends Labor Day, September
1, so hurry if you want to take advantage!
**** PRODUCT UPDATES
Other new items that will be discussed in upcoming
newsletters and/or added soon to my catalog are Docc
Hilford's SPLIT UP, Chris Kenworthey's TELETHOUGHT WALLET,
Paul Hallas' MAGIC FROM THE OVERGROUND, Aldo Colombini's
TRI-COLOR DIVINATION, Jerome Finley's THOUGHT CHANNEL, Menny
Lindenfeld's PSYCHIC CREDIT CARD, Sean Field's EXPLICIT
FOOTAGE: TOME and EXPLICIT FOOTAGE: BENZ, John Sheets'
NAILED IT, Haim Goldenberg's INSIDE THOUGHTS and MY
PRECIOUS, and a bunch of cool stuff from Craig Browning.
Some of this stuff is already on the website with comments.
Some of this stuff I will not catalog.
***** JOURNAL OF THE MIND 2008 SUBSCRIPTION AVAILABLE NOW!
The new issue of Jheff's Journal of the Mind spotlights
BANACHEK, one of the most respected and controversial
mentalists of our time. To get this issue, you need to buy a
membership in the Marketplace of the Mind.
For $47 you get a subscription to the 2008 issues of Jheff's
Journal of the Mind, an all-new e-zine for mentalists.
Plus, you get 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 ILLUSIONS OF INFLUENCE by Samuel Catoe, a
wonderful exploration of the art of equivoque. Two other
recent additions are 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
*********
SIMON SHAW
DIRECTOR'S CUT
JMOM Price: $44
Suggested Retail Price: $48.75
THE BLURB:
Alakazam Magic are proud to present Simon Shaw's incredible
effect Director's Cut. Director's Cut has been getting some
serious attention on the underground mentalism scene for
well over a year with big names such as Richard Osterlind
giving his endorsement to it!
So what is Director's Cut? It's a set of 26 movie poster
cards that have been perfectly printed in full colour and
laminated so they should last you a lifetime of
performances! You also received a DVD which features
Routines, Tips and Ideas to use with the cards.
Now you will be able to perform some seriously strong
mentalism with an interesting and popular premise.
Director's Cut is Mentalism in its purest form. It's a whole
act in your pocket. If you love the idea of using films as
part of a routine then the Director's Cut is definitely for
you. It can be used strolling, close-up or even parlour.
Once you try it you will never leave home without it.
No gaffs, no markings, super clean, resets instantly and
best of all everything is examinable!
Director's Cut can be used with a range of effects such as
Mind reading body language, drawing duplications, remote
viewing, predictions and muscle reading, in fact the
possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Simple
to perform and strong reactions. What more could you ask
from a performance? There is plenty of room for fun, drama
and good old fashioned presentation.
"I used Simon's Director's Cut at a trade show last week for
3 consecutive days. Not only did it constantly amaze, but it
provided one of the most entertaining routines I have ever
used. It is a winner and should be in the arsenal of every
serious mentalist!"
- Richard Osterlind - May, 2008
MY COMMENTS:
All I probably need to say about this is that it is Richard
Osterlind's Osterlind Design Duplication System (or the
Pictoria Mentalia) using movie posters on beautifully made
pocket-sized cards. I will also say that I'm kicking myself
right now for not thinking of marketing this brilliant idea
first. You see, in my carry bag I actually have a set of
cards with movie names that uses the same methodology. In
other words, it's the same effect. Oh, the cards are not as
professionally made as these, which are gorgeous miniature
reproductions of movie posters, but it's the same idea
nonetheless. Some of Director's Cut's film choices are odd,
and skewed towards the UK for obvious reasons, but that's
trivial (I'd certainly not think of The Elephant Man as a
film most people would know about). In any case, I've been
doing essentially this routine ever since Richard released
his ODDS, though admittedly it's not been part of my regular
sets. I will also say that I did release Greetings of the
Mind, which uses the same principle (and much more) with
greeting cards (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, PLUG!, PLUG!).
For those who need to know more, the blurb is accurate.
Everything can be examined, there are no sleights, and no
gaffs or switches. In fact, the method does include marks,
but they are the artwork on the posters themselves and that
makes it all the more devious. Another important point is
that the participant doesn't have to know the movie at all.
If they don't know it (and you can simply ask them if
they're familiar with it), then just have them focus on the
movie poster and the title. It will still play well (and
that makes this a better set than my name-only version that
I had been doing).
Even though I was performing a version of this before Simon
Shaw and Peter Nardi marketed this (which I absolutely have
no problem with -- "you snooze, you lose"), that only makes
this particular product one that I can personally verify is
very versatile and entertaining, something well worth adding
to the working mentalist's arsenal of ordinary looking
props. The package includes a set of the movie posters,
which are like credit cards, a plastic jacket to hold them
in, and a DVD continuing the instructions and video
performances. This is definitely recommended.
*********
THE GAME CALLED ON ACCOUNT OF ATTITUDE
Now, here we go again (and I'll try to be brief...)
Jay Crowe has threatened me with a lawsuit because he
dislikes what I said about The Game. He thinks I made
deliberately false statements about it. I'll also point out
that up until I made my feelings known about his product on
the Magic Cafe, he'd never heard of me and didn't know about
me and my website. Most importantly, he apparently doesn't
know that my reviews of items are directed towards the
working mentalist, not for the working magician. Those who
are familiar with my work, know that more than once I've not
recommend products to the working mentalist, but felt they
were just fine for magicians. I admit that magicians may
not be aware of this tool being described in this book and
for them that knowledge may have value, but I do have
reservations even in that case. More on that below.
Now, I've already provided my review and I stand by the
words I wrote, but I will clarify a few things. One of the
key issues is whether or not there is value in this book.
Originally, I thought so. That's why I had it briefly in my
catalog and on my website.
The main reason I couldn't recommend it was because I didn't
feel it offered anything new to the working mentalist. It's
a fact that Jay Crowe merely wrote about a tool that hadn't
been written about before. He states it in the book. And
this is a tool that most working mentalists know about
already. Even Jay admits that the tool he is writing about
is not new to the professional mentalism community, yet
he'll take credit for writing the book and introducing it to
the professional/mentalism community. (And he said he's
honest.)
It's kind of like me writing a book revealing that a major
secret in mentalism is the sports coat and provide ideas on
how a mentalist can really use one to pull off miracles. Is
that valuable information? Sure. But most mentalists
already know about sport coats, so the value in the book
would have to be what information is contained about the use
of sports coats. So let's say the author only mentions one
source and one type of sports coat. And let's say that the
information is not well-written, not well thought out, and
sketchy. In that case, one really couldn't recommend the
book to working mentalists.
And that's exactly my point. Jay may be the first to
actually produce a manuscript detailing this tool. I really
have nothing against that. But most working mentalists
already know of its existence. Most who know about
computers should know about it, too. So the revelation of
this tool should not be what's important to the working
mentalist. It's the routines and ideas inside. I will note
that there are a variety of tools available, yet Mr. Crowe
has decided to just provide one. He could have provided
much more.
What about the routines that are included? Frankly, they
seem like the work of a magician dabbling in mentalism who
doesn't really know to structure a good routine. I won't go
into details on most of these, but most pros I communicated
with agreed that the routining was that of an inexperienced
mentalist. One working mentalist even told me that most of
the routines were "sophomoric." One routine, involving a
cell phone idea in which a friend tells the participant
information about them, actually has seen print. Tim Ellis
lectured using this idea (or at least a similar one) and
Jack Kent Tillar also has put it into print. And I'm not
sure that these two gentlemen are the only ones or the first
ones, either.
Now, let's get to Mr. Crowe's ridiculous accusation that I
haven't read the book. He claims he can prove it because I
said that "Had Jay simply presented this tool, admitting
that it wasn't new, and come up with some unique and tested
routines, that would be a different story. He didn't."
Admittedly, I didn't word it quite accurately and I told Jay
this. I was referring to the misleading ad blurb which
doesn't state that it isn't new, therefore customers will
assume that it is new. And it's not. The blurb could have
said, "One of mentalism's most guarded secrets now discussed
for the first time in print!" I also disagree that his
routines are unique and tested. I've proved it above with
the references, but evenso, that's my opinion as a working
mentalist and, if others disagree, I have no problem with
it. Apparently, he feels that because he disagrees he's
justified to threaten me with a lawsuit. To further prove
the miswritten ad blurb, nowhere does it say that you need a
very important extra something in order to do the effect.
What's interesting is that there a number of posters on the
Magic Cafe that feel the information is useful and so they
will defend Jay. And sadly these posters seem to be missing
the point. I'm not attacking Jay's right to discuss this
information in his booklet. I'm not saying the information
doesn't work. It does. I'm not saying that he should have
priced this higher. He should have, but that's his
business. (I also blasted Richard Osterlind for releasing
his brilliant material at such a low price. But that's his
business and our gain.)
The important points are these: 1)The ad blurb clearly does
not present it as a well-known secret and implies that is
new. 2) The blurb leaves out important information about
necessary items needed for this effect. 3) The ideas
presented inside the book are not well thought-out, unique,
or useful for the working mentalist. 4) My comments are
directed at working mentalists, not magicians, who may in
fact find this idea of use, but I really can't recommend the
routines and ideas inside. In other words, I have no
objection to someone writing a book on this topic, but this
isn't the one to recommend, nor is it marketed honestly.
Just because it's the first work published work on this
subject, doesn't mean it needs to be respected.
Now, I'm done with this topic. Mr. Crowe's works will no
longer be in my catalog. I just don't need this headache,
his immature threatening of a lawsuit, or to support someone
who obviously has ill will towards me and my opinions. I do
so wish he'd continue discussing the matter with me and
resolve the matter, but if history is any indication, I've
heard the last of him and I'll be pleasantly shocked if I'm
wrong.
*********
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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