Shh

THE BLURB:
All you need to know about the SWAMI is on this 2 Disc DVD
set.

DVD 1 - Performances, explanations, tips

A sample of what you will learn:

    * Make a spectator think they have ESP!
    * Getting started and ditching your "NW"
    * Practice tips to get you up to speed quickly.
    * What to do when someone says "SHOW ME FIRST"
    * How to personalize for maximum effect
    * The invisible display
    * What to write on
    * Special Wallet and Envelope work
    * How to generate more gigs with "Shh..."

DVD 2 - Learn even more from:

Andy Nyman

    * Get the most out of your mentalism
    * Connect with your audience
    * Strengthen your persona
    * And more...

Greg Arce

    * How to create a higher level of realism
    * Be wrong and look right
    * Special "NW" routines
    * And more...

Jon Stetson

    * How to get the most out of pre-show work
    * Improve the "real you"
    * Peeking tips
    * And more...

Francis Menotti

    * Non-mentalism use for the SWAMI
    * Develop your own personal style
    * Bring out your creativity
    * And more...

"Lincoln produces one of the finest boon style writers,
ever. Now, he has produced a DVD to match with plenty of
ideas and discussions with some of his very creative friends
on the subject of mentalism. If you are a mentalist and
don't do nailwriting now--you should, and starting with
Lincoln's excellent boonwriter and this DVD is a great place
to be. If you use nailwriting, you should definitely check
both out!"
-Allen Zingg Mentalist and Creator of Allen Zingg's Master
Course in Billets (four volume DVD set)

"I have always been a fan of Lincoln's Best Boon writer. It
really is the best I have ever seen. Lincoln knows the
importance of making a personal connection with spectators,
and the routine by Greg Arce alone is worth the price."
- Kenton Knepper

"I can recommend "Shh... The Sneaky Handwriting Handbook
vol.1" without reservation. And this is true whether or not
you have or ever plan to use a NW as I'll explain in a
moment.

Lincoln takes to the streets and shows you performances of
10 effects with his LBB. You get to see some seriously
strong spontaneous reactions from a variety of people. One
of my favorite NW effects is here; Greg Arce's Adams
Prediction.

Lincoln is a very enjoyable performer to watch in action and
he demonstrates a wide range of effects possible with a NW.
But these 10 effects are the small tip of a large iceberg.
With a NW and the info shared on these DVDs, the number of
effects possible is truly infinite.

The explanation section on "Shh.." is thorough and full of
great ideas to inspire your own creativity. Lincoln shows
the nuts and bolts of the LBB and how to get the most out of
it. The majority of this section, though, is applicable to
any NW.

Lincoln shares a ton of subtleties about everything from how
to display the card after writing to how to effectively
personalize each performance. Using a NW with a variety of
envelopes and wallets is explored. He gives solid
information on how to manage participants in different
circumstances, including some interesting ideas about what
to do if they insist, "show me yours first!" All this on the
first disk.

As good as this all is, and it is very good, it is disk 2
that I'm most excited about. And this disk is why I
mentioned above that everyone will want "Shh…"

Disk 2 is comprised of four interviews. Lincoln "stalks"
four mentalists; Andy Nyman, Greg Arce, Francis Menotti and
Jon Stetson and talks with them extensively about anything
and everything to do with mentalism.

The interviews are casual and wonderful. There is so much
good information shared I wouldn't know where to start. It
is pure pleasure to see and hear these gentlemen talk about
what they know and love best. And for that we have to thank
Lincoln. Profusely."
-Bill Cushman

MY COMMENTS:
With the resources that Lincoln has available to him, this
disc could have been so much more than it turned out to be.
On the one hand, it is a disappointment. On the other,
there is valuable information here so that I can recommend
this to any mentalist, but not for the reasons that it
should be recommended.

There are two discs and the biggest problem is that the two
discs seem to be different DVD titles. The blurb proclaims
that "All you need to know about the SWAMI is on this 2 Disc
DVD set" and the cover clearly states that it is "the
greatest collection of SWAMI information on one disc." If
one is going to make claims like that, then one better
produce it. And this is hardly the "greatest collection" or
an encyclopedia of Swami info.

Lincoln is certainly a charismatic and charming performer.
It's certainly fun to see him work. And Lincoln's Best Boon
is, indeed, a superbly designed gimmick. The information on
the Swami on this DVD, though, is pretty basic. This is
certainly a good primer for those who've never used a Swami
gimmick (or similar device). For instance, Lincoln
discusses how to use a boon writer, but fails to display and
discuss the swami or thumb tip writer and their differences.
The effects are certainly strong, but basic. Anyone with a
Swami can come up with these routines. Also, most of these
routines seem suited to walkaround or close-up. Lincoln
does provide some good presentational tips, but doesn't
offer more creatively advanced uses for the Swami. For
examples of this, check out Barrie Richardson's A Boon for
All Seasons, which is still the best single book on the
subject (and not mentioned on the DVD, by the way).
Finally, the whole thing feels more like a sales promo, or
instruction manual, for Lincoln's Best Boon, than a general
DVD on Swami work.

It is the second disc that is what I'd recommend purchasing
this for. It's interviews with four mentalists who, with
the exception of Andy Nyman, haven't given in-depth
interviews like this on a widely distributed product.
Lincoln certainly know what questions to asks and the
conversations are extremely enjoyable and incredibly
enlightening and useful. Unfortunately, very little of it
has to do with Swami work. It would have been very easy to
begin with the topic of Swamis and then move into other
areas. It is all too obvious that Lincoln included these
interviews, wonderful as they are, to ensure sales of this
product, because purchasers will know the other names while
Lincoln is an unknown.

Lincoln is a good guy and very talented and it really
saddens me that he put out a product which could have lived
up its incredible potential, yet fails to do what is
promised to buyers. Still, for experienced mentalists, it
is certainly worth it for the interviews and, for those who
aren't experienced with swamis, it's worth it for the basic
info on swami writing, too.