John Derris
KISS
$36
Suggested Retail Price $40
THE BLURB:
You're good at magic. You handle your effects and routines
pretty well. Your shows get a good response. There's nothing
fundamentally wrong and yet in your heart you know that your
magic performance could be better.
There's something missing ... the X factor that big name
magicians bask in, with confidence that brings them more
bookings, bigger fees and an inner satisfaction that says
they are better than most.
Everybody who steps onto a stage has this potential and it
is nothing to do with magic technique. It's to do with you
and how the world sees you.
Now, successful advertising man John Derris - with 60 years
of magic behind him - reveals how on retirement he adapted
his corporate and marketing experience to magic. And how he
turned professional and toured the world with this
simplified system of magic presentation.
It's called KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid - and it took him
to Paris, Athens, Marbella, St. Petersburg, Copenhagen,
Osaka, Casablanca, Istanbul and Buckingham Palace!
A taste of what's inside KISS:
A simple, inexpensive way to turn one booking into ten.
How Dai Vernon used the KISS principle to fool the press.
The 30-second procedure that kills stage entrance nerves.
Alex Elmsley's top tip for the perfect rising cards.
How Pat Page gave added value to secure repeat bookings.
Create an Origami business card that will always be picked
up and retained.
How Al Koran went from a London barber's shop to New York's
Broadway.
Includes 8 John Derris routines.
First publication of a new effect - 'Welded Bliss' - the
linking of a diamond and signet ring that can be fully
examined.
Now, in straightforward language he tells of simple methods
that can lift your performance to higher levels. Plus a
stunning selection of highly visual effects and routines
that he proved in performance all over the world in the last
15 years.
Pages: 132 - 6" x 9" - Black and white illustrations and
photos
MY COMMENTS:
This thin book is packed with invaluable information about
taking one's performance to the next level by discovering
the "X factor" that the top pros have. There are twenty-two
fairly short chapters that contain invaluable advice, plus
additional chapters with some Derris' magic routines.
Derris doesn't go into great detail on how to put the advice
into practice, though there is some. And, despite that this
is from the viewpoint of a magician, I found that pretty
much all of this advice can apply to the working mentalist.
The inevitable question is how this compares to Ken Weber's
MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT, Gay Ljundberg's AUDIENCE
MANAGEMENT, or other texts. As I said, this one is much thinner
and isn't quite as comprehensive, but then it's not supposed to
be. It focuses on what Derris feels is the "X factor" and
how one can achieve that. It certainly covers enough to get
performers to start thinking about their performances and
how to take it to that next level. One may or may not agree
with his definition of the "X factor," but there is no
question that it is one of the key components of success for
a performer.
If one is a beginner to mentalism or magic, then I would
highly recommend this book. If one is experienced, getting
the reaction one expects from an audience, and successful
getting bookings, then you may not need this as much. But
even I found a nugget or two in here. Any book that
contains sincere wisdom on the art of performing is always
welcome and recommended. And this book is certainly that.
You're good at magic. You handle your effects and routines
pretty well. Your shows get a good response. There's nothing
fundamentally wrong and yet in your heart you know that your
magic performance could be better.
There's something missing ... the X factor that big name
magicians bask in, with confidence that brings them more
bookings, bigger fees and an inner satisfaction that says
they are better than most.
Everybody who steps onto a stage has this potential and it
is nothing to do with magic technique. It's to do with you
and how the world sees you.
Now, successful advertising man John Derris - with 60 years
of magic behind him - reveals how on retirement he adapted
his corporate and marketing experience to magic. And how he
turned professional and toured the world with this
simplified system of magic presentation.
It's called KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid - and it took him
to Paris, Athens, Marbella, St. Petersburg, Copenhagen,
Osaka, Casablanca, Istanbul and Buckingham Palace!
A taste of what's inside KISS:
A simple, inexpensive way to turn one booking into ten.
How Dai Vernon used the KISS principle to fool the press.
The 30-second procedure that kills stage entrance nerves.
Alex Elmsley's top tip for the perfect rising cards.
How Pat Page gave added value to secure repeat bookings.
Create an Origami business card that will always be picked
up and retained.
How Al Koran went from a London barber's shop to New York's
Broadway.
Includes 8 John Derris routines.
First publication of a new effect - 'Welded Bliss' - the
linking of a diamond and signet ring that can be fully
examined.
Now, in straightforward language he tells of simple methods
that can lift your performance to higher levels. Plus a
stunning selection of highly visual effects and routines
that he proved in performance all over the world in the last
15 years.
Pages: 132 - 6" x 9" - Black and white illustrations and
photos
MY COMMENTS:
This thin book is packed with invaluable information about
taking one's performance to the next level by discovering
the "X factor" that the top pros have. There are twenty-two
fairly short chapters that contain invaluable advice, plus
additional chapters with some Derris' magic routines.
Derris doesn't go into great detail on how to put the advice
into practice, though there is some. And, despite that this
is from the viewpoint of a magician, I found that pretty
much all of this advice can apply to the working mentalist.
The inevitable question is how this compares to Ken Weber's
MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT, Gay Ljundberg's AUDIENCE
MANAGEMENT, or other texts. As I said, this one is much thinner
and isn't quite as comprehensive, but then it's not supposed to
be. It focuses on what Derris feels is the "X factor" and
how one can achieve that. It certainly covers enough to get
performers to start thinking about their performances and
how to take it to that next level. One may or may not agree
with his definition of the "X factor," but there is no
question that it is one of the key components of success for
a performer.
If one is a beginner to mentalism or magic, then I would
highly recommend this book. If one is experienced, getting
the reaction one expects from an audience, and successful
getting bookings, then you may not need this as much. But
even I found a nugget or two in here. Any book that
contains sincere wisdom on the art of performing is always
welcome and recommended. And this book is certainly that.
