Mark Elsdon
THE MERIDIAN TECHNIQUE
$25
Suggested Retail Price: $28
THE BLURB:
How many times have you done a strolling gig, cocktail party
or residency and performed for group after group, packed up,
and left with no bang, no "wow", no feeling that you just
killed them? Sure, everyone was impressed, but it just
didn't seem to add up to much...
In The Meridian Technique I will teach you a technique I
have refined and used over the last few years to create a
lasting impression that will keep them talking about you and
your magic for years after you walk out the door. It will
have the people that pay you at the end of the gig knowing
you rocked the house and want you back. It will have you
leaving each gig feeling fantastic, knowing that you made
the impression that you are one of the best magicians in the
world. In the booklet, as well as explaining in detail the
technique and the psychology behind it, I describe ten
tricks I use and exactly how I use them.
On 'Reel Magic Magazine Vo1.' 1 Paul Harris talks about the
importance of magicians featuring one stand-out item. Look
at the Masters of the past and present... Keller, Thurston,
Houdini, Copperfield, Blaine, Cyril - they all do multiple
effects but feature and highlight one 'blockbuster' effect.
In my gigs I get great reactions throughout the crowd but I
constantly build up for one larger effect they will see at
the end. At that point everyone is excited and waiting to
see a miracle that they have all had a part of by examining
and signing objects and discussing the impossibility of what
you propose to do. When you do this final
'lasting-impression' effect you make them realize you are
head and shoulders above other magicians they might have
seen. You make them realize they have seen something
special. You make them feel part of things. You ensure that
the person paying you knows they got their money's worth and
wants to have you back.
As an example, imagine at a strolling gig you have every
member of every group you work for examine and sign a
borrowed coin and a borrowed bottle. You explain upfront
exactly what you are going to do with that coin. Everyone
sticks around to see if you can actually do it and sure
enough at the end of the gig a crowd has gathered to watch
you take the coin and bottle that have been thoroughly
examined and signed and magically put the coin in the
bottle. The place goes wild, the booker feels good about his
smart decision to hire you, and you, the performer, finish
on a high - with a BANG rather than a whimper. This takes
the classic coin in bottle to a whole new miracle level.
All ten of the effects featured in the booklet are designed
to 'play-big' and have you concluding your performance to a
group of people rather than just a few. The cumulative
effect of ending your gig with a final, larger trick expands
the impact of your performance exponentially and reaps
personal, performance and financial rewards.
Many top professionals from around the world with whom I
have shared this technique have asked me NOT to release it
as it is far too valuable. Without wanting to get precious
about it, I think the Meridian Technique is TOO valuable not
to release! My goal is to improve professional close-up
magic performance and take it to a new level.
"The technique will change the way an audience perceives you
as a magician. Whether you are an experienced close-up
performer or just starting your career, The Meridian
Technique is a must-read!"
- Peter Duffie - (MAGIC magazine, June 2009)
Pages: 40 - 8.5" x 5.5" - Saddle Stitched
MY COMMENTS:
Regular readers know that I am biased when it comes to books
on theory and the art form. I will recommend this type of
books over ones with lots of tricks in them any day of the
week. The book begins by explaining what the Meridian
Technique is, how it was developed, and why it's important.
That's the first fifteen pages. The remainder of the 40
page, 8.5" x 5.5" book examines the ten effects that Elsdon
uses as his "macro" effects, or the ones that people will
remember him for.
Half of the effects he discusses are, indeed, mentalism
effects. He discusses his blindfolded solving of the
Rubik's cube, a card memory demonstration, a newspaper
mindreading effect, a Russian Roulette routine, and his
Trivial Pursuit effect. Some of these are classics. Some
are original. But the point is that these are the effects
that work for Elsdon and that play big. He encourages each
performer to find his own set of effects and explains how to
discover what yours are.
Frankly, every performer should know which few effects work
well for them and how to determine which effects those are.
As Elsdon explains, these are the effects that people will
remember you for. In my experience, too many performers are
trying to do other people's effects and just expect that
because they were so strong and memorable for the performer
they saw do it, it will be so for them. That's not a wise
approach to take. This slim booklet will certainly provide
lots of thought in having one take that better and stronger
approach to finding material that fits each individual
performer. Definitely recommended, of course.
How many times have you done a strolling gig, cocktail party
or residency and performed for group after group, packed up,
and left with no bang, no "wow", no feeling that you just
killed them? Sure, everyone was impressed, but it just
didn't seem to add up to much...
In The Meridian Technique I will teach you a technique I
have refined and used over the last few years to create a
lasting impression that will keep them talking about you and
your magic for years after you walk out the door. It will
have the people that pay you at the end of the gig knowing
you rocked the house and want you back. It will have you
leaving each gig feeling fantastic, knowing that you made
the impression that you are one of the best magicians in the
world. In the booklet, as well as explaining in detail the
technique and the psychology behind it, I describe ten
tricks I use and exactly how I use them.
On 'Reel Magic Magazine Vo1.' 1 Paul Harris talks about the
importance of magicians featuring one stand-out item. Look
at the Masters of the past and present... Keller, Thurston,
Houdini, Copperfield, Blaine, Cyril - they all do multiple
effects but feature and highlight one 'blockbuster' effect.
In my gigs I get great reactions throughout the crowd but I
constantly build up for one larger effect they will see at
the end. At that point everyone is excited and waiting to
see a miracle that they have all had a part of by examining
and signing objects and discussing the impossibility of what
you propose to do. When you do this final
'lasting-impression' effect you make them realize you are
head and shoulders above other magicians they might have
seen. You make them realize they have seen something
special. You make them feel part of things. You ensure that
the person paying you knows they got their money's worth and
wants to have you back.
As an example, imagine at a strolling gig you have every
member of every group you work for examine and sign a
borrowed coin and a borrowed bottle. You explain upfront
exactly what you are going to do with that coin. Everyone
sticks around to see if you can actually do it and sure
enough at the end of the gig a crowd has gathered to watch
you take the coin and bottle that have been thoroughly
examined and signed and magically put the coin in the
bottle. The place goes wild, the booker feels good about his
smart decision to hire you, and you, the performer, finish
on a high - with a BANG rather than a whimper. This takes
the classic coin in bottle to a whole new miracle level.
All ten of the effects featured in the booklet are designed
to 'play-big' and have you concluding your performance to a
group of people rather than just a few. The cumulative
effect of ending your gig with a final, larger trick expands
the impact of your performance exponentially and reaps
personal, performance and financial rewards.
Many top professionals from around the world with whom I
have shared this technique have asked me NOT to release it
as it is far too valuable. Without wanting to get precious
about it, I think the Meridian Technique is TOO valuable not
to release! My goal is to improve professional close-up
magic performance and take it to a new level.
"The technique will change the way an audience perceives you
as a magician. Whether you are an experienced close-up
performer or just starting your career, The Meridian
Technique is a must-read!"
- Peter Duffie - (MAGIC magazine, June 2009)
Pages: 40 - 8.5" x 5.5" - Saddle Stitched
MY COMMENTS:
Regular readers know that I am biased when it comes to books
on theory and the art form. I will recommend this type of
books over ones with lots of tricks in them any day of the
week. The book begins by explaining what the Meridian
Technique is, how it was developed, and why it's important.
That's the first fifteen pages. The remainder of the 40
page, 8.5" x 5.5" book examines the ten effects that Elsdon
uses as his "macro" effects, or the ones that people will
remember him for.
Half of the effects he discusses are, indeed, mentalism
effects. He discusses his blindfolded solving of the
Rubik's cube, a card memory demonstration, a newspaper
mindreading effect, a Russian Roulette routine, and his
Trivial Pursuit effect. Some of these are classics. Some
are original. But the point is that these are the effects
that work for Elsdon and that play big. He encourages each
performer to find his own set of effects and explains how to
discover what yours are.
Frankly, every performer should know which few effects work
well for them and how to determine which effects those are.
As Elsdon explains, these are the effects that people will
remember you for. In my experience, too many performers are
trying to do other people's effects and just expect that
because they were so strong and memorable for the performer
they saw do it, it will be so for them. That's not a wise
approach to take. This slim booklet will certainly provide
lots of thought in having one take that better and stronger
approach to finding material that fits each individual
performer. Definitely recommended, of course.
