Docc Hilford
THE SERPENT
$79.99
THE BLURB:
The Serpent Wallet is Released
Amidst Screams of Fear
Ok, the headline may be a little over exaggerated. There
were no screams of fear. But the full story of The Serpent's
release is in this issue.
This is the first attempt at a news letter. There are some
product announcements, a particular sale and a couple of
strong presentational tricks for you. Read on and enjoy.
What's New
It's been quite a while since the last e-mail. Several new
Docc Hilford products are being prepared for release. The
latest is the new Serpent Wallet. I've been fine-tuning it
for almost five years and it's really great. It's primarily
a secret switching device that combines a peek window with a
hold out. There are endless effects possible, but what
follows is one of my favorites. Even if you don't use The
Serpent for the bill exchange, the tips described in the
routine will add to your presentation.
Serpent Released at River
Just last night I went with a group of friends to dinner at
a little seafood place on the Miami river. Seating was
outside and casual. After we ate, I took out my wallet and
searched for a $20. Not finding one, I asked everyone else
to look for the appropriate bill. Danielle had it. She
folded it and creased it tightly per my instructions. Then
she put it on the table. I never touched it.
I began telling her a brief history of the bill, describing
places it had been and the people who had previously owned
it. I jotted down a couple of numbers that came to my mind
as I described the current owner; Danielle. Everyone at our
table was captivated during the reading, but the
demonstration began pulling the attention from all the other
people in the restaurant. I wrote down a final few numbers
and handed the paper to Patrick, a fun guy with wild mohawk
hair. When I stood up, the entire area was watching.
Danielle read the first four digits of the serial number
aloud. I asked Patrick if they matched my numbers. He
laughed and said they did. Danielle read the last four
numbers and Patrick told the whole room (he can be quite
dramatic) that they matched what I wrote. Then Danielle and
Patrick read all eight numbers together in harmony. The room
applauded! I wish I had given my Flip camera to someone in
order to get it on video for you.
Ok, I realize that other newsletters describe antics in the
field, touting their products. But this is just too easy to
use. The wallet is right there and everyone wants a cool
trick. So since we have a moment, let's look at the
performance of the trick, then the wallet's secret.
Warming up a Cold Trick
A serial number revelation is basically cold. It doesn't
involve the subject. Revealing the bill's history gives you
a blank canvas on which to paint a cold reading. No one can
know the bill's past, but still, it's interesting. You can
claim, as I did last night, that the bill was owned by a
florist and came from a flower shop. I asked Danielle if she
had been to a florist's recently. If she had said no, I
would have claimed that I was correct, but she had no way of
knowing. However, I knew she HAD been to a florist's and
this was quite a revelation! (It's amazing what you can
overhear at dinner.) I also threw in comparisons about
previous bill owners and Danielle. Such as, "One previous
owner, named Stephanie... does that name mean something to
you?", or "The owner, Stephanie enjoyed spending this bill,
because, unlike her friends, she seldom uses her credit
cards. She prefers to use cash. That's the same for you,
isn't it Danielle?" If Danielle denied my claim, I'd
re-focus on the fictional Stephanie. But I observed that
Danielle was young and prudent. She would likely be a cash
spender and I was correct. So using the bill's history is a
great way to weave a story around a standardly dry trick.
As we all know, not touching the borrowed bill makes any
serial number trick stronger. Note that the borrowed dollar
bill is folded and placed on a table next to your wallet.
It's a good couple of inches to the side of the wallet. The
folded bill is NOT put on or in it. But when you pick up the
wallet, it naturally passes over the bill for a fraction of
a second. In that INSTANT, without any moves, the bill is
effortlessly and invisibly switched. It appears as if YOU
NEVER TOUCH THE BILL!
Here's a tip, use a billet to write down the numbers that
come to mind. It gives a reason to pick up The Serpent and
you don't have to memorize the serial number. PLUS you have
that dramatic revelation I described above, with both people
participating and reading the numbers twice.
The Serpent Really Works
I've always been hesitant to switch a borrowed bill by hand.
I figured the audience concluded if I held the bill I could
somehow glimpse the number. The Serpent changed that for me.
Although this wallet is pure mentalism, the switch is so
instantaneous it seems magical. The Serpent actually "picks
up" the original and leaves a duplicate behind in the same
location. No magnets are used, but the method looks like
something similar to The Raven gimmick! The Serpent gimmick
is cleverly designed and invisibly built into the trifold,
so the original ends up inside the wallet; not stuck to it.
You can secretly switch folded bills, billets, card indices,
miniature playing cards, coins or anything the appropriate
size.
I've used The Serpent for pre-show work, design
duplications, billet reading and even a Card in Wallet
trick. I often use it in my trick, Nudie Call.
Under certain conditions The Serpent can enable you to read
what's written on a business card through a clear plastic
window after the switch. The Serpent is not similar to The
Stealth Assassin or The Sight Unseen wallet. But when the
wallet picks up the original billet, it goes behind a window
compartment. If the billet is folded, you'll have to remove
and unfold it like any secret switching method. But if the
billet is on an unfolded business card, you can switch it
and instantly read everything. Still, like I said earlier,
The Serpent is primarily designed for switching, it just has
some added benefits.
The Serpent is a black, 100% eel skin, trifold wallet. There
are plenty of special pockets to hold ESP cards, billets or
Mephisto's Journey gimmicks. The wallet is a safe "hold out"
for dummy billets or similar items. No more fumbling for
that dummy billet. It's completely secure until you need it.
There's even a built-in billet index area as well. The bill
compartment is divided so you can keep gimmicked bills
separated. It functions like a normal wallet, that means you
can keep money in it as well as credit cards. All-in-all,
this is a mentalist's valet. The gimmick is kept inside the
wallet until it's needed. Nothing odd to see while you're
using it in daily activities. But when you want The Serpent
to work, it automatically snaps into position.
Only 400 have been manufactured. All are numbered and
licensed. Fifty are going into the hands of friends and
reviewers leaving 350 for the mentalist community. The
Deluxe Edition will have video illustrations within a 44
page manuscript of instructions explaining a dozen tricks by
me, Simon Lovell, Rick Maue and other professionals. I'm in
the studio now finishing the detailed videos.
The Special Offer
So here's the Lecture Club deal... The Serpent Wallet Deluxe
Edition sells for $79.99 (plus $5.99 S&H), but if you order
before video production is complete, you'll get the printed
instructions now and the full video enhanced manuscript in
the near future. AND for the first 100 I'll take $30 off the
price!
PLUS, you can have any booklet from the Docc Hilford
catalogue for FREE. This offer is limited to those booklets
still in print and while supplies last. Many of these
booklets sell for $45 each. Here's a chance to get that book
you've wanted and essentially get The Serpent Wallet for
only the $4.99 difference!
Ask for the wallet today before the bonuses are gone. When
you check out tell me which booklet you'd like (add an
alternate choice too) in the comments during checkout.
MY COMMENTS:
Unfortunately, I'm not going to make this easy for you and
I'll tell you why momentarily. Getting right down to it,
this is certainly a very good wallet and tool for the
mentalist. It definitely does everything that the ad claims
(though the comparison to The Raven is a bit of hyperbole,
and a little questionable as to the analogy). And I was
impressed with the 44 page PDF manual (which is e-mailed to
you). It contains full color photo illustrations and many
routines and ideas for the Serpent's use.
And that brings us to two very important questions. The
first is, "Does the Serpent do everything claimed in the
blurb?" To be brief, yes. The wallet is everything the
blurb says it is. It is a great switching tool and,
basically, a Jaks Wallet (not 100% exactly a Jaks, but it
can have very similar functionality).
The second question is, "Does one need this?" If you're a
wallet junkie, the answer is an obvious yes. Otherwise,
this is where I'm NOT going to make it easy for you. You
see, because it's a regular wallet, one must use it as a
regular wallet. If you already use a Stealth Assassin or
another everyday wallet which is gimmicked, then the dilemma
is that you can't use both. It just doesn't make sense to
do that.
In comparing the features, the Serpent Wallet does not have
the Sight Unseen peek design, nor does it have an index.
However, there is a peek function. If you want an index,
you can always use Bryn Reynold's brilliant $4 Index from
Journal of the Mind #9 (or his The Safwan Papers) which can
be applied to most any standard wallet. The Serpent can
also certainly do billet loads.
Of course, the one big feature this wallet has that others
do not is the ability to easily and invisibly make switches
right in front of the participants. The wallet is on the
table. The item to be switched is merely, and apparently,
pushed under the wallet. This is done in full sight of
everyone. In that one move, though, the switch has been
done.
And that brings us back to why I'm not making this easy.
Personally, I can't say one or way or another whether this
wallet will be the one I'll use everyday. I'm still
deciding. More and more, though, I'm liking it, and maybe
by the time you read this, I'll have switched.
There are a few things I can definitely not be unsure of,
though. The price for this wallet is a bargain compared to
most of the other wallets on the market. Also, Docc Hilford
has never put out a product that has not been used by him
and successfully road-tested, at the very least. His
material may be controversial to some, but it's always solid
and thoughtful. And if you don't have a gimmicked wallet,
and this interests you, then this may be an easier decision.
But, if you already use one gimmicked, everyday wallet (or
more), and you get this clever finely made eelskin wallet,
you'll have to decide whether you're going to switch and, .
. . well, as I said, I'm not going to make this easy for
you. You'll have to decide for yourself.
The Serpent Wallet is Released
Amidst Screams of Fear
Ok, the headline may be a little over exaggerated. There
were no screams of fear. But the full story of The Serpent's
release is in this issue.
This is the first attempt at a news letter. There are some
product announcements, a particular sale and a couple of
strong presentational tricks for you. Read on and enjoy.
What's New
It's been quite a while since the last e-mail. Several new
Docc Hilford products are being prepared for release. The
latest is the new Serpent Wallet. I've been fine-tuning it
for almost five years and it's really great. It's primarily
a secret switching device that combines a peek window with a
hold out. There are endless effects possible, but what
follows is one of my favorites. Even if you don't use The
Serpent for the bill exchange, the tips described in the
routine will add to your presentation.
Serpent Released at River
Just last night I went with a group of friends to dinner at
a little seafood place on the Miami river. Seating was
outside and casual. After we ate, I took out my wallet and
searched for a $20. Not finding one, I asked everyone else
to look for the appropriate bill. Danielle had it. She
folded it and creased it tightly per my instructions. Then
she put it on the table. I never touched it.
I began telling her a brief history of the bill, describing
places it had been and the people who had previously owned
it. I jotted down a couple of numbers that came to my mind
as I described the current owner; Danielle. Everyone at our
table was captivated during the reading, but the
demonstration began pulling the attention from all the other
people in the restaurant. I wrote down a final few numbers
and handed the paper to Patrick, a fun guy with wild mohawk
hair. When I stood up, the entire area was watching.
Danielle read the first four digits of the serial number
aloud. I asked Patrick if they matched my numbers. He
laughed and said they did. Danielle read the last four
numbers and Patrick told the whole room (he can be quite
dramatic) that they matched what I wrote. Then Danielle and
Patrick read all eight numbers together in harmony. The room
applauded! I wish I had given my Flip camera to someone in
order to get it on video for you.
Ok, I realize that other newsletters describe antics in the
field, touting their products. But this is just too easy to
use. The wallet is right there and everyone wants a cool
trick. So since we have a moment, let's look at the
performance of the trick, then the wallet's secret.
Warming up a Cold Trick
A serial number revelation is basically cold. It doesn't
involve the subject. Revealing the bill's history gives you
a blank canvas on which to paint a cold reading. No one can
know the bill's past, but still, it's interesting. You can
claim, as I did last night, that the bill was owned by a
florist and came from a flower shop. I asked Danielle if she
had been to a florist's recently. If she had said no, I
would have claimed that I was correct, but she had no way of
knowing. However, I knew she HAD been to a florist's and
this was quite a revelation! (It's amazing what you can
overhear at dinner.) I also threw in comparisons about
previous bill owners and Danielle. Such as, "One previous
owner, named Stephanie... does that name mean something to
you?", or "The owner, Stephanie enjoyed spending this bill,
because, unlike her friends, she seldom uses her credit
cards. She prefers to use cash. That's the same for you,
isn't it Danielle?" If Danielle denied my claim, I'd
re-focus on the fictional Stephanie. But I observed that
Danielle was young and prudent. She would likely be a cash
spender and I was correct. So using the bill's history is a
great way to weave a story around a standardly dry trick.
As we all know, not touching the borrowed bill makes any
serial number trick stronger. Note that the borrowed dollar
bill is folded and placed on a table next to your wallet.
It's a good couple of inches to the side of the wallet. The
folded bill is NOT put on or in it. But when you pick up the
wallet, it naturally passes over the bill for a fraction of
a second. In that INSTANT, without any moves, the bill is
effortlessly and invisibly switched. It appears as if YOU
NEVER TOUCH THE BILL!
Here's a tip, use a billet to write down the numbers that
come to mind. It gives a reason to pick up The Serpent and
you don't have to memorize the serial number. PLUS you have
that dramatic revelation I described above, with both people
participating and reading the numbers twice.
The Serpent Really Works
I've always been hesitant to switch a borrowed bill by hand.
I figured the audience concluded if I held the bill I could
somehow glimpse the number. The Serpent changed that for me.
Although this wallet is pure mentalism, the switch is so
instantaneous it seems magical. The Serpent actually "picks
up" the original and leaves a duplicate behind in the same
location. No magnets are used, but the method looks like
something similar to The Raven gimmick! The Serpent gimmick
is cleverly designed and invisibly built into the trifold,
so the original ends up inside the wallet; not stuck to it.
You can secretly switch folded bills, billets, card indices,
miniature playing cards, coins or anything the appropriate
size.
I've used The Serpent for pre-show work, design
duplications, billet reading and even a Card in Wallet
trick. I often use it in my trick, Nudie Call.
Under certain conditions The Serpent can enable you to read
what's written on a business card through a clear plastic
window after the switch. The Serpent is not similar to The
Stealth Assassin or The Sight Unseen wallet. But when the
wallet picks up the original billet, it goes behind a window
compartment. If the billet is folded, you'll have to remove
and unfold it like any secret switching method. But if the
billet is on an unfolded business card, you can switch it
and instantly read everything. Still, like I said earlier,
The Serpent is primarily designed for switching, it just has
some added benefits.
The Serpent is a black, 100% eel skin, trifold wallet. There
are plenty of special pockets to hold ESP cards, billets or
Mephisto's Journey gimmicks. The wallet is a safe "hold out"
for dummy billets or similar items. No more fumbling for
that dummy billet. It's completely secure until you need it.
There's even a built-in billet index area as well. The bill
compartment is divided so you can keep gimmicked bills
separated. It functions like a normal wallet, that means you
can keep money in it as well as credit cards. All-in-all,
this is a mentalist's valet. The gimmick is kept inside the
wallet until it's needed. Nothing odd to see while you're
using it in daily activities. But when you want The Serpent
to work, it automatically snaps into position.
Only 400 have been manufactured. All are numbered and
licensed. Fifty are going into the hands of friends and
reviewers leaving 350 for the mentalist community. The
Deluxe Edition will have video illustrations within a 44
page manuscript of instructions explaining a dozen tricks by
me, Simon Lovell, Rick Maue and other professionals. I'm in
the studio now finishing the detailed videos.
The Special Offer
So here's the Lecture Club deal... The Serpent Wallet Deluxe
Edition sells for $79.99 (plus $5.99 S&H), but if you order
before video production is complete, you'll get the printed
instructions now and the full video enhanced manuscript in
the near future. AND for the first 100 I'll take $30 off the
price!
PLUS, you can have any booklet from the Docc Hilford
catalogue for FREE. This offer is limited to those booklets
still in print and while supplies last. Many of these
booklets sell for $45 each. Here's a chance to get that book
you've wanted and essentially get The Serpent Wallet for
only the $4.99 difference!
Ask for the wallet today before the bonuses are gone. When
you check out tell me which booklet you'd like (add an
alternate choice too) in the comments during checkout.
MY COMMENTS:
Unfortunately, I'm not going to make this easy for you and
I'll tell you why momentarily. Getting right down to it,
this is certainly a very good wallet and tool for the
mentalist. It definitely does everything that the ad claims
(though the comparison to The Raven is a bit of hyperbole,
and a little questionable as to the analogy). And I was
impressed with the 44 page PDF manual (which is e-mailed to
you). It contains full color photo illustrations and many
routines and ideas for the Serpent's use.
And that brings us to two very important questions. The
first is, "Does the Serpent do everything claimed in the
blurb?" To be brief, yes. The wallet is everything the
blurb says it is. It is a great switching tool and,
basically, a Jaks Wallet (not 100% exactly a Jaks, but it
can have very similar functionality).
The second question is, "Does one need this?" If you're a
wallet junkie, the answer is an obvious yes. Otherwise,
this is where I'm NOT going to make it easy for you. You
see, because it's a regular wallet, one must use it as a
regular wallet. If you already use a Stealth Assassin or
another everyday wallet which is gimmicked, then the dilemma
is that you can't use both. It just doesn't make sense to
do that.
In comparing the features, the Serpent Wallet does not have
the Sight Unseen peek design, nor does it have an index.
However, there is a peek function. If you want an index,
you can always use Bryn Reynold's brilliant $4 Index from
Journal of the Mind #9 (or his The Safwan Papers) which can
be applied to most any standard wallet. The Serpent can
also certainly do billet loads.
Of course, the one big feature this wallet has that others
do not is the ability to easily and invisibly make switches
right in front of the participants. The wallet is on the
table. The item to be switched is merely, and apparently,
pushed under the wallet. This is done in full sight of
everyone. In that one move, though, the switch has been
done.
And that brings us back to why I'm not making this easy.
Personally, I can't say one or way or another whether this
wallet will be the one I'll use everyday. I'm still
deciding. More and more, though, I'm liking it, and maybe
by the time you read this, I'll have switched.
There are a few things I can definitely not be unsure of,
though. The price for this wallet is a bargain compared to
most of the other wallets on the market. Also, Docc Hilford
has never put out a product that has not been used by him
and successfully road-tested, at the very least. His
material may be controversial to some, but it's always solid
and thoughtful. And if you don't have a gimmicked wallet,
and this interests you, then this may be an easier decision.
But, if you already use one gimmicked, everyday wallet (or
more), and you get this clever finely made eelskin wallet,
you'll have to decide whether you're going to switch and, .
. . well, as I said, I'm not going to make this easy for
you. You'll have to decide for yourself.
The following item is not sold or distributed by the Marketplace of the Mind.
It is available only through the link below ("Link to Site").
