This mentalism style effect has potential. Despite the fact that a spectator is encouraged to lie, you can always determine his or her freely chosen card under seemingly controlled conditions.
Here's an intriguing idea, a bit of seemingly impromptu mind reading that occurs through the text that's printed on a playing card box. This one has definite possibilities, however, at $50, it's a bit expensive.
Here's a bit of dual reality. In this effect, one spectator's perception of a playing card differs from everyone else's, just as if he or she were hypnotized. There are some definite possibilities here.
This small booklet teaches three powerful close-up mentalism effects for walk-around situations. Indeed, the routines are strong and intimate, but I find them more appropriate for formal close-up shows than strolling scenarios.
On paper, this mentalism effect sounds like something that is real psychic phenomena. And in the right situations, it can probably play as something that's real. Of course, there's a secret and method. But the effect allows you to approach someone you have never met before and tell them personal information that you have somehow sensed.
A utility device that will work anytime you need to swap a letter-sized picture or document, or influence an outcome between two choices, Richard Osterlind's "Two-Faced" offers a quality prop for mentalists and magicians.
Not a trick in itself but a cool revelation system for math-based mentalism routines, Haim Goldenberg's "Cryptext " is a fantastic concept. I have some issues with the way this effect is being distributed, but the core concept can rock your world.
I wasn't sure what to expect with "Triangle," a thin booklet by Patrick G. Redford. But what I discovered within its pages were three cool, impromptu mentalism style routines. This is strong material with lots of performance potential.
Not a trick in itself but a cool revelation system for math-based mentalism routines, Haim Goldenberg's "Cryptext " is a fantastic concept. I have some issues with the way this effect is being distributed, but the core concept can rock your world.
A packet effect that's been on the market for six years and now being re-released on DVD, E.S.Perfect is a great trick. I watched the DVD the other day and immediately put this one to use in my restaurants over the weekend where it received great responses.
"The Magic Of Nefesch Vol. 3," which stars Nefesch, promises a series of powerful mentalism effects. I didn't find anything of interest to me, but I'll point out a few that may have potential.
This is a creative mentalism effect - a diabolical prediction that works with your DVD player. Somehow, you're able to predict the contents of an episode on a DVD disc that your spectator has freely selected.
Here's an interesting idea, a gimmicked envelope that strongly lends itself to mentalism effects. The Omnilope envelope can be used in any situation where you would use a clear switch bag.
With pirates being so popular these days with the recent Disney movies and such, Larry Becker and Lee Earle bring up treasure with their "Buccaneer Booty," a good mentalism effect with a strong pirate theme.
Instead of a prediction in the vein of an Al Koran Medallion-style effect, Kenton Knepper has turned a prediction into a theme of time travel in the spirit of H.G. Wells. It is truly inspired and brilliant work.
"Inside Thoughts" offers a gimmicked envelope that allows you to predict a good range of possibilities, up to nine, and with some work, 18. The predictions can be numbers, celebrities, colors or anything that you wish.
Four people place their finger rings into four coin purses as the magician looks away. The magician then takes out each ring and identifies its owner. This one is a bit of pseudo psychometry.
There are many ways to apparently read a spectator's thoughts, and Stathi Zaf offers a diabolical and clever device that you can make that effectively does the job. For close-up work where you and your spectators are standing, Zaf's DIVINE2 prop can be an excellent addition to your mentalism arsenal.
As the name implies, "Accuracy" offers a solid, reliable mind reading effect. But with its method, you must be sure that you perform it under the right conditions. Furthermore, as written, this is a routine that you can perform for family and friends or may work in formal close-up shows under controlled conditions.
This is the third Oz Pearlman DVD that I've reviewed and with this title, he's three for three with me. His Stealing Pips featured some amazing card magic while his 21st Century Phantom explained a stunning mentalism effect with an outrageous revelation. With "Into the Abyss," Pearlman offers another excellent DVD with three stunning close-up mentalism gems.
A cool mentalism prop that has the potential for as much if not more impact than a standard tossed-out deck routine, Bill Abbott's Octopus Deck offers an intriguing gimmicked deck. This giant slayer is a complete mind reading routine with three phases. Wait until you get your tentacles on this one.
Here's a great stand-up and stage effect that offers a stunning prediction, a bit of pseudo-psychometry, lots of interaction with five audience members who join you on stage and an intriguing ESP theme. I especially like the strong two-phased ending.
This is no simple puzzle, but a strong mentalism routine that involves a jigsaw puzzle. Somehow, a spectator’s freely chosen piece from a bunch of random ones is the very piece that's missing from an almost fully assembled puzzle. It's a compelling routine for stand-up or stage that features good audience interaction.
I like Chinese food and "Chinese Choice" offers a fun mentalism routine for stand-up or close-up. I agree with Archer that it's not opening or closing material, but a good mid-act routine that offers lots of audience interaction.
I frankly didn't have a hint as to the powerful magic to be found within 21st Century Phantom. But I found the incredible effect that lay within to be an audience shocker and pleaser. I've been performing it over the weekend for regulars at my gigs and found that it gets a fantastic response.
With the popularity of iPods and MP3 players, it's a natural to perform magic with these ever present devices. With iKnow, Jason Palter has created a solid mentalism effect that allows you to determine the exact song that a spectator has selected at random and is listening to, without looking at the iPod.
A baffling bit of mentalism with a Chinese restaurant theme, Szechuan Sampler allows for completely free choices on the part of four participants and ends with a powerful prediction. The effect is self-working and straight-forward to learn and perform.
This gimmicked book is a powerful tool that lets you perform a disarming and convincing book test with your choice of books. And it’s also an interesting book to read. I thoroughly like the "Houdini Book Test."
Here’s a demonstration of psychic power. Instead of twisting a spoon or fork into a mass of mangled metal, how about causing a delicate wine glass to bend at its stem?
Blindsight is a mentalism effect that baffles spectators and relies on a strong combination of classic mentalism techniques. In lesser hands, the routine could rely on common mentalism methods. But Devin Knight’s brings together elements that shroud and support each other. And for good measure, he adds a kicker at the routine’s end. For $20, this is a powerful close-up mentalism routine.
I’ve never been a big fan of book tests, but “Double Coincidence” is one that I like and want to perform. It's a strong, multi-phase routine that is baffling and not difficult to perform.
A powerful mentalist tool that leaves no outcome to luck, “No Chance” offers a set of gimmicked dice that work with a variety of effects. The dice also come with an indepth DVD that explains some of the many routines that you can perform with the dice.
An amazing prediction that is always under your control, “Decisions” allows you to prove to a spectator that you can anticipate his or her answers. You ask a spectator a “yes” or “no” question and when you show your prediction card, it’s always right.
In the spirit of mentalism effects where an object predicts some random input from audience members ala “Koran Medallion” and Don Wayne’s “Room Key,” “Collard” allows audience members to freely name a stuffed toy dog and later discover that its tag already has its name inscribed on it. This one is good and it’s definitely a stage effect.
For a society that can’t hear enough about Brittney, Lindsey and Paris, “Red Carpet” exploits our interest in celebrities. It’s a mind-reading effect that involves male and female spectators and ten cards that depict well known people. While the theme is compelling, the effect is rather lackluster and anti-climactic.
With images of exotic and far off places, Larry Becker and Lee Earle offer a baffling bit of mentalism that involves postcards. This one is very good.
It’s an offbeat mentalism effect that based on an equally offbeat idea. Marc Oberon takes the statistical “37" number force trick and combines it with a prop that covers all of the possibilities. While the effect is decent, it’s the prop that’s cool.
On "No Camera Tricks," an excellent three-disc DVD set, Richard Osterlind proves that mentalism is alive and well suited for television. Here, Osterlind demonstrates powerful mentalism for television that requires no camera tricks or editing, and no stooges or pre-show work.
David Taylor offers a strong and easy book test effect in his “Taylor Made Book Test.” His method is easy to setup, learn and perform and allows you to use virtually any book.
An intriguing new concept that updates the classic swami writer, “Crystal Vision” allows you to make on-the-spot predictions that appear on a laminated card that’s sealed within an envelope. The technique and prop are intriguing, but the results can only be viewed under good lighting.
It’s rare that I come across a commercial magic trick that I can’t perform (actually, this is the first time). But I find “Odd Ball” to have a secret that is far too subtle to ensure success. And unfortunately, its method is one that may not be subtle enough to escape detection on the part of spectators.
If you want to use billets in your mentalism, Allen Zingg’s “Master Billet Course Peeks & Center Tears” offers a fantastic introduction that can get you well on your way. Zingg not only explains different techniques in detail, he presents various routines that make use of the techniques. You’re free to pick and choose the technique that will work best for you.
“Between 2 Minds” is a three-disc DVD set that offers 15 powerful mentalism routines for stand up, stage and close up. While 15 effects may sound like a paltry amount given that this pricey set consists of three discs and costs $120, they’re strong ones. Another plus, Bavli and Goldenberg take lots of time to discuss each method and routine, perhaps the most insightful treatment that I’ve seen on any instructional magic DVD.
In “Mind Control,” Bill Abbott offers a trick that is easy to perform and can be performed in several variations for close-up or stage. Here, the spectator makes a free choice and is shown that the magician knew all along.
A prediction effect that is surprising and visual, Larry Becker's and Lee Earle's "Star Trick" manages to capture our society's fascination with celebrities. This effect is based on an innovative and creative concept and is designed to be performed on stage but can also be performed close-up.
If you’ve always wanted to perform the “Tossed Out Deck,” but wanted to maintain control over the cards, Daryl’s “Group Session” offers a great alternative method. “Group Session” comes with the necessary props, paper instructions and a DVD and is a fantastic system that provides all of the tools that you need to learn and perform the effect.
The spectator is given a deck of cards. The magician turns his back and tells him to cut the deck to any card and peek at it. After the spectator peeks at a card, the magician tells him the card he peeked at without fishing or even touching the deck.
“Free Will Has Left the Building.” So goes the tagline for “Gobsmacked,” an effect where a spectator freely deals cards until he or she wants to stop. When the spectator stops, the magician shows that the rest of the cards are blue backed cards and the spectator’s freely chosen card has a red back with a message written on the back. The power in this effect lies in its perceived free choice.
In "Far Sight," a card-based mentalism effect, a performer can stand away from a set of cards so he can’t see them and allow a spectator to freely choose one card and cover the others. In the end, the performer correctly predicts the selected card. This one is good and will fry magicians who may be the best spectators for it.
If you want to secretly discern a thought or message, there’s always the reliable center tear. Ran Pink offers his version of the center tear that works with an index or business card, allows you to precisely tear the card without looking at it and results in torn pieces that are seemingly too small to contain any useful information.
A first rate mentalism effect, Jason Palter’s Divine Time offers an entertaining routine that’s built on a time theme and serves a solid revelation. A spectator randomly selects a watch from several that display different times, and the performer is able to somehow determine the time.
This incredible bit of mentalism involves five spectators and six poker chips and serves two powerful revelations. I successfully performed the routine at three shows this past weekend and it got a great response. I can’t say enough great things about Rick Maue’s “Fate.”
As the title implies, Andrew Normansell’s 100% Commercial Mentalism DVD offers the magician’s favorite mentalism effects. Normansell offers mentalism that works on stage and in close-up situations. All are easy to learn and perform. While some rely on playing cards, none require any sleight-of-hand.
A collection of mind-reading gags that can be used on their own for laughs, or to lead up to a major prediction or revelation, Mindreading 101 offers a set of high-quality cards that you can use right away in your act. The gags are proven ones that will be a hit with almost any lay audience.
Every magician owns magic tricks that he purchased with the highest expectations, but for whatever reason, never made it into his act. In this regular new feature, I discuss effects that I bought and now sit on a shelf. This week, it’s the “Watch & Wear” wristwatch, a mentalism effect where a spectator names a time of the day and the magician shows that his watch was previously set to that time.
