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Dan C New user 100 Posts |
Hi all,
Quick Background: Renewed interest in magic at the end of last year and have been exploring the different branches of the art. Have been lurking here because it is one of the aspects I know the least about but am really drawn to due to the storytelling aspect of it. I'm going to take the dive and buy my first book test and from what I have been reading it seems that there are several extremely good products on the market right now. The ones I am considering were: Spectre, Fathoms, and Oraculum. Then I noticed the Professor's Most Haunted House. This made me think about the aspect of DIY to get to know how the program works (literally from the inside out.) I'm going to push it here I know but please don't just say I have Spectre and it is really good. I have read that all the products are good I'm looking for a rational for the choice. PM are always welcomed. Thanks so much, Dan |
the Sponge Inner circle Atlanta 2771 Posts |
there are pages of info on these items: reviews and rationals already.
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ManxBull Regular user Isle of Man 116 Posts |
Of the three you mention, I only have 'Spectre', but it is superb. In practical use, its performance can range from a series of compelling 'hits' followed by an oracle, to a long and involved full reading lasting an hour or so. But the rationale? The book has the most amazing background story which grips people from the very get-go: it's a book written through a ouija board! What could be more mysterious, spooky and compelling than that? People are hooked before you even open it.
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Dan C New user 100 Posts |
Hey Sponge: I have read the reviews and posts I guess my problem here is that I am so ignorant Im not sure what to look at as far as accessibility for a noob!
Thanks Manx I appreciate that opinion. And yes that is a quite captivating story. Dan |
Darkness Inner circle 1626 Posts |
"Im not sure what to look at as far as accessibility for a noob!" What does that means exactly?
You say you want to buy a book test? Is that what you really want or using the term loosely? "The rationale for book choice" is your character and the effect you wish to do for presentation and venue. I agree with Sponge, if you search the name of the book in the bar above and read the "capabilities" and "what people think of them", it will be more than apparent how it may fit into what you wish to do. Don't try to find a book to do a show around, have an idea of the show first. The book is only a supporting cast member. Ask yourself why your character would even do a book effect! Spectre, Fathoms, and Oraculum are completely different, understand the differences first. Ask yourself why you want to do that type of effect. Then you will be closer to picking the right one. It's also subjective, what works for one person may not be a good fit for another. Asking people their opinion won't matter if it doesn't line up with the conditions you have defined for yourself above.
THE SUPERNATURAL ILLUSIONIST & EFFECTS CREATOR WWW.MRDARKNESS.COM
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Dan C New user 100 Posts |
Thanks for the reply Darkness. More work. Grin. What you say makes absolute sense. I have some concepts and ideas in mind but will flush them out more to ask more intelligent questions.
Dan |
Silvertongue Inner circle One day I will die leaving behind 2426 Posts |
There was one out a while ago called Ghost!
I have several one being spectre. In terms of storytelling this has many possibilities for storylines. There is another one I like called bip book test 2.0 which can tie into any psychic storyline.
For as long as space exists,
And living beings remain in cyclic existence, For that long, may I too remain, to dispel the sufferings of the world. -Shantideva Engaging in the Conduct of a Bodhisattva |
Brynmore14 Inner circle The Séance Chamber 1815 Posts |
Luna was the first "bizarre book test" (a highly simplistic and inaccurate term) I really got in to. It taught me a huge number of lessons that allowed me to move from mainstream mentalism into the dark arts. These lessons still inform my performance style to this day.
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Dan C New user 100 Posts |
Thank you for the information (subtle recommendation). I am adding that to my list of research for this weekend.
Dan |
horus1 Special user 645 Posts |
Personally, I would suggest you purchase any of Prof BC's Dopps books on the second hand market - or you could try your luck at getting the new double Alice book that should be released in a few weeks. The method is easy and the manual is chock full of ideas to make it your own. From there you can expand your library, character and presentations. If you do a search for Doppelganger or Dopps you'll come up with lots of information. A jaunt over Lebannon Circle website and a glance at Prof BC's offerings will hip you to all the past titles.
In my humble opinion there is really no better place to start. |
joemcdull Regular user 178 Posts |
Another vote for Spectre, the story along is intriguing enough, and is a real story. It is said that a good lie is 80% real and 20% lie, so your story is a lot more convincing. I even chop the documentary of TST as part of the convincer.
It work at many levels. It can play as pure psychic reading without doing any 'trick', make you very comfortable to practice just telling the story. It can play as a booktest which is a more examinable Shakespeare experiment which cost more than it ( before you can just get it in second hand market ) It can play as Spirit communication tool, like ouija board with words It can even be done as part of Q&A act, after all it is a book for biblomancy which cost $2000 on amazon, and this edition even got a stamp from the writer The bouns section is even part of the core method of other booktest |
joemcdull Regular user 178 Posts |
By the way, the first edition of tst was published on early 19s, which also the time fortune telling machine were popular, I tied the story with Kadar which created base on these machinee, I do not elaborate the entire story to the audience but this is this is the subtext of the entire act
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Some_Magical_Idiot New user 64 Posts |
What are the best resources for finding these types of things secondhand? Thanks
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David Eichler Grammar Host Durham, ME 1780 Posts |
Hey Some_Magical_Idiot, welcome to The Café. Once you have 50 legitimate posts you'll find that several forums that are currently unavailable to you suddenly become available. Included in those forums are several that are FOR SALE forums - effects, books, and DVDs. Then you will have access to a very large set of offerings on the second hand market. In the meanwhile, ask questions, use the search function, and inform yourself of what you'd like to begin looking for once you have hit the 50-post mark.
All the best, David |
Some_Magical_Idiot New user 64 Posts |
Hello David - thank you for the info and warm welcome. I guess I better start posting and researching. So interesting!
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