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graemesd Veteran user 369 Posts |
I'm not one for buying tricks/effects I like to invent and make my own stuff. Some cool some very very bad!!
but what is out there in the world of metalism that is worth purchasing. I always fancied the snooker/biliard/pool ball thingy what else is worth owning |
kozai New user 83 Posts |
First a couple questions to give you a good answer...
1.) How experienced are you in Magic? 2.) What are you looking for Books, Videos, individual effects? 3.) What is your budget? 4.) Are you looking for "Mind Reading" or "Mental Magic"? 5.) Do you like tricks with cards? 6.) Are you looking for close up or stage magic? |
davybabybrazil Regular user Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 169 Posts |
The only thing really worth purchasing is information!
It is hard to believe a man is telling you the truth if you know that if you were in his situation you would be lying.
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London Special user U.S.A. 769 Posts |
Information is the best thing to obtain , however this is 2005 and we have the world wide web. You do not have to purchase everything that is important to your art. There is a lot of free , yet priceless info out there. Now I am not saying the web is the answer to all. I myself am old fashioned and enjoy cracking a book. My point is do not be in such a hurry to spend when you can start out free. Just search the internet for your interest first and then you can pay to fill in the gaps. But to answer your question the way you want...the stuff worth buying in mentalism is books...Now with that being said your next question will be which books? It depends really on what direction you plan to go. think about what you want to do then worry about how to find it. Every member of the Café could have thier opinion on which "effect" is worth buying but truth is out of 100 people it only works the way it supposed to for maybe 5. Read Read Read. that is the best advice. Read everything you can on the subject. And soon you will understand what you want and where to look.
THOUGHTfully, London
THOUGHTfully,
LONDON |
jimtron Inner circle 2039 Posts |
If you like inventing your own stuff, just get a couple mentalism books, like 13 Steps to Mentalism (if you don't already have it), or Mind, Myth, and Magick, or Theater of the Mind. You can use these as starting points to develop your own original effects. Really, just 13 Steps would be enough to get the foundation down. There's plenty of good stuff to buy, but almost all of it is based on old concepts like those in 13 Steps.
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BT New user Winnipeg, Canada 64 Posts |
I'd vote for any Osterlind DVD...Lots and Lots of great stuff in there! The Watch Routine from the Mind Mysteries Series always kills.
Regards, Brian
Brian T.
"Nothing I do can't be done by a 10-year-old with 15 years of practice." Harry Blackstone, Jr. |
graemesd Veteran user 369 Posts |
Ive been performing for nearly 20 years.
Yes I know information is the only way. I guess that it was a flippant not to serious question. Just thought I'd ask if there is anything worth owninig what is it in your opinion. ok so its a very wide question answer if you wish |
Matt Pulsar Inner circle 1130 Posts |
Swami/boon writer. pad of paper. pen. pencil. couple of magnets if you want to go there. some cheap siverwear if you lean more in that direction. tape. glue. envelopes. dry erase board. nice suit. cards. rubber bands. clip board. some books.
you don't really need half that stuff. But, my question is, what is this billiard snooker thing you speak of.
Belief Manifests Reality.
Nebula CT: https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/8517 |
jstone Inner circle Someday I'll have 1473 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-07-21 04:19, graemesd wrote: Other than props such as a TT, black board, etc, it depends on what type of stuff you do... There are a decent handful of book tests on the market that are worth getting (double vision, MOAB, flash back). Also, check out Larry Becker's videos. He usually plugs quite a few of his products in the videos. This can give you a good idea of what you might want because you can see him perform it - It's like a product demo, but he then exposes the gaff on the props. At that point you can decide if you want to buy them or not. |
weepinwil Inner circle USA 3828 Posts |
For cold reading, I would suggest Ian Rowland's stuff.
"Til Death us do part!" - Weepin Willie
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Waters Inner circle 2508 Posts |
Nothing! (i just felt the need to be ridiculous).
Seriously, there is so much out there you really ought to start with something like the "Art of Mentalism" by Robert Cassidy (still available from Collector's Workshop). A.O.M. has a great introduction to mentalism (discourse), with theory on the "why's" of performing mentalism. I think one must understand this before buying stuff for the "how's". Read this book thoughtfully... By the way, It is beautifully produced as well. Sean |
Tom Lauten Special user 689 Posts |
It is worth saying that a great deal of the materials suggested (physical materials that is) are the very things that many commercially sold mentalism effects are created from. So whether or not you purchase the raw materials and books, DVDs, ebooks etc., or "off the shelf" effects you may well be getting the same thing. Of course there is usually much more per "media purchase" than one effect...sweet!
Sometimes, when buying a singular "product" one is purchasing the efforts of another in gathering, testing, assembling, printing etc. I make most of my props (or remake commercial ones) with the exception of gimmicked watches and wallets. It is a lot of work. Many people don't have the time, inclination, skill, tools or materials to "make their own". That should not be seen as being less than "pure" and "proper". Bless those who invest and make for us...they also innovate. And bless those who purchase, they keep the innovators going and add variety. I guess it comes down to "horses for courses". We can't all be mentalism purists...nor should we be. Not every work-a-day magician performs ONLY sleight of hand and tricks with a borrowed deck. Performance style and audience impact is what we strive for surely...applaud those who genuinely hit that mark, whatever the means.
Living at and loving Loch Ness!
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graemesd Veteran user 369 Posts |
Thanks guys
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Thoughtreader Inner circle Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1565 Posts |
The original question was "What else is worth owning" and the true simple answer is "Whatever you are going to use". One mans garbage is another man's treasure. Remember when the first David Blaine special aired? Everyone that passed over the coin in the bottle or the Balducci Levitation (both have been out there for years) because they felt as if they were beginer effects and that they were above them OR that they had forgotten them on the shelf to move to the latest trick of the week, flocked back to it. One person will feel ripped off because they paid $200 for something that had a simple method BUT another that paid that much for the same effect that is now a staple in their shows will feel they got the bargain of a lifetime. Only through trial and error will you find what works for YOU and hopefully you will develop the ability to see past it's basics and see the opportunity to develop it into a miracle.
PSIncerely Yours, Paul Alberstat |
Piers Inner circle A Limited Edition of 1394 Posts |
What's worth owning ?
Well, living near London at the moment, what's really worth owning is one's freedom and safety. But other than that ... knowledge. There are some really thought provoking books and authors out there. Osterlind, Corinda, Annemann, Busch, and some of the less well known one's too. Just add your imagination ! Best, Piers. www.justgiving.com/piers-cancer-fund www.justgiving.com/Piers-Cancer-Fund-2 www.justgiving.com/Piers-Cancer-Fund-3 Finished my 4 months of Chemotherapy in 2009. 3 monthly checks since... and into 2021! As seen on the QE2 and QM2. Author of Salem's Cornucopia - SUC Book |
jstone Inner circle Someday I'll have 1473 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-07-21 12:11, Thoughtreader wrote: ThoughtReader, Thank you for this post! I've read so many posts where people are upset by the method once they buy a "trick." I've read a lot of hate posts about Jay Sankey's "Killer Key" because people were upset at how simple the method is, yet the reason they bought it was because they saw (AND LOVED) the video demo of it on a website. The point is that the effect was good enough that they bought it, yet when discovering the method, they chalked it up to another bad purchase. These are the people who will likely never make it as professionals because they are so hung up on the method and don't think about the effect. In 13 steps by corrinda, I can't count how many times he says something along the lines of "who cares about method; effect is what matters." Thanks again for the reminder that we all need that our job is to entertain lay people not complain to magicians about the lack of perceived cleverness of a method. By the way, some will read this post and think that I am accusing or pointing fingers at people in this thread. I am not; I was really concerned or ranting about a problem that I've seen a lot in magic, and I thought I'd vent here, so take it for what it's worth. I hope it is useful information to those who read it. |
Michael Bilkis Special user 728 Posts |
Books, DVDs, envelopes, pads of paper, pens, magazines, dictionary or other books for a book test I also purchased a dozen spectators. O do own a few bought props, mostly from Mr. Osterlind, because of the exceptional quality, better than I can make myself and a n**L w###r and a china marker type b@@d W@@@er from banachek.
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ALEXANDRE Inner circle 3024 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-07-20 19:14, graemesd wrote: Whatever speaks to you....
HERE'S A SECRET ...
http://www.lybrary.com/mystic-alexandre-m-354.html |
Jay Are Inner circle 4186 Posts |
Waters, Corinda, Anneman, Banachek, Osterlind, Maven, Becker, Earle, Lesley Casidy...
If these guys put their name in the title or in the print somewhere on the product, then it is worth owing! My advice, stick with the classic books if your starting. I found that when I first got in to mentalism I got a lot more milage out of books and DVD's.
xxx
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