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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Is this an appropriate book to get if I don't do much mentalism?
Thanks, Frank
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
Probably not...
PS is more for enhancing an existing mentalism presentation.
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
AllThumbs Veteran user UK 375 Posts |
My initial response, would be "No". Please let me qualify my answer.
The book as you maybe aware is primarily focused on psychological forces (although not entirely). Whilst Banachek carefully and expertly discusses the psychology behind them and how to present them the routining is not done for you. Without this they will seem exactly what they are..psychological tricks. You do need to put a fair amount of work into the great ideas given in the book. The problem is with an act that does not have a large mentalism part to it, is that what you devise will be inappropriate for the act. They won't flow well or fit into the context of your act. Psychological forces as you would expect are not 100% reliable and you really need to have a strong mental component to lift the occaisional failure you have with them. Most mentalist on the whole would not present the ideas within the book as whole effects, but very effective fillers when suitable within certain parts of their act. The book is *excellent* and is always worth a read, but I expect you would probably be disappointed and not find have much use for it. I could be wrong. I would give *to you* the answer "Yes" get it, because I think Banachek deserves the support to allow him to continue to contribute creatively as he has already done. But this is probably not a the answer you are looking for. Regards, Kris Sheglova
The above is all rubbish, except that which you chose to believe
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
both good answers. I get it.
Thanks, Frank
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
...you mean "You won't get it", right?
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Karl Dellis New user 39 Posts |
No !
PS is a very very GOOD book. BUT...In fact it's more a book containing psychological tools to be personalised by each mentalist that a set of routine...So I think even such mentalist could be disapointed at the reading of this book (ones that search "all made" routine). So I don't think it's a good choice fore someone that don't make a lot of mentalist routine... Best regards, Karl |
Banachek V.I.P. Houston 1086 Posts |
Maybe I should not try to answer this, but hey, what I have got to lose.
Psychological Subtleties is just as the title says. It is not meant to be a book of tricks. It is amazing how many people have told me they did not get it at first, but after a second read it opened up all kinds of doors. A few weeks ago someone told me just that, they read it a second time, looked at a tape of their show and made 5 pages of notes, things to change, and to enhance. This is not just a book for mentalists. For instance, how do you increase the odds 90 percent of getting a spectator to close a certain hand if you need them to for some routine. It is in the book. How to increase the odds of a spectator selecting a certain object of many. Well... there are countless ways in the book. This is not so much a book on psychological forces, if you read it as such, or expect it to be such, you will miss the majority of what the book is really all about. Yes there are a host of psychological forces and routines to use them, but it is really the psychology behind the effects that I was trying to get across. Hence there being many old effects in the book, but whenever there was an old chestnut, I gave many psychological enhances to make it work. It is kind of like PK time. If you go to one of the web sites that simply tells you to pull out the stem and secretly change the time, you will get caught, time and time again. But if you read PK time and actually follow all the psychology behind it, each special move and the psychological covers for each move, it will work. If you notice, in the introduction to PK time, I mention one of the reasons for writing PK time was due to the fact I had shown it to a young magician and he just simply performed it and was not doing it justice because it was simply a trick to him and he missed all the psychological cover I had given him built into the routine to make it more than a trick, but a miracle. Anyway, a little of track there but trying to show that when I write a book, you really need to look between the effects to find the real stuff. Notice, I did not say between the lines, the real stuff is there. But stop looking for the effects. Make the effect secondary. Concentrate on the small touches. (pun intended) As for whether this is a book for beginers or professionals. I can only tell you, when I started it was the small stuff that I would notice and work on. Pk touches came from a very small idea in a Melbourne Christopher book and Being able to use people's handwriting to figure out what they were familiar with gave me much milage in my early days. It will depend upon how creative you really are. If you are looking for full blown routines, Psychological Subtleties is not the way to go. If you are looking for inspiration, hopefully it would get you started. All the best either way.
In thoughts and Friendship
Banachek Campus Performer of the Year two years in a row Year 2000 Campus Novelty Act PEA Creativity Award Recipient http://www.banachek.com |
TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Thanks. I have a limited budget (Says my wife) so I try to choose the appropriate 'book of the month' or so.
I very much appreciate the psychology behind magic and it is what probably keeps me interested more than anything else. I'll put it on the list. I do not have much of a mentalism repitoire so I don't know at what point it will be my next choice. Is it still available? If so, where? Thanks for the comments, Frank
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
AllThumbs Veteran user UK 375 Posts |
Apologies Banachek for failing to point out some of the otherside of the book.
It is still available and available from dealers that care You can get it online from Banachek.org: http://www.banachek.org/Performers%20OnlyPermission.htm You will need a password though. You might not know the answer, as you have said, mentalism is not something you are too familiar with. You should know where to look in some of your references though. If you still have trouble I'm sure if you PM Banachek he'll be happy to help. A bonus with ordering from the site is that you will get a signed copy (well mine was anyway), the service is prompt and efficient, and I would guess Banachek will be compensated more fairly than if you were to buy from another dealer (always a good reason to buy as direct as possible) You are in for a treat. As Banachek rightly points out in his post, you do need to look between the effects..it is all there. A cursory glance will probably only make you think "and so what"..a good read will mean you won't regret having bought the book. I have found the book to be a continual source of inspiration, and I am sure many others have too. A great 'thinking man's' book. Enjoy. Regards, Kris Sheglova
The above is all rubbish, except that which you chose to believe
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Well matias,
I did get it. Actually, I found a copy on ebay. So now am I in the club? Frank
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
Mr Amazing Special user 617 Posts |
Frank,
Well, it does has a lot of excellent ideas in it. I tend to agree with the first answers though - it seems to fit more in a mentalists toolbox than a magicians, even if Mr. Banachek tells you it is for magicians as well. Perhaps I'm 'home blind' a bit, not seeing the uses for magicians? Most magicians I know dislike things that are less than 100% (because that often means a failure for a magician, as opposed to a mentalist), and most magicians I know are much more fascinated with more tangible and visual stuff. Not all, but most. But hey - I guess you'll just find out and decide for yourself now Personally, I consider it one of my most valuable books. |
Scott Xavier Inner circle 3672 Posts |
Not a bad book at all. If your going to be performing any serious mental routines, you should pick it up. Its like cold reading, something you could use in practical mental effects.
Pick a number between 5-10 Uh 7 Bingo! |
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