|
|
Go to page 1~2 [Next] | ||||||||||
Jean-Luc.R. Inner circle QUEBEC - CANADA 1488 Posts |
WEDNESDAY 9TH JANUARY 2008
ALAKAZAM MAGIC PROUDLY PRESENT JOHN ARCHER'S CHINESE CHOICE DUE FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 2008 SEE VIDEO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lYak-s6eU0 Now is your chance to perform one of the most talked about routines from the critically acclaimed “Educating Archer” DVD. John Archer’s “Chinese Choice” is not just a trick – it is a powerhouse of a routine that blends comedy and mentalism to perfection. If the name John Archer is not enough to make you buy this effect immediately then read on to find out more about this eagerly anticipated release… Three spectators are brought on stage and invited to take a traditional Chinese meal in a way they used to do thousands of years ago… You explain that the ancient Chinese were great mathematicians and believers in numerology. Often numbers were used to help make even the most mundane of choices. Why else would all the items on a Chinese menu be numbered? Hence you explain that you are going to show them how the ancient Chinese would decide what to do when going out for a meal. One of the spectators is given a small packet of plastic number cards to shuffle. They now choose one person who will be in charge of the menu, while the other two are in charge of setting the amount they will pay for the meal. The menu is shown as representing the restaurant they will visit. The three spectators are given three cards each and two of them take turns to make up three two-digit numbers. These two digit numbers are added together to arrive at a total and a decimal point is added to form a price to spend on the meal – but alas! It is incredibly low! 1.65! The prospect of a good meal does not look hopeful! The third spectator now adds up his three cards to come up with a number, to represent a dish on the menu. When they check out the menu they see that all other menu items are normal, however item number 15 is an ‘Eat as much as you like buffet for three people, cost - 1.65.’ INCLUDES TWO CUSTOM PRINTED MENUS – A LARGE ONE FOR STAGE & POCKET SIZED VERSION FOR CLOSE UP – PLASTIC NUMBER CARDS – FULL INSTRUCTIONS & ROUTINE Please note that we have had the menus printed with out currency symbols on the menu (£,$ etc) so that they are universal and can be used anywhere in the world! YOURS FOR JUST £19.99 - ORDER NOW - DUE FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 2008 |
|||||||||
Mumblemore Inner circle 1429 Posts |
I've seen this on Educating Archer (great routine) and wonder how different it is from Becker and Earle's Szechuan Sampler
I ordered the Szechuan so I guess I'll be able to report on this when it arrives http://www.mentalismunlimited.com/Szechuan.html |
|||||||||
meyegr Special user Only able to muster 800 Posts |
Oh no, I hope this is not another one of those threads that goes off on the 'I invented it first" trails
|
|||||||||
Peter Nardi Inner circle 2238 Posts |
Hi,
Just to put you in the picture Szechuan Sampler and Chinese Choice both use a Chinese meal presentation but apart from that the effects are completely differant. Best Regards Peter |
|||||||||
meyegr Special user Only able to muster 800 Posts |
Maybe in the working, but the presentational effect is quite similar
|
|||||||||
Christopher Williams Inner circle Portsmouth, UK 4464 Posts |
Well, the only similarity there is, is that a menu is used, and a prediction is shown...the workings are different, the effect is different mostly, and are used in different ways. We could argue most effects on the market as similar, and they usually do get argued 'This is a rehash of this and that etc', but in the end, this is different, and that is enough surely...
|
|||||||||
Mark Elsdon Loyal user 249 Posts |
Meyegr said: " Maybe in the working, but the presentational effect is quite similar"
Quite the opposite! Both Archer and Fred Rosenbaum (whose name is usually sadly omitted from discussions of his trick) the creator of Szechuan Sampler were both inspired by Larry Becker effects which use Bob Mason's mathematical number force methodology. Similarly, they both decided that Chinese menus were a great way to hide the mathematical workings. Rosenbaum's is a straight mentalism piece with a gift certificate prediction, whereas Archer's is a comedy effect in which the prediction is in view all along and provides a comedy payoff to a seemingly ridiculous situation. Archer was completely unaware of the Rosenbaum effect, having based his (as stated above) on a Becker idea. Alakazam properly credit Rosenbaum's effect in the instructions. Hope this helps, Mark Elsdon
Check out The View From Here:
http://elsdon.blogspot.com/ |
|||||||||
boboshempy Veteran user Jersey 373 Posts |
OMG, I can not believe this. Does Larry Becker know that Archer is selling this!?
Nick |
|||||||||
meyegr Special user Only able to muster 800 Posts |
Yes, to magicicans they are different, but to the audience involved they would appear to be very similar.
Can they not both be presented in a serious or comedic manor? I do the Sampler and it gets laughs the way I do it. sorry - just different opinions - Let's let the thread go back on track. The sand box is big enough for all of us |
|||||||||
boboshempy Veteran user Jersey 373 Posts |
Meyegr,
Mark is correct. This is a Becker effect. This effect is in Stunners Plus! by Larry Becker! Starts on page 89. In addition to two other thourough presentations lary gives you, the food presentation is on page 92. Hope this helps. Nick |
|||||||||
Mumblemore Inner circle 1429 Posts |
"Oh no, I hope this is not another one of those threads that goes off on the 'I invented it first" trails." I agree, we see a fair number of these, with some of our colleagues showing us how much they know (although you cannot blame creators for wanting to get credit, and royalties where due . . . and if I had the encyclopedic knowledge of magic a few of our posters have, I'd be inclined to answer questions with their confidence too). I was just asking an innocent question in hopes that my Szechuan Sampler doesn't replicate the Chinese Choice I saw on Educating Archer. Sounds like views are mixed, and I'll have to fiddle with the SS and then let you all know.
|
|||||||||
Royce K. New user London 89 Posts |
The comedy climax to the Archer routine is what makes it for me. When it seems like the effect looks lost (or nonsensical), the climax is not only correct but funny.
Also, the Archer routine allows for the number cards to be shuffled by the audience prior to the selections. As Archer himself says, this isn't a blockbuster closer, but an amusing mid-set baffler. Royce K. |
|||||||||
CinChiller Elite user Germany 404 Posts |
I love the educating archer dvd very much.
There are only 2 effects I don´t like so much ,because it´s not really mental or very strong. One of them is the chinese choice routine. Not my cup of Café, but I´m sure, some people will love it. Anyway, I hope John will release his next dvd soon. I will be one of the first customers for sure.
The Gaff Book Collection - the right tool for your booktest.
Music for mentalism and psychic entertainment. Visit: http://stores.lulu.com/dankworth01 |
|||||||||
ldl1017 Elite user 476 Posts |
I've heard that this is based on a mathematical principal developed by Richard Stride from Portland, Maine.
“I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.”
Billy Joel |
|||||||||
Mumblemore Inner circle 1429 Posts |
While my purpose is not to get into the fray regarding who invented it first, I would just say, now having received Szechwan Sampler, which is a good trick (but with some off-color jokes on the menus if you decide to point them out), that it is similar to Archer's Chinese Choice as performed on Educating Archer (I don't have the commercial trick being referenced here, but I did watch the performance and explanation). Sticklers may find differences in method, but the presenation is similar enough that people would probably just want to have one or the other. And Archer's performance is fantastic, so you may want to get Chinese Choice and see if he includes new handling tips. But then again, Earle and Becker are no slouches, and this is also a comedy offering from them (and I'll bet that if you have Educating Archer you have 90 perent of that trick's manuscript, although someone with the DVD and the commercial trick could tell us better). In other words, two good choices, but which do overlap.
|
|||||||||
archini Veteran user UK 313 Posts |
Hello,
Me here. Just thought I would put my 10 cents in. Firstly, I agree that Szechwan Sampler and Chinse choice are similar in concept (Both use a choice of chinese menu, or menu's for a prediction effect.) However they are different in method, routine and to a great degree in the final outcome. I agree that you couldn't use both effects in the same set but that could be said of the hundreds of book tests out there which differ only in method, routine and maybe but not always outcome. Secondly and most importantly, I was not aware of Szechwan Sampler when I came up with the Chinese Choice routine. I was only shown this routine a few weeks ago. I am a huge fan of both Larry Becker and Lee Earle and would never knowingly borrow (a horrible word meaning steal.) anything from them. If anyone on here is on them please pass this message on. I hope that there is room for both routines and that the wise will take a look at each of them and decide what will work best for them. People who know me will know that I do have a strong belief in originality and integrity in this world of ours and that I do try to do the right thing. Honest Regards, John |
|||||||||
mesmer Inner circle 1186 Posts |
This is Mental Magic....NOT Mentalism...Not direct....why do you need the Numbers...The Cards.....and also the un-nessecary Addition of the Numbers....if I do this type of eefect with Chinesse Meal as a Theme....I just use my Dream Prediction from Paul Rohmany.....
|
|||||||||
archini Veteran user UK 313 Posts |
Hi Mesmer,
Your right it is Mental magic. You are right it could be done much more directly. You are also right that the numbers and the addittion is un-neccessary. (If we forget routine) But it can be a fun and very entertaining routine. I suppose it boils down as to whether we want an audience to believe we are real. I prefer to get the audience to buy into the fact that I am there to entertain them with hokum. I don't want to be seen as someone who has a special gift - I then become a glorified ear wiggler, no mystery, a simple answer - he can read minds, wow move on. We choose how we want to be catagorised and that will reflect how we choose to present our effects. The shortest distance between two points is not always the most interesting journey. In my view there is nothing wrong with procedure if that procedure is justified within the context of the routine and if it is made as entertaining as possible. Obviously you are perfectly entitled to think otherwise. |
|||||||||
Martin Waring Loyal user York, England 254 Posts |
I've tried this both to a large group and in a close up table setting using the pocket version. In both cases I used a Z W..... to allow a spec to shuffle the cards. I used bikes rather than the supplied cards as in the demo.
The reactions I got were probably better when I did it close up as it was a much more fun atmosphere already. Its really easy to do which allowed me to concentrate on the humour side of things which went easier in the more intimate setting than to a larger group, but that's probably just me. Yes I like it. I agree its a mid-show piece, not a closer or opener. If comedy suits your style and you like 'easy' then I can recommend this. |
|||||||||
RickVancouver Special user Vancouver, BC 697 Posts |
I think this is more of a cross between Szechuan Sampler meets David Regal's "Journey to Love" (Premise, Power & Participation DVD - Vol 4).
Rick
www.vancouvermagic.com
Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Latest and Greatest? » » JOHN ARCHER'S CHINESE CHOICE (1 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |