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Last Laugh Inner circle Grass Valley, California 3498 Posts |
I'm open to checking it out, thanks for the offer.
My Mentalism Podcast:
The Mystery Arts Podcast Check out my products! Direct from me (PW: cassidy) On Penguin Magic |
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Last Laugh Inner circle Grass Valley, California 3498 Posts |
William sent me a review copy. Here's my thoughts.
The ad copy is vague and hyperbolic, but I can clear it up a little. Important caveat: I got a free copy and William is very pleasant. I don't know how I'd feel if I had read the original ad copy and paid the $20. Possibly (probably?) different, lol... Anyway- It's a billet routine. It uses a fairly standard strategy that people that have billet experience will be familiar with. The basic method for the celebrity part has been explored quite a bit previously in other works. I think it's fair to say it's something like 'public domain' and it probably goes back quite a ways. And then the zodiac bit is something I would describe more as a subtlety, something to add some pizzazz to the routine. So, having said that, it *is* a solid routine. It's not a half baked idea. Also, William is funny and the pdf made me laugh a few times. He has some fairly detailed performance ideas, and he goes over everything that goes into the routine fairly comprehensively. If you are familiar with billets there won't be much new here, method wise, though, you might find some of the touches or presentations useful. YMMV!
My Mentalism Podcast:
The Mystery Arts Podcast Check out my products! Direct from me (PW: cassidy) On Penguin Magic |
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Vernon07 New user Scotland 44 Posts |
Hi Last Laugh,
Thank you so much for taking the time to review Algol. It is greatly appreciated. I totally agree. An experienced billet worker will find no new methods rather a presentation and bonus ideas to take the routine in different directions. Have a lovely Sunday and thanks again. Yours in Mentalism, William Patrick P.S. I had to google what "YMMV" stood for...sheesh, I feel old |
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Nico Heinrich New user 34 Posts |
ALGOL is a worker's dream and perfect for walk around. The method is basic billet work, very easy to do for a professional/seasoned performer. If you are a beginner though, this might disappoint you - if you are a working mentalist, however, you will love this! I really liked William's laid-back style of writing, which is very easy to understand and enjoyable to read. You can tell from his script and the many subtleties that he has worked this baby for years. Very clear, detailed instructions (with pictures as well). You basically get a SOLID routine that could work as your act per table at a walk around gig. You could make good money from performing this only - and the audience would be very pleased with what they got.
I am really excited to perform this and eager to read more of this man's material in the future. Cheers, Nico |
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nique Special user Singapore 940 Posts |
William kindly sent me a review copy. As mentioned, if you’ve been around for awhile, you won’t find that bright, new and shiny method that we’re all looking for.
It’s core method revolves around billet technique and I did mention to William that the approach can be found in the likes of Switchcraft etc. Still, it is a solid routine and it would fit in nicely at a walkaround or table hopping engagement. Might not count for much, but I would use it. There’s a bit of subtlety with regard to the procuring of the Star Sign, however even if you were to just use a more straightforward approach, the method would still hold up. ~ Nique
https://youtube.com/user/nateuqin
"ChairLess - A Chair Prediction" "Epique - A Mental Epic" "TAP - The Assignment Prediction" PM or email me for details: niquetan@gmail.com Reviews here: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=462773&forum=303&13 https://m.facebook.com/niquetanmindreader/ www.niquetan.com |
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tomd Special user 747 Posts |
DISCLAIMER - I received a free review copy, and although I’ll try and filter out any unconscious bias it’s in your best interest to take everything I say with a small pinch of salt. I didn’t pay for the ebook, and to top it off author is a top bloke... I have written this review thinking that I have been 100% honest, but the operative word in unconscious bias is unconscious for a reason. Anyway, here we go...
A very brief (but honest) description: you and your participant both think of celebrities and write them down, and you try to guess each other’s choice. Essentially you guess their celebrity correctly, with the added bonus of revealing their star sign and an optional add on of a palm reading. Would this description sell any copy’s? Maybe a few, but not many... this is an honest reflection of what happens. Now all of you potential purchasers know what you are getting... or do you? At this point you might assume that the description reads very “disjointed”. What has a celebrity got to do with a star sign? How can this possible flow well? Ok, fair concerns guys... but don’t panic just yet, it’s not all doom and gloom. The description of events isn’t a fair reflection of how this effect would feel, and to paint a picture of what I really mean I am going to compare two quotes from the author: Quote number 1, from the ad copy - “[warning: If you choose to perform Algol be ready to not perform any other routine for the evening. People will be approaching you for the rest of the evening with a particular request...you’ve been warned]” Wow, sounds like a classic hype line, doesn’t it? Did you guys roll your eyes as much as I did? Ok to be fair, I assumed that Amira wrote this line... and I assumed incorrectly, this is the authors own words. This quote is on the first page of the PDF, with a slight change in wording: Quote number 2, from the PDF - “ A word of warning. And this warning is not hyperbole, it is just true. If you choose to perform this routine as written below be ready to not perform any other routine for the evening. People will be approaching you for the rest of the evening with a particular request...but more on that later” There is a subtle difference between both quotes, the key difference being “ If you choose to perform this routine as written below”, which isn’t in the ad copy. As I read the PDF it became apparent that if I were to perform this routine exactly as described, the hype line in the ad copy is actually close to being true. Williams scripting does make a clever connection between a star sign and a famous person, he does present the effect in a way that would make a palm reading feel completely natural, and when you reach the point where you can reveal their star sign, it would feel as if you knew them very well... the celebrity reveal would knock them for 6. Having said all of that, there is one huge caveat... you must perform this exactly as written to achieve this goal. If you decided that wanted to deviate slightly, and maybe alter the presentational style, personally I think that things would start to become disjointed in a theatrical sense very quickly. What you must understand is that in the PDF William makes it abundantly clear how he starts to reveal the celebrity, and it involves the participants hands, as he is searching for subtle cues and movements that give things away. From that point it flows perfectly into a palm reading because he is already using their hands, so the focus shifts logically. As written, it feels like the performer is moving from something less important (the celeb) to some far more important (the participant) so in a theatrical sense it’s really nice.... but if you don’t present mind reading in a similar way to William, the palm reading wouldn’t make much sense at all (theatrically), It would feel like the palm reading was tacked on. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, what if your the type that doesn’t like palm reading? Well then you would need to invest some serious time in working out a way to justify a star sign reveal, without that work on your end it would be such a random moment otherwise. I have no doubt spectators would be impressed if you just blurted out their star sign, but the logical conclusion they would likely come to would be the method you actually used. All logical disconnect, all the theatrics, and all the nuance gets thrown out the window if you start tinkering with the structure that William has set out in my opinion. Ok so if you don’t do palm readings, and you don’t want to put in that extra work to justify a star sign reveal in the routine, can you just do a bog standard celebrity reveal? Yes you can, but the routine becomes... a bit of a lame duck. Just remember, in this effect you are also thinking of your own celebrity that they have to try and guess... without the palm reading and star sign, your thought of celebrity becomes this thorn in the side that hinders the overall feel. It would feel like the routine was incomplete. You COULD present this as a “I will show you how hard it is to guess a thought of celebrity” routine... but Peter Turner has way better work on this plot, don’t buy this if you want to go down that route. Just to change topic slightly - I haven’t spoken about the method yet. There isn’t anything new here, but I like the mechanics a lot. It’s relatively easy, and if you follow the steps exactly as written it flows really well. William teaches a nice switch that I will play with. I had no idea that this switch is also in swtichcraft (which I already own)... the best part about switch craft is also it’s also it’s worst part.... There is so much in it!!! I had no idea this switch was in there lol. To conclude - the big deterrent for me is that your thinking and performance style must line up with the authors in order to reap the benefits. Very early on William describes this piece as modular, and you can drop parts that you don’t like. This is true, but you end up with a significantly weaker routine. I am certain this works very well for William... as I was reading it reminded me of a routine I created with my own method... it’s shares no similarities to this routine method wise, but I know my routine knocks people’s socks off. Every time I perform it I get the best of reactions, and I personally feel it’s worth it’s weight in gold... that said, if I were to share it to the wider community, I think a large amount of people wouldn’t like it that much unless they aligned their performance style with mine. and that is a BIG sacrifice that no one (who wants to create their own persona) should have make. You must already have a similar performance style. For this routine to be worth $ 20 I think you must be comfortable with palm readings, and should hold star signs in high regard. It would also help if your mind reading style is akin to muscle reading (or body language reading)though that isn’t as important. It isn’t a surprise to me that Nico Heinrich has given this a rave review, as I believe his thinking lines up very well with Williams (best on the work Nico has released previously). Would I use this? No I won’t, I don’t do palm readings so the “magic” in this routine would evaporate in my hands. Pun not intended. Side note - I loved the writing style, very easy read (This is coming from a dyslexic person). William is a top bloke, a very nice guy and I hope he has more to offer to the community in the future. It’s a shame this piece isn’t for me, but I know there is an audience out there for it, and I hope this review helps you decide whether you are a part of that audience. |
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The Unmasked Magician Inner circle If only I didn't have a wife and a kid I would have MUCH more than 2645 Posts |
Wow. What a great review. Thanks, tomd. I appreciate the honesty and details and it makes me look forward to future releases by William. Great stuff, guys.
Please check regularly if you are becoming the type of magician Jerry Seinfeld jokes about. (This applies to mentalists as well.)
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Maybe it might work better I'd you present it as a fun demo, saying "want to see the mind readers version of a mental gossip magazine? Star signs, celebs and all that stuff?"
I've asked to be banned
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Vernon07 New user Scotland 44 Posts |
Hi all,
This is William Patrick here. I just want to thank all of you for your interest, reviews, comments and suggestions. They really mean a lot to me. Iain that is a fantastic idea! I do include a handling in the manuscript which involves revealing the celebrity in a very funny way and your premise would suit perfectly for that. Great thinking my friend |
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takeachance Inner circle 3764 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 4, 2020, IAIN wrote: That's a clever and fun approach, thanks Iain |
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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Latest and Greatest? » » William Patrick-Algol: Any star-sign, Any celebrity. (24 Likes) | ||||||||||
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