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magickdabid--uk Loyal user 245 Posts |
I have like many of you read a great deal about billets and CT's. Many of the writers tell us that these things come from mediums etc and were used to gain insights before a reading. Do any of you still use these moves for readings? What insights can you share?
Dave. |
bluefred Regular user 108 Posts |
No, I don't think that you really need to use CT, peek or clipboards after a while you will realize that you know the answer before to see it written! If you cover THE SCAM, you will hit the Achilles tendon of your sitter without need of trickery, just sensibility.
Take a look at the dance of Brad Henderson. If you still try to use trickery, why you don't try the arcane approach by Pete Acane? You can see this at the dragonskull website in the book section. I like this one because this is not very known as the CT of clipboard. |
Osiris Special user 610 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-08-21 06:31, bluefred wrote: Cute! THE SCAM is one of my favorite mnemonics and an excellent tool for those learning how to become a solid Reader. When it comes to billet work and the CT, you must bear in mind that very, very, very few "Readers/Mediums" ever got caught "red handed" using such things; 98% of what is "revealed" in those old "investigative reports" as "how they do it" is actually a magician's assumption. How the magician came up with a method that replicates what the medium did. There are very, very,very few instances in which genuine fraud could be proven to the level of it being carved in stone. Another interesting fact is that numerous magicians at the turn of the century, actually created a Psychic Character that they "exposed" for the sake of getting headlines, etc. Then the two of them partnered up (officially) and toured, banking stronger profits than they could generate independently, doing either a magic act or store front Readings, etc. Look at some of the marketing manuscripts sold by Robert Nelson and the SCAMS he encouraged MENTALISTS to run on the public, stuff that our present-day magic world would hemorrhage over and probably seek to tar and feather anyone doing such. Then again, a mentalist could make a heck of a lot more money operating these old hustles, than any magician could hope to do in the same amount of time and effort, something that magic world has always dispised. Look around. There's a lot about the old "expose'" bits of the psychics that's been heavily misconstrued. That's one of the reasons so many of the early bits of mentalism/billet work, comes straight out of coin and paper money magic work... magicians trying to present "their method" of replicating psi phenomena. It's something to think about. OH! While you're chewing on that bone, consider how much "better" techniques offered by full time Psychic Performers seem more practical, applicable, and deceptive than some of those "older" handlings. Have fun! |
teejay Inner circle Liverpool, UK 1831 Posts |
Osiris,
You are the first person on the Café who knows the difference between how a psychic really works and how magicians believe he works. I have never seen a psychic use ANY of the methods touted here on the Café. Or those in the highly recommended Mentalist books or DVDs. Great stuff. You certainly know what you are talking about. Is there any chance of you explaining this a bit more: ''OH! While you're chewing on that bone, consider how much "better" techniques offered by full-time Psychic Performers seem more practical, applicable, and deceptive than some of those "older" handling'' Cheers. TJ |
David Numen Inner circle 2070 Posts |
I have done readings for 12 years and have NEVER resorted to using a peek of any kind. I may do the odd effect in the middle of a reading, but have never used a peek.
That said, I am having a break from readings at the moment, and when I do return to doing them I WILL be using a peek of some kind. Why the change? Get hold of Bob Cassidy's Cold Reading book for one thing. The other, I have spoken with a couple of people who have been doing readings for longer than I have and who use peeks. Given my respect for these people I am now prepared to give it a try to put some icing on the cake. Regards, David. |
John Nesbit Inner circle United States 1421 Posts |
David,
What is your review of Bob Cassidy's book on Cold Reading? Been thinking about that one lately. Thanks. John |
David Numen Inner circle 2070 Posts |
It's excellent, and I recommend it unreservedly. It shoots a few holes in the myth that Ian Rowland's book is the best one out there.
_____________ Further to that last post, I also recommend The Dance, but I think you need some knowledge of Cold Reading techniques first. Regards, David. |
Hypnotic Winter Special user Ireland 720 Posts |
I'm curious David, in what context do you do your readings? as a psychic or entertainer? or do you just leve it open?
Thanks for offering those cold reading titles also, I always like to keep and open mind and keep well informed. H.W
When your only reality is an illusion, then illusion is reality.
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David Numen Inner circle 2070 Posts |
As a psychic. I went through a phase where I dropped the term but I feel people expect it so I use it sparingly. I suppose to be pedantic as someone who has developed his gifts and studied his subject matter well.
Regards, David. |
Greg Owen Special user 623 Posts |
Where can I learn about THE SCAM?
I am interested in learning to be a better part-time reader and this sounds like a useful tool. - Greg Owen
Author of The Alpha Stack ebook - the balanced memorized stack
gobeatty@yahoo.com |
Mezmer New user Las Vegas 64 Posts |
Where can I find the Cold reading book by Bob Cassidy?
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David Numen Inner circle 2070 Posts |
The Scam is detailed in King of the Cold Readers. I think it might even be in the Cold Reading book by TRadecraft.
The Bob Cassidy book - check http://www.mastermindreader.com and click on the mentalist button. Regards, David. |
Scott Xavier Inner circle 3672 Posts |
I have done "psychic" readings almost all my life. They are so draining and interactive that I find them sapping and boring.
Now I use it merely as a part of psychometry and Q & A. Theres also a time in the bars when I first meet a young lady in which I apply my trade. |
Hypnotic Winter Special user Ireland 720 Posts |
It certainly is draining Doctor.
David,I think I'm in your area as to the kind of reader I am, when I was younger I believed in it for long enough it is still very easy to return to that persona,I'm versed in Tarot, Ruins, palms crystal ball and astrology. it all comes in very useful. Do you use any particuar method as a go between for reading? H.W
When your only reality is an illusion, then illusion is reality.
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Scott Xavier Inner circle 3672 Posts |
I enjoy numerology readings as a way to start out. Lots of material there. I then go into one of many form or just cr.
I cant recommend Gail Sheehy's passages books highly enough. (sounded weird excuse my language I've been up for 2 days driving) The material in them is a gold mine that makes you seem like the real deal! |
John Nesbit Inner circle United States 1421 Posts |
Lee Earle recommends Gail Sheehy's Passages as well, for supplemental reading. He says ths same thing about her as you Dr. Z
John |
Seth speaks Inner circle New Mexico 1249 Posts |
Just perusing my old copy of Tradecraft, and didn't find anything on THE SCAM, but one nice thing is that it lays out most of Gail Sheehy's pertinent stuff from Passages in a convenient summary, not to mention loads of other helpful and current facts, figures and commonalities. It is a nice little book for cold reading.
BTW, Sheehy's newer revision of Passages ("New Passages") goes into more detail on the later years of life, things she says she was a bit frightened to explore in the earlier work. Seth p.s. -- I too am curious about Cassidy's cold reading book, but I can't find any reviews of it's content or focus anywhere, even on his own site. Right now it's between Fred Crouter's ebook and Cassidy's, and there's not much info on either! Maybe I'll consult the cards for the answer... |
bevbevvybev Inner circle UK 2672 Posts |
I love most of Cassidy's stuff, but to be honest I didn't find his Cold Reading book to be much help.
As always, for me it's Full Facts Of Cold Reading by Ian Rowland, The Dance by Brad Henderson, anything by John Webster for divination method, and if you're feeling rich Wonder Readings by Knepper can help you get started. And if you want stock lines and other stuff then the Herb Dewey stuff is cool, and the Passages book of course. |
David Numen Inner circle 2070 Posts |
Hmm, strange you didn't find the Cassidy book helpful as I think it's one of the best out there.
Anything by RICHARD Webster is worth having but the best one to get anyone started is Quick and Effective Cold Reading. The Dance is wonderful but I think you'd probably need some experience in readings to get the most out of it. There are some things in Wonder Readings which are worth the price of admission but other things that I wouldn't touch with a barge pole - a mixed bag but you will get your money's worth in a least 2 chapters. Again, a bit of readinsg experience might help. Then again, I would love to have read this book with NO knowledge of doing readings. Herb Dewey, as Bev says, is good for stock lines but I think anyone relying on stock lines these days won't last evry long. Rowland'd Full Facts book. There is a wealth of material in there but his lack of experience for "real" punters (check out Cassidy's book for further exploration of this) results in some poor advice for the would-be psychic. I don't think it's a beginners book because you'd need some knowledge to be able to cut through the nonsense. Joe Riding has some good but simple stuff on doing readings. It's worth knowing but like so many things it isn't complete in and of itself. Flora & Co have some good stuff, best of which is Alexander Thomas' Intitiations. On the business side there's a great book by Max Morgan called "How to Make and Tell Fortunes" but I don't know if it's available or where it would be available from. Ron Martin has a couple of great books - one on Runes and one on Tarot. If you want to become a reader then I would suggest the following approach... Get Joe Riding's Psychic Course. Whilst it won't tell you everything you need to know there are two wonderful things in the course that will get you off to a good start. Namely, his hand reading and "learn tarot in 7 days". Once you have that knowledge stored you have hooks to hang more traditional knowledge. By that, I mean get a real book on tarot - such as anything by Sasha Fenton. You can learn the true meanings of the cards very quickly of yo combine the knowledge from one of her books with the Joe Riding material. Get Ron Martin's "Tarot Readers Notebook" and Richard Webster's "Quick and Effective Cold Reading". These two books will help a great deal with the structure of a reading. Get Bob Cassidy's book for some real work and finally, get The Dance which will help you flow readings beautifully. IMHO, after 12 years as a reader, all the other books are nice to have and the more you read the better BUT that little lot in the previous paragraph is all you need to get you started. Oh, and do get a couple of real readings as well - always money well spent. Regards, David. |
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