Yep - I think it was his Deep Red prediction with the video and membership card in the bag....

So whats actually "new" that entitles a release of this classic?

This effect was to have been called 'Jermay's Chip' but it was deemed too dangerous as Jermay thought it was dinner time when he heard the word 'chip' and 'Jermay' in the same sentence.

Come on, people, stop attacking the guy about if he gained weight. It's just low. I'm sure plenty of people that you know, and maybe even yourselves, don't live the healthiest lives. I can't think of quite a few top performers that we all appreciate that don't. Pick on the poor effect all you want. Try to leave physical traits out.

There's no reason for it.

It's immature.

It's not inviting.

Sorry for this rant. I hope I don't seem out of place. I think we're just better than this.

You can't beat a bit o' banter. We love Jermay really.

Lighten up, dude.

Nothing about him, nothing about his appearence, I'm not one to talk!

But, this latest project with Penguin saddens me! It has cheapened a classic of mentalism.

The upcoming DVD release scares me, marketing induction techniques to children. But that will be a gripe for another time.

Today I am just sad.

Tony

Good golly gosh - time was you couldn't say a bad word about Jermay, now it seems it's de rigeur (although he does seem to be inviting the flak).

Is he in desperate need of money for some reason? He's either doing ridiculously expensive collections of print-outs from his PC or else he's cashing in on old effects with Penguin where he adds nothing new and in fact weakens the effect (cf his suggestion for the third phase of 10 card poker deal and using a poker chip instead of a medallion).

I'm with you, Tony. I'm a bit disappointed to see a classic butchered and sold to Penguin. I have problems with Penguin in general; it seems like a great place to "sell out", if you know what I mean. His material quite possibly should not be there, especially given that it had an "elite" quality before. I don't know, it's Luke's decision. I respect past works of his and I wish him well in his endeavors.

Now, the Induction DVD is another thing altogether. I feel that marketing it for kids is irresponsible on many levels. I also use rapid inductions in my own work, so there was that tendency to worry over his tipping the work. I got over this feeling rather fast though, as I know that 9/10 of the people who get this dvd will neither use it or get it to work well for them if they do. Still, there is that all-present safety factor, and also one of churning out cookie cutter Luke's and Derren's. Really, if a 16 year old tried an instant induction, who would take it seriously? Not I.

Cheers,
Jerome.

If Luke Jermay tried an instant induction, I wouldn't take it seriously.

I got recently obtained Stuart Cumberland's DVDs on Rapid Induction - and they are great.

Actually, I have not attacked Jermay because perhaps he is self-destructing - I'm not sure what is up with him as I don't know him at all but it seems he is spiraling downwards... I hope he gets whatever support he needs to get back to how he was (or better than that if he was in trouble before)... I also agree attacking his appearance is a low blow because it has nothing to do with the issue (if anything, it ties into perhaps he is not doing well)...

Ok, I'm a bleeding heart. However, for all of us that do the Medallion, this is no threat (I think) to those of us that perform it our own way... mine is actually doing a design duplication on the back of an ancient Templar insignia.

Really, in some ways, if Luke has some mentors or friends out there - I hope they connect with him and see what the heck is going on. i.e. we are all human beings first (well, some of us are Cthulhoid... Ia! Ia!)

Spek,
Yes, the personal comments and attacks on appearance are unfit for this thread.

For all we know, Luke is doing just fine. Nobody knows but Luke!

I wish him well.

-J.

IMNSHO, Jermay's "updated" version of this classic effect takes away what I felt was the brilliant subtlety of Koran's original: the fact that the medallion is INSCRIBED with the number.

Luke, is that you?

Yes, I'm Luke. Duh. That old line is getting rather worn out.

that was one of the things that shocked me a bit. He destroyed the DR concept for that effect in a dealer ad.

The fact that there is no inscription or DR facet to this effect is what I had posted as a disservice on another board. In my opinion, the effect is removed far enough from the subtlety that was Koran's that his name shouldn't be attached.

Also, the suggested patter would not play well in many situations. The performer states that the chip could be worth a Ferrari or anything for that matter... Well, what do you think it's worth? The spec replies, Yeah, a Ferrari, that sounds good! I would like to see that appear on the chip!

Jason.

I've seen Luke perform in person and find him to be one of the finest mentalists performing today. Many of us have invested in his books which contain innovative and impactful material. I think that's why some of us are so disappointed in Luke lending his name to this cheapened, obvious version of one of the great classics.

Luke is obviously a very smart cookie and I'd be surprised if he repeats this mistake.

Why I agree with where you're coming from benri, a magician needs to make money and commercialism is the way to do it. So I would expect a fair amount of this stuff in the future.

Fat and the Hat regardless.... This is pretty tacky, and I don't see how this adds any value to this effect at all, in fact it cheapens it.

C'mon Mr. Alberstadt, we need you now!