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billm55 Regular user Des Moines, Iowa 144 Posts |
Not meaning to rehash something that has been covered previously but would like to comment on Simply Psychic by Ross Johnson. When I first viewed it, I turned it off after a few minutes thinking that I had wasted my money. On the shelf it went to gather dust. A few months later, I thought I'd look at it again. This time, I was very impressed for the most part. There really are some nice parlor (and impromptu) effects for the beginner as well as professional mentalists. Nothing earthshaking but definitely worth the investment. Plus, the cost of the dvd is definitely under priced (I paid $15) and a real value for what you get. I suggest that some of you take a look at it. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Bill Mogolov
The Mental Magic of M |
Trois Special user Myrtle Beach 594 Posts |
I've used "Perception" that was on it. Went over real well. One of those "sleepers". Trois
Not clever enough to come up with something orginal, or did I.
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Aaron Little Loyal user Lexington KY 263 Posts |
I picked it up at a local shop. I was not disappointed at all. I have gone back and watched it several times.
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lgallion New user 67 Posts |
You know I had the same first impression (being disappointed) but then I went back and looked again and found some gems. The effect that I like most because it is very applicable to corporate shows is the Stroop Test. I don't present it as shown in Simply Psychic but instead use it as an opener to 'prove' how people can get stuck in a rut (of course the whole point of the effects afterward are to introduce new concepts, so this plays well as a 'reason' for the entire presentation). Also I don't use common words but the key words that the presentation is about (i.e. vision, strength, passion). Nothing like having everyone chant the main points of your presentation over and over again to get it to stick.
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Matthew Townsend Inner circle 1302 Posts |
I found the DVD very boring to watch, I don't think Ross has a good personality when performing and found myself thinking I was back at school.
The reactins he got were polite at best and I think he could have included some better routines on there. I did get one or two usefull things from the DVD which in my mind makes it worth the money I spent on it. I am glad I bought it but I don't think it was brilliant by any standard. This is just my opinion however and should not be taken as fact (even though I am always right......................sometimes) Peace & Love Matt |
ddyment Inner circle Gibsons, BC, Canada 2499 Posts |
I think this DVD is a great barometer for the whole "magician vs. mentalist" issue. First, Ross Johnson is one of the top (busy, highly paid) mentalists in the U.S. And here he is showing how he applies his thinking to a variety of fairly standard mental effects (that are so often performed badly).
A true mentalist (in my opinion) is likely to watch this and think, "Wow, I can see why Ross gets the big bucks. This is very clever, subtle thinking about routines that I thought I already knew well." Whereas a typical magician (again, in my view) is likely to think, "No wonder people think mentalism is boring. This is bog standard stuff, with no excitement." Let me assure you that Ross's paying audiences do not find him boring. And he's almost certainly making a lot more money performing than those who read this. So consider what this "barometer" might be indicating about your own approach to the art.
The Deceptionary :: Elegant, Literate, Contemporary Mentalism ... and More :: (order "Calculated Thoughts" from Vanishing Inc.)
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
I couldn't agree more with what Doug said in the above post. From a true mentalist's perceptive this DVD offers quite a bit. Again no in as much as the routines themselves but in his thinking, presentations and perspectives. The point that many seem to overlook is how he takes and what he does to some quite basic or standard effects and demonstrates the depth behind this execution.
As far as the "audience" this was very flat. Ross kills in person. Jaws are dropped and people check their senses and pinch themselves during and after his performances. Doug is spot on with his assessment. |
billm55 Regular user Des Moines, Iowa 144 Posts |
Boring or not boring, it's all about what you're able to learn from it. Sometimes you have to look through certain things that you perceive as "distractions" and look at the positive things. I personally gained some new ideas from viewing the dvd.
Bill Mogolov
The Mental Magic of M |
lgallion New user 67 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-02-06 09:03, Matthew Shepherd wrote: You know that was the very reason that my initial reaction was bad. Not knowing anything about the Mr. Johnson and never having seen him perform, you do start to wonder how valid the material is when the presentation is flat. I suspect it had to do with the age, number and mood of his audience and perhaps that the material may not have been recently performed (just a guess). However BillM is right, the value is there when you look. Kinda like reading about an old slate effect, it is easy to write them off (no pun intended ;-) as hopelessly outmoded, but people have have success modernizing them and even bringing back the slates themselves and doing them 'as-is'. As always, the magic is in the performer, not in the tricks. |
backinblack Special user 910 Posts |
Is it really taught how to interrupt the thought and speech patterns of an entire audience - psychically?
I mean is there no dual reality or preshow work or stuff but the true essence (sounds fine) of a sort of pure psychological / nlp explenation of the trains of thought effect from d.brown? really possible? |
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