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DT3 Inner circle Hill Valley 1920 Posts |
Hi all.
I haven't been posting much on here lately because, well frankly, just hasn't been much new to post about. A few months ago I was one of a lucky few people who was sent a Protoplasm prototype. This is a nicely produced book of very useful close-up mentalism. And how many good collections of close-up mentalism that have actually been tried and tested in front of dozens if not hundreds of spectators do we have to draw from? I bragged to my friends about receiving the book. This turned out to be just cruel torture because Christian Painter is an absolute perfectionist and it would be months before he was satisfied with the final product. Well now it is available. After telling the aforementioned friends of it's availability I thought it would be a good idea to let you guys know. I see so many threads posted here of people looking for good walk-around or close-up mentalism and there are not many resources out there that exclusively provide that request. Sure there are parts of books and videos that would work. Sure there are ideas hatched up by hobbyists and put into ebooks (some of them very inventive.) But a book full of hard hitting close-up mentalism with strong structure and storytelling? Not much out there I'm afraid. I won't go into each routine just yet because I don't want to spoil the surprise for the early adopters. For what it's worth though, there are two routines I've used extensively and several more that I can't wait to try out and this has become one of the most valuable modern resources I have. Enough of my babbling, just go get it. Also, start of a great new blog about the important things in mentalism (like character development) can be found at the site I'm about to share with you. I get no compensation or personal gain out of sharing this except to be the one who told you about your next favorite book of effects along with invaluable thoughts on enhancing your performance as an artist. Also, Christian did not ask me to post this...I had to twist his arm to let me. Go here, and http://www.enjoythemystery.com See you last year, Dt3 P.S. Youtubers, look in the right place and you can watch a performance by Christian of one of my favorite routines in the book. It's called "30 Seconds" and it opens up Protoplasm with a bang. |
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MDantes Inner circle New Orleans 1435 Posts |
Jim " he who shall not be named " Callahan has mentioned this to me and also spoke about it on the new Jinx Braodcast ( which can be found here
http://jimclass.com/jinxbroadcast.html for those interested anyway. J ack, Ted and The Dead Boyz interviewed Christian... and they speak some about the book. Don and J ack speak highly about this... I am adding to my lulu cart soon. For real. MD
S.A.N.C.T.U.M Chapter 18
Member 17 |
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Mick Ayres Special user Hilton Head Island 998 Posts |
There are seriously good scripts and presentations in Protoplasm. Almost wish you hadn't brought it up, Don.
Warm regards, Mick
THE FIVE OBLIGATIONS OF CONJURING: Study. Practice. Script. Rehearse. Perform. Drop one and you're done.
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Nathan Pain Inner circle iowa 2825 Posts |
I am so happy this has finally seen the light of day...
Nathan
...
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Paul Carnazzo Inner circle 1171 Posts |
I got a copy of this book earlier this week, and am thrilled with it!
One of the things that I really like about the book is that Christian provides additional information after each effect, including background info, psychology, inspiration and credits. Also, the fact that Christian is a full time working pro means his routines are well rounded and refined...and more importantly play extremely well. His effect, "Diming You Out" is fantastic, as is the insight he provides for every aspect of the routine. Great work Christian! Paul |
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muse Special user Scotland 925 Posts |
My opinion of this book, as a hobbyist / friends'n'family type performer:
Pretty near perfection. Why? Firstly, because the effects are very direct. The truth is that there are very few occasions where I get a chance to do something that requires much by way of props, because it screams that something, somehow has been set up. A good number of the effects described in the book require only the simplest of additional items, such as a deck of cards, or a coin, or two or three items of stationery. There are some effects that require a little more, e.g. some using a few extra cards you can make up, but even so, you could do everything in the book with all you need being carried in your pockets, or a handbag (depending on your gender or sartorial style). But the fact that you don't need much extra in order to perform them of course counts for nothing if the effects themselves are poor. But they're not. Despite the mechanics being simple to grasp, they are very punchy, and have gone down very well with my audience-ettes, and they are tailored to the close-up situation. The effects are very well laid out, and are explained with great clarity. They include some with playing cards (my favourites being '30 Seconds' which takes a basic, almost sleightless, sleight and uses it in the context of a very tight and direct presentation, and 'Painter's Poker Face', which is an impromptu 'poker tells' type of card divination). Some use coins, business cards and other office detritus (my favourites are 'Diming You Out' where your participants shuffle and deal business cards between themselves and yet at the end one of the cards is shown to identify the holder of a specific coin and give some information about it, and 'PDQ' which is a straightforward two-person mindreading code. I've been doing this with my 12-year old son, and together we've been freaking out friends and family, and no-one has cracked the code. The other effects require a little more setup, but none of them much, and the others are all ones I will try out, although the four already mentioned will be staples. The descriptions of the basic effects are extended to cover, for example, an alternative, impromptu method for one thing, or a more 'pure' mentalist approach for another, or just some of the author's thinking as to why one approach has worked better in practice than another. On top of the effects, you get CP's writings about more general topics, a personal manifesto about performing style, his definition of what mentalism is, and other thoughts. In some books these sort of texts can come across as a bit defensive, but I thought that here they were well reasoned and, while accepting that others may do things differently, they are primarily enthusiastic about what the Painters do. The book is A5 sized, paperback, 111 pages. I ordered it online from lulu.com and it arrived three days later. Cons - I think the cover design could have been a bit more graphically clean and punchy. Other cons - none. My book of the year so far. |
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ALEXANDRE Inner circle 3024 Posts |
I wholeheartedly agree with all you guys.
Fantastic work. And that chat with Christian on the Jinx Broadcast was a gem. Can't wait to hear the rest of it.
HERE'S A SECRET ...
http://www.lybrary.com/mystic-alexandre-m-354.html |
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Jonathan Inner circle Oklahoma 1223 Posts |
Where is that youtube clip? I can't find it.
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Christian & Katalina Elite user 407 Posts |
Jonathan...here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/user/mindtripping......0unMDVPM Thanks for all the kind comments everyone. The book has sold out three times at Denny's. Look forward to meeting some of you as we tour this fall as we have scheduled in a few lectures. Christian
Milbourne Christopher Award for Mentalism 2011
The Annemann Award for Menatalism 2016 Author of "Protoplasm" Close-up Mentalism |
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BMWGuy Inner circle Texas 2560 Posts |
Christian,
Just ordered from Lulu. Cant wait to receive it. I have heard many great things about this book. I saw your Impromptu 30 sec performance twice on youtube, and let me tell you, KILLER!!! Great effect, as well as presentation. Alex
PRESET by Alex Alejandro & Dan Harlan now available for a special introductory price!
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Mick Ayres Special user Hilton Head Island 998 Posts |
"30 Seconds" is strong...but the real beauty in the video is Christian's follow-through near the end of the clip. That guy's brain must still be hurting.
Mick
THE FIVE OBLIGATIONS OF CONJURING: Study. Practice. Script. Rehearse. Perform. Drop one and you're done.
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Paul Carnazzo Inner circle 1171 Posts |
Another great item is "say cheese"...it's a great piece of comedy mentalism with an excellent "gotcha" moment. It can be adapted to many different presentations.
Great thinking Christian! |
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eSamuels Inner circle 3085 Posts |
I received the book yesterday, and have to say that I'm really enjoying it.
I met Christian for the first time at Mindvention last year, and was taken by his charismatic and energetic performance style which extended to his off-stage persona. This book is certainly consistent with that impression and took me deeper into his thinking, both as a seasoned performer (which doesn't necessarily mean 'old!') and as a person. The effects are extremely well constructed with scripting that shows a real knack for efficient and effective storytelling. The routines include many optional handlings for the sleight-challenged among us (my hand is currently raised), and the essays are a nice addition, offering thoughts and ideas on our craft that, if nothing else, reaffirmed some of my own thinking on a number of topics. This is both a great read and very good value. e |
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
I like it too
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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leondo Special user Las Vegas 759 Posts |
Your book is better than your 10-12 person audience, youtube example.
I enjoyed your book. Good work. Ted L |
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mental4u New user 80 Posts |
Great job Christian. Your comments on mentalists trying so hard to convince there audiences that they are truly psychic, that they loose a lot of entertainment value was dead on.
I hope you write books on your standup and stage material also. I saw you at last years MINDVENTION and you were one of the hits of the convention. I hope Danny brings you back. Gregg Lancaster Mental Masterpieces College Station, Texas |
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EricDraven Inner circle 1257 Posts |
Book arrived today
Will dive into it tomorrow!!
Believe me...nothing is trivial...
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Christian & Katalina Elite user 407 Posts |
Thanks for the great comments guys.
Eric, I look forward to your comments. In a couple of days I will post another video of my performing an effect from the book. We are currently on tour and don't have a lot of time to edit and upload the videos.
Milbourne Christopher Award for Mentalism 2011
The Annemann Award for Menatalism 2016 Author of "Protoplasm" Close-up Mentalism |
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squando Elite user 444 Posts |
I enjoyed the book and the perspective of a mentalist who isn't a brooding intellectual. Nice solid work with thoughtful alternative presentational ideas.
Frank
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chmara Inner circle Tucson, AZ 1911 Posts |
Not a brooding intellectual ???
My goodness - Christian Painter is one of the most intellectual and life experienced people I know -- and when he broods -- he broods deep. Mostly he broods about bad magic and bad magic performance...by himself or others. But at the end of his brooding is solution -- maybe not a perfect solution -- but a workable and useful solution. I had the honor of working with Christian some years ago -- as I entered my illness with its difficulties. His patience and compasionate sharing (tempered by 20 years + in the Army) revealed not just a can do attitude -- but an ability to do and work it (whatever "it" was) until it was honed to perfection. It is the fact that Christian does not let his brooding show --- by swinging into action while he is brooiding -- that fools a lot of people -- and since that is his job as a mentalist and magician -- it is the road to solid material and performance. Me -- with the recent lightning strike at my home, broken leg, respiratory illness, car break down with fried wiring --- I tend to really brood so feel very qualified to clarify the word vis-a-vis Chritian's work.
Gregg (C. H. Mara) Chmara
Commercial Operations, LLC Tucson, AZ C. H. Mara Illusion & Psychic Entertainments |
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