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brehaut Inner circle kentucky 2531 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-03-25 10:31, aussiemagic wrote: I have never understood the criticism of using playing cards for mentalism. It all depends on your presentation. I shy away from using ESP cards, but it does not bother me that other people use them. To each their own. Anyway, I am very excited to get Mick's ebook. Given his success I would think some people might want to take a second look at their aversion to using playing cards. |
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David Rhodes Loyal user 282 Posts |
I posted this in a email to Mick and I thought I might as well share it here.
Whilst we all will agree that you should only present one ability throughout the performance most mentalism shows when broken down to into its simplest parts to the audience is a performer demonstrating something with one prop, then demonstrating the same thing with a different prop and repeat a few more times. Yes it may get more difficult with each new prop but all in all it can make the premise of the show hard to follow. By using one prop throughout the show as a main device for your work you can demonstrate a growth within your abilities (in my opinion) a lot easier. The audience will have a bench mark as to what you have demonstrated and can compare it to the next effect. An other advantage of using one prop throughout the show is it makes the show complete in the audiences eyes, because when they remember the show they will (hopefully) say that they enjoyed the show and that is it. If you took a more 'traditional' approach using multiple props you run the risk of the audience separating the effects and judging them individually. For example I really liked the thing with the books and the cards but the envelopes thing was a little boring. Whilst they can do it with a show entirely around cards it will be less likely to happen. Another advantage is that the audience will not remember all the details and may confuse the 'fairness' of one effect with the presentation of another. |
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celebrity Inner circle 1961 Posts |
I decided to take the plunge on this given the positive comments on this thread.
What can I say that hasn't been said already, this is a beautiful piece of work that has obviously been honed to perfection over countless performances. It's a beautifully constructed routine. The patter, presentation and motivation are all skilfully woven to create a very memorable piece of theatre. It's been such a long time since I read anything that I would actually use myself. This falls into this category and is highly recommended. Congratulations and thanks to Michael for releasing this to the fraternity! :)
As a mentalist you must always ask yourself what if! And throughout your life you should seek to ask and answer this question over and over again, only then will your wildest dreams become a reality!
Visit - www.mindfx.co.uk to learn more! |
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aussiemagic Special user 937 Posts |
Brehaut,
I am not criticizing the use of cards in mentalism.
How to become a professional magician:
Click here |
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mindpunisher Inner circle 6132 Posts |
Am I picking this up right? Most of the effects require a stack yet the spectator can shuffle the cards at the start?
Because if they can't I don't this would be any good for some of the clients I have had. |
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brehaut Inner circle kentucky 2531 Posts |
Given the posts, I have ordered today---hope to give my comments soon
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Johannes Lindrupsen Regular user Norway 111 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-03-27 15:11, mindpunisher wrote: Mindpunisher, I think you have misunderstood then. Most of the effects do not require a stack at all, and the deck is beeing shuffled by the audience many times trought the effects. -Johannes |
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mindpunisher Inner circle 6132 Posts |
Thanks!
yes I got ot wrong.. Sounds good.. |
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celebrity Inner circle 1961 Posts |
Just pay the guy, you won't be disappointed. In working my way through the routine working on each part in turn giving it the attention it deserves. Regular shuffled deck in use so far!
;)
As a mentalist you must always ask yourself what if! And throughout your life you should seek to ask and answer this question over and over again, only then will your wildest dreams become a reality!
Visit - www.mindfx.co.uk to learn more! |
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DT3 Inner circle Hill Valley 1920 Posts |
Just to clarify....the last effect in the book is the only one that requires a s***k. And, in Mick's presentation yes, the spectator shuffles the deck. I don't want to say any more except that "Calling it Straight" kind of transcends the genre.
D. |
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Mick Ayres Special user Hilton Head Island 998 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-03-25 10:31, aussiemagic wrote: Hi Simon, Thank you for asking this fair question. My reasons for choosing to focus upon a deck of cards as the vehicle that demonstrates my abilities as a mentalist are external, internal and practical. Externally, it has to do with adapting to my performing conditions...the parlor venues are large enough to accomodate a fair-sized audience, but small enough to allow for a high-degree of intimacy in my dialogues with the guests. Also, the frequency of my schedule means I prefer an act that allows for minimal prep-time. There are times when I need to enter a room, begin performing within a few minutes, then vacate the room as soon as the act is complete. From a practical point-of-view, after I explain to the guests that my TALENT involves 'picking up on hints of colors, shapes, numbers and letters' and my GOAL is to 'interpret these hints so they mean something relevant', then it is perfectly logical for me to ask the guests: "How many of you have a deck of playing cards lying around the house somewhere?" Every hand in the room goes up. "Since we each have that one thing in common, we'll use a common deck of cards for these experiments tonight." From an internal point-of-view, I have heard so many mentalists say that playing cards should never be used in a performance because the audience might associate them with magic tricks. That stance is fine if you just don't like playing cards, but the logic is false. One of my personal reasons for creating these acts is to provide definitive proof that a guest assumes NOTHING about a deck of playing cards until you do something with them. By the way, Predict-Abilities (Book Two) opens with a non-card presentation. There is another non-card presentation tucked into the appendix at the back of S'lie (Book Four). Also, there are a couple of non-card mentalism products I have on the market...so I'm not completely single-minded about this stuff. Thanks again for the warm reviews and commentaries about S'lie, gentlemen. I am thrilled this approach is finding a place in your worlds. Warmest regards, Mick Ayres
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 |
Finally had time to FINISH the book last night...LOVE it!
The last effect in the act is really great! But the ACT is the act...& coming from Mick it's ALL good! Nathan
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aussiemagic Special user 937 Posts |
Thanks Mick. I will definitely pick this up at some stage.
Best, Simon
How to become a professional magician:
Click here |
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moualb Regular user 110 Posts |
Those 4 acts are really inspiring works, especially in studying how the routines are structured.
I cannot comment on the merits of Mick's stack because I already use one. |
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Mick Ayres Special user Hilton Head Island 998 Posts |
Thank you, Nathan and Moualb.
Glad to help, Simon. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Mick Ayres
THE FIVE OBLIGATIONS OF CONJURING: Study. Practice. Script. Rehearse. Perform. Drop one and you're done.
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brehaut Inner circle kentucky 2531 Posts |
Well I guess I will pile on---one of the best purchases I have made in awhile. This material screams of quality. Very nice Mick
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Mick Ayres Special user Hilton Head Island 998 Posts |
Thank you, Brehaut! Just made my day.
Mick
THE FIVE OBLIGATIONS OF CONJURING: Study. Practice. Script. Rehearse. Perform. Drop one and you're done.
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DT3 Inner circle Hill Valley 1920 Posts |
As much as I hate to mention this I feel I should.
Several years ago Mick taught me "4 Card Influence". Since then this has been my go to any shuffled deck at any time effect. I was gutted to see him publish this in this book because I have made the effect my own and use it constantly to fry both mentalists and "lay people" all the time. And darn the guy for releasing it in this book. Now that the cat is out of the bag, you might as well take advantage of it. I'm only posting this because as cool as the effect is, there are cooler ones in the book. A very well known and successful magician/mentalist has adapted his honed act to include two items from this book. I wish I had this fella's success but in the meantime at least I know I can be doing the same level of effect. Thanks for this Mick. I am reminded of the old story...at the end the Baptist Minister says: "I don't think I would have shared that." D. |
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Ken Dyne Inner circle UK 2268 Posts |
After this thread got all hot, I ordered Book 4, and am now set ready to read the first 3 again. Was it REALLY 2008 when I received these. Wow! Thanks Mick.
MR GOLDEN BALLS 2.0: https://mentalunderground.com/product/mr-golden-balls-2-0/" target="_blank"> https://mentalunderground.com/product/passed-out-deck/
BAIRN: Named 'Best Mentalism Product Of 2014 by Marketplace of the Mind is my collection of more than 40 mentalism routines in a beautiful paperback book: http://www.mentalunderground.com/product/bairn |
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Mick Ayres Special user Hilton Head Island 998 Posts |
Don, your presentation of "Four-Card Influence" quickly became vastly different than my own, hence I felt publishing my approach would do no harm. But that's the idea anyway, isn't it? The purpose of each book in the Act-Series is to show a complete picture of a finished act...but the act is still one that suits ME specifically. My hope is that the effects would be absorbed into other acts, but only after the performer has rescripted the material to fit their own on-stage character.
Ken, what can I say except Thank You for your enthusiastic comments! All the best, Mick
THE FIVE OBLIGATIONS OF CONJURING: Study. Practice. Script. Rehearse. Perform. Drop one and you're done.
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