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Paul Romhany V.I.P. Canada 800 Posts |
I'm pleased to say the new book (250 plus pages) is now finished. You can check it out at http://www.paulromhanymagic.com
This book is a huge collection of essays and effects by magicians AND mentalists who have spent years performing mentalist and 'mental magic' for kids aged from 5 upwards. Actually there are some effect for younger kids as well. With over 40 wonderful routines this book is being very well received by those who now have it. 265 pages - 8.5" x 8.5" - Retail $40.00 One of the most anticipated books in magic and mentalism has now arrived!! Paul Romhany has produced the most comprehensive collection of material for the performer who wants to add mentalism in their show from pre-schoolers to high school students. Everything from walk-about routines to birthday party routines to parlor and even stage routines for the family entertainer. Over 265 pages which include a collection of essays on how to perform mentalism for children, plus over forty effects from performers around the world including: Mark Strivings, David Kaye, Tim Mannix, Paul Romhany, Richard Webster, Andrew Gerard, Wayne Rogers, Tony Binarelli,Bev Bergeron, Him Kleefeild, Keith Field, Danny Archer, Andrew Gerard, Jack Dean, Greg Arce, Anthony Lindan, E. Raymond Carlyle, Professor Spellbinder, Matthew Johnson, Tony Chris, Cris Johnson, Reg Blackwood, Ken Ring, ChristopherTaylor, Chrisotpher Berry, TC Tahoe, Ozzy D, Magical Michael, Magic George, Ken Dyne, Jasper Blakeley, Ray Roch. This book covers performing mentalism for pre-schoolers to teenagers, even adults will be fooled and entertained by the routines in this book. A treasure trove of effects, essays and advice from real world performers who make their living by entertaining family audiences. This book is destined to become a classic in both the magic and mentalism field. If you ever wondered if mentalism can be performed for young minds then this book will show you it can, and how to do it. “The essays in this book are worth the price of the entire book, and more!! The rest of this book is a treasure trove of fascinating mental effects that your young – and not so young – audiences will enjoy. These wonderful effects are so good that I’m tempted to dust off my old Riccardo outfit and start performing again. I know you’ll enjoy this book, and will come back to it again and again in the future. If you have any doubts whatsoever about performing mentalism for children, try one or two of the effects in this book. I know you’ll change your mind. Thank you, Paul, for compiling and publishing this valuable book.“ -Richard Webster "When magicians and mentalists think of 'kids' they think of kids 3-4 years old. This is rarely the case, even for regular kids entertainers. People do not give kids enough credit for being smart. They get mentalism and mindreading, even at the age of five and six. It can be done, and I have done it. They certainly understand when Harry Potter gets a psychic image.” - Banachek CONTENTS Preface by Richard Webster Introduction by Paul Romhany Performing for Children an essay by Paul Romhany Parade of Children Prediction Trick by Tim Mannix World Cup Routine by Paul Romhany Cereal Box Prediction Larry Mahan and Robert D. LaRue, Jr. Slide Thru Card Switch by Wayne Rogers Perform For The Children! by Kyle Peron A TRIP ROUND THE WORLD IN 8 MINUTES ! byTony Binarelli and “Jules Verne” Phantom Artist Halloween Card Routine by Professor Spellbinder Bonus Effect – The Phantom Artist by Ted Annemann and Professor Spellbinder Clip-Lit Sports by Jim Kleefeld Psychic Santa by Matthew Johnson Judge, Jury and Executioner by Reg Blackwood The Mental Corridor by Cris Johnson Teaching Someone to Read Minds by Cris Johnson Mental Monopoly by Danny Archer Time Warp by Paul Romhany Mind Reading to Africa by Ken Ring The News in Total by Ken Ring ESPompoms by Ken Ring King Book Test by Christopher Berry Guessin’ Gumballs by Jack Dean Child’s Play by Bev Bergeron Emoti- Con by TC Tahoe BIRTHDAY PRESENT by Richard Webster Pointilism by Greg Arce Cookies Fortune by TC Tahoe and Paul Romhany Safety Mentalism Routine by Paul Romhany Younger Persons Version Reverse Q & A by Anthony Lindan Prized Balloon by Ozzy D The Fortune Teller by Paul Romhany Puzzled by Magical Michael Pin the Tail on the Donkey by Andrew Gerard Mystery Ball by Paul Romhany & Hal Spear Spot the Pole by Wayne Rogers The Mind Reading Hat Routine by Magic George The Magic Square by Dal Sanders Gift Wrapped By Kennedy Magicians Choice By Keith Fields P.S.I Fari by Tony Chris Scrabbled by Jasper Blakeley Balloon Bank Night by Wayne Rogers Last One Standing by Anonymous SPOON BEND by Ray Roch Drawing On The Imagination by Christopher Taylor RING OR WATCHES? by E. Raymond Carlyle Mentalism for Preschool Kids by Mark Strivings Performing Mentalism for Children by David Kaye The Precognitive Phinger Puppet by Mark Strivings
"life is like a movie ... you write your own ending" - Kermit the Frog
http://www.paulromhanymagic.com http://www.paulromhany.com |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
That's fantastic. I have it on my Wish List for early next year.
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Powermagic Inner circle 1437 Posts |
My experience was that the preschooler age is not impressed by mind reading. They already think their parents can read their minds when they do something naughty "How did she know it was me..."
And you are MAGIC so I get the attitude of "well of course you knew what color I picked." I have a puppet find a picture card they picked. They love to see the puppet antics but really do not seem to suprised the puppet could find their card. And sometimes young children can just assume they had a good GUESS rather than they had something impossible or unlikely just happen So will this book change my opinion of mentalism for young kids? do these routines amazed the kids 7 and under? |
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
A lot of magic tricks that work well for young kids can have exactly the same reaction if they are presented incorrectly. For example, I can bore or amaze kids with exactly the same coin trick, depending on how I present it. I also have a presentation (based on the one in Silly Billy's book) of the ambitious card that works very well for very little kids.
I don't know if this book will change your opinion, but it definitely does have mentalism routines that work well for the under 7s and some great articles on how they can presented effectively.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I am honored to have been asked by Paul to be included in this book. This book is a wealth of information and great ideas that can be of help to anyone. Paul really went out of his way to include routines, ideas and even articles on theory. It really is a great read.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
I agree completely with Kyle.
Also, I should explain that when I said I didn't know if it would change your mind that's because everyone has different opinions and I don't know if you've made your mind up already. In reality I think that if this book is read with an open mind then yes, I think it will convince you.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
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bowers Inner circle Oakboro N.C. 7024 Posts |
It looks pretty impressive paul.
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Powermagic Inner circle 1437 Posts |
It sounds great. I ahve to be careful on the Café since my qeustions can get twisted by some members. By trick names and contributors I am still not clear how much work is put into effective effects for 7 and under kids. I am not saying the book does not have the material but if I go by trick names it appears to be leaning towards the 10-teen ages, correct?
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
I haven't received my copy of the book yet, but it seems to me that all you need for the youngest kids is ONE good trick and there are at least three there that look like they have potential. I can't imagine anyone thinking he should perform a complete mentalist's act for very young children. The three I noticed from the contents were:
Phantom Artist Halloween Card Routine by Professor Spellbinder Pin the Tail on the Donkey by Andrew Gerard Mentalism for Preschool Kids by Mark Strivings The first one is my own and while I would use more cutesy card images thasn the ones shown in my routine, it would definitely work for 7 - 5 year old kids. When you say 7 and under, you infer that you attempt to perform for 1-4 year olds, which is probably not a good career choice. The Pin the Tail on the Donkey would certainly be a concept understandable to a 5 year old, and Mentalism for Preschool Kids, while not my cup of tea, might be worth a look. But all you need is one good trick and you've covered the subject for the very young. Then back to the regular magic. For teens, you could go on and do an entire show of mental effects as long as you have enough variety (which this book seems to provide). I happen to know that a second volume is in the works and it will contain at least one effect by my friend Jim Gerrish that I know will work for 5-7 year olds and up.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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Powermagic Inner circle 1437 Posts |
The only reason I ask is that I have been discussing with some magicians over the years and have found the 7 and under really are not that impressed with mentalism like finding card or object since to them it could easily be just a good guess.
Finding a puzzle piece or pinning a tale on something ould easily be just luck in their minds. Or they already think you are magic so must know or that adults always KNOW things. So I would like to learn more on how to make it sink in for the youner kids that what they were just witnessing was more than a luck/ I am not saying for some, if there is mixed ages that they are not enertained on some level, just not as impressed as we would like them to be. Like Mark Strivings has an effect based on A Cut Above called My favorite Dinosaur. His last word on it is that the fact that the kid tells him where to cut and they cut a dino that matches a card in an envelope, that it is "A MIRACLE!" I just do not feel the kids are really as impressed as the older kids or adults. OK so they match cool, what is next? Mentalism just seems to not have the pay off comparted to other magic. So in this case, for me, it is not that mentalism for younger kids is not impossible, it just does not seem it has the same impact for younger kids as we might hope. IT almost becomes a filler effect if they are not perplexed by the effect. Mentalism only works when you greatly reduce the luck factor. 10 and up can process this much better. Spellbinder, I will enjoy reading your comments when you get the book. Thanks |
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Mr. Woolery Inner circle Fairbanks, AK 2149 Posts |
I have the book. It is a good book. The term mentalism is one of those hard to define terms, it seems. I would say most of the routines are mental magic rather than mentalism. That's a personal quibble, but I want to bring it up so you don't feel disappointed when you read it. I was looking for something slightly different when I bought the book because I had a different definition of mentalism in mind. I don't feel cheated, only that it wasn't quite what I thought I was getting. If it was called Performing Mental Magic for Young Minds, I would be totally cool with the title.
Okay, before I try to address Powermagic's concerns, I want to get into my philosophy of performing for kids. First the disclaimer - I'm not a pro. I've done a couple of parties and a fair amount of volunteer time, but I am not anywhere close to a pro. However, as a parent and a regular volunteer, a former recess monitor, music teacher, and general nice guy, I do think that I have a decent handle on what kids like and don't like. Kids don't need to be amazed at my ability to read minds. It has happened. (Got the rather odd assumption that as a magician I can read minds a while back when I did a rope trick. Fifth grade girl, out of the blue, said "okay, what number am I thinking?" I told her 7. She was astounded. She tried me again a week later and I said 7 again and she seemed rather nervous about me for a while and never asked me to read her mind again.) What do the kids need in order to be entertained? It isn't a perfect mental performance that leaves them convinced I am a telepathist. So, what do they need? As I see it (others may disagree), what kids need is two things from me. First is humor that is clever and surprising. Second, is me being able to show that I can see things from their point of view. That's it. Humor and empathy. Those things are more important than the actual trick. Those two elements allow any effect to transcend the puzzle and be truly entertaining. That's my philosophy in a nutshell, you have to apply your own, based on your own experience. As to the book under discussion, the real value in my eyes is a wonderful collection of different viewpoints on how to achieve entertainment through mental effects. Any good routine that gives me ideas is worth reading. And this book is loaded with them. Will I use any? I don't know for sure. But anything that does a good job of getting me thinking in a different direction is valuable. Was this book worth the money I paid for it? Yeah. Would it have been worth the price with half the material gone from it? Probably. There are just so many routines in there from so many different performers that I am bound to get the creative juices flowing if I take time to think about any of the routines. Is this the most important book on my shelf? No. But this one is certainly in my top ten. If just looking at kid performing, this is one of my top three. Again, just for the wealth of perspectives from the guys who really know how to be humorous and understand what makes kids tick. -Patrick |
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-03-04 22:45, Powermagic wrote: Well then get the book! You mention Mark Strivings; he has several articles in the book including one that details how to effectively perform mentalism for young kids, including under 7. In fact mentions that the books aim at presenting mentalism for 5-15 year olds is arbitrary, since he regularly performs mentalism for under 5s and he explains how. I personally have a 5 year old daughter. There is a lot of mentalism that I would never perform for her or her friends, but there is mentalism I have been doing for her since she was 4 and she loves it. I would agree that most of this would technically be "mental magic," but I think that is exactly what most here are looking for. It is possible (at least some of the time) to not only perform mentalism entertainingly for young groups and have it actually be perceived as mentalism, not mental magic. It's about (IMO) doing one solid routine and marking it off from the rest of the magic. But most of the time that's pretty irrelevant for children's, especially young children's, shows.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
Mr. Woolery, thanks for that clarification. I too was thinking it was classic mentalism confab, B test, headline, B night, and other standard fare, but adapted and redone for kids. To me there is a difference between mental magic and mentalism, even for kids.
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Powermagic Inner circle 1437 Posts |
Mental Magic vs Mentalism. Oh lordy sounds to be another annoying topic of debate that magicians get there panties in a bunch over.
It is all the same if you are using conjuring as the method. Sorry I do not buy books just to find out if the book has the info I need. That is like having to buy a car BEFORE you know if you will like it. I first look for reviews and more details, being an INFORMED consumer. So far it does appear this book is geared to an older age level of "kids" maybe what I would call pre teens and teens. As for Strivings, Yes I mentioned him, pointing out that one of his effect that he calls a Miracle is more a "miracle" to adults and while you can ENTERTAIN the kids they surely do not find the payoff the same as an adult would be. The reveal of the matched dinosaur concludes the trick but does not make their jaws drop nor do they go home remember that as the BEST effect you did. Kids easily can figure it was a good lucky guess like if you were tossing pennys and one bounced up and landed on its edge. You would smile and think it was neat but know it ws a happy accident. So tell me, since some have the book. Do the essays cover what to do to make an effect work on a stronger level for younger kids? I say under 8. I feel 8 and up there thought process is developed enough to know that adults just do not know everything or that they are not magical enough to know something. (ie the kid believe he did do the magic...for reals....) |
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Mr. Woolery Inner circle Fairbanks, AK 2149 Posts |
Powermagic - I'm going to get just a little huffy, so feel free to skip this message.
There is a distinct difference between Mental Magic and Mentalism. However, I don't get my panties in a twist over the distinction. Rather, I find that a clear understanding of the difference is vital to the way you portray yourself to the audience. For example, just about any Mental Magic is potentially compatible with a show that includes cups and balls, vanishing hankies, or sympathetic silks. The point is to create a situation where the impossible is happening. You know they already know there's a trick to it just because it is part of a magic show. Mentalism, though, is different. Here, the point is that you create the illusion that there are no tricks. It really is psychic ability or enhanced intuition, or whatever. Alternatively, you can do like Banachek or Brown and simply tell the audience you are using deceptive methods to appear psychic. In either case, though, a mentalist presents himself/herself as having or appearing to have the abilities that so many people spend so much money trying to develop by going to esoteric bookstores. (Me being snarky.) For me, it is the difference between sleight of hand magic and ventriloquism. Two related fields, in that both are entertainment where there's an illusion created in the minds of the audience, but the different sort of illusion is distinctive. Sure, you can add puppets to a magic show (good idea, especially for kids), but that's not the same as being a vent. A few vents can be good with both magic and vent. That's wonderful. A few magicians can be good with mental stuff, too. BUT to bill yourself as a ventriloquist and then spend half the show on linking rings, card tricks, and silk magic (all of which I personally love) is going to leave your audience feeling cheated if they came for the puppets. I submit that you don't really want this book. That's okay. There are a lot of great books that I have decided I don't want. Whole lot of card books, for example, just are not important to me. Sounds like this isn't your sort of book and I think that's fine. However, I do hear you in terms of wanting a little more info. What I'd like is a one-sentence description of each trick so you know what you are getting. I doubt that would hurt sales. If anything, it might increase them. (Hint to Paul Romhany, here.) Tell you what. If you ever visit Fairbanks, look me up and I'll let you page through my copy and decide whether you want to buy one for yourself or not. Can't ask for more than that! -Patrick |
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-03-05 16:08, Powermagic wrote: Have you actually read the responses you've received on this thread? Your questions have been directly answered already. However, just in case my mention of Mark Strivings excellent essay was not clear; the article I was thinking of in particular is called: "Mentalism for preschool kids" This is directly followed by an essay by Silly Billy (it's really just an adaptation of what's in his book, but it's still good) that specifically mentions under 7's. I skimmed through the book and noticed 4 routines that I thought would be good for little kids (6 and under), but if you have upped the age to 8 and under there is quite a bit more. Obviously in a book aimed at 5-15 year olds there is plenty that would not work for young kids, but there is a lot that will. If you are really just looking for more information before you buy then I apologize for my "huffy" (good word Mr. Woolery) tone at the beginning and I hope these references are useful to you. I don't really know what else you could want to know before deciding.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
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Gerry Walkowski Inner circle 1450 Posts |
To the best of my knowledge, the first book on this subject matter was a booklet called MENTALIST TRIX FOR KIDS by Walt Hudson. It's possible Abbott's Magic Company is still selling this.
It has a killer Bank Night routine in it that is worth the price of the entire book. Gerry |
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Powermagic Inner circle 1437 Posts |
What make the reoutin in that book so good compared to other bank night effeccts? One issue I have found with bank night effects is that if the magic wins, the audience do not like it, especially kids. I have modified some so the b-day kid wins but again, to them it can seem like a lucky guess or "of course he will get it, it is his birthday"
WHat I am curious about is what the the author feels is the YOUNG minds as the title suggests. The older you get even a 20 year old seems "young" So one could have wrote the book for 10 and up. But when I read YOUNG I am thinking 4-7 years, I think most mentalism works 10 and up. Might even say 8 and up. Once they have an idea how some tricks work, via a magic set, or that a beloved icon is not real, they seem to grasp the impossible nature of many mentalist experiments. I guess I could see how spoon bending is strong for kids. It is visual and magical and they know from experience that a spoon just does not bend. It is a higher level if you ask me that having a selection and then matching reveal. So some areas of say things moving, or bending I could see but predictions... if htat is how mentalism is defined, well I am still not sure I can beleive mentalism works for young minds. It would have been nice if the author did not use the form to promote and run. I guesa he is too busy. |
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MichaelCGM Inner circle Oklahoma City 2286 Posts |
Quote: Good. Those of us who do it successfully will just keep doing it so you won't have to.On 2012-03-06 14:31, Powermagic wrote: well I am still not sure I can beleive mentalism works for young minds. |
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-03-06 16:10, MichaelCGM wrote: Lol I think that sums it up. To be fair, in reference to the above, I don't like the 'standard' presentations of bank night either and for exactly the same reason. Even for adults. As to "what is young" it is explicitly stated that the book addresses ages 5-15, although it is really more like 3or4-15. Which goes back to the point that all of the questions you keep asking have been answered. I think you just shouldn't get this book. It seems to me, and I could be wrong, that you are intrigued but ultimatly don't want to get it and are looking for someone to tell you that your right, mentalism cannot be performed for 7 and unders and that this book isn't for you. There will always be people on both sides of the equation, but there is obviously no need to do mentalism for young kids if you don't want to so just don't get the book. If you want I would suggest John Breeds' book. It has two mentalism routines that would work for 7 or 8 year olds; they are very strong and very funny. The nice thing though about that book is that if you don't like the mentalism routines it gives there are a lot of great magic routines as well.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
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