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avimagic Loyal user Hollywood, Florida 235 Posts |
There is a very long thread in the "Latest & Greatest" forum discussing the new Thought Transmitter Pro by John Cornelius.
It was because of that thread that I almost didn't buy it, and I realized that we owe it to John to create a new thread on the subject. Here's why: I was always a fan of the original Thought Transmitter. Mine was unfortunately lost, and I needed to replace it for use at a recent tradeshow. I searched the Café just to see what was out there on the market and came across the aforementioned thread. For the first several pages of the thread, people complained about a major issue with the prop that led to exposure and embarrassment. As I came to learn from John himself, this issue was due to an incorrect placement of the gimmick by the person who was assembling the props for him. The error was so simple that it could be corrected in about 5 seconds by the purchaser of the prop, but it cost John tremendously in reputation points. Case in point, I was lucky that I called him (I did so only because I wanted to find out if he still had the old version in stock). I had only read through the first few pages of the thread. Had I read a little further, I would have discovered the simple fix, as well as glowing reviews from those who use Thought Transmitter Pro! I bought the Thought Transmitter Pro, and I must say I couldn't be happier with it! I thought the original TT was amazing, but the new one leaves it in the dust. While its handling is similar in nature to the original, the Pro version offers these additional features and benefits: (1) Greater flexibility as to what the volunteer can write on---it no longer needs to be a post-it note or other thin paper. You can have them write on a business card, playing card, etc. (2) The above improvement gives you an opportunity to use the trick as a memorable way to hand out your business card. (3) The new design makes it seem more like an everyday object and less like a magician's prop. It no longer bears certain characteristics that always seemed a little awkward to me, and which I thought might lead to questions and suspicion (however, to be fair, my fears were never realized; no one ever questioned it). (4) The placement of the volunteer's written item between two opaque cards in the wallet makes the entire thing even more baffling. I performed it for a magician who uses the original TT, and he had no clue whatsoever how I did it. (5) The original TT didn't last forever; eventually you would need to replace it. For reasons I'd prefer not to disclose here (but those who use TT will understand completely), with proper care, the new version can be used over and over for years and years. Because the thread that opens with so many bad reviews comes up first in Café searches, I respectfully open this new thread by rating Thought Transmitter Pro 5 stars! |
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Mark_Chandaue Inner circle Essex UK 4187 Posts |
I still think it is important that people understand that this cannot be used in the same way as the original TT. The problem was not merely the placement but rather that this does not perform the same task as the original. Mine has been consigned to the drawer of no return and there it will stay. I currently have nothing that does the same job as the original TT. I have several things that do the same job as the TT pro and every single one of them does it better. Personally I still give this 0 stars and hope that one day John releases something like the original TT.
Mark |
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dooblehorn Inner circle Pittsburg, CA 2474 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 25, 2014, Mark_Chandaue wrote: Not sure what this means...I did not have an original one, but from what I've read, the effect and outcome are the same... All I did was modify the gimmick with a real credit card, as the original gimmick design did not make sense to me...if you own one, you'll know what I mean...but anyway, I love it! |
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Sensio Special user I promise I won't exceed 641 Posts |
This is my take on it.
https://vimeo.com/88815934 ...along with some nice improvements not mentioned on the particular clip Sensio! |
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avimagic Loyal user Hollywood, Florida 235 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 25, 2014, dooblehorn wrote: I had the same reaction to Mark's comment. I don't get the difference as far as the outcome is concerned. The only differences from where I sit are improvements. Furthermore, zero stars is unfair even if you don't agree that the new version is better. It almost sounds personal. And yes, I too have modified the design to include my own cards. I even insert a folded $20 into the top flap. |
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Mark_Chandaue Inner circle Essex UK 4187 Posts |
The difference between the original and the TT pro, in the original you hand them the wallet, they write inside it and close it themselves while your back is turned and you do not open the wallet after handing it to them. The moment you do the deed is well justified and if performed well the spectator will not even recall you touching the wallet. This is the single biggest advantage of the TT. The p**k is smaller than most similar items, it has a finite battery and finally there are lighting restrictions. However the next best thing allowing the spectator to write directly into the pad while your back is turned and close it themselves and keep hold of it is when you start getting into pr*m**tic or similar items costing hundreds/thousands of dollars.
Compare that to the TT Pro, the information is written on the card, the performer has to take back the card, the performer has to place it in the wallet and then close the wallet themselves, many of us bought the TT specifically to avoid having the spec write on a card, having to take back the card and place it into a wallet. There are very few devices that, like the original TT allow you to hand it to a spec, have them write in it (not write on a card and place it in the wallet, why your wallet, why not their pocket?) close it, you then wrap an elastic round it and hand it straight back and let them pocket it. Yes they both ultimately let you p**k a small area and both have similar restrictions but they are used very differently. The original TT has no alternatives in the same price bracket or even at 10x the price. When it comes to the TT pro on the other hand almost every p**k wallet out there allows you to place the spectators card in the wallet! several are cheaper, almost all give a far bigger p**k, non of the others have any concern over leakage or require batteries. The effect of putting the card into the SUC on my SAW is the same to a spectator but the SAW will give me far more. Likewise my lookout wallet cost a little less than the TTpro but with lookout the spectator can place the card in the wallet themselves, if I so choose they can put it between my driving license and a credit card, they can close the wallet themselves and I can take it back briefly, wrap an elastic round it and hand it straight back to the spectator. And still get a p**k of the entire card. Not only that but it is leather and holds my business cards. So yes they both give you a very small p**k but the original had a very big advantage over most other devices that made up for its limitations. The pro has the same limitations but no longer has the advantage over other devices. If you perform in the London area and want to use your Oyster card as a logical and organic place to hide the specs card then this will definitely perform that task, beyond that I can not think of a single reason to recommend the TTpro over any of the other wallets out there in the same or lower price ranges. If you like it then great, it does what it was designed to do but to say that the negative feedback in the original thread was because the gimmick was misplaced is erroneous and misleading, sure that fact didn't help but the biggest source of disappointment was the fundamental redesign that stripped away every single advantage the original had for absolutely zero net gain. Mark |
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avimagic Loyal user Hollywood, Florida 235 Posts |
Why can't you let the spectator put the card in the wallet and close it themselves?
I performed TT about 50 times in the past week, and every time, the spectator wrote on the card while my back was turned, placed the card in the wallet, and placed the wallet in my hand, which was waiting behind my back for them to finish. I pop a rubber band around the TT while doing the p**k, then nonchalantly toss the wallet onto the table as if it just doesn't matter any more. Which it doesn't. The rest is all performance fluff. I don't know what you do differently that requires you to place the card in the wallet yourself, but if you'd like to PM me I'd be happy to be more specific about dealing with whatever issues you may encounter that have prevented you from letting the spectator do this him/herself. |
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Mark_Chandaue Inner circle Essex UK 4187 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 25, 2014, avimagic wrote: Well mainly because the size of the p**k is tiny and so the card has to be positioned just right. Sure you can get custom made cards that fill the entire wallet so that the spectator can't put the card in the wrong place but then you have the problem of trying to justify why they can only write on this tiny little circle on such a huge card.. Quote:
I performed TT about 50 times in the past week, and every time, the spectator wrote on the card while my back was turned, placed the card in the wallet, and placed the wallet in my hand, which was waiting behind my back for them to finish. I pop a rubber band around the TT while doing the p**k, then nonchalantly toss the wallet onto the table as if it just doesn't matter any more. Which it doesn't. The rest is all performance fluff. Then you have been exceptionally lucky because there is zero margin for error whilst the wallet allows the spectator to place the card either too far left or too far right and they only have to be a few millimetres either side and you are playing guessing games or trying to find a justification to remove the card or place it back in. 30 years experience of performing to real people tells me if there is a margin for error spectators will find it, especially when your back is turned. The margin for error on the card placement in the TTpro is so large that I would say that your explanation of how you handle the TT is either not entirely accurate or you are on borrowed time before a spectator fails to align the card so perfectly. Personally I would prefer to use my lookout wallet that not only has no margin for error but also does not require me to limit where the spectator can write and allows me to p**k the entire card. It also has no battery to fail. All that in leather costing me £5 less than the TTpro. Can you tell me 3 advantages the TTPro has over the lookout wallet to make up for the much smaller p**k and higher price tag? What about 2? Quote: I don't do anything that requires me to place the card in the wallet because when I say the TTpro went into the drawer of death it was a euphemism for the dustbin. Just as I could not recommend the TTpro neither could I sell mine to somebody else in all good consciense and so it got launched. However if you are ever in the Essex area by all means attempt to perform TTpro on me and I will give you a very simple demonstration of how screwed you are when the spectator quite innocently places the card too far to the left or too far to the right. I will also happily demonstrate a multitude of p**k effects that I can perform with my espionage, saw, lookout and every other p**k device I have that could not be performed with the TT pro.
I don't know what you do differently that requires you to place the card in the wallet yourself, but if you'd like to PM me I'd be happy to be more specific about dealing with whatever issues you may encounter that have prevented you from letting the spectator do this him/herself. To be honest if I want to restrict myself to such a small area without the advantage of the TT I'd rather use acidus novus for such a small p**k. If you like it as I said great, enjoy it, if it works for you that's all that matters but my personal opinion is that the TTpro is the worst device of its kind on the market and my advice to anyone looking for a p**k device would be that unless that buss pass type wallet fits a specific need then take a look at the other options out there because most do the job far better than the TT pro for all of the reasons that I have outlined in these posts. Mark |
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MagicFett New user 17 Posts |
Avimagic said "The original TT didn't last forever; eventually you would need to replace it. For reasons I'd prefer not to disclose here (but those who use TT will understand completely), with proper care, the new version can be used over and over for years and years. "
I have had my original tt since it first came out and have used it thousands of times, still works just fine. I know what you are saying here but with proper care the original has lasted me years and years as well. |
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Mark_Chandaue Inner circle Essex UK 4187 Posts |
Quite frankly all that was really needed was a way to make the original have a longer lifespan. With no other modifications it would have had far less negative comments and would fill a gap in the market that still exists or has been created by the lack of availability of the original. The biggest shame of all is that that gap is currently filled by the rip of merchants and I suspect that there are people out there giving those rip of merchants money that they would really like to be giving John. My money will of course go on a key ring thing that will add new life into my old TT until such time that my money can go to John or something new hits the market that fills the hole in an ethical way.
Mark |
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Doc Ben Loyal user Phoenix, AZ 261 Posts |
"Something new"....?
Is anyone here old enough to remember what I think was a Robert Nelson Enterprises stage item,...from the 70' s...?...being a stack of standard size pay envelopes upon which was placeda single pay envelope containing an index card written on by the spec.....which writing was revealed to the mentalist by the same principle. However, I believe the "works" within the faux stack only needed the ever reliable AA or AAA ba*€ eri#£. For the life of me I can' t remember if I gave it away or sold it....in fact the above TT streams make me want to dig thru my closet collection and see if I may still have it....
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain" (the original F. Baum)
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DynaMix Inner circle 1148 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 25, 2014, avimagic wrote: Hi Avimagic, I am curious as to your handling as well. Currently I put the card back in, but are you just telling the spec "slide it in between these 2 cards?"... Just curious, I'd love to improve my handling if I can. |
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avimagic Loyal user Hollywood, Florida 235 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 26, 2014, DynaMix wrote: So sorry it took so long to reply to this. I just saw it! I tell them simply, "Slide the card in behind my Visa card, so that even if the wallet were to open accidentally, I still couldn't possibly see what you wrote." |
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David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
And what's the reason for placing their card into your wallet in such a precise fashion?
An effect that once made perfect sense has, in my reluctant opinion, been turned into just another convoluted mess. I really dislike the new TT and I adored the old one. However, if you like the Pro version, more power to you. I don't. And I don't much care that they were assembled wrong. The concept is still a mess. Whereas the post it note simply was left in the original, now it's placed between two cards and put into the wallet. Why? To draw attention to the wallet? To introduce the notion that you can't see whats been written? This was never a factor with the original. You got your pe@k as you took the wallet back. What could be simpler? I thought the pro version was a model where I could change the batteries myself. As Mark has observed, that's all that was necessary. Not so. I'm selling both of mine right now...and continuing to buy up as many originals as I can get my hands on. David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
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george1953 Inner circle Mallorca (Spain) 5943 Posts |
Yes David, all that was needed was a method of changing the battery, which would have improved it 100%.
By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail.
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JanForster Inner circle Germany ... when not traveling... 4190 Posts |
Yes, absolutely true. The new version symbolizes pure magician's thinking. Jan
Jan Forster
www.janforster.de |
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j100taylor Inner circle 1198 Posts |
I think its awesome. But there I go being all magiciany.
Lakewood, Ohio
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bdekolta Inner circle Texas 1636 Posts |
I should see John in a few weeks and will try to remember to ask him about this. He typically has thought things through far more than almost anybody you'll meet. It wouldn't surprise me if he has a way to do it like the original.
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RedDevil Inner circle Deep South 1315 Posts |
What David said.
www.reddevilmentalism.com
F-F-U-L-Ri-F-F-Li-R-U-F-F |
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cheesewrestler Inner circle Chicago 1157 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 11, 2014, bdekolta wrote: While you're at it, could you ask him if there's any chance of producing another run of the original style? I'm sure the new one is great, but I like the original. |
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