Here's what's in this edition of
Jheff's Marketplace of the Mind Newsletter
*** CHESS GAMBIT - Devin Knight
*** FORESIGHT - Devin Knight
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This issue features a couple of items by Devin Knight, who's
a protege of Al Mann, and has been steadily releasing some
wonderful mentalism products and routines. Before we get to
that, there are a few pieces of news and announcements.
**** STUNNERS PLUS OUT OF PRINT
STUNNERS PLUS is now officially out of print. My
distributor still has a few copies, but when they're gone,
they're gone. However, you can now get this landmark book
in a PDF edition from
www.Lybrary.com. It is priced very
fairly. When my distributor runs out, the page on my site
will be changed to link to Lybrary.com since that will be
the only place you will then be able to get it.
**** GUERRILLA Q&A SOLD OUT
Jerome Finley's QUERRILLA Q&A is now sold out. If you were
one of the fifty to get a copy of his manuscript, then
congratulations. If not, perhaps Jerome will release an
updated edition in a few years.
**** THE SECRET LEXICON
The Miracle Factory, who released the acclaimed Shakespeare
Experiment, has another booktest that will be coming out
soon. This one works similarly to the other, but involves a
dictionary. And you can order with plain pages or gilded
pages. You can find more details about it when you click on
the link below.
http://www.miraclefactory.net**** NEW SHIPPING PAYMENT INFORMATION - REVISED FEB. 1
When choosing the postage, it is my preference that you use
Priority Mail which is more dependable, faster, and easier
for me to track. Also, please know that I will only allow
International Air Mail charges for orders totaling $100 or
less and/or orders that can fit into an envelope.
Any order totaling more than $100 or that must be shipped in
a box, must be sent by Priority Mail. Any order that fits
these conditions and does not have the Priority Mail postage
option paid, will be immediately canceled and refunded.
**** PRODUCTS UPDATE
New products that have crossed my desk include Devin
Knight's FORESIGHT, Andrew Gerard's ENERGY BILL, and Anthony
Miller's COLOSSAL BLIZZARD. They have all been added to the
website and they will be included in upcoming newsletters.
**** JE4
I've been getting quite a lot of compliments about JE4.
Hardly anyone has discussed it on the forums, though. For
those that don't know, JE4 is my Fourth Dimensional
Telepathy routine that is the cornerstone of my club act,
the one I perform regularly at the Magic Castle. JE4 stands
for Jheff's Elegant 4th Dimensional Telepathy routine.
Because I'm still performing it, I'm limiting this to only
100 copies and selling it for $100 each. And, boy, have I
already been taking the heat from some professionals
familiar with my routine who told me that was way too low.
But I already made my decision.
Here's two more pros who were very excited about JE4:
"Jheff's thinking is direct and to the point. His entire
routine is a lesson on how to apply a classic routine with a
refreshing handling to play to a modern audience. The
manuscript clearly details the specific handling with clear
photographs to aid each phase. The handling is
straightforward allowing you to focus on your routine. The
presentation offered by Jheff is a comical one which most
audiences will relate to! For someone in Jheff's position to
release a manuscript of this calibre you know it's going to
be fantastic. He is well versed in all the classics and
wouldn't release this if he didn't feel he had something
unique to offer. This is the only handling of the routine I
have ever seen which has convinced me to want to try it out
in front of a real audience!"
Colin McLeod
author of "Deceit: The Next Step in Chair Predictions"
"Anneman's '4DT' has been a highly favored staple of
classical mentalism because it is so pure, strong and real
feeling. In Jheff's 'JE4' manuscript we can immediately see
the personal value he's placed upon this routine and how
he's molded and fit the demonstration to suit him and his
style of performance over the years. Learning of Jheff's own
experience, subtleties and touches make this one routine
well worth picking up and comes straight from his current
working act and professional repertoire as performed at The
Magic Castle.
I personally love 4DT and every little nuance, variation in
handling and professional presentation I can find is
devoured and appreciated immediately with 'JE4' being no
exception to this rule! If you love 4DT as much as I do then
Jheff's version and handling of 'JE4' will certainly cause
you to smile and become a welcome addition to your library
and repertoire."
Jerome Finley
http://www.marketplaceofthemind.com/je4.htmlUntil next time. -- Jheff
*********
DEVIN KNIGHT AND AL MANN
CHESS GAMBIT
JMOM Price: $135
Suggested Retail Price: $150
THE BLURB:
The effect reads totally impossible, yet it is accurate in
every regard. One of the most unique and baffling magical
effects on stage today. Direct from Devin Knight's own stage
show and a limited release, this is based on a little known
idea that Al Mann shared with Devin.
Devin's original idea has been revised and improved upon to
make it into a real visual showpiece. Read the effect and
ponder how such a thing is possible:
Performer introduces a table containing a chess set. He
tells the audience before the show he gave a copy of the
best-selling book, "Chess Strategy" to an audience member.
She were instructed to secretly take the book out of the
magician's sight and circle a chess piece on any page. She
was also instructed to note the page number containing the
circled piece and seal everything in a large yellow
envelope.
Please note: Once the book is given to the spectator in the
audience before the show, the magician never touches it
again! The person in the audience holding the book chooses
any two people to assist onstage and hands either one of
them the book. She makes the selection (NOT THE MAGICIAN)
and hands the book to either one. The volunteers are not
stooges nor plants; there is no secret cueing or anything of
the sort. There are no offstage assistants. Strictly a
one-man effect!
Magician asks the first volunteer to go over to chess board
and stand in front of it so the second volunteer and
audience cannot see what he does. The first volunteer is
instructed to freely choose any chess piece and place it
inside a paper bag, thus allowing nobody to see it! He is
further instructed to stand in front of the chess set
blocking its view from the audience. The choice is
completely free; there is no force of any kind -- the
volunteer has a free selection of any of the 32 chess
pieces!
Performer then asks the second volunteer to open the
envelope and remove the chess book. There is a note attached
to the book indicating the page that was marked. She turns
to that page in the book and, sure enough, one chess piece
is encircled with a red mark. This is visible to the
audience, and she shows the book to the first volunteer
holding the secret piece to verify it.
(REMEMBER THE PERFORMER HASN'T TOUCHED THE BOOK!)
The second volunteer is then asked to riffle through the
book and to make sure no other pages have been marked. She
does so and assures everyone that all other pages are mark
free. The performer asks her to name the chosen piece within
the book. Suppose she says, "The black bishop!"
Performer states that it would be incredible if the piece
the man secretly selected was indeed the black bishop. The
performer instructs the first volunteer to remove the piece
from the bag, and indeed, it is revealed to be the black
bishop!
Remember this is a one-man effect. There are no forces of
any kind, and the performer never (even secretly) touches
anything. He merely directs the spectators from a distance
as to what they are to do. This is the ultimate in Two
Minds, Single Thought effects; there are no switches nor
sleights. The audience will go home wondering how such a
thing is possible!
You get everything you need to perform this mind-boggling
effect, including a beautiful chess set large enough for
stage. A special carry bag to carry chess pieces, a
specially gimmicked 330-page "Chess Strategy" book, the
necessary gimmicks, envelopes, paper bags and detailed
directions with several alternative handlings, and complete
performance rights.
MY COMMENTS:
The effect plays exactly as it's presented in the blurb.
Like other mentalism routines by Al Mann & Devin Knight,
this is a very creative and impressive routine. The blurb
is certainly accurate in describing the routine, though
there are some variations that are included in the
manuscript.
As to concerns about this routine, the chess theme would
be one, obviously. Due to the props, you must use this
theme. Also, some may know that there are not 32 different
pieces on a chess board. There are 32 pieces on the board,
and the participant does have a free choice of any one of
them, but there are only twelve different pieces - six black
and six white. This ruse, as you may have figured out, is
meant to psychological convince the participants that they
could've chosen one of many. Also, there is a nicely made
8.5" x 11" key to use so that participants know the pieces
and what they look like. The key does indeed show these
twelve different pieces.
The chess pieces that are included are not the most elegant
or fancy, but they have the classic design and are
instantly recognizable. The pieces are not gimmicked so if
one has a better set of chess pieces, it can certainly be
used.
Finally, and this may be obvious, but this is a stage
routine, or at least a parlour one that requires a generous
size audience. One can certainly use less people, but
depending upon that number, the routine can be modified.
The 14-page manuscript, which contains photo illustrations,
details this very strong routine as well as containing
different handlings. The blurb contains a list of
everything you get. I'll also note that if you like this
routine or are interested in the techniques, but would
prefer not to use the chess theme, Devin released a very
similar routine called DOUBLE COICIDENCE, which is my
absolute favorite release of his and which is why I mention
it. It features most of the principles at work in Chess
Gambit, but uses a novel instead of a chess book.
*****
DEVIN KNIGHT
FORESIGHT
JMOM Price: $27
Suggested Retail Price: $29
THE BLURB:
A killer effect that starts out like a comedy routine but
packs a wallop at the end.
The magician holds up an envelope and says it contains a
prediction. He asked a spectator to name any playing card.
Performer says the named card is in the envelope. He removes
an 8.5 x 11 inch picture that has the whole deck spread out.
The performer says look, there is your card right there.
The audience laughs but isn't impressed, so you ask the
participant to just think of a card in the picture. No
force. You then ask a second participant to also think a
card in the picture.
Now for the amazing part, the performer immediately tells
the first participant the card he is thinking of. He simply
makes two comments about the card, both are correct (you are
never wrong)and then names the card. You do this without any
complex fishing. In fact you name the thought of card so
quickly it will startle even magicians! The magician then
points out that he has been wearing a CLEAR cardholder
around his neck from the very start. You can see the back of
a playing card inside it.
He then asks the second participant what card he has in
mind. The participant names the card. Immediately and with
NO SWITCHES, you turn the clear cardholder around and sealed
inside is the very card he just named.
Back of card is in full view at all times and never leaves
the audience's sight. Card can be removed and the badge
holder examined. Nothing else inside. The predicted card
could also be a jumbo card on your table in full view from
the start for those who don't want to have the card hanging
from your neck.
This takes revealing thought-of cards to a new level. One of
the most advanced techniques yet devised, yet is easy to do
and has no sleights whatsoever.
Comes with envelope. A 8.5" x 11" durable plastic gag
picture that looks like it has a spilled deck on it. NO
DUPLICATE CARDS ARE PRINTED IN THE PICTURE. Every card in
the picture is different! Also comes with a smaller picture
for street magicians to carry in their pocket. Includes
high-quality clear cardholder complete with cloth lanyard.
MY COMMENTS:
As Devin admits on the first page of the instructions, this
is hardly a new idea. However, Devin has taken this plot
and added some new subtleties and ideas that address many of
the problems that earlier versions have. The earliest
version of this effect that I became familiar with was Dick
Barry's Clairvoyant Cassette, which has become obsolete
thanks its to use of the cassette tape, though Dick does
have a more contemporary version that uses wallets. Another
version that I perform, and is actually mentioned in this
manuscript, is Harry Anderson's MishMash Card. Each of
these versions, and a few others, have features that Devin
has improved upon.
Considerations for this effect is that, despite that the
participant has an apparently free choice, the outcome may
be the same in subsequent performances. This is a
consideration only to those doing walkaround and those who
have concerns about performing for repeat audiences.
Otherwise, this effect re-sets quickly, packs flat and plays
big, and comes with everything you need, including fourteen
8.5" x 11" pages of instructions, and props sized for both
close-up/street magicians and parlour/stage performers. All
of this comes in a large polybag. This is probably the most
well-thought out version of this effect, which truly is what
one would expect from Devin Knight.
*********
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please go to
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shopping cart. If you're unable to do this, you may respond
to this e-mail.
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Topic: February 7: Chess Gambit, Foresight (Read 291 times)