Is this book worth getting? Are the tricks taught in this book more sleight-of-hand or performance oriented.

This book is more performance oriented. If you are into advanced performance of mentalism, this is for you.

yup like what llamalamer said, it's more performance oriented. i've only seen some of the stuff cos i have skullduggery which has some of the effects in the book. but i must say that it's really very interesting if your're into the psychological aspects of performing. =))

Performance oriented? No tricky sleights? Nice!

What's the difference between skullduggery and 7 deceptions? Are all the effects in 7 deceptions covered in skullduggery? I'm pretty interested in getting either one.

Skullduggery doesn't cover everything in 7 deceptions if i'm not wrong... but i loved it anyways... luke jermay is awesome.. so if you're into the psychology behind mentalism i'd say definitely get either one... the dvd is prob an easier choice though it doesn't cover as much..

cheers
Bryan

I won't say I own this book, but i do read and browse through before, so its not really clear in my head.

Its a pretty strong book, holds the same psychological and mentalism book like Kenton, which I pretty like also.

As in, you don't need to prepare anything and can hit on the spot. But its pretty hard for novices as this requests VERY STRONG presentation.

Well but you are looking for hardcore mentalism acts, this one can be part of the collection.

You mean things such as psychology, imaging and sugges
tive-hypnosis type?

Are there any really strong effects that are missed out in either the DVD or the book? If so, could you briefly describe the trick?

I can look up for you, but not today ba. Cause having a paper tomorrow. CHEERS!!!

Luke Jermay uses alot of suggestion and his routines contain alot of subtleties.. All his routines are very presentation heavy but have very strong effects if u can pull it off. i think you gotta have a strong command for language though. why don't u PM me if u need more specific info and i'll try to help as best i can... =))

Regards
Bryan.

bmt,

there is something wrong with my messenger on smc. the messages are full even when i clear them all. so i can't receive messages via inbox.

my apologies for the previous post, i forgot.

mods please help me delete it. =))

Hey Joel,

I hope that this post can do some help in your decision. First of all, I not a user of the effects in the book, though I practise several things that are similar in the book, but that not going to mean that I am very good in describing the effects.

I will mention about a few effects that I personally feel that its strong and effective, and the cons of using the effects in the book.

Cold Emotion - 52 cards are written with different emotion in each card, the cards are shuffled and place fairly on the table. Spectator cut the deck and remember the chosen emotion. The cards are return to your pocket and you begin to connect with your spectator, asking them to mentally, imagine themself in the situation where the chosen emotion can be expressed, all this without have a change in their expressions or facial. All this is done in the mind.

Of all sudden, you being to feel their emotion and you read out their chosen emotion.

Thoughts - This effect is simple and direct, everything lie on the cards and your presentation. In the book, they suggested using subtle words and presentation to make it strong, which i feel, in mentalism, it should be that way, you have to make sure that your spectator believe you are doing it inorder for the effect to be strong.

A good handy effect that you can bring the deck with you anytime and do it. I personally feel that this effect depends very strongly on the way you present this act.

Manipulation of Preception - You show a folded piece of paper and unfold it, showing the written word on the paper to the left spectator, have him/her mentally remember the word, then you show the paper to another spectator to the right, having him or her to remember the word mentally. You cascually fold the paper back and drop it on the table or another spectator's hand.

You mentioned about how suggestions influence person's thinking and make people believe what they hear is what they saw, and ask the left spectator is read out the word he remembered, then the right spectator to read out his word. Both was shocked as the 2 words are different, you are even more shocked when you found out that the suggestions work because the word that is really written on that piece of paper, is a totally different word.

Thoughts - Well, this effect requires some technique, and another strong presentation. Its pretty strong, because all 3 spectators will actually remember and saw different word from the paper. Which to me, when performed well, its like you switch the paper 3 times but they actually saw the same piece of paper being shown to them.

I like this effect, because it can be done impromtu, maybe a little setup before you do it but you only need paper and a pencil, or a pen, and you are ready to perform a act that will make people wonder what the hell happened.

This effect is also good to practise KK's work on suggestions and subtle words, but this effect doesn't require them.

The 7th Deception - You actually have the spectator to forget their phobia.

Thoughts- Very wonderful effect that requires very strong presentation style and confidence. You have to be good in "lying" in order to make it good. Why I bracket lying is because, you don't actually lie, but you make them believe you. A little tool is used to make this effect visual and even stronger, burying the idea of forgetting their phobia deep into them.

I feel, this is a very good way to end your show, making people happy about themselves and impressed of your ending show, but it will be too costly and waste to have this perform at anytime. Its a very strong ending effect like I said.


Having said all these, its only 3 of the effects I mentioned, the only effect that I don't like is pulse stopping, because it uses an old method with some additonal of suggestions into it, but I personally feel that pulse stopping is quite diluted now and WH's one seems to be better. :) If you need more information, feel free to PM me or add me in MSN. :)

Larry

Thanks Larry and others,

I've just ordered the DVD version. Easier to learn by watching - especially since it is so performance oriented. There are subtleties that one can pick up by watch a perform over and over again that a book will find hard to explain.

These effects sound good. Looking forward to it.