Win The Crowd by Steve Cohen

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Win The Crowd by Steve Cohen

Postby Lord Freddie » Jan 6th, '07, 13:02



The Effect
The Millionaires' Magician, Steve Cohen, teaches you how to use the secrets of magic to persuade, influence and impress!


Cost
See www.amazon.co.uk



Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
Not applicable


Review
This book is primarily aimed at business people who want to use the suggestion techniques many magicians make use of to influence.
Although described as a 'self-help' book, there is much here that will help you to enhance your performance skills and there are chapters on How To Command A Room, Create A Colourful Personality, Give Them A Magic Moment and Magic Words, which will help coerce people into doing/thinking what you want them to.
I had never heard of Steve Cohen prior to reading this, but apprarently he performs corporate shows for the exceedingly rich and this book is peppered with anecdotes from his career.
If you are looking for tricks, look elsewhere as this is a book about performance and how to put thing across convincingly. And it's a very good one.
There are lots of little tips in here from posture, how to walk on stage, breathing, combating stage fright and using suggestion which most magicians would benefit from.
If you are looking for a book on presentation and the psychology of magic, then this volume is certainly worth your attention.



Overall
8/10

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Lord Freddie
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millionare

Postby DrTodd » Jan 6th, '07, 16:28

I reviewed this a few months ago. It is really great!

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Postby Lord Freddie » Jan 6th, '07, 17:49

Sorry for the repitition Dr Todd, I couldn't find your review.
You are right though - it is a great book!

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Win The Crowd

Postby Allen Tipton » Jan 13th, '07, 11:55

:) For once I have to agree with Lord Freddie. it IS a book which performing magicians MUST read. There is much food for thought and action in it.
However do remember these ideas work FOR Steve Cohen. Most of them will work for you. Beware though of his, 'drink a litre of water before every performance' suggestion. Any speech teaher will tell you that to load your stomach with liquid before performing is a dicey business. It slows down your breathing control for starters.Years ago in my teens, my speech teacher , who'd come to watch my vent act, snatched a glass of water from my hands and dashed it to the ground. Luckily it was plastic one. " Do you know you will stop your diaphragm working properly" is one of the things she shouted at me!!
And of course, all magicians over the age of 65 musn't do this for obvious reasons!!
You can get a copy quite cheaply from Amazon, around £11. Do read it.
Allen Tipton

Began magic at 9 in 1942. Joined Staffs M.S at 13. Nottm.Guild of M. (8 times President. Prog Director 20years)IBM. Awarded Magician of Month 1980 By Intern. Pres. IBM for reproducing Dante's Sim Sala Bim. Writes Dear Magician column for Abra. Mag.
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Win the Crowd

Postby DrTodd » Jan 13th, '07, 14:00

No worries Lord Freddie!

I like the idea of challenging your own comfort zone by spending a day loading coins into people's pockets. No harm and pushes you a bit. His stuff on the sugar packets is great, as well as the story about the magician who fired a card into a safe in a bank that was closing for the day.

He also has good advice on stage presence and eye contact.

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Postby Lord Freddie » Jan 13th, '07, 15:16

Also the little things such as how you walk onto a stage, all create an impression. I found this book to be full of advice that is practical and usable and made perfect sense.
The anecdotes that Steve Cohen supplies from his own performing career are very enjoyable. Especially the effect with the Nike trainer suspended in a box.

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