Sign Language by Doug Dyment - Review

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Sign Language by Doug Dyment - Review

Postby Piers » Jul 23rd, '05, 16:05



Sign Language by Doug Dyment - Review

Bought mine from Doug direct at : www.deceptionary.com

Price : About $15 + Shipping.

Difficulty : 3/5 It really depends on your confidence, patter and practise.

They say :
A Monograph on the Impromptu
Divination of Zodiac Signs
... enabling the mystery entertainer both to determine and dramatically reveal a participant’s Zodiac sign, letter by letter, without anything ever having been written or otherwise recorded. It is completely impromptu, can be done at any time, anywhere, and serves as an excellent response to the “read my mind” request that the working mentalist is likely to face from time to time. It also makes for a compelling over-the-telephone demonstration.
Originally popularized by Ray Grismer’s “What’s Your Sign”, this effect has in recent years become a classic of impromptu mentalism. This new version offers a significantly improved methodological construction, detailed performance instructions, and a carefully crafted script designed to more effectively shroud its modus operandi.
Included is a detailed, information-packed 12-page, softcover, saddle-stitched book, plus a convenient “prompt card” to assist in mastering the script, for only US$15 postpaid to anywhere in Canada/México/USA (US$16 anywhere else).

I Say :

What you get is a small, but nicely presented A5 12 page booklet. This is one effect, but a strong one if you get it right. The idea is that you can read the mind of your participant, to divine their Star Sign.
Realistically, it’s a question and answer routine, carefully disguised, with a process you work through, to ascertain your participants thoughts.

A Crib Card is included, which is great for practising, but you will really need to learn the rules for this impromptu effect, unless only using it over the phone.
The method is neat, and will spawn other thoughts of similar affects also.
But … you will need to practise, you will need to be confident in your delivery, and you will need a good memory. All achievable, depending on how badly you wish to use it.
Doug Dyment’s prose, flow freely, and the method is clearly explained with good examples

Overall :

So, a strong, impromptu, mentalism effect, well explained, and workable, if … you practise, practise, practise !

Rating : 8/10. IF, You have a good memory, and good patter !

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Postby bananafish » Aug 1st, '05, 10:48

Thanks for the review Piers. I have actually heard quite a lot of good things about this one, although there are a few similar zodiac devination effects out there (Marc Pauls's immediately sprngs to mind).

Having said that though - from what I have seen and read this is one of the better versions.

If anyone is keen on impromptu mentalism then I would also thororoughly recommend this.

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Postby Replicant » Jan 24th, '09, 23:45

Isn't this just another presentation for the progressive anagram method?

EDIT: No need to answer that, folks. As you were. :)

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Postby Beardy » Jan 25th, '09, 00:12

dont know what an anagram method is...

so is this effect 100% certain if you do it perfectly?

or is there still stuff left up to chance?

Love

Chris
xxx

"An amazing mind manipulator" - Uri Geller
"I hope to shake your hand before I die" - Derren Brown
"That was mightily impressive - I have absolutely no clue how you did that" - Tim Minchin
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Postby Craig Browning » Jan 25th, '09, 08:36

It is yet another little red wagon but painted green, if you get my drift; one of at least a dozen variations on the original Ray Grissmer idea... you can find two more versions of the same thing in Mind, Myth & Magic and then there's my favorite, Daniel Love's DREAM SIGNS.

Doug has added some interesting nuances to this routine however and for the price, it's a very sound investment.

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Postby Robbie » Jan 29th, '09, 10:58

bananafish wrote:Thanks for the review Piers. I have actually heard quite a lot of good things about this one, although there are a few similar zodiac devination effects out there (Marc Pauls's immediately sprngs to mind).


The version described on Marc Paul's "Mind 2 Mind" DVD is flawed, as he leaves out two signs!

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Postby TonyB » May 12th, '09, 08:58

I recently bought this effect, more out of curiosity than anything else, as I had worked out my own way of divining a star sign. (The same method but a slightly different set of steps). I am delighted I bought Doug's method. He has some nice presentational touches that will help disguise what you are doing. Thirty minutes of memory work, spread over three days, was sufficient to get the method down well.
This gets a great reaction. Recently in a stage show a guy shouted up that he knew how I did a book test (he didn't, but that's beside the point). I immnediately asked him to stand, and I divined his star sign. That stumped him. It's also something you can do with potential bookers over the phone. I recommend it.

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Postby Mr Grumpy » May 8th, '11, 22:41

I've emailed Mr Dyment as I want to get this shipped to the UK.


Replicant wrote:Isn't this just another presentation for the progressive anagram method?


I've read on a green-flavoured forum that it's actually not a progressive anagram but a “branching” or “interlocking” anagram -- and that this is a very common mistake.

Having said that, I think I then read that technically speaking it isn't even an "anagram" method. Oh well, whatever... I love the method and use it for another effect, and would love to learn more about it.

I've also read that this was intended as a book about how to present effects using this so-called "anagram" method... which is exactly what I'm after, as the method certainly needs to be disguised.

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Postby DrTodd » May 9th, '11, 07:29

I can help with PA presentations if you like....

Cheers

Todd

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Postby Mr Grumpy » May 9th, '11, 10:58

Now there's an offer I can't refuse!

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Postby DrTodd » May 9th, '11, 11:31

PM me... :D

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Postby TheStoner » May 9th, '11, 16:27

DrTodd wrote:PM me... :D


Ooooo - I wanna PM too! Never come up with a good method for progressive anagrams. Just seems too obvious what you're doing, but I know they work for others so some research is called for! :D

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Postby Mr Grumpy » May 10th, '11, 12:06

I used it in the pub last night and one on of the guys, very drunk and not even terribly smart, guessed the method. Though he claimed that it was easy and tried the method on someone else and failed.

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Postby Mr Grumpy » May 10th, '11, 12:07

Oh, and one spec refused to tell me whether or not I'd got the letters right. Like, 'You're reading my mind, and you want me to tell you the letters?' Wasn't quite sure how to frame it so that it makes sense that I'd need some help. Maybe it's just a question of having people who want it to work rather than people who want to mess you up...

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Postby Ted » May 10th, '11, 12:38

The Devil's Tailor wrote:I used it in the pub last night and one on of the guys, very drunk and not even terribly smart, guessed the method. Though he claimed that it was easy and tried the method on someone else and failed.


You do seem to have bad luck with spectators!

If he guessed the method but failed to replicate the effect, presumably he and the others present thought he must have been wrong in his guess?

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