by Morgaine » Sep 16th, '07, 18:43
The Effect
A small business card with several quite dark mentalism routines, ranging for really simple, through to quite difficult. The card is an interesting object in its own right, but it also some with a very comprehensive book, containing all the background you could ever want, a range of routines - from the very simple, through to what looks like a complete act. There are also additional bonus routines and many other ideas.
Cost £15 (unbelieveably), from Outlaw Effects.
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).
No routines require slights as this is pure mentalism folks! 2 routines are easy, then the other routines span 2 to 4 on this scale.
Just got my order for the Outlaw wallet and Sanctum card.
All I can say is that I am bowled over! I came across Outlaw effects quite by accident. At first I was a little reluctant ordering, as they are based in the US. But what they had looked so interesting that I thought I would give it a go. I am so glad I did! The package came quicker than many UK suppliers and the effects themselves are totally amazing!
I have seen a review for the Outlaw Wallet, but I have not come across the Sanctum card before. So I will concentrate on a review of this effect.
By the way, it is called Sanctum 2, anyone know what Sanctum 1 is?
Review.
This is a really deep effect with many layers, some of them easy to pick up, some more difficult. So I thought I would write a review as a sort of a diary.
I opened the envelop and out dropped a rather thick and rather intimidating looking book of instructions. I almost missed the actual effect, a tiny business card, tucked in-between the pages.
The card is really beautiful - it looks so authentic and so detailed - I am sure that I can use this to convince people that I am in a weird secret society. The front has some of the simpler effects and is covered in some really interesting looking Masonic (?) illustrations. The back is a very detailed photo or painting of a mysterious looking room (more on this later).
When I get a new trick, I like to read the instructions quickly and 'give it a go'. Sanctum wasn't having any of this - the book starts with a short story, followed by some simple routines and ends with what looks like a complete course in mind reading!
First, the story. The small novel which starts the booklet is really interesting and a very enjoyable read. I suppose it really does set the scene and give you a feel for the whole thing. However, I am not too sure how to use this, as I think the story is too long and the audience would get a little fed-up listening to it. So I doubt I will use the story as written, but it does give you loads of interesting ideas for presentation.
One interesting point - I have performed the effect several times now (to family and friends, I am 'only' an amateur) - one interesting thing I have found is that in some weird way, using the effect has really improved my performance and confidence in story telling. So, the story can work as an entertainment, but it also 'gets under your skin', and encourages you to develop your performance.
The next part of the book goes through a few simple routines. These really do work well and with little effort. I suppose that this is what I was looking for - something I could do straight away.
Ok, by now I had read through the book once (some bits a few times) and tried out the easier routines. It suddenly struck me what a fantastic thing this actually is. With the two routines I had learnt, I already had far more value for money than anything else I have bought - and, I had only just scratched the surface.
I then started working with some of the harder routines. In the first one the idea is that you get the spec to visualise the rather complicated drawing on the front of the card. It is quite difficult to get your head around this one - and when I tried it for the first time, it just didn't work at all. However, on the second time - I managed to force two of the main shapes. Then it all seemed to go wrong - the spec said he saw shapes that weren't on the card (a fox) and got other details wrong. So, I thought - this one isn't working at all. Then the spec asked to see the card anyway - this is what was really odd - everyone standing around were speechless! (my favourite reaction – when a spec stares at you, doesn’t say anything for a beat or two, then says – ‘that’s weird... how on earth!’) I have never had such a big reaction - and I thought I had got it wrong! They focused on the two shapes they did get right, forgot the rest and even made sense out of seeing the fox.
This really got me thinking - the next time I tried it, I approached it with far more confidence. It was amazing! It worked so well that it genuinely started to freak me out. It then occurred to me that not only did I have the most powerful piece of mentalism I had ever performed, but without me realising it, the thing was teaching me and developing my abilities!
Using the front successfully, gave me the confidence to start working with the really deep stuff on the back. Now, I don't know if it was because I was getting used to the ideas, but I found using the back actually easier. If I say too much I will give it away. But the idea is that you take the spec back in time (I think) to a weird room, where 'something' cataclysmic had happened (it never actually says what in the book). By following the script, you actually get the spec to see the room in incredible detail.
This effect is totally beyond anything I have come across before! I must say I have not tried it out too many times (it can take a long time to perform properly), but every time has been amazing - I mean REALLY amazing.
It has started to occur to me how much potential there is in this tiny little card. Also, how much room there is to develop your own ideas. All this and I haven't even touched on any of the many bonus routines.
As you can tell, I am really impressed by this effect.
I do have a few quibbles, but I do not want these to put anyone off from buying this really great effect.
As an English Teacher, I did get annoyed by the typos in the booklet (although they do not get in the way of the enjoyment really).
I think that the credit card idea is great - I can really see where Outlaw effects are coming from, trying to pack as much as they can into a tiny space. But - the card is really small, so I can only see this working with a small group of people who can pass it around for a close look.
My final quibble is that at first glance, it does look really difficult. There is so much in the book that it can be a little daunting - although there are more than enough simple 'out of the box' tricks hidden away.
By the way, this is deep, dark stuff - it will NOT go down well at a children's party!
Conclusion - the Sanctum card is without doubt the most powerful and the most interesting effect I have. The price is stupidly low; you get an enormous amount with this. It is not only a fantastic little idea with a wealth of routines, but it is a complete course in mentalism. It has many, many layers - you can easily get your money's worth without even using any of the routines - just as a weird thing in your wallet! You can use it for some simple tricks and leave it at that. With a little more effort, you can do some of the most effective mentalism routines I have come across. Working with it will develop your own performance and thinking - it will teach you without you even realising it.
I cannot say too much about this fantastic thing. I have heard good things about Outlaw Effects, it all seems true, I cannot recommend this effect highly enough.