Peter Turner - Devious Realities (with Kenton Knepper)

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Peter Turner - Devious Realities (with Kenton Knepper)

Postby Reviewmagic » Jul 7th, '11, 13:50



Title of the book: Devious Realities

Author:Peter Turner (with Kenton Knepper)

Price: $30 (with Turner being English I found it a little strange no GBP price was offered)

Available from http://www.wonderwizards.com/product_in ... cts_id=522 (Kentons website)

To start this review I will list the contents/effects, then my opinions and then at the end my overall opinion.

Before we get to the content, I just want to point out these are my opinions based on my findings of the book (as an intermidiate level mentalist)

Introduction by Kenton Knepper.

A few words offered by the wizard himself on how Peter managed to fool him quite badly with a few pieces in this book, two things strike me about this before we open to the material.

One being I bet we all wish we was as lucky to have an introduction written for us by Kenton and secondly to admit he was fooled?? (this gave to me an early indication the material must be of some value)

Effects

No brainer Calculator


Borrow a subjects calculator or buy one off of any pound/doller store shelf and turn it into an add a number calculator with no rewiring or removing buttons.

What a way to open the book and in alot of peoples opinions this will be worth the price of the manuscript, Peter credits a Mr.King with the findings of this piece.

An educated guess I guess


An amount of lego or sweets is on display in a jar, several people call out how many items they think are inside, the numbers are totaled up (by the subject) and divided by the amount of people who made a guess this gives them an average guess of the whole group. The lid is lifted on the jar and a piece of paper is taken out to reveal how many pieces are in the jar both totals match.

This in my opinion would be a fantastic opener to any show, it shows you one of the many principles that can be employed with the use of the calculator and underlines the psychological aspects to make the gimmick be overlooked.

[b]An Unscientific Calculator
[/b]

A group of people add, subtract, divide any numbers on ANY calculator, remember the total and press erase. The performer looks at each participant and is quickly able to guess the amount of the whole group.

This is more of a calculator peek offered by Kenton himself and would be prefect as a quick throw away effect in which you can use any calculator with not having to press anything prior to use.

Multi Line Telepathy


A method to perform the above effect (this one also offered by kenton) on those pesky Multi Screen Calculators.
IPI (instant pseudo induction)

The performer stands infront of a subject looks at her and within seconds the subjects eyes flicker and she is inducted into what seems to be a hypnotic trance!

This is one of my favourites in the book and starts to show you how Peter Turners thinking really is different to anyone elses I have come across, throughout this book you will notice his use of a principle called dual reality and how he controls perception to do the cleanest of effects!

Drawing out personality

A subject is invited onto the stage (or to come sit near the mentalist in close up) is asked 3 questions so the performer can get to know them a little better, is asked to think of an image (not something obviouse like a car) and the performer walks over to a white board and draws the image the person is thinking off!

A very sneaky drawing duplication that will have you wondering why you never thought of it!

The subject never writes anything down and really does just think of the image, the only downside to this effect is its used as a warm up to another effect, Which to me (as a intermediate level mentalist) such a clean drawing dupe is hard to get a better reaction with any other effect.

Geminus Cogito


The performer lays out 20 cards with different peoples names on them and a little bit of information on the other side of the card about that person (favorite drink, television programme) and asks a subject to choose any name card and read the information about that person.

The subject is then to imagine they are that person and imagine a deck of playing cards choose any colour, suit and value the mentalist then asks the person to go into the performers address book and call that person with the phone on loud speaker.

The person answers the phone and is asked to think of any playing card and say it out loud both cards match!

This is one of the effects that fooled Kenton badly, This is not the old telephone routine where the person is prompted via a code, BOTH parties are genuinly shocked. Peter also offeres outs (which are just as strong) to take the effect into different directions just incase you dont want to use the phone!

Overlooking the obvious


3 subjects are asked to write a random 2 digit number on a piece of card, the card is then signed (so it cant be swapped) and is handed to a 4th subject who is asked to take a look at the card.

The 4th subject looks a little bemused and when the performer asks her what is wrong she claims it is her phone number!

I didn't think much to this when I read the effect, but I had the pleasure of seeing Peter perform it live with 5 subjects and he got them to get the 5th subjects pin code! after the show everyone was talking about this effect and several performers I knew were begging him for the secret and after seeing just how strong it came across to a live audience I was won over.

Mind Plant

A subject is invited to the stage and is asked to close her eyes, she is to think of an image, word or number and try transmit the thoughts around the room.

The performer takes a white board or pad and draws on an image which is handed to a member of the audience, the subject opens her eyes and states what she has in mind and it matches what the performer drew on the white board.

I really is as clean as it sounds, this for me was a thing of beauty and will be the effect everyone remembers Peter for, its impromptu, no preshow, no imp pads, no peeks no need for the subject to write anything.

The subject thinks it you guess it as clean as that! He also offers a second presentation in which a second subject instant writes the first persons thought!

Chain game


An envelope is placed in full view of the audience.

The front line of the audience is asked to participate in a game of word association, the first person says any word the second is name something associated with that word and it continues to the end of the chain and tghe last persons word is for example dry.

The envelope is opened and contains the word DRY!

This for me is an effect I wouldnt perform my self, but I can see the value of the principles, there is no real hard work on the mentalists part and would be excellent at a corperate event (which I dont perform at) although the effect is not 100% it is a strong piece all the same.

At the heart of destiny

A bag is in plain view of an audience the entire time, a couple whom the mentalist has never met is invited to the stage and after the performer gives a little speech how it was destiny that the couple got together and came this evening.

To prove this fact the mentalist asks for the couples names writes them on a post it and sticks it on the bag, he then makes a little joke how the bag is for the couple and to proove it, it even has there names on it.

The performer states he will prove it was for them he asks the lady to reach inside and take out a rose for herself the male is then asked to reach in and take the remainder of the bag.

He removes a red love heart, with the couples initials on it (like you would find carved into a tree).

For me I love this effect (being a little bit of an old romantic) it is safe to say the couple who this effect takes place on will remember this for the rest of their lives WOW what a statement to make but it is true! simple and effective.

A gift from me to you


A borrowed deck of cards is shuffled by a subject, the cards are then placed behind the performers back and the subject takes any card, looks at it places it back wherever they would like and reshuffles the deck.

The performer then looks at the subject and using tells reveals the card, he then takes things one step further he invites up a second subject, teaches them the tells and repeats the effect but has the subject guess the card!

there is no telling the second subject the card, they really do see the tells and wonder how the hell they did it!

I haver performed this alot, It has only ever once failed me and that was my own fault, the routine is hundred percent workable is as clean as they come and easy to perform and the reaction it gets is fantastic!

My overall opinion
[/u]

Out of 5 stars I would give this book 6! It really does go above and beyond, the genius that goes on in the mind of Turner is fresh innovative and creates clean but elegant performances and when you have bought the book there are no props to go out and buy BONUS!

With this material you will create pure effects that are as clean as any edited tv special, its as opened up my eyes to what can be achieved when you think outside the box and the use of perception control is amazing.

This book is definatly for you if you are looking to make the move to becoming an experienced well versed mentalist and are pig sick of reading the same stuff wrapped up in new presentations!

John

Reviewmagic
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Thank you,

Postby peter_turner » Jul 16th, '11, 13:46

I would like to point out my work is not for everyone, if you are scared of trying new things or just like simple methods this book is not for you.

I have tried to make my effects clean elegant and as close to mind reading (from the audiences point of view as possible) after all, the performance is what is of value to the audience as this is what they judge you on!

This book is for the more bold and creative of us out there that see more than a book of secrets, this is a book of ideas and brand new techniques!

Thank you for taking the time to review my work!

My new book dare to be bold is now available from www.lybrary.com

I do recommend reading this book first!

peter_turner
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Joined: Jul 16th, '11, 13:35

Postby Reviewmagic » Aug 9th, '11, 10:11

No problems, enjoyed the read, just finished dare to be bold bold some clever stuff! If I have time I shall put up a review this afternoon, have been meaning to but just haven't got round to it.

J

Reviewmagic
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Joined: Jul 7th, '11, 12:20


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