PS-I Love You by Steve Shufton

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PS-I Love You by Steve Shufton

Postby Shufton » Jan 17th, '15, 00:11



Any reviews?

Thanks,

Steve

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Re: PS-I Love You by Steve Shufton

Postby FTHO » Jan 17th, '15, 12:48

Are you asking for reviews of your own product?

It sounds very appealing, and I was tempted to buy it.
But I felt quite strongly that Inexplicable was missold. And I didn't feel like taking another risk with one of your products.

Can you explain a bit more about this product?

Cheers,

Sam

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Re: PS-I Love You by Steve Shufton

Postby moonbeam » Jan 17th, '15, 13:09

I got this recently ..... haven't got round to reading it yet.

Watch this space ..... (I make no promises regarding timeframes etc :P )

QUESTION:
If we can sue McDonalds for making us fat and cigarette companies for giving us cancer; why can't we sue Smirnoff for all the ugly gits we've sh*gged ??
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Re: PS-I Love You by Steve Shufton

Postby artychris » Jan 17th, '15, 15:53

I got this recently, despite being miss-sold on inexplicable...

To be honest, this didn't do much for me... Needs a stack of set up business cards, and only a 1 in 6 prediction... Its OK, but nothing special. If it had been a trick in a book, then fine, but marketed as a separate trick...

Of course, because of this, I haven't used it... So I may be completely misjudging it...

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Re: PS-I Love You by Steve Shufton

Postby Shufton » Jan 17th, '15, 21:52

Greetings, and Happy New Year to all,

Inexplicable was indeed very controversial. I still get emails, at least once a week, raving about what a great trick it is - how strong, and how the ad copy is spot on. I also continue to read complaints that there was disappointment, and some feel that it was "miss-sold."

I can tell you a bit about my thoughts - not that it will change any minds.

When I first came up with that trick, and started performing it for two years before I thought about releasing it, I truly thought it was, and still do, one of the strongest effects in my arsenal. I still perform it frequently, it still "knocks-'em-dead," and I still believe in it. It plays exactly as the ad copy states, and if the directions are followed carefully, it should play that way for you, too. I know of many professional performers who use it in their act, and are happy about it.

At the same time, of course I am not happy about the complaints. I can respect that some might not like the trick - but most complaints (perhaps all of them - I don't know) have come from folks who never gave it a real study, never practiced it and certainly never performed it. I haven't yet received a complaint from anyone who has given it a fair trial - but that doesn't mean there aren't those who have, it just means I haven't heard it. Meanwhile, I don't think there is an effect that suits everybody, so I don't think it would be fair for me to expect everyone to want to use it - like any other trick. That is normal.

The effect, however, is something I continue to stand by. I spent many months working on bringing it to market. I made, by hand, each prop - carefully. Due to the controversy, I have not profited off of it - but being the first effect I released in some years, it will hopefully be obvious to all that I don't think about getting rich off of my releases. I feel that if I create something worthy of YOU, that is where most of my satisfaction lies. If I don't lose money - that is great. If I actually make money, that is icing on my cake (I make a living without marketing tricks - if anything, it is supplemental). Of course I like money! It is, however, my love of magic that keeps me in this game - I have much easier ways to make money! Especially since I am partially retired and get a check every month.

The plot and idea behind that trick is simple: What if I could do a Koran-5-star-prediction effect, but without a special deck (using a completely normal deck), without a special wallet (no wallet used), with an envelope that could be handled by the spectator, with only a single prediction card ever in play. I wanted the prediction to be on the table, or in the spectator's possession from the very beginning, not in my pocket. With all of these qualifications in place, I couldn't imagine a stronger effect (and still can't). The result is "Inexplicable." I feel as good about the result as anything I have ever produced. It works, and at least for me, it has never failed.

No one ever bothered to write to me to ask a single question about it or get any form of help, especially if their was any doubt. I had already included in the instructions other ways of making it "sure-fire" for the weak-hearted or skeptical (no insult intended) because it does take a little bit of boldness and performance ability. So, one way or another, you would have a solid effect - at least as strong as the Koran effect (one of my favorites!) and often even stronger, if it is performed well.

I had it out in the field being tested by others for more than a year before I ever started production. I wanted to be sure it would live up to any claim I made. Even though I have received some criticism about my ad, I can assure you that the last thing I would want to do is rip anybody off. I don't need to, I don't want to, and my life is fine without producing this stuff to begin with. I truly believe in that effect, I use it all the time, and I still stand by every claim I have made.

What were the "controversial" claims? There were two strong ones, and one other that still held some weight:

One was that the envelope doesn't look like other envelopes. That is true. However, it has never raised a suspicion for me or any other person performing this effect - after all it is completely examinable, not that anyone has ever asked. It is obvious to every spectator that only a single card is in it - only a single card could be in it, that it would be impossible for any other cards to be in it, they can see in it and touch it. That is more true in this case, than it would be with any "normal" envelope - because of the envelope, it becomes immediately obvious to the spectator that nothing more could possibly be hidden, that there is only one card in play, and it could be no other way. Because of this fact alone, I have fooled countless magicians with this effect. Mission accomplished. It is not the only possible outcome or revelation you can use, by the way! I have, and use, a couple others, but the one that I produced (meticulously, I might add) is the one I use the most. The envelope can be discarded completely in favor of other solutions - no one has EVER asked me, or written to enquire - to legitimately complain, enter into discussion, and see if there is a solution they would like better. My email address is known (steve@shufton.com). I am available to any customer, and there is nothing I want more than your satisfaction with any product you get of mine. My name is on it, and it means something to me. So does my integrity. To date, no one has legitimately asked a single question, asked for help or any clarification - any other possible solutions. There are three other possible solutions that I have come up with over the years, which I would be happy to share with any owner of the product. Those solutions were not in use when I released the effect, and as I said, I still do it, most often, in the original form. So, I couldn't include in the original trick that which had yet to be developed - that would have been a great trick in itself! Not to get off topic - the envelope was one cause of complaint. It has never been an issue with any spectator over years and thousands of performances - just with a handful of very vocal magicians. It doesn't need to be used at all - you can certainly use a normal coin envelope that gets torn open, as one alternative solution. The envelope I provide can be used until it goes bad - and I am still using the same one for years now. But there you have it. Some don't like the envelope.

Secondly, my ad copy clearly states that she will deal cards, face-up, from a normal, examined deck, and will stop whenever she wants. The part that caught flack: "Whenever she wants." In the instructions, the very last words said to the spectator are, "Stop whenever you want." When it is performed in real life, the very last words to the spectator are, "Stop whenever you want." She is truly told to do that, and she truly does just that! Is it possible that she could go too far? Yes. For me, and others performing this in their professional repertoire, it has never happened. But, could it? Yes. Is there a remedy? Yes - provided in the instructions. However, I must tell you that it has never failed me, and others will tell you the same thing. What if you have a spectator intent on messing you up? Well, then you didn't pick a good spectator to use as a participant. Doesn't matter - if you aren't good at that sort of thing, you can resort to any of the solutions outlined in the instructions, so that you will have a sure-fire outcome every time without exception - and she will always, and truly, stop whenever she wants, even if she is the worst spectator on earth, and you will still have a positive outcome. That is why Koran invented his lovely deck! It can still be dealt, face up, and the spectator will always get a predicted card. I do it with a normal deck, and if you have any skill with spectators at all, you can too. So, as controversial as it is, I still stand by the ad copy - she can truly stop whenever she wants. Everyone I know that performs this effect uses a normal deck - not a Koran deck, or even a "partial" Koran deck. But, if you are nervous, you can resort to other solutions as outlined in the instructions.

Lastly, and truly the least of the complaints, was that I called it an "open prediction" even though the prediction is in an envelope. The rules for "open prediction" as outlined by Stewart James, have NEVER been fulfilled. How could they? We are talking about something that is not possible - it must be accomplished with trickery. So, there is ALWAYS a compromise in any "open-prediction." style of effect. For example, one rule is that the magician never touches any of the cards being dealt, or the prediction once put on the table. This rule is often compromised - the magician has the prediction in his hand the whole time, the cards are dealt into his hand, or at least one of them is, etc.. Another rule is that the deck must be normal. This rule is also often compromised, as you know. The idea that there is a prediction card which is never changed or switched has also at times been compromised. There must be some compromise somewhere, because the ideal is just that - an ideal, which has never truly been met. In the case of Inexplicable, there is a normal deck which the magician never touches. There is a prediction on the table from the beginning which is never switched. The envelope is, of course, a compromise - yet there are other effects on the market, and have been for years, that use this type or other types of compromises and still are called an "open prediction." I guess the classic definition and set of rules has not really been broadened, yet no one has yet to create a practical method that follows all the rules, so in that sense, the solutions have been broadened, indeed.

So, there you have it.

I do not, and have NEVER attempted to deceive a soul in my ad copy. I still stand by it 100%. I will change it when I hear a very good and respectable reason (from my point of view, of course!) and that has yet to happen. I prefer to keep my integrity intact. I hope, from what I have written here, that you can sense my own transparency. I have no need to rip anyone off.

I know that there is nothing I can say that will change the mind of some, but there you have it.

Now, regarding PS-I Love You. This has also been field tested by others for more than a year. I use it. Folks like Mark Elsdon and Bob Cassidy immediately put some of it, if not all of it, into their act. It got praise from Osterlind, Banachek, Landman, Harris, Lee Earle, Salem, Tobin, Nardi, even Neil Scryer and many, many more - especially from folks who have paid money for it and are more than satisfied. It has been nominated several times for trick of the year. There are now published reviews (more on the way) all of which give it the highest recommendation. I'm very proud of it.

I am quite certain there will be someone out there who will think it is rubbish, just like every other trick that has ever been introduced to the magic world. I have seen linking rings criticized, cups and balls criticized, sponges criticized. I have heard from those who hate coin tricks, who hate card tricks, who hate mental effects, etc., ad nauseum. However, this effect has had more accolades from common folks than any other trick I have yet to put out.

One in six? That is STRONG. However, it can be one in as many as you would like. If you take the time to read the instructions, that should be obvious. It can be one in two, one in three, one in six, one in twelve - it can be whatever makes sense for you. It is a system that makes way for any creativity you have. However, a one in six prediction where the spectator has under her control both the prediction, AND the selections? That is very strong, in my opinion, and that of many others. And, again, the ad copy is spot on. Look up the recent review by Jeff Stone - a respected reviewer to many. He makes it very clear that the ad copy is accurate.

The basic effect (the one I perform most often) uses nothing but normal business cards and any writing utensil. It is sure fire - always, and leaves them stunned. You can use this system in an endless number of ways (one performer sent me 15 ideas he has off the top of his head, after only having this a few hours). So, special? Yes - I think it is very special, or I would not have released it. It is my first release in quite some time - I am VERY happy with it, and fervently hope you will be too. I look forward to reading real reviews by folks who have actually put some time into a presentation and have given this a good go. I have provided five routines, and many ideas and nuances with the effect. I am certain you will think of more.

So there you have it. I hate to disappoint anyone, and I have absolutely no motivation to deceive anyone in my ads. I expect a bit of controversy - that is the nature of this business. I love magic, and never want to give it a black eye. So, now I turn it over to you.

If you want to reach me personally and privately, please do it! It's so very easy! steve@shufton.com.

Again, wishing you a great year, and great magic.

-Steve

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Re: PS-I Love You by Steve Shufton

Postby Mandrake » Jan 17th, '15, 22:02

Truly a fantastic post Steve, thanks for being so open and helpful on this topic.

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Re: PS-I Love You by Steve Shufton

Postby artychris » Jan 18th, '15, 01:12

Steve,

That was a great post. Thank you for taking the time for it :)

A quick word about Inexplicable. It's a shame that the discussions about the ad copy overshadow the discussions about a decent and useable bit of magic! If you don't mind, I'd love to mail you about the other solutions you've found for it.

And on to PS, I love you... My response was written a little off the cuff, and I apologise for that! I certainly don't like saying negative things about a product, as I can understand how much effort and thought has gone in to it... And I also have respect for yourself as a creator...

The main routine in the booklet is a 1 in 6 prediction, and that's what I was commenting on. To be honest, its not my favourite thing... However, I do think there is some better stuff in there! There's some nice use of a dry wipe marker, and I like the color prediction a lot more than the simple number prediction.... And the Dirty Pool and Prediction-less effects are far more personal uses for this principal!

Like I said, this just doesn't strike the right chord for me, so I haven't used this. Hopefully others on here have and can write a proper real world review...

And finally Steve, its great to see you posting here :) Words from an experienced magician and creator are always welcome.

Chris

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Re: PS-I Love You by Steve Shufton

Postby Shufton » Jan 18th, '15, 17:33

Hi Artychris,

Yes, of course you can email me. Thanks for your welcome - or your welcome for the thanks - or something like that!

-Steve

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Re: PS-I Love You by Steve Shufton

Postby Shufton » Mar 19th, '16, 09:08

This is now available for download:

http://www.lybrary.com/ps-i-love-you-pr ... 21643.html

Here is what Chris Wasshuber wrote:

"We all know that some authors are able to pull a favor from a friend so that he writes something nice about his latest product regardless of if it is really good or not. That happens. Experienced customers can read between the lines. But if somebody can line up essentially the entire who is who of mentalism then there is no other explanation - it is a remarkable creation worth every word spoken in praise.

I mean do you really think that the likes of Richard Osterlind, Bob Cassidy, Ran Pink, Peter Duffie, Richard Busch, Lee Earle, Marc Paul, Ben Harris, Mark Elsdon, Banachek, Dr. Todd Landman and many more would collectively praise this only to do Steve a favor?

Steve shares a tip about printing business cards which I found interesting and applicable for entirely different purposes. It is these thoughts and tips which reveal to me that a performer has thoroughly explored, tested and tweaked a method. I like that."

Best wishes-

-Steve

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