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Hi im i need some help in what to buy between Richard Osterlinds Easy to Master Mental Miracles or Banachek's Psi series. i am a beginner so i am looking for advice on, which is the more easier and more suitable for my level. Also as a little sub question, where can you purchase small enough envelopes for billets.

thanks alot

Ronnie

ronnie wrote:Also as a little sub question, where can you purchase small enough envelopes for billets.

Any branch of Partners or Smiths will have tons of little envelopes and index cards.

Have a good look around TM by using the Search function - there are dozens of threads offering all sorts of relevant advice .

A much more cost-effective route would be to start with Corinda's 13 Steps to Mentalism, and Anneman's Practical Mental Effects.

Both Osterlind and Banachek draw heavily on the above in their own work, and it makes sense to get the grounding and give yoursaelf a solid frame of reference before looking at indicidual stand-alone routines on DVDs.

However, if you absolutely MUST go the DVD route, I'd recommend Osterlind's Easy To Master Mental Miracles, as they're effectively just a selection of Richard's favourite effects from the books I mentioned up top. he performs them amazingly well, and it's a real education to see just how effective the 'old school' routines still are.

pcwells wrote:A much more cost-effective route would be to start with Corinda's 13 Steps to Mentalism, and Anneman's Practical Mental Effects.

Seconded!

Have a little look at Craig Browning's How to Become a Mentalist thread, full of great info from the man who knows

Chaps, looking at Ronnie's introduction thread, he's already getting Thirteen Steps.

What about Anneman then?

Honestly, after reading 13 Steps, I can't see why it is so heartily recommended to beginners. Reading it for the first time turned me off mentalism. It's easier to appreciate once you have a little experience, in my opinion.

Sorry i think i should of mentioned I'm getting 13 steps (thanks for noticing Tomo) and i am going to read it like a bible and i know how much time it takes to learn and digest all the information from a book and from what ive read 13 steps has lots, im just looking for something to move onto after. Yer i noticed that pcwells, that alot of the effects are from annemann or corinda, This is what made me think that ETMMM might be better me for the level im at. i have read Craig Brownings sticky and alot of his posts and i must say, Wow he knows so much about mentalism, and has so much valuable knowledge and experience he should charge people for it, but it doesn't mention anything about Psi series or ETMMM which is what im concerned with. also back to my sub question does anyone know what size index card envelopes are because im looking online for them thanks again

Ronnie

I think the thing about Thirteen Steps is that it's chock-a-block with all the classic techniques, but not much in the way of kind words when it comes to easing the reader into them. It's all there, but it's abit dry. Perhaps there's scope for a set of companion guides to each chapter.

Hey, that gives me an idea!

(sensible me screams "Oh no you don't! Get back to work!")

ronnie wrote:I am going to read it like a bible

I have four books that are "pure mentalism". 13 Steps, PMM, Geist, and Tomo's Naked. There's enough stuff in those 4 books to last a lifetime. Indeed, there's enough stuff in 13 Steps to master that one really need never purchase another book on mentalism ever again. After all - how many routines will you ever really need in your repertoire?

The danger when one moves from mainstream magic towards the darker corners occupied by mentalism is to rush out and buy everything. This route only ultimately leads to disappointment. The "trick" with mentalism is to take your time. Stick with 13 Steps and don't be tempted to buy books with flash names of dvd's with flash covers. To worse thing you could do is skim through a great publication like 13 Steps and rush on to the next new book or dvd you've bought.

In mentalism there is really only one trick. You can read people's minds (whether by being a psychic or NLP guy or whatever). So why not simply concentrate on billet work and swami work and nothing else. After all, if you could really read minds, if you really had that power, would you be rushing around trying to discover more powers? Of course not. You'd take the world by storm using this one incredible gift you'd found you had. So why not work like that? It will appear the most genuine to your specs.

Sorry to ramble on! Normal service will now be resumed...

Note to Abraxus: I really am working on those routines and not wasting time posting over-long replies on TM!

As Abraxus aid to me via pm once "its all in 13 steps" And most stuff come from it. I not one its fans but I do love Osterlind's easy to master mental miricals.

I have a whole host of mentalism books/dvds/tricks. And Mr Wand is right in saying most things are veriations on a theme or two.

I get my index cards from rymans and my pay envelopes from Smiths.

I'm starting to like Mentalism more and more but am new to it.

I bought Banachek's PSI Volume 2 about 6 months ago and all 4 volumes of Richard Osterlind's Easy to Master Mental Miracles last week. In my opinion (bearing in mind that I have only one of Banachek's and excluding the Muscle Reading Volume which I think is very difficult for a novice) they are similar in terms of skill level required. I think L+L produced them both and the performance and explanations are nearly the same format.

I've only watched one Easy to Master so far and not sure which I prefer yet - too close to call.

Dude That's Cool Magic is selling the 4 Volumes of Easy ... for a special price of £80.00 - check out their website.

Oh, and there was an excellent review of Easy to Master Mental Miracles on a recent thread - check it out.