talkmagic.co.uk

I asked an owner of my local magic shop about the Master Prediction System. He said that it was extremely hard to perform and that i would waste my money....How can something like that be so hard that i couldnt perform it. Are there any books that explain this method?

Assuming your talking about the zimmerman effect.


whats hard about it?


Granted it's expensive, and strictly a promotion item, but i wouldnt of said it was hard.

how often are you thinking of doing this?

http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=7501

Ive got to say that looking at your posts to date, your almost obsesed with this kind of prediction.

ive probably said it before, and i'll say it again.

try out the version in 13 steps.

Sounds like my kind of shop owner... they see someone too young or that they know is too inexperienced (unworhty) and they steer them in an alternative direction.

The prop is sold (made by) my buddy Doug Malloy @ Malloy Magic if you have the cash and really want it all that bad. It will require a staff of helpers however and is not practical for anyone that don't have a proper performances stage to work from.

I believe Derren Brown used this or something similar in his last stage show.

Interestingly, I found it to be the least impressive part of the show (although the contents of the box and the type of prediction he revealed was top-class). Yes, I'm looking at this from a very different perspective to most of the muggles in the audience, but I still felt that it was too much of a 'prop'.

Just an observation.

Pete

what do you mean by needing to many helpers...why would you need helpers?

gymguy203 wrote:what do you mean by needing to many helpers...why would you need helpers?

You need backstage staff to make this happen. You get the applause for the reveal, but at least half of the technical working is done by someone else.

I think that's all I can say without tipping the method.

Wasn't there a whole argume- I mean, discussion about this effect already?

gymguy203, I don't want to tell you what to do, but think about the fact that for the same amount of money as this effect you could buy A HUNDRED really quality books about magic.

pcwells wrote:

gymguy203 wrote:what do you mean by needing to many helpers...why would you need helpers?

You need backstage staff to make this happen. You get the applause for the reveal, but at least half of the technical working is done by someone else.

I think that's all I can say without tipping the method.

only if your prediction is something done on the run.
If you had a pre predicted newspaper headline, you could do it one handed.

personaly though, i know ive got a much better solution to this effect that will cost peanuts to put together.

however if you want the secret, it will cost big bucks

daleshrimpton wrote:

pcwells wrote:

gymguy203 wrote:what do you mean by needing to many helpers...why would you need helpers?

You need backstage staff to make this happen. You get the applause for the reveal, but at least half of the technical working is done by someone else.

I think that's all I can say without tipping the method.

only if your prediction is something done on the run.
If you had a pre predicted newspaper headline, you could do it one handed.

personaly though, i know ive got a much better solution to this effect that will cost peanuts to put together.

however if you want the secret, it will cost big bucks

True. But to use it in that way, your box will need to be locked away or in full view for days or weeks - which makes it wholly unsuitable for most stage performances.

pcwells wrote:I believe Derren Brown used this or something similar in his last stage show.

Interestingly, I found it to be the least impressive part of the show (although the contents of the box and the type of prediction he revealed was top-class). Yes, I'm looking at this from a very different perspective to most of the muggles in the audience, but I still felt that it was too much of a 'prop'.

Just an observation.

Pete

Bear in mind, this is a "Trick" developed by a MAGICIAN as a touch of psychic fun in his MAGIC ACT. It is NOT a piece of effective mentalism, just Confabulation on steroids.

As junkie of magic technology and nifty gadgets I love this piece but as a performer I'd only use it in a Magic Show, not in anything remotely resembling a Mentalism Act. Same goes with things like the Don Wayne "Dream Vision" (which is basically the same exact effect, just different props and far more headaches) or Copperfield's Graffiti Wall, etc.

For less of a financial investment and about six months time of serious (focused) practice and rehearsals (there's a big difference) I could give you a solid act that would work, be commercial and fit "you" BUT you need to understand that Mentalism isn't about tricks, it's about learning to "be" the (insert your theme here).

As to this particular effect there are several other versions of it that are far less expensive and in a few instances that I'm aware of, self-operating (you have the control). If you actually study your Corinda you will find at least one of the methods I'm referring to. It is not outlined under the theme of this particular effect in that it is a method that can allow you to "fill in the blanks" right in front of the audience without their ever being wise to what you are doing... after all, the prediction is inside a sealed envelope the entire time.

so Dream Vision is the same trick as MPS but way less priced and better? and what kind of rehearsal is needed for the MPS if it is an Impromtu effect?

gymguy203 wrote:so Dream Vision is the same trick as MPS but way less priced and better? and what kind of rehearsal is needed for the MPS if it is an Impromtu effect?

Dream Vision and MPS are based on a routine known as "Confabulation", there are numerous variants as to how you can accomplish a Confabulation effect, the original working with a magician's wallet (for some reason I'd say it was a Himber ) and I do believe there was another variant involving a switching tray that soon followed.

Dream Vision is NOT "easier" to do and instead of one extra person backstage you will also need (should have) two on stage helpers in order to get everything to work smoothest and host the optimum misdirection that's needed (unless you work the smaller "marquee" version). Last I checked, a used Dream Vision was running well over $2,500.00. I'm not certain what Dougy is getting on the MPS these days... I can't imagine it being much more than that.

Not to belittle you gymguy, but you really need to invest into books right now more than props. Just in how you are asking questions here reveals that you aren't anywhere near ready for a routine this involved. It requires a huge amount of stage management skill and if you've been on stage at all, it's been very limited and I seriously doubt it had anything to do with mentalism. I'm not trying to be mean, I'm just in hope of saving you from yourself and point you in a far more constructive and beneficial direction. If mentalism is your thing, start here... http://www.ipswichmagicalsociety.co.uk/downloads/becomingamentalist.pdf

i appreciate your honesty. I do mainly kid shows and some adult shows from time to time. My style of working is buying a trick and perfecting it then i would add it to my show. I dont really think this is a good style anymore. I have finished 13 steps and am currently reading practical mental magic. I do have to say that i didnt really get anything out of 13 steps. A majority of the book is around a billet principal and i dont really like billets at all. So thats why i was curious. In doing stage magic, i leave the people thinking and knowing that what they see is a trick. I really want to start doing things that leave the people thinking that there is no way that what they saw was possible. That why i was so interested in the box and dream illusion.......if you could point me in the right direction...that would be great..

-Thanks-

how can you ever " finish " 13 steps?

Ive got to say that this strongly sugests that you are NOT studying the stuff, your just reading the words.

please, please, please, never think you know any book, just because you have read it.


I am sure Craig is the same as me, in that we find new things in this, and anneman, almost every time we pick it up, despite owning the books for well over 30 years.

I hate to leap to conclusions, but perhaps your impression of 13 steps being "all about billets" is because you read the first chapter, which is about billets, then promptly stopped reading/caring?