talkmagic.co.uk

Wondered whether anyone knows if this is any good from when it was originally published?

http://www.trickshop.com/spook-show-book.html

Robert Nelson is considered a GOD when it comes to the world of Mystery Entertainment/Mentalism though much of his material would be seen as "dated" by today's standards.

It's been a long time since I read that booklet but I do know that it has some level of value to it if you don't mind its antiquity around it.

What is it you're hoping to accomplish, there may be some other titles within this genre that would be more current and to your liking.

I've read the first of his booklets on cold reading and while some of the information is dated the methods on the whole were sound. The description for this hasn't really said much of what it contains.

I'd like to work on some form of evening show. Probably nothing too long at this stage, maybe 30 to 45mins. I've got a several bizarre pieces of magic that I feel happy with as individual parts and would like to work on getting them linked into a fuller show.

I'd probably be presenting it a bit tongue in cheek rather than going for a terrifying horror show or the more serious seance. A bit more Scooby Doo than genuine horror as it'll probably be for students with mixed beliefs. I can't see a deadly serious spook show working too well for me at 23 and with my personality. Just something that provides an evening of light entertainment, a few bumps in the night and then a bit of a giggle when it's all over.

I was born with my tongue firmly planted in the cheek... my sense of humor being much akin to Vincent Price -- dark but fun.

You might want to look at the Borodin "Final Curtain" book, it's got some great ghost stories that would work with the air that I believe you're after; the telling of tall tales being far easier to do and do in a light manner than the heavy handed stuff. You should also check out the links to the Gene Poinc stories and routines available through the Learned Pig forum and possibly even Dragon Skull in the UK. Gene had some wonderfully silly bits such as "Lizzy's Bunnies" (a very macabre version of Hippity Hop Rabbits) and of course Cal the Cadaver Carpenter... then too, you have dear old Eugene Burger to pull from when it comes to the sillish type tales... Eugene has a wonderful Spirit Slate routine but I don't know that it's published, you might visit his web site and see if he could point you in the right direction.

Even with all the silliness you want at least one good fright piece as well as one routine that plucks really hard on the heart strings. As to the latter I'd encourage you to get, if you can find one, the Lee Earle Muse Box. I've never not had people crying their eyes red when I do this routine, but you want to do it more or less to how Lee wrote it. I believe he outlines it in the book "Manifestations"

Feel free to PM me is you have any questions.