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Hi again everyone,

I'm starting to delve a little bit into mentalism at the moment and I've recently been trying to get to grips with Acidus Novus but I have one main concern about it.

Once everything has taken place and the spectator is handed back the billet, after the reveal, what is going to stop the spectator from examining the billet and working out what's going on? I hope the members that use Acidus Novus understand what I mean. Basically I'm worried that the spectator may do exactly what I have to do to make the peek and work everything out.

There may be something really obvious that I'm missing here so I apologise in advance if I am!

Thanks for any help!

There are a couple of things you can do:
Put an extra fold in after you've 'done your business'
'Do your business' as you put the billet into an envelope

MatCult wrote:Put an extra fold in after you've 'done your business'

This is what I do, I do the dirty bit then fold it again and hand it to someone to hold on to as I don't want to touch it

I never give them the billet back, I unfold it and read the information so I know what they have writen.

PM if you want a few more tips

acquarog: 'I am starting to delve into mentalism'!!

BEFORE YOU tackle Al Mann

Go look at
Annemann's Practical Mental Magic
Corinda's 13 Steps.
In Search Of The Sensational--The Fogel book by Christopher Woodward and Richard Mark.

and although you may NOT want to become a Mentalist- perhaps wanting to just add the odd mental magic effect into your repertoire--READ 'How To Become A Mentalist' by Craig Browning at the Top of Support & Tips.

LEARN THE BASICS first
then progress to Al Mann, Banachek etc.

Allen Tipton

Thanks for the help so far everyone! I haddn't considered folding it up further, I probably will PM you Tristan

I am intending to purchase 13 Steps to Mentalism as soon as I can Allen, perhaps I am jumping the gun a bit, but I was just hoping to incorporate the peek into some more simple mentalism effects that I've been studying already. I hope it doesn't sound too much like I'm jumping in at the deep end.

I've already made the mistake of getting too far ahead of myself in card magic and ended up realising that all I needed (and what has served me best so far) was a copy of the Royal Road.

And WHEN you are more experiences--Then with Peeks--read Richard Busch's 2 books on Billets & Peeks
Peek Performances & Peek Encores

But they are advanced stuff

Allen Tipton

I'd also suggest you work on coin sleights. Competency with basic coin moves translates very well into billet work e.g. finger palms and switches.

I'll bare that in mind for the future Allen! Thanks for your help

I'm currently not too bad with basic coin sleights at the moment sleightlycrazy, but I haven't done much with coins recently so I'll get practicing!

Or you could just buy Elliott Bresler's amazing Switchcraft.

A couple of more general tips in the meantime.

First, don't worry about it. I can't say the thought has ever crossed my mind. I sometimes think that the more you worry about these things, the more likely they are to happen. A bit like the way animals can allegedly sense fear. And this is from someone who has a tendency to overthink stuff like this.

Second, treat these things like they don't matter. Chuck the blooming billet on the floor or on a table. Even if people have a look, they will usually be checking that you haven't made a swap. Don't make a big issue about giving the billet back. If they really want it, it's there for them. Act like you don't care about the billet and there's a good chance they won't. Don't overprove.

While it's good that you are thinking and questioning things, in this case I think it suggests that you aren't quite ready for mentalism. Follow the advice above (in the other posts, not just mine) and you will be!

Reverend Tristan wrote:I never give them the billet back

This is the whole of the law. The billet itself is inconsequential, written down for confirmation's sake. You're reading the person's mind, not the billet. The billet should be so low on the agenda that its final destination should be of no importance.

Thanks for your tips Part Timer, you're right I need to stop feeling almost guilty. I guess this will come with repeated practice. I'm definitely not ready to start performing mentalism to the public yet but in time I hope that I can study and practice enough to eventually be able to

Mr_Grue wrote:

Reverend Tristan wrote:I never give them the billet back

This is the whole of the law. The billet itself is inconsequential, written down for confirmation's sake. You're reading the person's mind, not the billet. The billet should be so low on the agenda that its final destination should be of no importance.

Thanks for the advice Mr Grue, i'll bear it all in mind

acquarog: FINALLY
1. WHERE do you get the billet FROM? Pocket? a small box?
2. When you have the info SIMPLY drop/put the billet back where it came from; *******preferably out of sight
Then CONTINUE TALKING as you do it.
This has to be a natural, inconsequential action
As you have been told--it is finished with--just dispose of it BUT AGAIN KEEP THE PATTER GOING.
Allen Tipton

Part-Timer wrote:Or you could just buy Elliott Bresler's amazing Switchcraft.

A couple of more general tips in the meantime.

First, don't worry about it. I can't say the thought has ever crossed my mind. I sometimes think that the more you worry about these things, the more likely they are to happen. A bit like the way animals can allegedly sense fear. And this is from someone who has a tendency to overthink stuff like this.

Second, treat these things like they don't matter. Chuck the blooming billet on the floor or on a table. Even if people have a look, they will usually be checking that you haven't made a swap. Don't make a big issue about giving the billet back. If they really want it, it's there for them. Act like you don't care about the billet and there's a good chance they won't. Don't overprove.

While it's good that you are thinking and questioning things, in this case I think it suggests that you aren't quite ready for mentalism. Follow the advice above (in the other posts, not just mine) and you will be!

Resurrected an old post - also noticed sound advice from the great Allan Tipton!! Acidus Novus is THE greatest peak in the known universe. It is unsurpassed by anything, anything at all, and anyone who reveals it should be tried for treason - that is how highly I value Acidus Novus. Here's an old vid of me doing an ending of an Acidus Novus detective peak. After the show I was repeatedly asked how I did it. The guy I used was absolutely flummoxed and couldn't stop talking about it. Not bad for the price of a pen and paper! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pouI_n5KqmI My advice is this - buy Switchcraft - or Millard Longman.

The thing about using a p**k is to do it on an off beat take your time start the reveal vague before you even get the p**k use gesticulations to treat the billet like it doesn't matter then you can get your peek. Even chuck the billet away or pocket it, honestly doesn't matter, if you don't care about it (or appear to not care about it) then no one else will. If you really want to see how to handle a p**k check out Phil Smith's penguin live lecture he has a name divination that is amazing and a great handling. It also appears in his book mokele i think. It's my choice of p**k and works amazingly well and is basically above suspicion.

Matt

kevmundo wrote:Resurrected an old post - also noticed sound advice from the great Allan Tipton!! Acidus Novus is THE greatest peak in the known universe. It is unsurpassed by anything, anything at all, and anyone who reveals it should be tried for treason - that is how highly I value Acidus Novus. Here's an old vid of me doing an ending of an Acidus Novus detective peak. After the show I was repeatedly asked how I did it. The guy I used was absolutely flummoxed and couldn't stop talking about it. Not bad for the price of a pen and paper! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pouI_n5KqmI" target="_blank" target="_blank My advice is this - buy Switchcraft - or Millard Longman.

The price of a pen and paper + $160 if you bought the Longman PDF.