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Higher Mentality - J.B. Bobo

This effect has obviously been around for years, but I'd never seen it. I'm sure some of the more experienced members will know of this effect. However, since I didn't see a review, I felt I'd toss my two cents in on this little beauty.

Available from:

trickshop.com - http://www.trickshop.com/highermentality.html

Price: $4.95

Difficulty:

2 - No sleights needed whatsoever. You need to do a bit of handling of the cards, and you also need to pay attention to certain details. However, once you have the "move" (it's not a move at all - just saying it for exposure purposes) you're set.

What You Get:

Photo-illustrated, 9 page Adobe Acrobat PDF file.

Description:

5 spectators are each given a small packet of cards from a freely shuffled pack. Each spectator is asked to think of one card in their packet and commit it to memory. Having done that, they are free to mix them up until even they don't know where the card is. The performer takes back the cards and proceeds to mix them up even more. He now removes a small group of cards and displays them in a small fan to each spectator, and is asked if their card is among the cards shown. If any spectators' see their card, the performer places the cards behind his own back and removes a face down card, placing it before the spectator. This is repeated until all spectators see their cards amongst the groups, and five cards are placed face down before each spectator.

The spectators then reveal their numbers and turn over the cards in front of them. All 5 cards are a perfect match.

Review:

Go back and read the description. Every word of it is true. I have been looking for an effect that uses multiple spectators in an active role, and I do believe I've found the one I'll be using for a long time to come.

I can't do mentalism. I haven't studied it (yet). I've been wanting to learn the secrets many of you have been speaking of on here, I just wish I had the time to really devote the proper amount of dedication to it. Maybe someday....

In the meantime, I'll be performing Higher Mentality.
This effect is about as close as one can get to pure mind reading with a simple pack of playing cards. It has the added strength of having multiple spectators with multiple selections.

Strengths:

1 - It says a freely shuffled pack - but even that isn't telling you the full story. This can be a borrowed deck. This deck can be shuffled by any and all of the spectators. The spectators can select the cards on their own. There are no forces, no set ups, no stacks! Absolutely free choices of the cards they choose.

2 - Spectator just thinks of one of the cards they are holding - and mixes them up. Absolutely true. I believe the explanation mentions that they shouldn't even touch their card, but it doesn't matter - moving the card does nothing. They don't write anything down, they just think of it and shuffle the little packet.

3 - The performer never has to see the faces of ANY of the cards. At no point in the effect will you need to see any of the faces. The backs, then? Nope! You can stare at the backs if you'd like, but you don't need to. To be perfectly honest, if you have the technical aspects down cold, you can do this blindfolded.

4 - No duplicate or extra cards are used. The spectators packets are all that you require for the effect. When you bring the cards behind your back, you're taking only the cards from the packet they saw. No dupes in your back pockets, no switches. The cards they start with are the cards they finish with.

5 - Completely examinable. The spectators can go over the deck with a magnifying glass if they want. They can pat you down for gimmicks or props. All they're left with is a deck of cards and a puzzled look on their faces.

Weaknesses:

I can't find any. I've been practicing this effect for a while to get the technique and presentation down. While I have only performed it a handful of times, it has gone over extremely well. So far, I can't think of anything that detracts from this effect in any way.

One thing to note - if you "miss" on this trick, you will miss badly. If you don't perform the effect exactly the right way, the trick will fail with no "outs" to speak of. Having said that, please don't let it scare you off. It is NOT hard to remember and perform this effect.

Notes:

The only work you have to do comes after the selections have been made, and the nature of the preparation makes it seem completely innocent. Even if people do think it's suspicious, I really can't see them figuring anything out.

Once you have done the "further mixing" part - the trick is done. All the work has been completed and you can just focus on your acting job and really drive this home. Bear in mind, while the work is done, you still need to remember a few things. However, after you've practiced a few times and worked out the sequences, you're gold. You don't need to remember anything difficult.

The instructions offer a few variations on how to reveal at the end, which is a nice addition. It gives a "mentalist" style finish using a well-known move. It also explains a nice "magical" way to finish which is bold but powerful. Regardless of which style you choose, this effect is nothing short of brilliant.

The instructions are crystal clear - no problems going through it. Clear and concise, you will have all of the mechanics worked out in under a half hour. After that, you just need to work on presentation.

I'm currently working on revising it to fit a poker theme (I love poker almost as much as magic), and I think this one can work nicely with an effect based on the concept of "tells".

Final Thoughts:

I love Talk Magic - and I love sharing my experiences with everyone on this forum. I love coming on here after testing and practicing with a new effect, and sharing my thoughts with everyone. If you REALLY want to know how much I love this effect - you need only know this.

I actually contemplated NEVER telling anyone on this site about this effect. That's right! I love you guys, but I was almost too greedy for this one!!! Compound that info with the fact that 99% of you live on the other side of the Atlantic, and I STILL almost didn't want to tip any of you to this gem!

But alas, I have. I do hope anyone who reads this and purchases it, experiences the thrill that I did when I first read through the instructions. At this price - purchasing it should almost be mandatory.

Final Score: 10/10 (but it's really like 100)

Would I be right in guessing that you like this one ?

Thanks for the review, it's good to see such a complete assessment and I'm sure it will prod many others into investing in this gem. You can take consolation that most of us won’t be anywhere near your performing area so you won’t get any competition!

Demitri wrote:Final Score: 10/10 (but it's really like 100)

So come on, be clear. Did you like it or not?

Sounds like a nice effect indeed, thanks for the review

ehh...... it's OK, I guess.