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Well I was helping my friend John clean out an old theater today were his dad, (recently passed away) used to perform magic. As I was sorting through the junk I found a box that contained the Banachek PSI Series DVD Set. I did some research and I found it goes for around $120 US, and I talked my friend down and he said he'll sell it to me for $50 US. I am VERY knew to magic and just wanted peoples opinions before I go and buy it. Is it any good for beginners? The descriptions on some sites sound convincing. In the mean time, back to the reviews page.


Thanks,


Kevin

it is not the best way to start in mentalism, some of the routines are advanced but at that price you may want to get it for later use. the book "13 steps to mentalism" is a very good start.

At that price I'd say buy it and lock it in a cupboard for a year or so while you do some intensive work with 13 Steps.

Have a look at some of Craig Browning's posts on starting out in mentalism to get an idea of how to expect to progress.

Ok thank you, I think I will start with the 13 steps to mentalism and just save the DVD's for later.



Thanks,


Kevin

I'll send you the $50.00 for the set though

Just kidding, but if I were you I would buy them and put them in a box tapped shut and not touch them until next year... don't even go through them one for a year... get some foundation material under you belt. But having them on hand for when you are ready, I don't think you can beat that deal. Just know that this is advanced material... if he has the Richard Osterlind Easy to Master Mental Miracles... I'd jump on those in that they are great for the novice.

I wish I ran into deals like that...

Well I bought it, they're sitting here in front of me. So hard not to watch them, so I am ordering the 13 steps.

r34l1ty wrote:Well I bought it, they're sitting here in front of me. So hard not to watch them, so I am ordering the 13 steps.

Just watch them r34l1ty!

You can learn a lot from just watching a master at work.
You don't have to perform anything from the videos.
Just watch and learn about presentation, audience management etc....

saxmad wrote:

r34l1ty wrote:Well I bought it, they're sitting here in front of me. So hard not to watch them, so I am ordering the 13 steps.

Just watch them r34l1ty!

You can learn a lot from just watching a master at work.
You don't have to perform anything from the videos.
Just watch and learn about presentation, audience management etc....

Yes, your are correct. A person could learn a lot but, why would anyone want to place a cart in front of the horse in that such antics as bassackwards?

I was even tempted to tell him to study disc 3 but the truth is, this is someone that has NO FOUNDATION e.g. a review of this material at this point in time may whet the appetite but it will also created frustration along side temptation and in so doing, taking short-cuts vs. learning how to do things "right"... from the ground up.

He's not ready to learn about audience management or any of the cool stuff you'll find on those disc. The only exception to this rule of thumb is the fact that he'll see where all of it can lead to.

I have no doubts that he's going to be watching them before the weekend is up... I know I would even (and especially) if someone tells me I shouldn't... it's just human nature -- the "Forbidden Fruit Syndrome" as shrinks would call it. My obligation however, is to encourage the act of taking baby steps vs. getting too eager too early and trying to run before you're even crawling let alone learning to walk.

Haha, yeah I watched volume one and I must say it is very worth it! But I'm going to start on the 13 steps I think and then get Richard Osterlind Easy to Master Mental Miracles DVD Set, you say its good for a novice? Or do you have any other recomendations.


Thanks,


Kevin

Craig Browning wrote:

saxmad wrote:

r34l1ty wrote:Well I bought it, they're sitting here in front of me. So hard not to watch them, so I am ordering the 13 steps.

Just watch them r34l1ty!

You can learn a lot from just watching a master at work.
You don't have to perform anything from the videos.
Just watch and learn about presentation, audience management etc....

Yes, your are correct. A person could learn a lot but, why would anyone want to place a cart in front of the horse in that such antics as bassackwards?

I was even tempted to tell him to study disc 3 but the truth is, this is someone that has NO FOUNDATION e.g. a review of this material at this point in time may whet the appetite but it will also created frustration along side temptation and in so doing, taking short-cuts vs. learning how to do things "right"... from the ground up.

He's not ready to learn about audience management or any of the cool stuff you'll find on those disc. The only exception to this rule of thumb is the fact that he'll see where all of it can lead to.

I have no doubts that he's going to be watching them before the weekend is up... I know I would even (and especially) if someone tells me I shouldn't... it's just human nature -- the "Forbidden Fruit Syndrome" as shrinks would call it. My obligation however, is to encourage the act of taking baby steps vs. getting too eager too early and trying to run before you're even crawling let alone learning to walk.

And presumably he shouldn't watch any LIVE magicians or any performances on TV for the same reason?

saxmad wrote:

Craig Browning wrote:

saxmad wrote:

r34l1ty wrote:Well I bought it, they're sitting here in front of me. So hard not to watch them, so I am ordering the 13 steps.

Just watch them r34l1ty!

You can learn a lot from just watching a master at work.
You don't have to perform anything from the videos.
Just watch and learn about presentation, audience management etc....

Yes, your are correct. A person could learn a lot but, why would anyone want to place a cart in front of the horse in that such antics as bassackwards?

I was even tempted to tell him to study disc 3 but the truth is, this is someone that has NO FOUNDATION e.g. a review of this material at this point in time may whet the appetite but it will also created frustration along side temptation and in so doing, taking short-cuts vs. learning how to do things "right"... from the ground up.

He's not ready to learn about audience management or any of the cool stuff you'll find on those disc. The only exception to this rule of thumb is the fact that he'll see where all of it can lead to.

I have no doubts that he's going to be watching them before the weekend is up... I know I would even (and especially) if someone tells me I shouldn't... it's just human nature -- the "Forbidden Fruit Syndrome" as shrinks would call it. My obligation however, is to encourage the act of taking baby steps vs. getting too eager too early and trying to run before you're even crawling let alone learning to walk.

And presumably he shouldn't watch any LIVE magicians or any performances on TV for the same reason?

I think what he means is he dosen't think it's a good idea for me to get right into the DVD and just start from there, I still watch magicians on the TV (sadly the only one I see much of is Criss Angel) and I still go to shows. I think he's just saying that it wouldn't be a good idea to start with professional magic from the start, and to wait until I have a solid foundation before I start the DVD's. But I don't see the harm in watching a couple tricks.

By all means r34l1ty get the Osterlind tapes/CDs they are most excellent for anyone starting out... I enjoyed the fact that they bring out some classics that have been ignored or fogotten in recent years due to everyone's desire to get the lattest in Derren Brown or Criss Angel oriented effects.

I'll not get into with Saxmad... he obviously don't want to understand what you so obviously comprehended.

I don't think Craig has a clue what I was saying, r34l1ty.
These DVD's aren't just explanations of tricks.
They have performances on them.

Watch the performances - you'll learn a lot from them, even if you never learn those particular tricks.

I have many DVD's of which I've never watched the explanations.
Simply because I'm not interested in learning the tricks.

But I'll watch the performances, because they are object lessons in how to perform.

Same as watching live or TV magicians.

What good is just watching the performances and not the explanations? Isn't that missing the point a bit? I bought the psi series dvds and watched them but then bought 13 steps to mentalism and reading that now before I watch the psi series dvds again. You shouldn't try to run before you can walk

Misanthropy wrote:What good is just watching the performances and not the explanations?

Exactly the same as watching a live magician!!!
Watch their presentation, their audience management etc.

Everything in life can be a learning process, if you are open to it.