talkmagic.co.uk

My website is back up! Hooray!

Thanks for your patience,
Neil

Neil...

What a horrible thing to do, giving us the Necromancer link... that's possibly the most vile and evil act of sadism I've seen on this board.

You KNOW we're mostly in the UK, and yet you whet our appetite with such an intriguing and candid glimpse at what looks to be a superb and entertaining magic spectacle.

But HOW do us British Tobin fans get to see this spectacle... I am sure that this website will excite many other members here - as it has myself. Oh, the torture!!!

You're a tease, Mr Tobin... you really are.

Seige logs on to 'last-minute-cheap-USflights.com' and starts counting his pennies...


Could I also ask if there are any plans to release a 'refill' for the Xpert???
I realise that most of the (very reasonable) cost of the original item is tied up in the actual revelation of the secret, plus the purchase of the excellent routines included.
But, I for one am starting to experience small difficulties with my gimmick - and it may be beneficial to some 'Xpert Owners' to obtain just plain versions without the 'dressing' to be able to continue using it in their routines.

If you wish to continue this conversation behind closed doors and away from prying eyes, please feel free to email me. I have no reservations about buying the Xpert again, if this is the only route to getting mine in perfect working order once more - but I would be a lot happier if I didn't have to buy the entire kit from scratch each time!

seige wrote:You're a tease, Mr Tobin... you really are.

Guilty as charged. Tell you what: if I'm on TV again as a result of the seance, and I have enough time to do some mentalism, then I'll try to post it for your magical amusement.

Could I also ask if there are any plans to release a 'refill' for the Xpert???

Refills (replacements, actually) are available on my site -- you'll see them right before you get to to the routines section. They are $15 US each, sold by the three pack ($45 US). Add Global Priority Mail Shipping, and it's $50 US -- which translates to 29.76 British Pounds at the current rate.

Seeing as how the Xpert "starter kit" (gimmick and booklet) is selling at Magictricks.co.uk for 20.99 British Pounds plus shipping, I think you'll find the refill prices reasonable.

Best,
Neil

I'm sure someone who has Kneppler's X will respond soon but, in the meantime, I can assure you that Xpert is a stand alone utility with several suggested routines supplied which involve coins and cards - there is also the promise of more routines which will be either on Neil's website or included in a forthcoming booklet of routines. As such, you don't really need anything else and you will probably make up your own routines and variations.

Neil checks this forum regularly (dunno about Kenton Kneppler!) so he might be able to offer more specific help.

mandrake wrote:I'm sure someone who has Kneppler's X will respond soon but, in the meantime, I can assure you that Xpert is a stand alone utility with several suggested routines supplied which involve coins and cards - there is also the promise of more routines which will be either on Neil's website or included in a forthcoming booklet of routines. As such, you don't really need anything else and you will probably make up your own routines and variations.

Neil checks this forum regularly (dunno about Kenton Kneppler!) so he might be able to offer more specific help.

Mandrake has done an admirable job answering your question. You certainly don't need Kenton Knepper's manuscript, X, to get plenty of use out of The Xpert.

I do, however, recommend getting it. There is a lot of great thinking about the principle on which The Xpert is based, and at least one great routine ("Nickles") that you can do with your Xpert.

Thanks,
Neil

At the moment Xpert doesn't work the same with Bikes as it does with some other brands - usually the cheaper ones. Although this may be seen as a bit of a drawback, it's really only a very minor point so don't take it too seriously. Other items using the Xpert process are mind boggling (if done right) and you can either show your specs a routine which doesn't use boring old cards(!) or do a routine with a different brand of card and make up any old excuse if needs be.

As with all things, Xpert needs to be handled and used correctly for maximum effect but this is really very simple and leaves the magician with a lot of scope for dreaming up their own ideas or using it in existing routines to be a bit of a slant on things.

Magicbilly, I respect your desire to make an informed decision about The Xpert. To get a thorough grounding, I invite you to read the reviews at the following sources:

http://www.online-visions.com/reviews/0404xpert.html

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/view ... um=109&297

http://www.penguinmagic.com/product.php?ID=606 (scroll to the bottom of the page for the reviews)

http://www.magicbunny.co.uk/phpBB2/view ... ight=xpert

http://www.penguinmagic.com/discuss/vie ... hp?t=30805

Also, if you can read the September 2003 issue of Genii Magazine, you'll find a rave review among its pages.

Best of luck in your decision,
Neil

If you want to see one effect using Xpert, check out the vid on penguin magic (go to http://www.penguinmagic.com/product.php?ID=606 and choose the appropriate version).

It's a bit long winded and the cards used by Oz Pearlman could have been less colourful so you could see the predicitions easier, but the principle is there well enough.

hmmm was quite a good demo actually... dunno about the rubbing chin bit though... hehe but other than that quite good

The chin bit is very theatrical - and totally unconvincing! It's good to see that even the professionals have flaws - makes me feel sooooo much better!

I was using an effect over 20 years ago called 'Epic Flight' which was the transposition of an 'X' mark on a small brass key, to a BLANK key the spectator was holding.

So really, the 'Xpert' is nothing new. To replace the 'Epic Flight' gimmick costs only around £5.


Frank.