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There was no actual post for this or the last two, so I thought I would fill in. It is a continuation of the first volume, with 8 effects and 5 interviews including how Penn and Teller learned the bullet catch and Banachek being "Buried Alive."

The Effects:
Ring of Truth- Two spectators become either a liar or a truth teller. One has a ring in his/her hand. The performer correctly notes what each spectator is (liar or truth teller) and which one has the ring.

Phone Psychs- This three part prediction ends in a stunning climax where a randomly chosen card and number equals a predicted telephone number.

Word of the Ring- The performer predicts a word. A spectator comes up and moves a ring around on a random page of a book. The spectator then chooses a word that lands inside the ring, and it matches the prediction exactly.

Number Reversal- A three-digit number is chosen and then reversed by a spectator. The two are subtracted to give a third, random number which the performer accurately guesses.

Stigmata- This effect created by Wayne Houchin allows a spectator to pick a random card. The spectator then squeezes the wrist of the performer, and the card appears on the performer's wrist in bright red.

Invisible Palmtop- An invisible palmtop computer is handed to a spectator. Another spectator chooses the page number to go to in the "dictionary" where a word is "read." The performer then pulls a piece of paper out of a wallet which has the exact number and word written on it.

Picture Duplication- A random idea from a random spectator is chosen by another spectator. The spectator begins to draw the object in his/her mind, and the performer accurately (to the best of his/her drawing ability ) draws the same picture.

Cost:
Usually about $30-40 (American).

Difficulty:
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
Ranging from 1-3, depending on the trick.

What I Say:
Banachek is a truly great mentalist. Most of these tricks require no sleight of hand, yet they always baffle the spectator. Some props have to be bought or made, but it is well worth an extra $10 (about 8-9 euros, I think ) for the astounding effects.

Final:
10/10
This is well worth it for pros and amateurs alike (unless, of course, you already know most of the effects ).

I found the DVD interesting, but I still got a lot more from the Osterlind series...

Is the Osterlind Series another array of mentalism tricks? I got a tip from a fellow magician that the Psi Series was a good place to start. I've never heard of the Osterlind Series before.

I purchased Banachek's "Psychokinetic Silverware" DVD and was doing the tricks in no time. He really does great work and I would reccommend his materials.

The DVD was alright. I personally preferred the series.
Erin

love spells

Just checked out your site Emma. Can you cast me a spell to make carmen electra fall in love with me? Money back guarentee? oh, and could you please show us proof of your powers (these special techniques you refer to) before we hand over our hard earned money. As any fruit loop flower fairy could be trying to take advantage of us poor lonely souls.

Is it just me or is ring of truth the worst effect ever.

Don't get me wrong, psi series is a good starting place but I could have done without a few tricks here and there...

luckily phone psychs & word of the ring is worth the price of all 3 combined

thanks for the review!

MysteryMan wrote:Is the Osterlind Series another array of mentalism tricks? I got a tip from a fellow magician that the Psi Series was a good place to start. I've never heard of the Osterlind Series before.

Your MAGICIAN friend isn't a Mentalist...

For the money the Richard Osterlind EASY TO MASTER MENTAL MAGIC set should be one of the first video sets anyone new to mentalism picks up. The Banachek material is more akin to second or third year study material in my opinion but what Richard offers is a very solid introduction to the classics of Mentalism; a lot of which is stuff many ignore or have forgotten about due to the influx of garbage we see on the market these days.

There is a sticky around here about becoming a Mentalist, you might want to look it up.

In kaleidoscopes wrote:Is it just me or is ring of truth the worst effect ever.

Have you performed ring of truth in front of a live audience, yet?

Demitri wrote:

In kaleidoscopes wrote:Is it just me or is ring of truth the worst effect ever.

Have you performed ring of truth in front of a live audience, yet?

Hehe...

We're looking at a small miracle when done by a methodically minded Mentalist vs. a really dumb looking puzzle when viewed by the magic buff who wants glitter & glitz -- something flashy and in most cases "gimmicky"

RING OF TRUTH is an amazingly powerful routine when done right. Don't let the simplicity of it cause you to discount it... or actually, please let it detour you from learning it or any other effect in the whole of magic in which the principle method is ridiculously simple and "elementary".. .that way the rest of us that see such little gems for what they are, can gain the accolades

that was my impression of it: a gimmicked puzzle. Even before I began to ponder the method.

and actually yes, I have seen it performed in front of an audience and I myself performed it for an audience of 10.

After both times I have yet to be impressed with it or the audiences reaction. Mostly it is an awkward set up that only certain personalities can pull off, which if it works for them GREAT. but until then I have never witnessed such embarrasing confusion from an audience. Sure, the set ups got to be right verbally because this ones a very easy one to send the spectators into utter confusion.

I did however find myself working a quicker version of it than with the method in which Banachek offers.

Great principle, just a waste of time considering many different ways to achieve the same effect.