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Yesterday I got Luke Jermay's Building Blocks book. Its all about suggestion and the likes. And this is the first book of this type I own, I already have 13 steps, Banachek on muscle reading and Fulves self working book.

The thing is allthough a lot of the matrial in the book is great I was thinking two things. Should I get Lukes DvD Skulldugrey to reinforce whats in the book so I can see how to use this stuff in the real world. And whats the best way to practice suggestion? I learnt the best way to do it is to open up with a non-suggestion effect then use a suggestion one. But whats the best way?

Thanks in advanced.

I bought 7 deceptions a while back and had the same problem. How to use the material within. I was told about skulldugrey to see how its all done. If you or anyone else gets this and think it helps i'd appreciate it if you let me know. As far as the best way i cant help, still a bit of a newbie with the whole suggestion thing.

Jim

I dont know if skullduggery will help you to use the far more ethereal effects listed in building blocks, but the dvd does benefit from containing far more practical, usable routines within.

I only have '7 Deceptions' by Luke but I enjoyed it greatly and like his way of thinking. It's sated my appetite to investigate more of his stuff.
His gimmick free pulse stopping in 7D is great and something I have used many times and RGM, when presented properly is superb.
Worth it for these two alone.

In terms of practising techniques from that book, the 'Out of this world' routine provides something to work with. You can perform your preferred usual version of 'OOTW' but start with a few cards where you try the psychological technique, just for illustrative purposes, and showing how they do as they go along.

I tried this recently with just four cards and was pleasantly surprised that on this occasion they hit all four correctly. (Hardly conclusive, but even as few as four cards is a 1 in 16 chance).

Skulduggery is a very good teaching video if you have the written versions of his work. His explanations are very thorough.

Thanks guys, I also Know a little about suggestive states now from the guidance of Lord Freddie.

i would recommend you get Trance This! by Kenton Knepper, it sits together very nicely with 7 deceptions and/or Skullduggery...

Basically, use the suggestion during a sure-fire effect, keep a mental note as to if it worked the way you wanted, or if you got something else out of it...here's one for the innuendo post coming up...ahem...

try to slip it in gently, as you are doing the rest of the effect...then as your confidence builds you can go all out...

for a nice big chunk of study, get Geist and Mentalist's Toolkit books too - the stuff dressed around "chi" is superb...as is the rest of the thoughts in them...that's the next year of your life right there in those 4 books easy...

for me, the order i'd recommend studying them in would be:
Mentalists Toolkit - Geist - Building Blocks - Trance This

just my opinion though...

For background on suggestion it's worth reading Sleight of Mind and hypnosis books which cover suggestion comprehensively. Also, if you sift through the BS, there are some useful tips in some NLP books regarding the structure of sentences to create maximum effect.
I really do recommend Sleight of Mind for this kind of thing, the sections on suggestion are great if you study them and experiment with phrasing.

I suggest using suggestion in your "patter" (for want of a better word) when performing your usual routines to try and maximise the impact the effect has on the spectator. By creating a build-up in their mind, the routine will be more effective.
If the responses you receive are stronger than before then you are on the right track and know what you're doing is working. I recommend adding suggestive language to maximise your usual effects before going on to pefrom something that is completely suggestion based.

Hi Freddie.

"Sleight of Mind" sounds interesting. Who's it by please?

Thanks

Ian Harling and Martin Nyrup. They set up a website for book, which can be found below:

http://www.sleightofmind.info/

Superb!

Thanks very much Harry.

Jon.

Markdini & others interested;
If you don't watch out you'll be caught up in the CUPS Club; ie buying everything in sight and never using any of it; or very very little of it.
What you need to do is look at Luke Jermay's book( or another author's) and take ONE effect YOU LIKE. Work on that, play with it, routine it to your style then try it out a number of times. Only then will you know if this fits your Act or performance. But don't go buying and buying.
So-- with the Jermay books take say,
From 7 Deceptions, 'For Andruzzi' ( the pulse stopping) which is brilliantly detailed or
From Building Blocks. 'A Remote castle' or
From The Coral Fang, 'Touching On Hoy'
These 3 should be well within the compass of a good magician.
BUT...Only ONE of these till you have tried it out in performance thoroughly and then the others.
Avoid anything in any book which may be personal to that author's style or personality. It may not fit your style or your personality.
Study their approaches , philosophies, audience handling etc. as well as their effects.
This way you will avoid that cupboard full of material( props and books) which will lie there years, gathering dust. And you'll be a richer magician.
Finally: Performers like Jermay, Banachek, Knepper are highly individualistic. Ask yourself. Are you? And are you experienced enough to take on board their always mysterious theatrical and often very brilliant material.?:
Allen Tipton

Sound advice there Mr Tipton.

Luke's book really added impact to what I was already doing. It took a coin bend from having a coin bend in someone's hand to them actually feeling the coin heat up, get soft and bend in their hand. For that alone the book was worth it - but there's a whole lot more as well

I bought it first and then 7 deceptions. I'm not sure if I would have appreciated 7 deceptions as much if I hadn't read Building Blocks. I think Building Blocks and Banachek's Psychological subtelties go well together - he refer's to Banachek's book quite a lot in Building blocks.

As for Skullduggery - never seen it and someone on the forum actually advised me against it at the time - rather to buy Building Blocks.

Hope that helps