talkmagic.co.uk

Name: Smoking

Author: Dale Shrimpton

Price: £15

Publisher: Self Published and available at Lulu

Date: 2008

Pages/Length: 33

Difficulty: Nothing terribly difficult, but this e-book does contain some multi-layered effects that will require work and practice to become smooth in presentation. Also, see the text below for further thoughts on the difficulty level of some of the effects contained within.

Out of 10: 8.5

Contents:

1) The Genesis Centre Tear
2) A Trip to the Theatre
3) Feeling Fruity?
4) A Penny for Your Thoughts
5) Dicing With Death
6) Missing in Action
7) Heads Will Roll
8) Salt, Mustard, Vinegar and Pepper
9) My First Trick
10) Twin Synchonicity
11) Balls!!
12) Someone to Watch Over Me
13) Spots Before the Eyes
14) Cabaret Card to Cards in Pocket

Comments: In his first offering to the magic world, Mr. Shrimpton's e-book is a mentalist's potpourri. Starting with his own take on the center tear, Dale follows the explanation with an effect ("A Trip to the Theatre) designed to not only use his Genesis Tear but also give reason to the tearing up of the slip in which information is written upon (one of the most divisive of things in the mentalist's world being that there is never a real reason to tear up the original slip).

An excellent and reasonably quick effect, A Trip to the Theatre could easily be a reputation maker in the right hands. The effect is used in conjunction with the center tear that Dale offers to the performer, this tear could reasonably be used in a myriad of effects and is honestly a well explained and useful center tear. Pictures are included in the explanation and it is none to difficult to achieve.

Now, I'm not going to go into a detailed treatise on each and every effect given in this book, mainly because I'm a lazy sort of chap but also because I don't feel that any review should be that intensive. Let's face it, at some point, the reader simply begins to skim the information and it becomes a wasted amount of time on the keyboard.

Nevertheless, in summation I shall cover more than enough on this e-book.

Being a person who prefers hard copy books to e-books, I rarely pick up electronically written material. In this case, I'm pleased that I did. While I am no mentalist, I find that the information that Mr. Shrimpton shares in his offering to be useful in my regular performance and more than one of his effects will come in handy used in conjunction with my regular magic material (both walk around and cabaret style). I do like mental magic (as opposed to pure mentalism) and this is an e-book well worth studying.

I use the term "studying" for a reason here. This book is not for the beginner in mentalism. Dale makes certain assumptions of prior experience on the reader's part and this book is next to useless for a beginner as a result (although it will certainly give the beginner something to strive for).

While these assumptions may be seen as a weakness, I personally find them to be a strength. I've found that, at this point in my studies, I would rather have something that gives me the guidelines then allows me to fill in the details over something that tries to take me by the hand and give me step by step instruction where none is needed. To my way of thinking, this allows me to interpret the material and present it as Michael Jay, rather than as Dale Shrimpton.

I'm not suggesting that Dale leaves any pertinent or important and necessary information out. Quite the contrary, this e-book gives you all the tools required to perform any given one of the effects presented to the reader. What it doesn't do is tell you how be Dale Shrimpton. This is difficult to explain, so I would suggest that you pick this manuscript up and have a look. I honestly believe that you won't be disappointed.

Honestly, at £15 it is money well spent. In fact, if Theory 11 or Ellusionist took this e-book, they could easily sell any single given effect offered herein on DVD for at least that amount for the one, single effect. You get 13 fully prepared effects plus The Genesis Centre Tear for what you'd pay these hacks for a single effect.

For a beginning performer/student, give this book a pass. An intermediate to advanced peformer/student will find at least one useful effect that they can immediately incorporate into their act and that makes the price fully acceptable (if not desirable).

Unfortunately, this e-book suffers from the lack of a professional editor. Spelling mistakes and gramatical errors erode the value of what is excellent and useful material. Don't let this minor complaint on my part take away your choice of purchasing this material. At the price asked, it is well worth the investment.

Mike.

Unfortunately, this e-book suffers from the lack of a professional editor. Spelling mistakes and gramatical errors erode the value of what is excellent and useful material. Don't let this minor complaint on my part take away your choice of purchasing this material. At the price asked, it is well worth the investment.

Over the past year or so I've been getting blasted by a handful of "notable authors" that argue that it does not matter that their manuscripts and "books" or even their videos look like a 5th grader composed them, it's the meat of the subject that people are paying for. I'm certain you'll agree with me on this Mike, but such attitudes seem to be more akin to the writer's disrespect of his patrons and even himself to some degree and yes, I know that some of my material has such short comings... one of the reasons I reworked EASY READING last year.

Then too, I'm reminded of those terrible manuscripts of my youth, poorly typed with an abundance of type-o's and cheaply printed on the old hand-cranked mimeograph machines (though that ink did smell kind of cool ) Mentalism really getting the brunt of such pieces; certain PEA members have an international reputation for papers seriously stained by food stuffs, coffee spills, etc. and yet he has the audacity to sell it "as is" for hundreds if not thousands of dollars... for a couple (literally) of typed pages.

Now SMOKE'n ... I'm not certain, but I do believe that was one of the books of Dale's that I "re-set" for him, I'm not positive. I know I revamped one or two of his books but didn't get the copy back to him until after he'd put them up on Lulu... I'm not saying that to detract from Dale... he's one of the sweetest and most knowledgeable guys out there. He and a certain Mr. Tipton both, amaze me when it comes to their insights and "memory" as to what magic once was.

As foggy as my mind gets these days, I still have to say that Dale has put out a couple of nice ditties of late and I recommend them to everyone out there that's looking for something neat, simple/easy to learn, and fun for all.

nah craig... it's the book that you were going to set.

but i thought......... publish and be damned


Thanks for the review Mike.
All the comments are fair comments.


By the way, I should add that if any reader comes across something that they don't understand, I am only an email away and will be happy to pass on advice if needed. my adress is on the first page, or you can contact me here.

this link takes you straight to it...

http://www.lulu.com/content/5181444

Mr. Browning wrote:I'm certain you'll agree with me on this Mike, but such attitudes seem to be more akin to the writer's disrespect of his patrons and even himself to some degree...

And you are 100% correct, Brother - I do fully agree.

Mike.

forgive me for mentioning this.. ( but im skint )

I still have this on offer.


my second offerering, "Candyman" is well under way and will hopefully be published sometime in the next few months.

daleshrimpton wrote:forgive me for mentioning this.. ( but im skint )

I still have this on offer.


my second offerering, "Candyman" is well under way and will hopefully be published sometime in the next few months.

Under no circumstances Dale can you be forgiven for mentioning that your next work, entitled Candyman, is well under way and will be published in the next few months...by the way, what's the title of your next work, how's it coming along and any idea of a publishing date yet please?

I've been thinking about this book for quite a while, should I buy it or resist? But after this review, I just might take up smoking, though I'm thoroughly against it.