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I got this as a late Xmas present and the first thing I read was "Box Office" - sheer genius! But the whole book is huge and will take me months to work through. Can anyone recommend some other highlights I can look forward to? Thanks!

Asking for other people's highlights takes away all the fun and taints your own opinion and expectation!
You'll end up liking and performing what everyone else does, whilst some of the other gems will pass you right by...

TheStoner wrote:I got this as a late Xmas present and the first thing I read was "Box Office" - sheer genius! But the whole book is huge and will take me months to work through. Can anyone recommend some other highlights I can look forward to? Thanks!

I'm reminded of one of my favorite books "Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson" in which Gurdjieff (the author) advises us to read, reread and then read this Book again many, many times... the first time just as you would any new tome or even the daily paper, in a casual manner for sake of pleasure; the second time you are to read it out loud as if you were conveying its contents to others; and finally, read it as if you are a ravenous student seeking to know each and every nuance... but then he likewise encourages us to read it again and again because each time we do we will learn that much more; things we glossed over the first time or two will suddenly appear as some long lost and rare gem.

With Mind, Myth & Magic you have far more than another book filled with E-fects but one filled with concepts pertaining to the A-fect we might come to know as Mystery Entertainers. In other words, you would be doing yourself, your public and the craft a huge disservice if you did not simply start at the beginning and read it word for word in a manner that allows it to catalyze your mind and initiate the process of actual thought. Once you have done this go back with pencil and paper at the ready and start not with the many effects contained therein, but the philosophic perspectives being shared on the various subjects. Take notes and challenge yourself to address what T.A. has shared; digest it, mull it over and have a conversation with yourself around such things so that the essence of what was intended becomes the foundation from which you take the next step... defining who and what you are as a performer and carefully selecting the materials that will aid you in being that particular entity rather than being another wannabe collecting more neat & cool stuff that never really gets polished...

I don't say this to be cruel, only to challenge you to not strive to do things in a manner that is not to your fullest and best ability.

For those that are interested, the absolute perfect box for Box Office is available in Past Times.

It only has four compartments, but it's recessed where it needs to be, requires no further alteration, and looks lovely.

It has a mirror too, which lends itself to at least one lightly modified Hauntiques routine.

It looks like this:



And can be found here

I have one. It's lovely.

Pete

The one I used for this bit came from an Antique's dealer that specialized in vintage merchant display cases... just a thought as to where one can look.

MMM is superb and packed full of great effects, ideas and essays. There are far too many highlights to mention; just take your time reading through the book and enjoy it. You'll learn more than you'll ever use in a lifetime but the whole process is a great experience. One of my favourite books.