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Hey guys! Here are two effects from my recent show - one is my own effect, "Clue-dunnit?", and one is Derren's effect "Lift"

I really enjoyed clue-dunnit, and lift, surprisingly, was all people could talk about during the interval apparently!

"Clue-dunnit?" Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46H5Kelxi_c

"Clue-dunnit?" Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t300so7uYZ4&feature=channel

"Lift" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54qv6SIObf4&feature=channel

I do hope you enjoy, and all constructive criticism welcome!

For all who say some of it was Derreny, yes, I know

Also, I know that I took the "glasses" gag, but I just couldn't resist...

All constructive criticism welcome

Enjoy!

Thanks Chris
I'll start with Lift since it's a beatiful effect and really does have the power to knock people out of it a little bit. You did it well, but I have a lot to say about this particular effect, as it is something I use regularly. Was it Jermay's TOH you went into after that btw? (Another great effect)
I don't tend to find myself in the position of doing stage shows too often, but I have performed this using an amp which was on stage already (It was not 'my' stage show ), and the natural fact they were sat in a chair (following a chair prediction) to conceal what I needed to, which worked fine! I think with this particular effect there needs to be an excuse for why they are seated- for a chair prediction and the fact I am 'toning down' a little bit for the hypnosis works fine, but generally I perform this when people are already seated (kanteens work fine for me!) and so I don't need to excuse it, but I think that for a stage show there needs to be some reason why you are suddenly sitting at a table cloth draped table. At the moment i cannot think of a way around this, but I felt that it seemed a little out of place- but of course I'm a magician and I'm probably over analysing it. I just think enviroment is an important part of this effect (I think it is perfect for fancy restaurants- where I have done it with drinking, on family occasions)
A second thing is that I think you went a little ott with the 'TTHHISSSS pressure'. Just my opinion, several times to reinforce it works fine I find.
Another thing, I think it is important to find a way around stopping them from talking. Obviously the hypnotic nature of the trick Derren's way of getting around this works fine. Personally I do it as with an nlp patter, about rapport e.t.c. and fill my scripting with how I think nlp nuts would think it works and so the hypnotic induction is always something worth adding to the effect. Also, it creates something in it for the spec. if I am sticking their hand to the table as well and cateleptically lifting their hands- they have something which is amazing them (and don't feel like an Inst. Stg. -) but you have to be carefull, I have no idea how this happened, but I was performing this effect on a hypnotised subject and for whatever reason, they didn't feel what was causing 'the pressure' and had no idea why their hand was lifting into the air- to this day, I try and emulate that with varied success. So even if you are not sticking their hand, it is worth the forgeting suggestion, simply because of the implication for those wanting to ask questions, but in short, I did think you did it, by the standards I've seen it performed by some other mentalists, very well. It is very important to show to them how high to lift their hands- which you did, but many forget, I'm sure. There was one thing I remember thinking, although I might be wrong, perhaps you were but I wasn't listening, but I think you need to keep telling the spec how well they are doing. It obviously worked fine, but it is just courtesy and the psychology of these sorts of effects. Overall, well done. Sorry if I went a little ott, I just love this effect.

My only comment is that you do an awful lot of walking, pacing, prowling and strolling around the stage.

I know it's a big stage, but you don't need to fill it. Centre stage is fine for most of what you're doing as a mentalist.

Excessive walking tends to be a sign of nerves. Nerves are good, but walking and pacing wastes all that valuable nervous energy. You'd have a much more commanding presence is you lanted your feet firmly (see Tamariz for the exact positioning ) and project all that energy out through the chest and the voice.

Cheers,

Pete

That was an enjoyable 20 minutes; thank you, Chris.

Also, that's one subtle table cloth you got there! Keep hold of that!

I was in the bogs in the interval and was talking to Terry who did cluedunnit. He was well impressed by it all!

SamGurney wrote:I think that for a stage show there needs to be some reason why you are suddenly sitting at a table cloth draped table. At the moment i cannot think of a way around this, but I felt that it seemed a little out of place

The table was used for no less than 3 effects in the first half...it doesnt just "appear", so no worries

As ofr the rest, thanks very much! And no it wasnt TOH I went onto

pcwells wrote:My only comment is that you do an awful lot of walking, pacing, prowling and strolling around the stage.

I know it's a big stage, but you don't need to fill it. Centre stage is fine for most of what you're doing as a mentalist.

Excessive walking tends to be a sign of nerves. Nerves are good, but walking and pacing wastes all that valuable nervous energy. You'd have a much more commanding presence is you lanted your feet firmly (see Tamariz for the exact positioning ) and project all that energy out through the chest and the voice.

Cheers,

Pete

Thankyou very much, I shall try to tone down my pacing. You are correct though, in that I was indeed nervous

What did you think of my incorporation of Banachek's chair prediction with the cludo routine?

Lawrence wrote:That was an enjoyable 20 minutes; thank you, Chris.

Also, that's one subtle table cloth you got there! Keep hold of that!

Thankyou, and yes indeed! I don;t think anybody even noticed a table cloth was there...

Big Jon wrote:I was in the bogs in the interval and was talking to Terry who did cluedunnit. He was well impressed by it all!

Ahhhh Terry...he was indeed man of the night!

Sorry, I realise what I wrote came across as a little critical.. and I didn't emphasise the positive points enough, but seriously, well done.
And pleased about the table cloth- making no reason for necessery compromise irritates me- I'm not saying I think everything needs to be excused verbally however. Let me explain:
The classic example of the french drop- why are you taking it with one hand to put it into the other?- because perhaps your other hand is needed for something (that's the 'excuse') but that doesn't mean the magician says 'I am putting the coin there so I can pick up the wand..' (I hate wands btw)
once again I see myself digressing so I will stop myself. But I trust my point was undestood.
Sam

A great piece of advice I got about this sort of thing, was along with the video, have just an audio recording...or in this day and age just take the audio from the video...it'll probably make you cringe.

I don't mean you in particular, but the amount of pauses that go on too long, ermms, ahhs etc...it'll make you realise the fluency of language that is achieved my many stage magicians.