talkmagic.co.uk

I don't want to if its just another one about how we are all fakes. If its like...

"Today Uri Geller predicted an apparantly random number, I believe he may have found a way to alter writing on paper"

... Then I'd be interested.

Eshly wrote:What were their conclusions?

Honest question, I know he is a Mentalist... wondered if he fooled em.

If you spend just one second using Google you will find the answer on the first linked article.

Mandrake wrote:Interesting train of thought: Whilst cutlery has been made for well over 1000 years, I'm wondering if the Victorians would have had disposable cutlery. Those with the cash and power would probably have the really expensive solid silver stuff and anyone bending some of it would probably be horsewhipped and hung whereas the poor would probably only have a few basic handed down items and if anyone bent those they'd probably be strangled!

Perhaps Taverns, Inns and Hotels would have cutlery to spare? Dunno really but it's worth thinking about... or not...

I think the idea of disposability only entered public consciousness post-war. Deliberately damaging a useful article would be much too wasteful to be countenanced for something as frivolous as entertainment.

Bending metal bars, pokers, etc. was done in circuses and the like as feats of strength. Bending a spoon in your bare hands wouldn't be quite so impressive!

Not sure whether the idea of psychokinesis/telekinesis was even thought of at the time. Mind reading, yes, and spirits moving things around, but not moving or changing things with one's own mind.

(By the way, Eshly, I'll be happy to add my own thoughts about the effects in question, but since I intend to save them for my birthday present, you'll have to wait until July!)

IAIN wrote:well, victorian psychics wouldnt bend metal, use book tests (apart from bibliomancy), or anything psychological...

I seem to recall ( but would have to double check this tonight) that there is a book test of sorts, in Hoffman.

but they would never bend cuttlery. In these days it was all way to expensive, and hand made.

just maybe, nails or iron bars were bent. But It's unlikely since in victorian times, magic was fasioned by the " sciences".

Take Houdin's suspension etherine as an example. Magic, dressed up to look scientific.
maskelyne and devant had an educated fish, which would spell out words in an aquarium... they wouldnt spell out the words themselves.

but they did have the triangle, a classic piece of mentalism that is still popular today.
And Houdini, and the spirit busters.. exposing effects that today would be classed as mentalism, but then was atributed to the spirits.

mentalism was around. It was just not that big a deal at the time.

Hi guys!

Sorry I'm late to the party!

I'm Paul...the creator of Test Conditions, Symbolism, and Animania.

I'm glad I found this thread, as I don't get on here too much.

Thanks for the positive words to those of you who have these cards.

I will try answer some of Eshly's questions.

In regards to the psychological aspects, all three cards have 'bonus' effects that are explained as Subliminal Programming, and use some psychology to achieve the desired result, but even if you miss, the spectators won't know it because you'll never reveal the "Subliminal" item.

The "Test Conditions" card has one "main" item, "Random Targets", that uses psychology completely...but anyone should get a high hit rate with this one.

There are 2 other main items on the card, a "Country Test" and a "Word Test". The country test doesn't use psychology and 100% of the time you will correctly reveal a thought of country.

The "Word Test" technically could be called "Psychological", but not in the traditional sense that most of us think of. Basically, you reveal a thought of word. After hundreds of performances, I've only missed this 3 times...and the most recent time the person was a little drunk (poor choice of spectator on my part). I explain how to recover from this in the manual. So technically, this "Word Test" is not 100%, but is close to it.

Symbolism has 2 main effects, one of which relies on psychology (again with a high hit rate), and the instructions explain how to easily make this 100%.

The 2nd main effect does not rely on psychology, and involves reading the minds of 3 or 4 spectators at once.

Animania's main effect does not rely on psychology and works 100% of the time. The nice thing about Animania is that you can reveal several thoughts as the spectator has them.

I can say with complete confidence that the "ad copy" for all 3 is 100% accurate.

If you've read the reviews on the Cafe, none of the reviewers there (or anywhere) have any financial stake in the product.

One recent review that I came across for ANIMANIA can be found here:

http://mylovelyassistant.com/reviews/view/2290

Check out the products at:

http://mentalvoyage.com

Thanks for the interest!

Paul

PS: Be on the lookout for the "Test Book-Book Test"

Thanks for the info Paul!

I waited patiently until my birthday to open my set, and now after a suitable period of study and admiration all three cards are going into my wallet.

I do like the fact that they're similar enough that you can follow one with another if you like to make a longer routine, but different enough that you can pick and choose to suit different situations.

My favourite is probably "Animania". Possibly because I like animals and words! It's a wonderful twist on a classic principle. "Symbolism" is just too sneaky for words.

Robbie,

I'm glad you like the cards!

Don't underestimate the Test Conditions card...especially the Word Test...It kills!

Be sure to check out the latest card in the series:

LEXICOLOGY

http://mentalvoyage.com/index_files/Page666.htm