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Jeff Pierce's Telepa-Three

Cost: $24.95 + P&P

Available from http://www.jeffpiercemagic.com

Catagory: Mentalism

Difficulty: 2/5 basic handling needed

They say: Not all that much really...

(A three phase ESP test!)

Imagine if you could actually read someone's mind, what would it look like? Telepa-Three is three phases, each stronger than the last, culminating with you reading your subjects mind to divine a number of ESP symbols.

I say:

"Telepa-Three" is a tidy 3-phase ESP routine that builds very comfortably and dramatically as it plays out in the spectators hands. Here's how it looks…

The spectator shuffles and cuts a set of (fully displayed and un-gaffed) ESP cards into two piles. Dividing the stacks again, a random number of cards are turned face up and are shuffled with the remaining face down cards. From across the room you direct the spectator to reassemble the mixed cards into a single stack, shuffle them again and finally cut this full stack to one of the random face up cards. From across the room the performer draws a symbol on a spiral pad and shows the drawing to the spectator…it matches the cut to card.

Still at a distance from the performer, the spectator now separates the face up and face down cards. Placing the visible face up cards to the side the spectator counts the yet unseen face down selections. Once again, from across the room, the performer writes in their pad and holds it up. The spectator is asked to announce the number of random cards left face down. The performer turns the pad to show what they have written, it is the exact number of face down cards.

Finally, the face down cards are held up by the spectator so that only they can identify them. They scan the symbols as the performer writes once again. The performer calls out shapes as they write, the spectator deals the correctly named cards onto the table until there are no cards left. The paper is immediately handed to the spectator to verify that the description of the remaining cards was correct.

To some this effect will ring bells…and it should. It's main working method is based upon a well respected technique and routine. In the instructions, Jeff Pierce openly credit's the artist who's work was an inspiration and has released this effect with their blessing.

"Telepa-Three" is a very slick use of a series of solid techniques resulting in the clean illusion of a very logical and fair demonstration of ESP powers.
There is no peeking, no use of nail writers, no gaffed cards, no reading of marks (although the cards you get are marked), no confederates and no formulas to remember. You receive an illustrated manuscript, 25 ESP cards in a plastic wallet and a small spiral bound notepad. All you will need is a pen.

There is plenty of room to customise the means and methods within the routine as offered, you aren't rigidly locked into everything so it is perfect for integrating into ones own repertoire and style. If you are a well practiced mentalist you may (perhaps not) already know what is going on in "Telepa-Three" but it's is certainly worth a serious look. If you are building your skills, techniques and reputation you would be well served indeed by this tight and convincing routine.

Overall: 8/10 Personally I think this effect will pack small (and clean) and play big for serious minded performers. It isn't ground breaking methodology but it is ROCK-SOLID and will tick all the boxes for the spectators, that's for SURE!

What a great review.

It reminds me of a great ESP routine in Osterlind's Dynamic Mysteries.

Piers.

Great review of a wonderful sounding effect. Nothing gets a spectator more when you never tough the cards. If your far away what could you do to them.

Is this very different to Beyond ESP 2? Is it worked on the same principal?

Tom Lauten wrote:There is no peeking, no use of nail writers, no gaffed cards, no reading of marks (although the cards you get are marked), no confederates and no formulas to remember.

Does that answer your question ?

Kati

Well it doesn't really Kati because it is sort of contradictory.

I would take it from the main part of this para that it is a different principal to ESP, explaining exactly why I asked the question would give away too much about ESP though.

Perhaps the question I should have asked is "is it worth having as well as Beyond ESP?" Is it different enough?

"Telepa-Three" doesn't use ANY marks on the cards supplied...it just isn't part of the method.

I use my Beyond ESP I cards with "Telepa-Three" as they look soooo innocent.

I know Beyond ESP II comes with a book of effects but as I don't have the set I can't say (for sure) that "Telepa-Three" is different (in the effect as the spectators see it) from any of the Beyond ESP II effects, but the methodology is a world apart from the basic methodology of Beyond ESP II.

Having "Telepa-Three" I can tell you I like it...will use it and can imagine others liking and using it as well as liking and using Beyond ESP I or II. They are all quality.

Is it "worth" having....I don't know how to make that call for you, that's very subjective.

Thanks Tom, it was the mention of the marks that confused me.

As to the is it worth it question, I guess that was pretty dumb! It is a very personal thing.

I like working with Beyond ESP so I may well try this as well.

Telep-A-Three by Jeff Pierce

I have now had this for a few weeks now, and have consequently tried it out tried it out in various settings, so I thought I would add my own review.

What the Audience Sees
Having spoken a little about the sort of testing Dr. JB Rhine did at the Dukes University back in the 1930's, you introduce a deck of the kind of ESP testing cards that would have been used at that time.

The cards are given to the spectator where they are repeatedly cut and thoroughly shuffled (by the spectator) until the resulting pile is a mixture of face up and face down cards.

Remember, that as soon as the cards are out of your hands, you do not touch them again until after the whole routine has been completed, whereby with very little work it is almost completely reset for the next performance.

In phase one, with your back turned, you ask the spectator to cut the deck, and you name the symbol that they cut to.

In phase two, you make a prediction about the orientation of the cards, and in phase three, they hold a selection of the cards, and you manage to successfully name all the cards that they are holding.

In fact if you wanted, phase 1, 2 and 3 could all be done blindfolded.

The instructions

It has to be said that initially I found the instructions a little confusing. I think it helped that I already new the main principle, but I suspect that anyone new to it would have struggled with the lack of clarity in places as to what was meant to be taking place.

There is also one bit in the instructions that state something can be repeated, which I would argue can not be, or at least not at the point it is mentioned.

Having said that, with a deck of the supplied cards in your hand it doesn’t take long to work out what is required, and I was soon able to run through the entire effect to my satisfaction.

The patter in the instructions is very good. Naturally there is no reason why you should feel compelled to use this patter word for word, but it is a great bonus having it included, and if you want to perform the effect as an extremely credible and authentic ESP test from the days of Dr. Rhine then frankly I doubt there is a better effect than this out there.

The Effect: Phase 1
As already discussed it is a three phase routine. After my initial quick read through, my first reaction of phase one was of disappointment as there is no guarantee that you would get a perfect hit each time.

After thinking about it though, and finally performing it (now on numerous occasions) I have re-evaluated my initial thoughts, and not only firmly believe that this first phase cannot be improved upon, I would argue that it is stronger for exactly the same reasons I initially thought it weak.

The first phase adds a level of credibility not only to itself, but also to the other two phases. It proves that this isn’t one of them fancy tricks, this is in fact a REAL ESP test.

It is interesting to see the audiences faces after that first phase, and whatever the outcome, it is fun to watch them genuinely get more attentive about what is happening and what is going to occur next.

The Effect: Phase 2
From this point on it is all self working, and there is nothing else to worry about other than presentation. The second phase builds on the “one in five chance” of the first phase, and you can almost feel the buzz of the audience as you get it right.

The Effect: Phase 3
So when you finally get the last phase correct – it really is quite astonishing to watch, and great fun to see all the open gaping mouths

Thoughts
In an ideal setting, and according to the instructions you should be doing the majority of this routine with your back to the testee. Unfortunately what you are asking them to do at the very beginning is quite complex, and frankly prone to potential mistakes that could cause problems.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a problem as long as you run through the instructions with them first and show them exactly what you want them to do, before turning your back and talking them through it step by step, but it is something to be aware of.

I am contemplating producing (for myself) an authentic looking, BIP book style pamphlet with all the relevant Duke University Logo’s on the front and explaining that we will be doing test 43b (or whatever) from the official “Duke University Paranormal Experiment” book, as written by Dr Rhine himself back in the 1930’s.

Of course this pamphlet could also be padded out with other effects from my working repertoire, like ODDS, Mental Numbers etc, and consequently add a level of consistency to the whole act. The main advantage, though is that after I walk them through what I want them to do at the start, I can have the instructions clearly laid out (in big writing) in the booklet, so that they can just follow along. I hasten to add that at this stage this is just an idea and I haven’t actually tried it yet.

I read somewhere that there weren’t many sleights with this effect. I would argue that there are NO sleights at all and that the only complexity would be making sure they understand what they need to do at the start. Having said that, the more you perform it the easier that gets, and once this has been completed, you are left in the relaxing position where the vast majority of the routine is a self worker.

As with many mentalism effect, the true art of mind with this effect is pure and simple presentation, and with the supplied patter I have found it flows beautifully.

Bottom Line
This is NOT a Mental Magic Trick, and imho should not be performed as such. This is a mentalism at it's purest. It's a very strong and very credible example of how paranormal testing took place back in the 1930’s. It can genuinely be remembered that you didn’t even touch the cards throughout the whole process.

I know I may have sounded a little critical in places, but I wanted to ensure that it was an honest review that included both good and bad points.

Overall though, I hope that it's fundamentally (I even make myself groan sometimes) clear that I really do like this effect a lot. Maybe it's just because it fits in perfectly with how I perform mentalism, but it is for me a very strong piece of mentalism.