To truly appreciate Alan Strydom's *Creating Impact*, you have to use it. To properly use it, you have to be well-versed in the skills of a mystery entertainer. This is NOT a simple magic trick!

It's not an effect at all, when you come right down to it. It's a presentation, another miniature piece of theatre which plays best for an audience of one. And there's no obligation to let that one person know that they're in the middle of a theatrical piece which they themselves are writing. It has been compared to a Darren Brown book without obscenities; I declare it better.

Alan freely and joyfully confesses there is nothing new in the effects at all. Some card matching, a force, a design duplication, and some subliminal suggestion. Remember Kreskin's claim that there is no hypnosis, only suggestion? That's what Alan demonstrates here - a method to control a single person. If done properly, you could almost predict their dialogue.

This is probably more power than you're used to. Unless you've had advanced training, steer clear of this manuscript. There is too much power involved. With lesser performers, this is only "how to get girls through their minds and feelings." You would be opening a Pandora's box that you'd have no ability to close.

Alan has kept this underground for awhile, and I urged him to not release it. At a minimum, I suggested he charge a much, much higher fee if he released it to the general magic public -- and I'm sad to see it openly discussed on the Café. I'd hoped he'd make it a very limited release -- perhaps no more than 50 copies.

As it is, I public'ly urge Alan to pull this from the market at the earliest possible opportunity. *C.I.* gives away too much -- it shows how to manipulate one person into practically doing your will.

It encroaches into the realm of real power. That makes it much more than just another card trick.

*jeep!
--Granpa Chet (accept no substitutes)

I agree that this is good stuff ... Following is an excerpt of what I sent Alan directly:

I really like this multi-phase routine and much enjoyed reading the manuscript. "Creating Impact" has everything a good mentalism routine should:

1) Each effect builds upon the strength of the previous one, starting from "possible coincidence" and ending with "No F***in way".
2) It is logical.
3) It is topical. I feel the use of "The Secret is" is excellent. I haven't read it yet, but my wife has a copy. It's next on my list of "need to reads".
4) It is easy and clean in methodology (but I realize that GOOD mentalism isn't easy to present, not everyone can do it).

Like Craig Browning said on the Mentalist Sanctum, it is "innocent looking and clean". The handling of the "magician's choice" is one of the highlights and I love the tie to with the Simple ESP Card Reading System. The use of "Wonder Words", NLP, and participant management is well thought-out an represented.

I recently purchased a couple of inexpensive Piatt Caper Cases and am going to try to use one permanently set up for this routine and play with it a bit.
I might not have any paid performances to try this out for a while, plan to try it on some non-magician friends.

I REALLY think this is worth the $22. If you are serious about mentalism, I suggest you buy this and STUDY it before presenting the routine.

Dave Birtwell

I've been working with "Creating Impact" and it is very good.

The routine is very well thought out, the instructions are clear and concise.

For $22.00, this is a steal. I value Alan's thinking and his use of hypnosis in conversation is also very good. I also checked out his ESP Card Reading System, and the two can be combined into a very strong reading and demonstration combo.

Typically, I am against using the effects of mentalism during readings, but they go together so well, begging to be utilized as such.

"Creating Impact" really inspired me. It was a great reminder of how we can get a ton of mileage out of very little, and make what we do MATTER.

I recommend it.

Best,
Jerome.

Hi guys,

I sent off payment yesterday - what is the usual turnaround time to receive the manuscript from Alan? I am looking forward to reading this!

Bruce

For those not in Canada, a couple of hours.

Each one in personalized, you should have it soon.

Tony

We Canadians ain't that far away via the net

HI Bruce

Thank you for your interest. Didn't you receive Creating Impact? It was sent off 28 February 07:10 AM (my time).

I also sent out a notification of the newsletter to you at 28 February 11:07 PM (my time)... did you get this?

Please let me know.

Alan

Ps. Although my browser says that I posted at 01:30am, it's actually 08:30am here. Us South Africans are only separated from you Canadians by internet time! But this also means that I can accurately predict your future because we're ahead of you! (I think.. it's too early to be accurate, I need coffee first! )

If you sit down and do one on one readings, this manuscript seems to have huge value... nicely done, well written. It almost makes me want to do that kind of work, but I'm not quite yet at that level.

Best of luck Alan,

jF

Thanx for your reviews guys!

jF, just a quick note - Creating Impact isn't really about readings, although it is best one-on-one (maybe with a group of people looking on). I've done this routine at coffee shops, dinner parties, get togethers with friends, and for potential clients. The reading aspect doesn't always feature, but I did want to point out the potential for it in the manuscript.

More than that, the structure and script of Creating Impact is meant to inspire your thinking in new directions. One such direction which I'll be talking about more in the future is participant-based focus of attention, vs performer-based focus of attention, refering to the entertainment value of such routines.

Just give it a try "as is", and see the impact. Then build from that.

-Alan

Alan, I love your ideas but I'm having trouble reconciling that with my deep, abiding disliike of The Secret. I was unpleasantly shocked when I saw the routine using the movie as a theme.

I do understand that you are providing a framework and that another theme could be used in place of The Secret with some reworking. However when you write, "Whether you believe what this movie proposes or not," I first felt relief, expecting the end of the sentence to be, "you'll find Creating Impact a useful adjunct to your knowledge." When instead the sentence ended in "you'll find it an excellent source of metaphysical insight," I was taken aback.

The Secret, in my opinion, is the antithesis of metaphsyics and spirituality. I beieve its message is inane and potentially harmful. There are nuggets of truth within the movie but they are overshadowed by boulders of B.S.

I am blown away by the number of intelligent people being taken in by this crass marketing device. All you have to do is go to the website and it is obvious that "the secret" is about how to make the people involved in the film rich. Each "talking head" has a link to sell their own high priced self-help material. The site offers The Secret DVD, soundtrack, book, etc. and the opportunity to purchase a one time viewing for $4.95.

Yet there is a message that The Secret will really only soak in after repeated watchings. One fan(atic) bristled at the idea that I would watch it once. "No, you have to buy it so you can watch over and over." Great marketing, scarily cynical.

And this is all exacerbated by the suggestion to watch this highly manipulative movie repeatedly. The use of graphics, VO, drama and other effects appear designed to lull you into a state where you'll believe things you otherwise wouldn't. Sometimes known as a form of brainwashing. The injunction to watch it agaqin and again fits this scenario like a glove.

I do not object to you or Creating Impact, Alan, but I do object to The Secret. I do understand, and defend, your rights to voice your opinions and beliefs.

In this instance, I believe we are dealing with an issue where people need to hear the other side. Especially when you start linking from your website to sites to purchase The Secret and all the related marketing tie-ins.

Should this be an area of interest to other Café members, I am more than willing to discuss in more detail my objections to The Secret. I've only skimmed the surface so far.

That being said, buy Alan's Creating Impact. It is well thought out and there is much to learn from the pacing and construction Alan teaches. It is also a lesson in using simple effects that build to maximum impact. Just do a Secretectomy !

Best of Thoughts,

Bill

Bill- your post stopped me cold.

I find it very interesting to read what you think. I in no way no anything about this effect the thread is about, so maybe we can move this discussion. But I wanted to post here in response to your post.

I am disturbed by the movie The Secret as well. I own it. I've also enjoyed it. But...

Anyway, what are your other thoughts? I'd love to talk more on this issue. As it stands I love the movie, and depise it as well. I have many thoughts on this 'new storm' taking the country.

Hi Alan,

I found your e-mail in my SPAM account - it must have created so much Impact the spam filter thought it was about viagra or something! Well, I suppose this manuscript is all about mentalism enhancement!!!!

Skimming it now - looks great!

All the best,

Bruce

Where the heck have I been? I've never even heard of this movie.

It's not such a big Secret

Hi Bill, thanx for your honest review. I appreciate honesty and welcome healthy debate. Allow me to try and clarify some things for you and address your points of concern:

You've noted correctly that the main thrust of Creating Impact is really about how the routine is structured and layered, so as to give the participant a very real experience. This is the reason I decided to share it, as it shows another direction that mentalism can take. I really hope to inspire performers to consider alternatives to the way we normally present our routines. I have many such ideas.

Now, to The Secret:

I have been studying various philosophies for more than 15 years now, and the principles within The Secret really sum up those philosophies. I'm not trying to promote The Secret in any way except for performers who have bought Creating Impact and who may want to know more - that's the reason I provided the links. You obviously don’t have to purchase anything else in order to do the routine in Creating Impact.

The tie in with Creating Impact is really about my fascination with the concept of creating reality. The routine acts as a foundation for someone to experience what it could feel like to do this. However, it doesn't provide absolute proof. (In fact, nothing really does.) The Secret in this instance is just a topical theme for the moment that many can relate to.

I’d like to address some of your other points but I don’t think this the right place in the forum. I’d be happy to debate your points elsewhere though. Just say where.

I don't think the The Secret or the concept is taking the country by storm. What is in the movie is a flowery way of saying what respected speakers have been saying for a long time.

Anyway, enough on that.

I may have been one of the first to buy Creating Impact. I thought that it was doable for a group, I am not interested in performing a super powerful effect one on one.

I think the content of the PDF is great. Nothing bad to say about it. I may even read it all more thoroughly one day and get some ideas.

But, for me, the bottom line is: I would rather blow away an entire room full of people with something like Rick Maue's Mixed Emotions than work my tail off wowing one person.

Mixed Emotions takes about 5 minutes to "get" and it can be performed for hundreds.

Again, nothing wrong with Creating Impact just not something that I will work on for the payoff.

John

Actually John, one of the settings Alan recommends performing the routine is at a dinner party. Yes, this is for a small audience but certainly will play well before more than one person.

To Alan, I apologize as this wasn't the place to vent about The Secret. I think it was appropriate to bring up given the plot of your routine but the ratio of my words on The Secret to my words on Creating Impact was way off.

I'm not looking to debate The Secret. I'd much rather talk about all the strengths in Creating Impact!

First, the recognition that telling stories that are congruent with your belief system makes for strong presentations is right on. Like we all learned in English class, write what you know.

Alan's provides a tutorial on equivoque as applied to an effect in the routine that is instructive and can be used in many ways. The primer in conversational hypnosis and suggestion is concise summary that many people will find useful. And again, these are principles that can enhance ANY effect.

The routine is also an excellent opportunity to work with a pendulum. I think it would be a great way for a pendulum novice to get some experience and knowledge with ideomotor responses. There are some safety nets provided that folks who've never used a pendulum will appreciate. But even for someone like me who has been swinging a pendulum for about as long as I can remember it is nice to have a new routine with a kick.

The most important part of Creating Impact is that it is a lesson in structuring a routine for maximum effect. Alan's ideas in this area apply to an audience of one or one thousand.

Thanks Bill, it sounds like a very good manuscript.

That's what its about Bill! Thanx for that review.

Hey guys,
I posted this in Penny for your thoughts section also to let people know what I thought off this e-book. Here is my review.

Creating Impact

I printed this e-book out on my laser printer and then binded it with my bookbinder machine. It made for a good size book. I then sat down in my favorite chair and got comfortable.

Opening the book I was pleasantly surprised to see that the book had been personalized. It said, “This e-book was purchased by;” and then it had my name and address.

At first I was a little taken back when I started reading. Alan has chosen to explain the effects of Creating Impact by telling a story. It was a story of him performing for a lady at a coffee shop. I read about half the page and thought, “What the heck, how am I going to learn anything from this?”

But I pressed on in my reading and as I turn the first page I found myself being pulled into his world. I could see myself sitting there at the table drinking coffee and talking to this lady.

As I was reading the story of Alan’s performance I was really surprised. I was able to see how he had been able to place so many ideas and methods of suggestion into his presentation. He used conversational hypnotic language and tactics to stir the emotions of the lady during each phase of the routine.

After a little small talk he goes into a very short cold reading. He then sets the framework around the effects as he quickly builds rapport. He used the theme of the movie The Secret to blend all these effects together. This gave his presentation meaning, which held everything together. When I seen that he talked about the movie The Secret I felt it was a smart ploy to help move the effects along and to tie everything into a framework that was 100% related.

If you do not like the book/movie The Secret do not worry. The theme can be anything that you decide on. From reading the story you will quickly get the idea how to theme your own presentation. Just make a theme that you feel will fit you better. I found no concern about this; after all as performers aren’t we supposed to make effects our own and to give it our own personality?

I’ve studied hypnosis years ago and have a good understanding of the use of suggestions. I just smiled when I seen these methods being used while reading the story. He also demonstrated the use of anchoring within the context of this routine.

Alan didn’t pull any punches in creating this routine. What I liked most about the story part of the book was that you could see how a pro handles the sitter.

You get to see how he hooks and moves the emotions of the lady. There is even a clever use of a pendulum, which is handled by the lady!

The last effect is the icing on the cake. It concludes the presentation with a bang. I don’t want to tell you the effects because they are not that earth shattering. Most of us have done effects similar to these. The gem of this routine is not the effects but the presentation that moves this to a higher caliber of mentalism.

I recommend this to anyone wanting to Create Impact in his or her act.

I am pleased with this routine, as I am now Creating Impact!



Best
Ray Noble