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hackmonkey Inner circle England 1093 Posts |
Bevbevvybev if I understand you correctly you are looking for a matching non-gimmicked item? If you live in London 'Davernports magic' in Charing Cross station sell the X-pert at about £20 and the matching item at £2. 'Office world' a large chain of stores also sells two-packs of them for about £2.50, I hope that helps.
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bevbevvybev Inner circle UK 2672 Posts |
Hackmonkey -
I actually found them at viking direct, they do them for 1.60 each So I ordered 12 But it's nice to know that davenports do them |
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-10-23 09:14, Harvey Nerzof wrote: Actually, the value of the product is in the routines one can do with it. All four of the routines included in the booklet accompanying The Xpert are very strong. The Out Of Body coin effect, as well as the Coin Bending variant of it, consistently draw gasps from lay audiences. But don't just take my word for it. Read the experiences of performers who have actually used The Xpert in front of real audiences -- or better yet, try it yourself, Mr. Nerzof. It would certainly be more illuminating than picking apart its methodology in a vacuum. Also, as explained earlier, Knepper's book (love it or hate it) is not the first iteration of this principle, just the most recently well known. If there is a "first buttonhole," it would have to be Larry Becker. Quote:
You are pulling a prop out of your pocket – or at least it will be perceived that way in many situations. People usually do not Quote:
On the contrary, most performers DO carry around this item Quote:
Who cares if PERFORMERS carry around this item??? Work with the audience's assumptions in mind, not the performers!!!!! Your audience's assumptions are based on context. If I were working at an event as a performer, it wouldn't be at all out of the ordinary for me to be carrying the ungimmicked item; it's a perfectly natural item for a performer to be carrying on his person in this context. In fact, if I had a nickel for every perfomer I had ever seen carrying this ungimmicked item, I'd have my own island by now. If your sole focus is on casual and apparently impromptu performances (a piece of information which was not communicated in your initial review), then I would see your point: if I were at the beach with the kids and were suddenly asked to show a piece of mentalism completely out of the blue, then The Xpert wouldn't be exactly ideal. On the other hand, if it were a work day and I had my briefcase, it would be terrific, as plenty of people carry around the ungimmicked item in their briefcases (and they aren't all magicians by any stretch of the imagination.) Quote:
"Easy magic tricks?" They're my favorite kind, Mr. Nervof, because they permit me to do something you haven't done: build Quote:
Good for you... but why start with the wrong buttonhole? Why obsess on your bias against the methodology's lineage? It has no bearing on reactions in the real world. Irrelevant Goethe quotations aside, it isn't the "wrong buttonhole" that's the problem, Mr. Nerzof. It's the wrong garment: you've selected a judge's robe, when you should have tried on a performer's suit first.
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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eggshell Regular user Chorley, England 146 Posts |
One thing that bothers me, especially with constant reference to how good the coin tricks are with Xpert, is that I would have a job finding an ungimmicked "item" that didn't work in exactly the same way as Xpert with coins. Am I missing something here ??? Is the brand that is used so much different to other brands in this regard ?
Visit my blog at : http://thewizardsball.blogspot.com/
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-10-23 15:06, eggshell wrote: I've PMed you.
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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Mark Rough Inner circle Ivy, Virginia 2110 Posts |
Let me just say this. I got my xpert about a month and a half ago. I started using it to do the Out of Body Coin effect FROM THE STAGE!! WITH A PENNY!! I used a presentation inspired by Derren Brown's Smoke. Different effect of course, but the coin disappears and reappears in a spectators pack of cigarettes (which was not easy to set up by the way). Great reactions, great magic. I admit, when I first saw it I thought, "Yeah, okay, but that's so simple." Then it hit me how cool this really is. No one sees it coming. It's something you need to spend some time thinking about to see all the possible uses.
Mark
What would Wavy do?
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John Clarkson Special user Santa Barbara, CA 749 Posts |
I got my XPert about a week ago and have been playing with it pretty regularly. To address some of the thoughts posted here:
1) Yes, it is a utility item. Some like to refer to it as a gimmick. Somehow, "gimmick" seems a bit disrespectful. The XPert is psychologically invisible because it is so natural to the context that no one will suspect it and because what you use it for, if your presentation is even half-way decent, is incidental to what the spectators perceive the effect to be. I have been testing this theory by switching it and leaving the "real McCoy" on my working surface. No one's eyes even go there. Admittedly, my sample is small, so I will keep you posted. If anyone ever grabs for or even looks in its direction it after the effect, I'll let you know. 2) For me, the value of a utility item is two-fold:
(b) how much it inspires me to think of other ways to accomplish the same effect without it. 3) Do I have any reservations about it? Only one very minor one. And, frankly, I'm not even sure how valid it is. Part of the XPert's invisibility is because it appears to be an item that is common in this country. That may be lost in some other countries. Do not, however, let this discourage you. The other reasons that the XPert is psychologically invisible (see above) are strong enough. Neil, thanks for the great utility item. It's worth much more than the minor investment of its price.
John D. Clarkson, S.O.B. (Sacred Omphaloskeptic Brotherhood)
Cozener "There is nothing more important to a magician than keeping secrets. Probably because so many of them are Gay." —Peggy, from King of the Hill (Sleight of Hank) |
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eggshell Regular user Chorley, England 146 Posts |
Having spoken in PM with Neil and having a clearer understanding about Xpert I'd say that John's review is absolutely spot on.
Visit my blog at : http://thewizardsball.blogspot.com/
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rmbrannon New user Georgia 32 Posts |
Just received Xpert , and I must say it is very clever, thanks.
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Bill Hallahan Inner circle New Hampshire 3222 Posts |
The idea of the Xpert is brilliant because of its simplicity.
I got Xpert last night, and I just read the routines that came with it. It will be a while before I perform with this, so perhaps it’s not fair for me to judge it yet, but I already really like this. I can see that it is a ubiquitous tool. I’m already thinking up new ideas for it. Routines that use the Xpert depend on its subtlety. And it is VERY subtle. Spectators are not going to pay any attention to it. I know this because I have used the original look-alike item many times. I like the booklet of routines that come with the Xpert. There are four effects in this booklet. These are great as written, but these can easily be both extended and modified. This is a very good purchase.
Humans make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to create boredom. Quite astonishing.
- The character of ‘Death’ in the movie "Hogswatch" |
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Decker Loyal user Hades 211 Posts |
Well I got this and here is what I think.
The Xpert by Neil Tobin Quality: 9/10 There is no doubt the quality of the device is exceptional in construction. It requires some thought to storage or it will not work properly when you pull it out next (the gimmick has a sedimentary nature) There is a moderately reliable solution to this which has not failed me yet. It is the nature of this that makes the quality slightly imperfect. Manuscript: 9/10 The liturature that comes with the device is well thought out, written and produced. The content of course is the important factor in the rating of it, so where does it stand? I'm going to say something that needs qualification. The Xpert will get you results If you perform these types of effects. There are ways to achieve similar effects with methods many magi will think are superior. Infact, if you do sleight of hand magic you will know ways to transpose coins without marking them before doing so. If you don't see marking a coin with an X any real benefit to PROVE it has transposed... maybe do more research on this. Usefulness: 2/10 Out-Of Body Xpert is the first effect in the book. It is essentially stealing a coin, from a pile of coins in a spectator's hands from across the room. If the description does not turn you off and instead turns you on then maybe this is your kind of magic. But note that the pile of coins, and marking the coin with an X and noting its date are part of it you cannot deter from. Scotch & Soda is cleaner. If you prefer not to use a gimmick like S & S there are sleight of hand versions of it too! the pile of coins IMHO is a step backwards, though I acknowledge it is a clever idea. Xpert Epic seemed redeeming to me until I really thought about it. The effect is that you number 3 post cards on the blank side, and reveal 3 predictions. The post cards are necessary though, and not the cleanest way to do this effect since you write the prediciton on the picture side of the card. This effect tries to hard to disguise the gimmick. The post cards cannot be just any post cards you get (well they can, but you must prepare them and you would have certain restrictions dealing with visibility of the prediction written) clearly the best way to make everything visible to all is to use something like 4X6 notecards and write big. You could do that, but in order to make the Xpert work you must prepare the cards, which will make them unnatural. The manuscript obviously suggests postcards to seemingly give purpose to the type of cards used in this particular effect. There are MUCH better ways of getting this effect. Xpert X-ed Card had some potential until I read the set-up. Any card effect requires specially prepared cards. In the case of playing cards I could buy cards already prepared, but they would be the sort of deck that would otherwise be the last you would see me performing magic with. These are the picture decks with flowers and animals and other hokey pictures on them, and most are in bridge size. Supposedly Neil intends to solve this problem, and make Bikes, Bees etc work with the Xpert. That may pique my interest. Xpert Vampire Hunter is Great! It reminds me of Burger's style. I like it. Unfortunately it suffers the same fate as all the card plots with respect to the Xpert's nature. This effect could be streamlines WITHOUT the Xpert. I definately like the plot, but I could do without this particular method of achieving it. Lastly, these are not the only effect one can do with the expert. If the above effects are not your style maybe you will come up with ones that are using the gimmick. I don't mark coins, or use flower backed bridge cards so at the moment the device waits to be unleashed in its honorary place reigning over the other things in my junk box. Conclusion- If you are one of the FEW like me who are not willing to mark coins with an X, in a pile of coins then this may not be for you. Honestly the most powerful application I can think of is not even written up, which is the bending effect. But even then, I would choose Silver Shifter over this method. It is my belief that SUBJECTIVE rather than OBJECTIVE critiques are most valueable. If I were to rate it based on its cleverness I would give it a 10, but I cannot do that. This device is not useful to ME. For you it may be greatly different.
"He had alot to say... He had alot of nothing to say..." --MJK
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Ramsay Special user England 638 Posts |
I have not yet noticed anyone mentioning Terri Rogers actually being (i believe) one of the first to use this principle.
To me the Xpert is well worth the asking price and will open some interesting doors for many people. L. |
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-10-25 17:22, Ramsay wrote: Hi, Luke -- Actually, Paul Hallas mentioned Terri Rogers on October 15. Thanks for the kind words! And thank you, Decker, for your opinion. To clarify a few points, however, I must add that what makes the coin effects work is that they are so obviously not accomplished with sleight of hand, and that your audience will remember you using only the coins from their pocket. If you haven't tried it, please give it a go. It's extremely powerful. (As is the bending effect posted on my site, in the free bonus routines.) I should also add that the Epic effect doesn't have to be done with postcards -- although I think that promotional postcards with your likeness and contact info is a very savvy way to present this effect, since everything is left with the audience. Oz at Penguinmagic.com performs a credible Xpert demo using his business cards (a variation mentioned in the booklet). Lastly, you may be surprised to know that none of the decks I use with The Xpert feature bunnies or duckies, and in fact look very much like Aviators (you can see them on my site, in the accessories portion of the Products section). Best, Neil
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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eggshell Regular user Chorley, England 146 Posts |
Decker raises some very valid points with regards to the effects that come with Xpert and I think that, at the end of the day as per John Clarksons review, this will all come down to how people use their imaagination with this utility.
One idea that has occurred to me is that you could have a very interesting denouement to a three card monte routine. Go through the three card monte as per usual and, when you have finished amazing the spector with that, say that you don't blame them for getting caught as it is hard enough even without cards. Ask them for the loan of 3 coins. Say in the UK it would be 2 X £1 coins and a 50 pence piece. If they haven't got these you could use your own as they can be handed out to be examined at the beginning of the trick. Let them check the coins then put the two one pound coins tails down on the table and mark the 50 pence piece with the specs intials on the tails side which you alo place tail down. Bit of humour here when you move the coins around so they can't find their coin (hello, it is a different coin to the other two !!) and the the climax is that you turn all the coins tails up and their initialled coin is no longer the 50 pence but one of the £1 coins. These are all examinable as well. Of course you'll have to think up your own patter for this effect and I'll leave this to Xpert owners to figure out the how but it shows that there are other effects with this utility if you give it a bit of thought.
Visit my blog at : http://thewizardsball.blogspot.com/
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-10-26 10:15, eggshell wrote: Great to see your wheels are already turning, Eggshell! For a version of this in which the participant comes out a winner instead of a loser, I recommend reading Kenton Knepper's "Nickels" routine in his booklet, X.
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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only4card New user 99 Posts |
I received it today. But I found the gimmick is the same as John Michael Talbol's Portable Hole. A little disappointed .
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-10-26 11:08, only4card wrote: So am I. I'm looking into it now. Thanks for the tip!
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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Peo Olsson Inner circle Stockholm, Sweden 3260 Posts |
Neil
I have sent you a PM regarding the Xpert.
Pictured to the left my hero and me during FISM 2006 in Stockholm.
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Necromancer Inner circle Chicago 3076 Posts |
Special reminder to everybody who already has The Xpert: I'm still reviewing submissions for the followup booklet due out in the Spring. Feel free to send your original routine ideas to neil@necromancerevents.com
I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks, Neil
Creator of The Xpert (20 PAGES of reviews!), Cut & Color, Hands-Off Multiple ESP (HOME) System, Rider-Waite Readers book, Zoom Pendulum ebook ...
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rmoraleta Special user Philippines 767 Posts |
For me, it's great product!
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