Just a quick "heads up" to let you guys know my favourite UK Mentalist Looch has today released 2 products. They are "Here's To You Mr Robinson" and "IRIS".
I give them my highest recommendation after first read through and will follow up with a review.
If anyone has Loochs' AREA Book Test (no longer available), his lecture at Penguin or any of his other brilliant products then you know his work is innovative, hard hitting and of the highest quality.
He is also a good guy, will give you an honest answer if you ask him a question and offers a great service to his customers.
Rather than give links here on a public forum to the products, recommend you contact Looch directly for further information djlooch@gmail.com

Thanks for the info, I like Looch´s material so... curious about this

I have purchased these I will be reading through them and leaving a review shortly I have everything looch has put out so I'm confident that this material willbe top notch .

Regards Carl

Hi Paul

Thanks for mentioning the 2 new releases, I sent out a newsletter to my mailing list to advise them. Ive had some PM's and emails from others enquiring about what the fuss is about, as a result I thought it would be easier to give the info direct to access my site...

http://www.looch.co.uk/products

password: warhead

All digital downloads are manually processed. I send out passwords when I receive the email from the store.

hope that helps

I just ordered Iris. Im looking forward to read it. I will give a review after this.

I've always been interested in incorporating a 'criminal/crime' themed routine to my show so when I read the 'blurb' on HTYMR it immediately caught my eye. <BR> <BR>Ordinarily I don't pull the trigger and purchase until I've read reviews or had an effect recommended by people I know or if I the creators previous offerings. Suffice it to say I like Looch's stuff and I purchased HTYMR. I'm glad I did. <BR> <BR>HTYMR is a performance piece involving you and a participant delving into the psyche of the criminal mind, specifically one 'Mr Gerald Robinson', hence the title. <BR> <BR>Via a series of 'phases' in the routine the performer builds up a criminal profile of the participant demonstrating that they have a very criminal mind indeed. In fact the participant is able to divine information about Mr Robinson's crimes that only Mr Robinson himself, or someone close to him, would have been privy to. The upshot/finale is that the participant themselves is revealed as being one of Mr Robinson's accomplices. <BR> <BR>The phases involve various props. You have artifacts, mug shots, police psychological profiles, police notebooks, etc. I like the physicality of the props and the way Looch incorporates them into the routine. Their inclusion is logical (and integral to the various methods at work) and they provide an air of authenticity to proceedings. The props and stuff are things you'd have to print out and prepare for yourself which will take a while but is worth the effort. <BR> <BR>For me, the value of HTYMR (or other effects like it) is in how it sparks my own creativity. Before I got to the end I had loads of ideas as to how I'd put my own spin on it. <BR> <BR>For example, TV shows like CSI (pick your city), Criminal Minds and The Mentalist are a perfect lead-in to the routine. I'd give it more of a 'roleplay' feel with me playing the role of the Lead Investigator and the participant playing the role of a 'Forensic Psychologist' brought in to help 'crack' the case. At the end, rather than the participant being revealed as an 'accomplice' of Mr Robinson as in the original routine, I'd reveal the participant to actually BE Mr Robinson. <BR> <BR>All good stuff just as I've come to expect from Looch. <BR> <BR>Regards, <BR>Lar.

There was a Café glitch which is why my previous post has all those <BR> tags, hence this repost.

I've always been interested in incorporating a 'criminal/crime' themed routine to my show so when I read the 'blurb' on HTYMR it immediately caught my eye.

Ordinarily I don't pull the trigger and purchase until I've read reviews or had an effect recommended by people I know or if I the creators previous offerings. Suffice it to say I like Looch's stuff and I purchased HTYMR. I'm glad I did.

HTYMR is a performance piece involving you and a participant delving into the psyche of the criminal mind, specifically one 'Mr Gerald Robinson', hence the title.

Via a series of 'phases' in the routine the performer builds up a criminal profile of the participant demonstrating that they have a very criminal mind indeed. In fact the participant is able to divine information about Mr Robinson's crimes that only Mr Robinson himself, or someone close to him, would have been privy to. The upshot/finale is that the participant themselves is revealed as being one of Mr Robinson's accomplices.

The phases involve various props. You have artifacts, mug shots, police psychological profiles, police notebooks, etc. I like the physicality of the props and the way Looch incorporates them into the routine. Their inclusion is logical (and integral to the various methods at work) and they provide an air of authenticity to proceedings. The props and stuff are things you'd have to print out and prepare for yourself which will take a while but is worth the effort.

For me, the value of HTYMR (or other effects like it) is in how it sparks my own creativity. Before I got to the end I had loads of ideas as to how I'd put my own spin on it.

For example, TV shows like CSI (pick your city), Criminal Minds and The Mentalist are a perfect lead-in to the routine. I'd give it more of a 'roleplay' feel with me playing the role of the Lead Investigator and the participant playing the role of a 'Forensic Psychologist' brought in to help 'crack' the case. At the end, rather than the participant being revealed as an 'accomplice' of Mr Robinson as in the original routine, I'd reveal the participant to actually BE Mr Robinson.

All good stuff just as I've come to expect from Looch.

Regards,
Lar.

Sounds interesting. Thanks Lar.

Thankyou for your review Lar, Im really happy that you got so much from HTYMR. Its a routine from 2007 that is solid yet so easy from a method POV. One of the things I wanted to keep at the forefront of my mind when developing it was to allow it to be customised and dressed up in any way that readers may want to. That way the routine can be personalised by any performer to put their own spin on it.

Michael Murray has also reviewed HTYMR here: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......um=218&0

It sound interesting. Is HTYMR a routine for stage or close-up, perhaps both?

Stage & Parlour but I'm getting feedback that some are coming up with close up versions

A couple of people are asking what is HTMR? For reference I'm including the original blurb below:

Original 2007 Blurb by Marc Elsdon

With ‘Here’s To You Mr Robinson’ Looch has raised the bar in terms of theatrical mentalism. Whether as a stand-alone after-dinner parlour performance piece or as the closer to a cabaret mentalism show, this fully-fledged professional routine will provide any audience with a stimulating, engaging and entertaining experience.

Themed around the newspaper report of a thief pulling off a series of daring heists, this 20-minute routine involves co-incidence, psychological influence, prediction and mind-reading. These elements are combined into a seamless presentation that draws the spectators into a tale of robbery and police investigation where nothing is quite what it seems…

This booklet contains almost everything you need to perform this incredible routine: full handling details of every technical aspect of the method, illustrated instructions on how to make up the required gaffs, a PDF containing all the artwork and documents for you to print out and finally, Looch’s complete script, honed over dozens of performances.

This all adds up to a great deal – a stunning, practical routine featuring several mind-bending effects, accomplished by delightfully low-tech methods, presented with a professional, scripted presentation and all for less than the cost of a pair of Marc Spelmann’s seal-fur boxer shorts!

This is great. Very thorough and sad! In the best possible way.

I've a few parties booked and this will gladly do the trick!

Grab a copy!!!

I was lucky enough to read 'Here's to you..' a couple of years ago and loved it. I'm glad it's finally been released to a wider audience along with Looch's new Iris.

I've missed reading Looch's simple, bright and practical ideas.

How man props do you need to actually find in stores that are not included as a pdf and are they difficult to find?

Thank you.

Michael

Your local Office Supply store will have all of the stuff you need, notably paper, envelopes and a small notebook, pretty standard stuff most of which you may already have. Looch recommends using a 'box file' for one particular aspect of the routine. I'm thinking of doing that bit differently so I don't need the 'box file'.

Most of the props you'll print out so you'll need a color printer for that.

You'll also need a physical Gold Watch and a Diamond (or Diamonds). If you have a spare Gold Rolex lying around and you can pinch some of your Wife's jewelry without her noticing then they should work fine. If not, then faux items will do the job just as well.

Regards,
Lar.

I raided an old drawer at my parents house for the watch I use. The diamonds are jewellry / costume ones from eBay. All in all, I spent the grand total of £4 for a box file / notepad & Jewell's

Liar and Looch,

THank you very much. I look forward in getting it...except for the real gold Rolex.

Michael

Couple of PM's asking about the type of audience this plays well for. Teens > adults > seniors HTYMR will play for all three types using the script provided.

In regards to how much prep is needed. The booklet provides 90% of what you need, its a case of print out. The rest will cost next to nothing and will take about 90 min to prep.

Once done, you wont need to prepare anything else in the future.

Hope that answers any questions people have about the prep. The structure of the routine is really something I am proud of, I do hope you enjoy it.

Kind regards