I love everything about this but especially that it can be done impromptu with a borrowed deck of cards. I did that today and there response was that I should be burned at the stake which I take as a compliment. Yes the script is from the psychological approach but it doesn't take a lot to adapt the script to a mind reading presentation. Lickwise if you are a cockney wide boy like me you have to slightly adapt the script because the Atlas charm might not quite fit your rough edges (although I still aspire to be as charming as Atlas).

Mark

I just want to say that Atlas is such a nice guy. Really kind and helpful. I was a little worrie about my presentation and upon sending him a video of me performing. He took the time to write detailed pieces of advice and tips to make it as best as it could possibly be. He absolutely didn't have to do that, but he took the time out of his schedule to watch a video of a 16 year old badly performing his and Andrews brilliant effect. That is awesome service. And you don't find that kind of generosity often. I'm extremely impressed.

Atlas is one of the nicest guys in the business he has given me help and encouragement and feedback on my ideas and has been kind enough to share some of his ideas with me. Atlas is very generous with his time, experience and friendship.

Having said all that my review of Crusade is based solely on the quality of the effect and the description and teaching of it.

Mark

Thanks for all the positive feedback, Andrew and I are truly pleased with the opinions that have been shared. We knew that the ACAAN plot can have a polarizing effect on people and are truly grateful that our approach has found some degree of acceptance.

I also wanted to say that I have seen my name tossed around this thread an awful lot - please don't forget Andy. I can't begin to express how fantastic he is and he deserves kudos for all his hard work.

And Mark and Maddy...good grief! Where are you two when I get pulled over? Or pulled aside by a TSA agent? I should put the pair of you on retainer...

Nobody could be THAT nice! But you have my thanks all the same. I truly love our art and always have time for those that do too.

Best,

Atlas

Haha having been pulled aside by the TSA in Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and San Francisco (despite my real last name being Bush, or maybe because my real last name is Bush) I can safely say you are on your own in that situation.

When we meet up in the UK remind me to tell you a funny story about the TSA and my trip from Salt Lake to SF.

Mark

But you ARE that nice Atlas! Haha

I can tell that you do love and enjoy your art. It shows in every piece of yours that I have. It's a nice thing to see. Very refreshing.

Along with The Bold Project, I have to agree. One of my best buys lately. This is a brilliant sit down piece that you can build a beautiful strong mental routine with cards but wont seem like "cards" in an ordinary way. (If that makes any sense, lol) But whats great is that you could do this in any situation. A strong verstile effect. I finally had the chance to read the whole ebook and I am more impressed with all the additional ideas and situations discussed in the book. The Crusade could definitely be a reputation maker for you.

RNK

Hello Everyone!

Atlas here!

For those of you who are just joining us,and for those of you who have followed this thread from the start, it is official! The Crusade - A Mind Reader's ACAAN is officially available to purchase (the link is below).

So, what is this new book?

Much as 'The Prodigal' examined branching anagrams, a method that was largely ignored by performers in our community, our new book examines a plot that has broad appeal but often conjures up feelings of despair in Mentalists – The Any Card At Any Number plot.

Andrew and I have abandoned the rules here and worked to create a piece whose presentation leaves the audience with the belief that we have the abilities we claim to possess. And you can do this anytime, anywhere, with no set up or reset – and with a borrowed, shuffled deck!

I think the best way to explain what we've come up with is to offer you a look at an extract from the book (this was posted earlier, but for the sake of convenience, I will post it again here).

Imagine it:

The cards rest on the table in front of your first participant, who gingerly takes them up and begins to count down to his secret number - a number that has never been written down, verbalized, or communicated to any other person.

He counts down slowly, card after card, and then, abruptly, stops. He pauses and sets this last card aside. He has never said a word about his number. There is no way that you could have known what it was. He is confident of that.

He slides the card across to the young lady next to him. Her thoughts have been focused on an image - a suit and a value. Again, her choice of card has never been shared. It has never been withdrawn from the pack, never touched and certainly not forced.

She could have been thinking of any card in this deck.

Her hand drifts toward the card on the table. The one separated just now by her boyfriend from the rest of the pack. The one resting at the number that he was merely thinking of.

She hesitates.

The deck is their own, they shuffled it before you ever touched it. They called all the shots every step of the way.

Neither participant has ever given any indication what it was that they were thinking of, and neither believes in the ability to read minds... and yet...if the card she was merely thinking of is here, at the number that he was merely thinking of...

As though she is reaching out to touch her own delicate skepticism, her fingers flit tentatively across the card on the table - her card.

And as she reveals its face, she gasps - it is the Queen of Clubs - but it is more than that. It is belief, radiant and beautiful and glorious, a moment of dawning acceptance that will be remembered because it defied all her reason and filled her ideology with doubt.

It is a moment of pure enchantment.

And you made it happen with a borrowed deck of cards that they shuffled before you ever started.

INTRODUCTION

Before we look at anything even remotely to do with methodology, let's first take a moment to examine the origins of this title. This exercise is undertaken in the hope that you will find beauty in its layered complexity and reassure yourself that the same sort of attention to detail and search for perfection in arriving at a title for this book is the standard offered by these authors throughout this document.

Why is this called 'The Crusade: A Mind Reader's ACAAN'?

To many in the magic industry and to card magic enthusiasts especially, the 'Any Card At Any Number' plot is a cherished and well-loved miracle. It's perfect execution is so highly prized and sought after that it is popularly referred to among card enthusiasts as the 'Holy Grail'.

That begs the question - was this title merely a clever play on words? It is true that the Crusades and The Holy Grail are linked in popular lore. But while the association is interesting, there is more at work here than just opportunistic wordplay.

You see, the Holy Grail was the destination, the final prize at the end of these stories of persistent knights and daunting expeditions, whether they have their basis in fact or fiction. It bears emphasizing once more – the Grail was the destination.

The merits of the ACAAN effect have been argued back and forth for many years in the magic community.

For some, their appreciation for the effect is akin to that of a fine wine and their devotion to it never wavers.

Others, however, despise the plot and note sourly that the reaction from the audience is frequently less than enthusiastic. One person names a card and the other names a number and lo and behold – they match! It is over so quickly that it often plays as a puzzle rather than as an amazing feat that fills a person with wonder.

The argument rages back and forth, and fruitful and enlightening perspectives have emerged. Some claim that the weaknesses lie in a lack of performance ability. Others argue that the plot is fundamentally unappealing to any demographic but magicians.

The most experienced among us have consistently demonstrated that an individual will fail to recall the workings of a puzzle, but when they are escorted into an experience that fills them with wonder - when you take them on a journey that creates that wonder - they will never forget their sense of amazement or the guide that lit their path.

So, in the title 'The Crusade', you have a reminder that what you are presenting is about the journey and not the mythical Holy Grail that is at the end of it. In folklore, the term 'Crusade' has also shaken off its religious overtones and become synonymous for a period of endeavor and path to improvement – the path, mind you, NOT the destination – which, in many ACAAN plots is arrived at too quickly to have any impact.

One other important point about the title of this book. The root of the word 'Crusade' is the Latin word cruc or crux – meaning cross.

And, of course, a cross is formed at two points of intersection. And what is an intersection but the place where the roads taken by two different travelers on two unique journeys meet?

This moment of meeting is what 'The Crusade' allows you to create. When the card that one person only thought of intersects at the number another person only thought of – the journey that you created for each of them becomes the destination, and an experience is formed that will create a sense of amazement whose memory will never fade.

To a performer, that is The Holy Grail.

And the path to the Grail is through the Crusade.



If this sounds like something that would interest you, it is available at:

http://www.atlasmentalism.com/AtlasProductsCatalog.html

Best,

Atlas

I am very surpriced to see an effect that is already out in 2 differents variant and here everyone say that is different from any other acaan. Try to give a look to Dark Thief and Entanglement or Random Acaan
(Entaglnglemet Acaan). The new here is the presentation but anyone presents an effect as he wishes.

After I have seen the effect I said this is a different presentation for Entanglement but the answer has been No.

Maybe you asked for the permission to use the same idea?

Hello Marco

The principle used in the effect dates back to the 17 century Marco and has been applied in different ways and effects since that date .

I wrote mine up in my notes 5 years ago after reading a famous book on mentalism which applies the principle in a different way .

If the approach was applied by somebody else then good for them . At the beginning of the process Atlas asked various knowledge guys in the mentalism field had they seen the principle applied this way and with our premise and scripting , I asked the same question to some respected card magicians. None of the came back pointing to a version that combines both . The credits to the book list numerous examples of the principle being used in different effects which was provided by these respected guys.

If you are referring to effects created by Tommy then I shall send him an email . I shall send him an email today . I have never seen his versions you mention but I know he has a large compendium of variations to the ACAAN plot . Of the versions I have seen the scripting and presentation is very brief .

With Crusade you are buying a fully scripted effect with every aspect of the handling discussed in full and the rationale behind each part.

From the people who have purchased or tested out the effect in the field so far this is what they have said makes the difference

In the Open Prediction book I have a very brief effect described which is now sold as Insane by Andy Nyman and Sub Zero by Wayne Dobson both independent creations and more importantly they gave the effect great presentations .

Andrew

Often questions come up when trying to make an informed buying decision so here are a few nuts and bolts about the effect .

Can use a borrowed shuffled deck
The deck need not be complete or even in great condition
There are no stooges or instant stooges used
There is no duality being used
No memory work or cribs
No manipulation of the cards e.g cri**ps etc
Number not forced
Card not forced
Both determined in a fair manner
The performer does handle the cards but the spectators will not think , he did something but I did not see it .
The main versions performed at a table
I would not want to performer it in a noisy environment
Easy to perform from a technical viewpoint


Hope the above helps

Andrew

I want add just a comment, I didn't know the secret behind the Crusade, but I have seen the same steps performed in another effect.
I imagine the principle is the same and you are right, the presentation is 90% of the effect. If you have a good presentation also
a simple trick becomes a miracle.

I have seen a performance and in my opinion you can perform it also without you touch ever the deck.

Looks like a big time winner from this end.

I clicked on it and I get a warning asking me if I want to go on it. I don't know if this is a virus, but I am warned by Macafee not to go on it. Do you have a different link?

I have Norton and I get no warning MT. I heard the same thing from another member regarding another effect and it was as safe as an aspirin. I am not sure why MacAfee does that.

I seldom use cards and when I do I use them for BCS. I have followed this thread for a while and getting pretty anxious. I recently cut the nail from my right index finger and made a promise to let it grow out a bit before pushing that worn out paypal key on my keyboard.

As a quick update

I am talking with Tommy right now and he is OK with Crusade

Andrew

I like the part of the script (from this thread) where the card is slid face down on the table. Then the build up before the reveal.

There have only been a few plots that remind me of this ending and none are ACAAN. One is Richard Osterlind's think of a card miracle thought projection (think that is the name). Another one was never released and it was performed by an Asian fellow who never was going to release it. He would stand on stage with one card in his hand and have an audience member name it. Of course PS would work but that was not in play as far as I could tell. I think the audience was fairly and randomly chosen.

Anyway, a long sidebar, please forgive me, its almost 4 am in the high desert.

Today a phletora of happy reviews will follow, that much I can tell. Goodnight everyone.

Decomposed Before Buying The Grail

Tommy and I have had a good chat

He is perfectly happy for Atlas and I to continue to offer for sale Crusade

Andrew

First of all I am an Atlas fan. And now an a.Brown fan.

Prodigal was a lovely piece of work and this is too.
Simple, leaving everything to presentation.
Totally impromptu.

There are loads of ACAANs around. But I've never been inclined to bother with them much.
This one though, suits me nicely.

Thank you guys
Steve