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Bill Brunelle Regular user 192 Posts |
Richard Osterlind has released a killer new product called "ForeSign." You can see a trailer and read about it on his product site here:
http://osterlindmysteries.com/store/inde......ts_id=93 I love it and was thinking about writing a review. Then Tony Razzano sent me his rather comprehensive thoughts and asked me to post them here, and they are a superior job to anything I could have written. Here's Tony: Richard Osterlind's "ForeSign" --- review by Tony Razzano I received Richard's wonderful new effect, "ForeSign", in today's mail. Upon opening the package and examining the props, I found them as high quality as they can possibly be. They are beautifully done and are highly professional in quality. This is a new twist on the old El Numero effect by Syd Bergson that Richard taught in Easy to Master Mental Miracles. He combined this with ideas from Astor Magic and got Astor's permission. If you remember El Numero, you could easily make it, however ( and this is a big however), your set will look home made. OK, but these props look (and make you look ) absolutely professional. They are a HUGE improvement over the original version. El Numero was done with numbers 1-5. Ok, Cool. But it was incongruent to the premise. What Richard has done is, instead of numbers, he uses the 5 well known ESP symbols. They are big enough to see from the stage, yet thin enough to fit in your jacket pocket. Instantly repeatable. As a matter of fact, Richard suggests that you do repeat it once so as to eliminate the criticism of it being a one in five chance. I don't want to get too much into it so as not to give the method /gimmick away, but this is really good. Excellent for stage, platform, small group and parlor. You can get away with it walk around or close up, but in those types of venues, you need to watch your angles a bit. |
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George Hunter Inner circle 2013 Posts |
This is a signifiant improvementon El Numero, and is very good "packs small, plays big" prop and effect. While no ESP card effect (that I know of) is a closer, this will be an engaging and impressive effect somewhere in the middle of one's act.
George |
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Relick666 Special user 604 Posts |
Is this examinable?
Andreu. |
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jerdunn Inner circle 1734 Posts |
As far as I know, no version of El Numero is examinable.
Both the original and Richard Osterlind's versions look really clean, which I'd guess lowers the chances of anyone wanting to look at the props. El Numero is usually done in a parlor situation anyhow, which means nobody is near enough to get grabby (!). Cheers, Jerry |
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Relick666 Special user 604 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 8, 2014, jerdunn wrote: Thanks Jerry. Andreu. |
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seamagu Special user 885 Posts |
Just got this the other day. It's ideal for stage and parlour but very close up one on one might not be the best idea. Strolling could work though.
If you are like me and too busy ( read as lazy) to make your own el numero then this is a great option. The selling point has to be the writing of the spectators name on the envelope, I think this is a brilliant improvement. Comes with a dvd which explains it all very well. As usual Mr Osterlinds material is very workable and he covers and credits everything. I got what I expected with no added filler. The dvd is short and to the point ( which is a good thing) Overall a good product and a purchase I'm happy with, Regards, Séa
I love post its
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David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
It's been ages since I got a prop in the mail and loved it INSTANTLY. As soon as I started playing around with ForeSign, ideas started percolating and I started smiling...and planning...thinking about what I could do with this wonderful thing.
I had some issues with El Numero -- partially because the prop looked just a little clunky, partially because I don't think 1-5 is really something an audience will care about -- whereas the ESP symbols can be used to sell anything from "personality type" to "aspirations" and onward. But in the same way Osterlind re-designed the Mental E*ic board -- El Numero has been re-thought, simplified and made MUCH more powerful than it ever could have been before. The ESP symbols also make a whole lot more sense than numbers when presented inside a mentalism show. You can look over the trailer to get the sense of the effect. It's not appropriate to discuss the method -- but I will say that it is as simple as a method could possibly be. I like that a lot -- because it means that I can concentrate on presenting the effect without having to think about the mechanics of it. From an audience perspective: it's the five ESP cards inside a white envelope. From a performer perspective -- it's five ESP cards inside an envelope and a deadly simple way to CUSTOMIZE the prediction each time to one audience member...AND provide a "never miss" prediction. The props are top quality -- and are big enough to play well on stage or parlor settings. I am not sure I would do this one close-up...but the stage performance aspects are staggering. When you get this gem -- and you really should -- take a hard look at it and ask yourself the question: "If I could look at ANY member of the audience and decide in advance which of the five symbols they will FREELY choose...what kind of routine would I build?" Just. Think. About. It. This is one of the few effects that will actually play more strongly when it's presented twice -- using two different spectators. I am seeing it as a natural lead-in to MD. I am completely delighted with this prop...and the pile of "utility" applications it offers. It gets five billets out of five from me. It may be my best buy of the year. David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
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Relick666 Special user 604 Posts |
Looks very nice, I've always admired the quality of Richard's products.
Maybe something not so good for close up, aside from that I can see this working smoothly for stage, etc. Great idea! Andreu. |
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Mortimer Graves Special user New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. 556 Posts |
Having read some of Mr. Osterlind's works I can tell he knows what he's doing, and that he has a lot of respect for the art. I wouldn't expect anything but goodness from him.
It's not exactly the sort of effect I tend to perform, but it does seem to be a vast improvement over the original, especially with his presentational angle (the ESP symbols). And there's a lot to be said for professional-looking props if you use "prop-type" props. I also like his suggestion for repeating the effect to strengthen it.
'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds.
Hastur, Hastur, Hastur! See? Nothing hap- ...and if we rub each other the wrong way, let's try going in another direction. - Pokey the Porcupine |
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CL New user New York, NY 75 Posts |
Thanks for these reviews. How easy is the reset in terms of using another spectator's name?
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George Hunter Inner circle 2013 Posts |
Wipe off the first name and write the second name. Five seconds.
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Sven Rygh Inner circle Oslo, Norway. 1945 Posts |
Received.
Very, very clever! I examined the prop before having read the explanation or watched the video, and looked for youknowwhatIwaslookingfor on the envelope without finding it I didn't notice youknowwhatIdidn'tnotice at the beginning, and really wondered how this could work Believe me, it does! It is very well made, and you have a prop that will last. Some years ago I performed El Numero pretty often with great success. I will absolutely take that kind of opener up again, using ForeSign ForeSign is a great and very important improvement of the El Numero idéa, and something I am convinced that you will use. I will!
WWW.SVENRYGH.NO
"Keep it as simple as possible, - but no simpler" http://www.svenrygh.no/sven-rygh/presse/nrk-forst-og-sist/ http://www.svenrygh.no/video.html |
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Rodney Palmer Inner circle 1317 Posts |
Great Product, enough said. Purchase it and you will be glad that you did.
Rod
"Creating Memories That Last A Lifetime"
In order to keep "MAGIC ALIVE" Please become a Mentor to a Young Person. |
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eSamuels Inner circle 3085 Posts |
For what its worth, I'll add my name to the list of people who are offering a Thumbs Up, on this.
Great application of the principle that works well in just about any venue. My only (albeit minor) concern is the longevity of one of the components. But so far, so good! e |
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jerdunn Inner circle 1734 Posts |
Richard Osterlind blended several principles in a creative new way to make the El Numero effect more suited to a mentalist and more baffling to an audience. Very nice!
Cheers, Jerry |
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Sensio Special user I promise I won't exceed 641 Posts |
It seems that this year was a very creative one in terms of mental effects and props...
Let's hope 2015 will surpass it!! |
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Atlas Inner circle 3103 1277 Posts |
This thread has been an interesting read. I do think the Richard's work with this has been innovative - but I am not sure I agree with those who state that the original premise didn't fit a mentalism presentation.
I've always sort of thought that El Numero has been used as a casual type of throwaway effect when you can get so much more mileage out of it, and I think that it is up to the performer to craft a rich presentation which is both entertaining and rational to the audience. In fact, I've used it off and on as an opener and it has always gone over well: http://www.atlasmentalism.com/Distance.html So do I think the number portion of the effect is incongruous with a mentalism performance? No. But do I think that this is a clever innovation that might suit the tastes of some performers better? Absolutely. It is clearly a more versatile approach and I think Richard has done good work here. Best, Atlas |
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kevin carmean Regular user 159 Posts |
I have always liked the thinking on this. Like most everyone else, I played around with this 30 years ago but never put it into an actual show for numerous reasons.
But after seeing the reaction Atlas gets out of it and the new handling by Richard I am looking at this again with new eyes. I really like the signature addition and getting away from the circle on the back. I think the new additions are very deceptive and worth looking at again. Great update Richard and looking forward to playing around with this. Kevin |
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Martin Pulman Inner circle London 3399 Posts |
Atlas,
Love your presentation! It's nice to see El Número getting some well deserved attention. Richard Osterlind's new effect looks like a wonderful variation. |
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NeilS Inner circle 3225 Posts |
I too very much enjoyed the presentation by Atlas. It was a joy to watch such a stylish performance in which everyone - including Atlas - was having so much fun. That is entertainment.
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