|
|
|
|||
| Go to page [Previous] 1~2~3~4~5~6~7~8~9..22~23~24 [Next] | ||||||||||
Joaquin Veteran user 357 Posts 
|
Hey Johannes
The fact that you have so many people asking questions and posting in here, regardless if it is positive or negative, demonstrates that there is huge interest in your effect and that it has potential. The people that post negative is more likely because they do not agree with the price so they have to complain, criticize or damage the image of the trick/creator. If they continue with their negative demands sooner or later they will not have their new toys to play with. If you realize the majority of the negative posts are from newcomers that feel entitled to demand an answer to their questions. It is obvious that they want to get it but they do not want to pay the price. You have done a great job answering all their inquires and questions. However, I suggest that you not do not do so any longer. Just release your effect and let the market judge it and review it by itself. If a trick is good it will succeed by itself without having the creator to justify the why, when and how. Look at the best tricks created. The performer never came here to answer big ego questions Thanks for creating magic !! |
|||||||||
Johannes Mengel Regular user Estonia 124 Posts
|
Quote:
On Jan 13, 2026, Joaquin wrote: Joaquin, thank you for your supportive words! I understand what you are saying and of course it's not easy to deal with negativity when people attack and accuse you and demonstrate behavior and a way of communication that isn't appropriate for a grown man. But I'm no perfect man myself and I know how hard it is to see the blindspots in your own faulty character, so I try not to judge. In the end we all are on the same journey of growing to become better human beings, so I do my best to be compassionate towards everyone, because it's not an easy journey. I really hope you are right about the huge interest in the product. The reality is most of the time creating and releasing a magic product does not justify itself financially. And people who haven't done it themselves have NO IDEA what it actually takes. To create something even worthy of releasing takes so much time and effort that even below minimum wage would pay better for the hours put into creating and releasing a magic product. I went independent with this release, because I'm hoping I can do better when I don't have to give the majority of the earnings away to retailers, but I'll be honest, it's tough to try to get the word out and get it in front of people. Actually, if there's anyone here with a list or following I would truly appreciate your support and help spreading the word about this release! Thank you, guys! Johannes
www.BREAKTHROUGHTRICK.com
"ONE OF THE GREATEST CLOSE-UP ILLUSIONS EVER CREATED!" - Vanishing Inc "Genuinely the best borrowed can routine I’ve seen." - Cyril "The Breakthrough System is one of the cleverest, most amazing uses of sleight of hand, spectator management, and just plain creativity, I have seen in a long time." - Chris Kenner “One of the best magic tricks I’ve seen in decades!” - Adam Wilber “The best impromptu trick I’ve ever seen." - Craig Petty "The Breakthrough System is the final word on this effect. Johannes Mengel won!" - Mark Elsdon |
|||||||||
|
Johannes Mengel Regular user Estonia 124 Posts
|
Quote:
On Jan 13, 2026, MagicBrent wrote: Well, I've said a full performance would reveal a method to a magician, because I didn't want to claim this to be a magician fooler, but when Craig Petty and Lloyed Barnes saw me performing it 6 times in a row where nothing was left out, they said they THOUGHT they knew what was going on, but actually didn't when I showed them the methods. So I'm pretty sure you don't have to worry about performing this to muggles.
www.BREAKTHROUGHTRICK.com
"ONE OF THE GREATEST CLOSE-UP ILLUSIONS EVER CREATED!" - Vanishing Inc "Genuinely the best borrowed can routine I’ve seen." - Cyril "The Breakthrough System is one of the cleverest, most amazing uses of sleight of hand, spectator management, and just plain creativity, I have seen in a long time." - Chris Kenner “One of the best magic tricks I’ve seen in decades!” - Adam Wilber “The best impromptu trick I’ve ever seen." - Craig Petty "The Breakthrough System is the final word on this effect. Johannes Mengel won!" - Mark Elsdon |
|||||||||
|
stanjarin New user 36 Posts
|
Johannes, you said you saw no question in my comments so no answer was required. OK, here's some questions.
1) If the first public performance of it, based on your reasoning, will reveal it to many magicians immediately - the very reason you're not showing a full performance video, and those magicians perform it and be seen by other magicians, does that not negate the entire reason for not showing a performance video? You make it seem like once the trick is shown, it is blown. 2) And yet "Craig Petty and Lloyed Barnes saw me performing it 6 times in a row where nothing was left out, they said they THOUGHT they knew what was going on, but actually didn't". So why no performance video? |
|||||||||
|
sadhu Regular user 124 Posts
|
I seldom comment on anything, I just have to say Stanjarin is really annoying.
|
|||||||||
|
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3400 Posts
|
When a spectator watches an effect they are either baffled with no explanation in their minds or they know how it is accomplished
rightly or wrongly. Once a spectator thinks they know then the mystery is gone. Just because Craig and Lloyd thought they knew the method but were wrong, in my mind, the effect becomes a puzzle. Puzzles are fun and sometimes baffling but remain puzzles. That's OK for many. IMO.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
|
|||||||||
scott0819 Inner circle Toronto, Ont. 1088 Posts
|
Stan, both your “questions” seem to be, why no uncut performance start to finish - which has already been answered. Not sure what other response you are looking for…? Just cause a trick can’t stand up to endless repeated viewings doesn’t mean it can’t be fooling in performance.
And frankly it’s very obvious when watching the trailer, there are some moves done on the offbeat, such as when the spectator places the ring tab on the can themselves, that have been cut out. Why? I assume because these moves are not registered by the spectator during the performance. That’s a marketing choice some will disagree with. Personally I don’t care, we know it’s not magic, I can read between the edits. |
|||||||||
Nick Kerpan New user Boston 66 Posts
|
Quote:
On Jan 14, 2026, stanjarin wrote: Hey, I'll try and provide the answers to your question, which have been stated less directly multiple times in the thread. Watching a performance in person and watching a video are fundamentally different. You can't misdirect the camera lens, and people would have complaints similar to the current ones if the video was shot in a way where it followed a spectator's focus, because that's the same as cutting. Between being able to replay a video over and over, and slowing it down, even pretty fantastic mechanics and misdirection can be caught out when it's in video. |
|||||||||
|
Johannes Mengel Regular user Estonia 124 Posts
|
Quote:
On Jan 14, 2026, davidpaul$ wrote: In your comment you are placing Craig Petty and Lloyed Barnes into the same pot with laymen/spectators, saying even if a MAGICIAN might have an idea how an effect could be done then the effect becomes a puzzle. In this case all I have to say is that we simply have different views on magic. Magic is created to be performed BY magicians not TO them, it’s an experience crafted for LAYMEN. And I think for everyone who has seen the trailer and witnessed spectators’ reactions and LISTENED to what they say - it’s clear - they have experienced a mystery not a puzzle: “This is one of the most powerful experiences of my life!” “If I’d seen it on a video, I would say it was fake, but this is real!” “It didn’t feel like a trick, it actually felt like magic!”
www.BREAKTHROUGHTRICK.com
"ONE OF THE GREATEST CLOSE-UP ILLUSIONS EVER CREATED!" - Vanishing Inc "Genuinely the best borrowed can routine I’ve seen." - Cyril "The Breakthrough System is one of the cleverest, most amazing uses of sleight of hand, spectator management, and just plain creativity, I have seen in a long time." - Chris Kenner “One of the best magic tricks I’ve seen in decades!” - Adam Wilber “The best impromptu trick I’ve ever seen." - Craig Petty "The Breakthrough System is the final word on this effect. Johannes Mengel won!" - Mark Elsdon |
|||||||||
|
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3400 Posts
|
Quote:
On Jan 14, 2026, Johannes Mengel wrote: GREAT !!! That's what a magician wants and strives to achieve. Yes, I concede that Craig & Lloyd have more experience in this genre but I have come across laymen that are pretty darn insightful. Many people are polite and show demonstrative surprise to the magician but if talked to later, not so much. I hope,truly, much success with this and hope those who will purchase this will be happy. Iam very thankful for those like you that have creative talent in this area. Without you guys I wouldn't have been able to enjoy and benefit financially from my magical career.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
|
|||||||||
|
Johannes Mengel Regular user Estonia 124 Posts
|
Quote:
On Jan 14, 2026, stanjarin wrote: No, I pointed out that you just made statements about topics I had already covered, so it was unclear what else you wanted me to say, because you didn't ask anything. Quote:
OK, here's some questions. Again, this topic has been already covered. Please read the thread! Plus Nick Kerpan also provided extra clarification for you to help you understand this topic. Stan, can I ask how old you are? Are you just getting started with magic? You seem to be confused about how things work in magic in general not just about this product. I can try to help you understand this one more time, I hope this helps: When a magician is performing for example Card to Mouth, then in a trailer a camera focuses on his hands not on his mouth during the performance, but for magicians watching the trailer it is obvious that something else had to happen, which was not shown, because it's clear to everyone - a card can't actually teleport to his mouth, so that part is left out from the full performance, because the trailer shows spectator's EXPERIENCE not what the magician is ACTUALLY doing (placing a card in his mouth when the spectator's are not looking), ok? I'll bring you another example - in some rubber band penetration tricks it is given that there's some kind of set-up a performer needs to do, but no-one expects the trailer to show magicians' hands when they are doing the set-up during the performance if that might expose the method, because people can pause the video, watch it in slo-mo etc, so that part is left out, meaning - not every step of a full performance is shown. Another example - when a magician performs an effect where a ring teleports to a spectator's shoulder then the trailer also is not going to highlight and show how the magician actually places the ring on the shoulder - it shows the trick from the SPECTATOR's perspective how the ring magically just appears there. The actual full story is left for the tutorial - the timing, misdirection etc. So even though if a full performance video would show EVERYTHING you would figure out how the trick happens, but it doesn't mean the effect isn't fooling or amazing to the spectators in a live performance setting. I hope that makes sense! If you are still confused, please send me a dm, because for most people here this topic is a very basic understanding and this thread is not a place to learn about it. So let's keep this thread relevant and if you still need help don't hesitate to send a dm to me! Wish you all the best, Stan!
www.BREAKTHROUGHTRICK.com
"ONE OF THE GREATEST CLOSE-UP ILLUSIONS EVER CREATED!" - Vanishing Inc "Genuinely the best borrowed can routine I’ve seen." - Cyril "The Breakthrough System is one of the cleverest, most amazing uses of sleight of hand, spectator management, and just plain creativity, I have seen in a long time." - Chris Kenner “One of the best magic tricks I’ve seen in decades!” - Adam Wilber “The best impromptu trick I’ve ever seen." - Craig Petty "The Breakthrough System is the final word on this effect. Johannes Mengel won!" - Mark Elsdon |
|||||||||
|
Johannes Mengel Regular user Estonia 124 Posts
|
Quote:
GREAT !!! That's what a magician wants and strives to achieve. Yes, I concede that Craig & Lloyd have more experience in this genre but I have come across laymen that are pretty darn insightful. Many people are polite and show demonstrative surprise to the magician but if talked to later, not so much. Even if you are dealing with pretty darn insightful laymen then in the end the success of the performance depends on the performer not the trick. Even a self-working trick is not safe from a bad performer 
Thank you David for your appreciation for our craft - the very narrow niche of being a magic creator is not an easy career choice, so thank you for your acknowledgment and those of us who are creators depend on people like you who perform. So thank you for your support!
www.BREAKTHROUGHTRICK.com
"ONE OF THE GREATEST CLOSE-UP ILLUSIONS EVER CREATED!" - Vanishing Inc "Genuinely the best borrowed can routine I’ve seen." - Cyril "The Breakthrough System is one of the cleverest, most amazing uses of sleight of hand, spectator management, and just plain creativity, I have seen in a long time." - Chris Kenner “One of the best magic tricks I’ve seen in decades!” - Adam Wilber “The best impromptu trick I’ve ever seen." - Craig Petty "The Breakthrough System is the final word on this effect. Johannes Mengel won!" - Mark Elsdon |
|||||||||
|
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3400 Posts
|
Quote:
On Jan 14, 2026, Johannes Mengel wrote: Exactly, so why even mention Craig and Lloyd. Bottom line even if the performer is skilled (and it's not the trick as you say) if a Laymen believes they know how an effect is accomplished in their minds because of the structure of the performance it doesn't matter if they are right or wrong, the performance is deflated in their mind (puzzle). When I perform something, I want them walking away convinced they saw real magic. ( even though there is no such thing) I've had people say they could not sleep trying to figure things out in their mind but gave up. That's what I strive for. They couldn't even come up with a perceived solution.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
|
|||||||||
|
Johannes Mengel Regular user Estonia 124 Posts
|
Quote:
Exactly, so why even mention Craig and Lloyd. Bottom line even if the performer is skilled (and it's not the trick as you say) if a Laymen believes they know how an effect is accomplished in their minds because of the structure of the performance it doesn't matter if they are right or wrong, the performance is deflated in their mind (puzzle). When I perform something, I want them walking away convinced they saw real magic. ( even though there is no such thing) I've had people say they could not sleep trying to figure things out in their mind but gave up. That's what I strive for. They couldn't even come up with a perceived solution. I definitely get these reactions with TBS. And why I mentioned Craig and Lloyed is to share that the routine is probably more fooling to magicians than I originally thought even though I don't think an effect needs to be a magician fooler to be a spectacular trick.
www.BREAKTHROUGHTRICK.com
"ONE OF THE GREATEST CLOSE-UP ILLUSIONS EVER CREATED!" - Vanishing Inc "Genuinely the best borrowed can routine I’ve seen." - Cyril "The Breakthrough System is one of the cleverest, most amazing uses of sleight of hand, spectator management, and just plain creativity, I have seen in a long time." - Chris Kenner “One of the best magic tricks I’ve seen in decades!” - Adam Wilber “The best impromptu trick I’ve ever seen." - Craig Petty "The Breakthrough System is the final word on this effect. Johannes Mengel won!" - Mark Elsdon |
|||||||||
|
252life Inner circle Ninth Circle, Hades 3410 Posts
|
Look for all the world like you're counting the brain cells in his cranium.
-Theodore Annemann |
|||||||||
|
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3400 Posts
|
Respectfully then, again, why edit the performance video? This has been a concern for many posting. Doesn't make sense based on how fooling the effect is even for an experienced magician.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
|
|||||||||
RNK Inner circle 8204 Posts
|
Quote:
On Jan 20, 2026, davidpaul$ wrote: I think this member answered your question in this post above: scott0819 Send Private Message Post Icon Posted: Jan 14, 2026 01:46 pm Reply with Quote Report this post to forum moderator 'Like' this postClick to view the We Like! List3 Stan, both your “questions” seem to be, why no uncut performance start to finish - which has already been answered. Not sure what other response you are looking for…? Just cause a trick can’t stand up to endless repeated viewings doesn’t mean it can’t be fooling in performance. And frankly it’s very obvious when watching the trailer, there are some moves done on the offbeat, such as when the spectator places the ring tab on the can themselves, that have been cut out. Why? I assume because these moves are not registered by the spectator during the performance. That’s a marketing choice some will disagree with. Personally I don’t care, we know it’s not magic, I can read between the edits.
Check out Bafflingbob.com
|
|||||||||
|
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 22682 Posts
|
Quote:
On Dec 26, 2025, Johannes Mengel wrote: I am almost 100% certain that the creator here is being 100% genuine in his approach, and in his willingness to engage. He does not believe he is being deceptive or trying to mislead anyone. I think he absolutely thinks he is being completely forthcoming. It may come across differently, and he may be painted with the same brush as creators who have been less so, and that is not cool. I sound critical of him, which I am not. I actually think it is incredible how he comes out and states his position and lets others disagree with him reasonably as happens with adults. This is an admirable position to take. This absolutely not easy to do and I think this needs to be noted, even if I disagree. I personally don't like the too good to be true aspect of this and the gap between what is missing to protect method is fairly wide. The thing I find odd about the whole borrowed can thing is how is it possible that no drops of soda drip out onto anyones hands? It is odd how your borrowed, recently filled can has no drops. That took me out of the belief that the can could possibly be borrowed. I defy you to turn over ANY can borrowed and shake it like that drop free. This has NOTHING to do with magic, this is life experience. As for the edited video I get it. I disagree but see the point being made. Ultimately you need to edit it so it looks as good as possible. Why wouldn't you? One question I have. Are you using pre sales to fund the video tutorials? I know this is popular now.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
|
Johannes Mengel Regular user Estonia 124 Posts
|
Quote:
On Jan 20, 2026, davidpaul$ wrote: David, as you can read in my last message just two posts up from your post: "the routine is probably more fooling to magicians than I ORIGINALLY thought." And yes, this question has been raised several times - just like it has been answered several times. But let me copy paste the answers already given for easy reading again: Watching a performance IN PERSON and watching A VIDEO are FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT, because... Between being able to: 1. replay a video over and over, and 2. slowing it down 3. pausing it, zooming in etc ...even pretty fantastic mechanics and misdirection can be caught out WHEN IT'S IN VIDEO. Magic is created to be performed BY magicians not TO them, it’s an experience crafted for laymen. And the trailer successfully demonstrates what this experience for laymen is, which is the point of a trailer. The trailer shows a clear enough performance video from the spectator's perspective 0:31-0:51 There are 15 different versions and it is not reasonable to show the same trick from the beginning to the end 15 times in 15 different ways. I showed maybe only half of the versions that come with the system/masterclass, which is a standard practice with a project on that scale - just like with any other comprehensive masterclass or a book with several routines - the trailer is not going to demonstrate every single thing in the masterclass or book. I hope this helps!
www.BREAKTHROUGHTRICK.com
"ONE OF THE GREATEST CLOSE-UP ILLUSIONS EVER CREATED!" - Vanishing Inc "Genuinely the best borrowed can routine I’ve seen." - Cyril "The Breakthrough System is one of the cleverest, most amazing uses of sleight of hand, spectator management, and just plain creativity, I have seen in a long time." - Chris Kenner “One of the best magic tricks I’ve seen in decades!” - Adam Wilber “The best impromptu trick I’ve ever seen." - Craig Petty "The Breakthrough System is the final word on this effect. Johannes Mengel won!" - Mark Elsdon |
|||||||||
BMWGuy Inner circle Texas 2615 Posts
|
Hello everyone,
I have known Johannes since the original release of Breakthrough. He is a straight shooter, and one of the nicest people in the business. I have had a chance to see this performed by the creator himself awhile back, and then he asked me if I wanted to learn the methods. This is not a formal review per se, I will provide a formal detailed thorough review when the time comes, for now, on first impressions from learning the methods, and actually going out and working this, I would say this is as practical as one can get. Reminds me of when Wayne Houchin released Sinful. Everyone was performing it. This is no different. The last thing I will say is that you learn a myriad of different ways to be able to perform this and one can pick and choose which version, phase, or method, they want to perform or study. You can do all the phases in conjunction or only some, and even only 1. More later, upon closer to release time, when Johannes has completed everything and my review will be ready so you can make an informed decision whether this is something you will use or not. I have a retreat coming up next weekend, and I will be performing this for Hernan Maccagno from Fool Us fame, Gozner from Penguin Live, Juan Carlos Rodarte from Clone fame, and Chad Nelson and Aaron Fisher, will let you know how it all goes down. Thanks for reading and see you soon. Alex Alejandro
PRESET by Alex Alejandro & Dan Harlan now available for a special introductory price!
|
|||||||||
| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Latest and Greatest? » » THE BREAKTHROUGH SYSTEM - Johannes Mengel (808 Likes) | ||||||||||
| Go to page [Previous] 1~2~3~4~5~6~7~8~9..22~23~24 [Next] | ||||||||||
Posted: Jan 13, 2026 08:18 pm 
X
| [ Top of Page ] |
|
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2026 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.08 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
|
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement <
|