Price$39.95
Media TypeTrick
CategoryMentalism
Date AddedFeb 24, 2016
Travel in Mind
Volpe, Luca; McCaig, Paul
Titanas
(Based on 1 review)
From the minds of Steve Cook, Paul McCaig & Luca Volpe
FOUR TRAVELLERS ARE TAKEN ON AN IMAGINARY JOURNEY....
...TO DESTINATIONS LOCKED ONLY IN THEIR MINDS...
....AND WHICH IMPOSSIBLY, THE PERFORMER SUCCESSFULLY RELEASES !
BASED ON A VERY DECEPTIVE AND LITTLE KNOWN PRINCIPLE
INCLUDES 24 SPECIALLY PRINTED, HEAVY DUTY, LAMINATED CARDS
THE DESTINATION CARDS HAVE NO SECRET MARKINGS OF ANY
KIND AND ARE COMPLETELY OPAQUE
100% CORRECT EVERY TIME
LOOKS LIKE REAL MIND READING!!
INCLUDES TWO ADDITIONAL PHASES BY LUCA VOLPE
ALSO INCLUDES EXCLUSIVE VIDEO DOWNLOAD WITH FULL PERFORMANCE DEMONSTRATION AND EXPLANATIONS
NO FISHING, PUMPING, CRIBS OR MEMORY WORK INVOLVED
THE PERFORMER NEED NOT HANDLE THE CARDS UNTIL IT IS TIME FOR THE REVEAL
SUITABLE FOR STAGE, CABARET, PARLOUR, CORPORATE AND TABLE-WORKERS
(Gimmicks and Online Instructions)
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Overview
Three downloadable/streaming videos, 24 custom made laminated props (special cards), $40 bucks and one Travel In Mind Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.Effect
There are three main effects you're getting: mind reading, psychometry, and a prediction effect.Mind Reading
The mind reading effect is the one you'll see in the ad trailer. Don't be put off by the less-than-engaging performance in the trailer. Look beyond that and see the effect itself. I'll let you watch that rather than explain it to you.
Psychometry
In this effect, four laminated cards (that come with your purchase) are handed out, one to each of four spectators. They write down a person they'd like to take with them on their journey.
You reveal (for the first three), by looking at the names written down, who wrote them. On the fourth one, you reveal the name itself without looking (?).
Prediction
The prediction effect requires an additional purchase of a small inexpensive prop. In that effect, the spectator places the small inexpensive prop (a passport wallet that has a map of the world on it) behind their back and marks a small "x" somewhere on it.
You have predicted in advance where that "x" would be placed. Proof is found when the spectator opens the passport wallet and finds your prediction inside of it.
Method
The methods for each effect are simple and will take very little practice to master. They are all methods that have been used many times before and have definitely stood the test of time.For the first two methods, everything you need is contained within the props provided with your purchase. The first effect is based on the old Frank Garcia effect Poker Mental. The second method is based on the old psychometry methods from well over a hundred years ago.
There is one catch with this particular psychometry effect, however. They spectators are asked to write on your props with a permanent marker which means that after one use, they are no longer (easily) re-usable. I could not find anywhere in the instructions where it tells you how to remove permanent marker from the props.
They are very thick and made of a sturdy plastic, and thus you would, likely, be able to remove the permanent marker with some nail polish remover or something similar.
However, this still prevents you from being able to quickly or easily repeat the effect. I'll let you decide if that's a problem.
For the third effect, you'll need to purchase the passport wallet, and you'll need to gimmick your Sharpie® marker.
All methods, props, techniques, etc. are simple, easy to learn and (in the case of the last effect) easy to make/inexpensive to purchase.
Product Quality
Let's take a look at a few things: The props, the production quality and the teaching.The Props
The 24 included laminated cards are very sturdy, extremely well made and should last a very long time. They look great, feel professional and don't feel like a magic shop prop.
The one thing not included (the passport case) only costs $1.00 at retail price. They could have very easily included one with the product. I think it would have dramatically increased the product value.
I imagine that they could have gotten a decent wholesale price if they bought in bulk. It's a small thing that would have made a big difference.
However, in their defense, it wasn't an effect that they were advertising. The passport wallet is required only for the bonus effect. However, however, they did suggest that the passport wallet is a perfect carrying case for the included cards.
Production Quality
The video, audio, etc. was just fine. It was mostly shot in what appears to be a hotel room. One of the videos was shot close up at a table with not much of a backdrop. Plain but effective. Since these are just video files, there is no navigation menu, so you have to watch it from beginning to end. You can't jump to the different sections of the video.
Included with your small package of props, you receive a URL and password where you can stream and/or download the training videos. There are 3 videos total. One is about 30 minutes. One is about 15 minutes, and one is about 3 minutes.
The 15 minute video was completely pointless in my opinion. It covered, exactly the same stuff as the the 30 minute video. However, there was no actual performance on the 15 minute video, whereas the 30 minute video did have a live performance. Additionally, the 30 minute video had a quick explanation for an impromptu (i.e., without the props you've purchased) version, and it has a nice history/credit section at the end as well.
The 30 minute video is Paul McCaig teaching everything, and the redundant 15 minute video is from Luca Volpe. I'm honestly not sure why they included it. The only thing extra on this 15 minute video is a brief section at the end where Luca Volpe mentions that this can be done for corporate shows with custom printed props, and he mentions that you can get larger (i.e., stage sized) versions of the props from him, but that could have all been mentioned by adding an extra 3 minutes to the main 30 minute video.
The 3 minute video, however, is one of the best things you'll get. It has an alternate handling of the main effect that really disguises the method even further. For anyone familiar with and/or who uses the Garcia Mental Poker method in any routine, you'll find this 3 minutes very much worth your time, and possibly worth the entire investment if you're not already familiar with this idea.
Teaching
Although the teaching is clear and easy to follow, it (like the performance) is extremely dry and difficult to watch at times. I felt that Mr. McCaig was a bit too stiff and possibly uncomfortable in front of the camera. This is not an insult to Paul McCaig. I have no ill feelings toward him. I just felt like for the price that we're paying, having a little more dynamic and polished teaching segment is a small ask.
That aside, he still does a great job, overall, explaining the methods and techniques required.
Ad Copy Integrity
Other than the fact that the ad copy has a fair amount of typos, grammar and punctuation errors, it's pretty solid. There's not much else to say.However, there is one point I'd like to clarify. They mention in the ad copy that the destination cards are not marked. This is absolutely true, and thus the cards and props used in the trailer for the effect shown are not marked.
Just keep in mind that you receive other cards that are not "destination cards" which are used in other effects. I'll just leave it at that. :)
Final Thoughts
What you get, overall, is a well thought out and well designed set of props that have a lot of great potential for a solid and entertaining routine in the right performer's hands.The methods are well within just about everyone's reach. The few minor flaws with the execution of the videos as mentioned, and the lack of passport case along with no information on how to remove permanent ink from your props hurt the product quality a little bit, but overall, this is a solid product well worth your consideration if you like this kind of effect.
Travel In Mind Final Verdict:
4 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.