Price$40.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryGeneral, Close Up
Date AddedJul 30, 2015
The Mindpod
Kotkin, Joaquin
Essential Magic Collection
(Based on 1 review)
Two sets of cards are shown. They resemble mini iPods and contain the titles of 100 popular songs. The spectator mentally chooses one of the songs. Then removes two cards that bear the title of the selected song. The performer can instantly name the thought-of song. A totally self-working mystery. Includes special cards and further presentational ideas for close-up, parlour and stage. We have even compiled a Spotify playlist so that you can play the mentally chosen song from your smart phone.
Reviews
(Top ▲)
First, let me say that Joaquin Kotkin has some dedication to the art, not for his magic, but the fact that he goes through life with a beard on the left side of his face and shaved on the right side… all for his art. He is… the half beard magician! This means he goes to the grocery store as the half beard magician, perhaps he goes to church as the half beard magician… Gotta give him props! It’s one thing to put on a silly dragon costume to perform, but a whole-nother level to be in costume at all times.
Now, on with Mindpod:
PROS
The effect is very clever. The participant finds a song on any of their mindpod cards and then finds the same song on one of your mindpod cards. Each card has ten songs. You ask them to start singing the song in their mind. In a few seconds, you start singing the song along with them out loud. He also covers alternative presentations where you don’t sing the song.
In the DVD, he talks about how when you get the participant to shift from using their logical mind to try to figure out what you are doing to using their artistic mind to sing the song in their mind, it is difficult for them to focus on the logic of the effect and it is even more mystifying to them. I think this is a very powerful concept.
The instruction is very good. There is one minor point that I will cover in the suggestion section that I think would make this stronger.
The quality of the props is also very good. You get 20 cards. Ten look like a dark MP3 player and ten look like a light colored MP3 player. Each card has ten songs. Each set of ten cards has 100 different songs.
This effect is best suited for an intimate setting. I suppose it is possible to get an entire audience to be thinking a single song and then you are able to read their mind.
The effect is true to the ad copy. What you see in the trailer is exactly the way it plays in real life.
The method has it’s pros and cons. On the positive side, it can be performed totally surrounded and there are no problems with angles.
CONS
Now, some slight negatives with the method: When I first saw the performance, I felt that something might be fishy with the process of the spectator finding a song on their card and then finding the same song on my card. As a participant, I might think the method has something to do with the matching of the two cards. A participant is not likely to figure out the method, but they may suspect the method lies in this matching. A very successful magician once said that the best magic is where the participant has absolutely no clue of even a possible method, or you have eliminated the possible methods in their mind. I really like the effect, because I do think that if you start singing out loud a song that they are merely singing in their mind, it is a powerful moment. In performing this trick for several people, I came to learn that they felt they were close to figuring out the method, but were still shocked when I starting singing out loud along with them.
VERDICT
Really interesting effect. The psychology of getting a participant to shift their mind from the logical side to the artistic side and in doing so, making it difficult for them to use their logical side is intriguing.
In addition, while he has suggestions for performing this without singing, I really think this is ten times more powerful if you start singing a song they are singing in their mind. I really don't think it matters how well you sing. In fact, the worse you sing, the more humor is added to an already baffling experience.
Now, on with Mindpod:
PROS
The effect is very clever. The participant finds a song on any of their mindpod cards and then finds the same song on one of your mindpod cards. Each card has ten songs. You ask them to start singing the song in their mind. In a few seconds, you start singing the song along with them out loud. He also covers alternative presentations where you don’t sing the song.
In the DVD, he talks about how when you get the participant to shift from using their logical mind to try to figure out what you are doing to using their artistic mind to sing the song in their mind, it is difficult for them to focus on the logic of the effect and it is even more mystifying to them. I think this is a very powerful concept.
The instruction is very good. There is one minor point that I will cover in the suggestion section that I think would make this stronger.
The quality of the props is also very good. You get 20 cards. Ten look like a dark MP3 player and ten look like a light colored MP3 player. Each card has ten songs. Each set of ten cards has 100 different songs.
This effect is best suited for an intimate setting. I suppose it is possible to get an entire audience to be thinking a single song and then you are able to read their mind.
The effect is true to the ad copy. What you see in the trailer is exactly the way it plays in real life.
The method has it’s pros and cons. On the positive side, it can be performed totally surrounded and there are no problems with angles.
CONS
Now, some slight negatives with the method: When I first saw the performance, I felt that something might be fishy with the process of the spectator finding a song on their card and then finding the same song on my card. As a participant, I might think the method has something to do with the matching of the two cards. A participant is not likely to figure out the method, but they may suspect the method lies in this matching. A very successful magician once said that the best magic is where the participant has absolutely no clue of even a possible method, or you have eliminated the possible methods in their mind. I really like the effect, because I do think that if you start singing out loud a song that they are merely singing in their mind, it is a powerful moment. In performing this trick for several people, I came to learn that they felt they were close to figuring out the method, but were still shocked when I starting singing out loud along with them.
VERDICT
Really interesting effect. The psychology of getting a participant to shift their mind from the logical side to the artistic side and in doing so, making it difficult for them to use their logical side is intriguing.
Suggestions
In the DVD, Joaquin talks about how you don’t have to be in sync with the participant(s) singing the song in their mind as you start singing out loud because their mind will automatically shift to be in sync with your singing. However, if you get them to start singing in their mind at a specific time, you could also start singing the song in your mind and a few seconds into the song, just start singing out loud. You will likely be exactly in sync with them, particularly if both of you know the beginning of the song. That can really be a powerful moment.In addition, while he has suggestions for performing this without singing, I really think this is ten times more powerful if you start singing a song they are singing in their mind. I really don't think it matters how well you sing. In fact, the worse you sing, the more humor is added to an already baffling experience.