Price$29.95
Media TypeTrick
CategoryMentalism
Date AddedSep 19, 2015
A Thought Well Stolen
Harris, Ben
Ben Harris
(Based on 2 reviews)
As in Any Card At Any Number, the performer reveals the identity of a freely thought-of card - and its position in a deck - without asking a single question. Seriously, this is solid and gripping mentalism; there is no force, the card is a free MENTAL SELECTION and NO questions are asked. Having read his spectator's mind, discerning his card and its position in the deck, the performer follows with a visual display rivalling the wonderful separation of colors in Out Of This World. Your audience is left reeling by:
1. Your amazing ability to read minds.
2. Your insane skill with a deck of cards.
The combination of effects is mind-boggling and capable of closing any show - be it one-on-one, at a party, on T.V., or in a theatre of hundreds. U.K. card expert Michael Vincent has chosen to perform A Thought Well Stolen during his "Champions Of Magic" season at the Jersey Opera House. That's how strong A Thought Well Stolen is. Here's what Michael has to say:
"As someone who has built a reputation on hard core sleight of hand, I am always ready to welcome an effect into my program at the opposite end of the technical spectrum. A Thought Well Stolen is that sort of effect, it fits perfectly into my modus operandi of mixing up my methods - an effect like this can steal your show.",
In the book's introduction, the author sets out his goal clearly:
"A quest of mine - lasting decades - has been the search for a perfectly rendered illusion of mind-reading with a deck of cards. As a close-up performer - who loves cards and mentalism - this effect would be something where the performer identifies a freely thought-of card without any questions; without the spectator uttering a single word. Achieving this, or even getting close to it, creates a profound effect on the spectator. It's also one that ripples through your entire audience, no matter what its size.
"A Thought Well Stolen is 100% pure as regards its intention: the identification of any freely thought-of card without any questions; without any prodding, probing, dual reality or ambiguity. And, without any limiting procedures. None at all. The result is a selection process about as fair as it can get:
'Do you have a favourite playing card?' the performer asks.
'Yes, yes I do,' the spectator replies.
'Okay, that's great,' the performer confirms. 'Don't tell me. Keep the identity of your card secret, okay?'"
Is there an approach any more fair? I don't think so.
The author fully explores the effect(s) in a detailed and friendly manner. Even a beginner can master A Thought Well Stolen because it requires nothing more than "basic card skills." Advanced versions are discussed in the various appendices, but if you can do a single False Cut, or a False Shuffle, then you are in business; ready to astound audiences of any size.
A Thought Well Stolen requires the use of no gaffs or gimmicks of any kind, just regular playing cards. The book runs 40 pages of detailed text covering the simple and beautiful series of almost self-working procedures that bring about the amazing results.
Endorsements:
"...an effect like this can steal your show."
- Michael Vincent
"This is simple, direct and strong! I love it"- Luca Volpe
"I've always been a fan of Ben's work and this is another great routine from one of my favourite creators in this art."
- Rus Andrews
"Self-working routines rarely pack as much punch as this. The way you describe it is so captivating!"
- Andi Gladwin (Vanishing Inc.)
"I think you might just have created the Holy Grail of Card Magic! As a magician this is the perfect routine to show off any card skills without actually having any, and for a mentalist it's the perfect routine where you don't need to do any of the skilled work. Perfect for both worlds."
- Paul Romhany, Editor (VANISH Magazine)
"A Thought Well Stolen is by far the easiest - and most elegant - giving the audience the impression the performer has a high-level of skill and mind reading powers."
- Jason Messina
"The thoughtfulness that nurtures A Thought Well Stolen is how it cunningly reveals what is unknown about what is supposedly known, putting emphasis on what spectators will ultimately deem important, memorable, and impressive. In short, besides providing a terrific presentation piece per se, this treatise induces you to rethink what is and is not essential about methodology."
- Jon Racherbaumer
"As someone who reads and enjoys everything that Ben Harris releases, all I can say is Wow! A simple and beautiful idea that once again has me grinning from ear to ear!"
- Bro Gilbert
"Ben, you've got a real winner here. It has the three main ingredients that make for a magnificent routine: It has an entertaining plot, it is easy to perform, and it has a stupefying punch at the end. I think I'll use it as a closer - it really is hard to beat the strength of this routine. Congratulations, Benny! You've hit it out of the park!"
- Steve Shufton
"Today's audience is very demanding. This is exactly the type of magic that hits them "down under." Ben Harris' brand new routine is a most excellent hybrid of two wonderful card plots, cloaked in a method so simple, it's brilliant."
- Jonathan Friedman (Shades of Magic)
Reviews
(Top ▲)
Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Need You Now by Bad Wolf
A Thought Well Stolen Review
One booklet, one self-working routine, 31 pages, $30 bucks and one A Thought Well Stolen Review. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
A Thought Well Stolen Review: Effect
Two decks are in play. They are both apparently shuffled. The spectator cuts his chosen deck as many times as he wants. He merely thinks of a card. The cards are then dealt through one at a time so that the spectator can secretly note the position in the deck his card is in.
He's now thinking of a number and a card. You genuinely have no idea the number or the card. Next, you "read his mind" and look at your deck. With an air of confidence, you find one card in your deck and cut it somewhere into your deck. Then to prove that you knew his number and card, you both deal down your cards one at a time. The spectator has you stop one before his secret number (let's say 20 - thus his secret number is 21).
You both turn over the 21st card from your own decks. They are both the spectator's selection (let's say the Four of Hearts). You can show that the cards before that point in the deck did not match. However, you can then (with a magical gesture and/or a fancy cut) cause all of the rest of the cards in the deck to match. You both continue turning over card after card and your cards match his cards as you both turn the cards up.
A Thought Well Stolen Review: Method
Whew! That's a long description of an effect which certainly violated Vernon's thought that a trick should be describable in one sentence. However, to be clear, everything above is pretty much self-working. Being able to perform a false shuffle is helpful but not required. You will need to do a false cut — one is taught.
You'll be using two normal decks of cards that have had some "work" done to them in advance. You won't be able to do anything else with these decks until you've performed this effect. Then after performing the effect, you'll be able to continue using this decks. They are normal in every way. There's one part about that method that is a little unclear. More about that in the Product Quality Section below.
A Thought Well Stolen Review: Ad Copy Integrity
In the ad copy and througout the booklet, Harris refers to this second phase of this effect as similar to or a rival of Out of This World by Paul Curry. This effect and method has more in common with Paul Curry's effect Power of Thought than it does Out of This World. In fact, the method is very similar to the latter Curry effect, but no credit or mention of this is found anywhere.
The claims that the card is not forced and that it's a free mental selection are both true. It's also true that the performer does not ask any questions. However, the claim that the performer reveals the thought of number and the card is a little bit misleading. Here's what happens. Let's say the spectator's card is at position 21. The spectator and you both deal cards into a pile until the spectator stops at one spot before his number (i.e., 20). Thus, theoretically, the next card (21st) is the spectator's card. If you use the sleight of hand version, then you are able to name the card before it is turned over. If you use the non-sleight of hand version, you are not able to name it.
Secondly, you never "name" the position. To be clear, the ad copy does not claim that you name the position. It says that you reveal the position. This is true. You reveal it when you both turn over the 21st card in your respective decks, and the card at your 21st position is the same as the spectator's 21st card which is his mentally thought of card. Basically, you prove that you knew the card in the position by counting down to that position with the spectator and stopping when he stops.
Lastly, the booklet is only 31 pages, not the 40 pages that the ad copy claimed.
A Thought Well Stolen Review: Product Quality
The booklet is extremely well produced, and the effect is taught thoroughly. However, I did have to read it twice to fully wrap my head around everything. I do feel that both in the ad copy and the book, however, that Mr. Harris is a little too proud of this effect. He over-hypes the effect every step of the way. It could just be his playful mannerisms, or it could be arrogance. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it's the former.
The only real problem with the booklet is one moment in the teaching segment. According to the instructions, both the spectator and the performer deal cards one at a time from their respective decks "while the performer counts out loud." That last phrase is key. While the performer counts out loud. However, the instructions further state that "As per the effect descrtiption, you and the spectator now deal off cards to the table, simultaneously, stopping one before the spectator's secret number." What? How? The performer does not know the spectator's secret number. He can't just stop "simultaneously" one before. It reminds me of the story of the guy on the bus. Another passenger asked him where the 5th street stop was. He tells her, "just watch me, and get off the bus at one stop before me."
So as you deal and count, you say "1" - then sort of try to anticipate if they'll stop right there. Then "2" - stop and anticipate, rinse and repeat until you hit the spot before their secret number (20 — one before 21) all the while, with each count (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) wondering and awkwardly watching them to see if they stop or something, because somehow you're supposed to stop simultaneously. This means that you'll have to go at a slower pace, which can drag on and on, especially if their secret number is 45.
I get that it's sort of a timing/watch the spectator moment, but it's the MOST critical part of the routine, yet the least information is given about this moment. If you don't get this part right, the whole effect is a bust.
A Thought Well Stolen Review: Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that this method is not new and neither is the effect. It's relatively close cousin to the Curry effect Power of Thought. Though the methods and the combination of principles makes for a cleverly disguised secret that has the potential to create a very deceptive illusion that you truly knew the card and its position, there is a critical piece of training missing, without which can (mostly likely will) cause this effect to fall flat on its face.
Final Verdict:
3 Stars with a Stone Status of gem.
Available at your Favorite Magic Dealer. Dealer's see Murphy's Magic For Details.
(Top ▲)
One of our primary tasks as reviewers is to make sure the product description matches the product. Many times, we have to point out the hyperbole and, in some cases, downright lies.
This is a case where the description simply doesn’t do the product justice. It’s a major failure in copywriting, which is sad because it’s a great effect. The description makes the classic mistake of talking about what it is instead of why we should care.
I offered to review it because the description mentioned two of my favorite effects: Any Card at Any Number and Out of the World. So they hooked me. But I think I’m the exception.
But by talking about the “method” first, we lose the opportunity to be persuaded by the actual effect.
So let me lay it out for you in a quick set of bullet points (without giving away too much):
Let me reiterate: neither the number nor the card are ever named or written down!
There is a second (optional) phase which I won’t talk about because I feel it tips the method a bit. Besides, as Ormond McGill said, “One miracle per show.”
I think the only weak point in the routine is dealing through the cards so that they can get their number. It’s obviously a requirement of the effect, so do your best to make it interesting.
The method is basically self-working and both decks are completely ordinary. There are a couple of “moves” you’ll need to employ, but they’re ones you probably already do.
This is a case where the description simply doesn’t do the product justice. It’s a major failure in copywriting, which is sad because it’s a great effect. The description makes the classic mistake of talking about what it is instead of why we should care.
I offered to review it because the description mentioned two of my favorite effects: Any Card at Any Number and Out of the World. So they hooked me. But I think I’m the exception.
But by talking about the “method” first, we lose the opportunity to be persuaded by the actual effect.
So let me lay it out for you in a quick set of bullet points (without giving away too much):
- An audience member chooses one of two decks of cards (red or blue; completely fair, no equivoque).
- Their chosen deck is shuffled then cut by your helper
- They THINK OF ANY CARD; seriously, any card. And they NEVER SAY THE CARD OR WRITE IT DOWN, EVER.
- The cards are dealt through and your helper remembers the position of their though-of card in the deck.
- The performer shuffles the other deck, removes one card, then cuts it to a specific place in the deck.
- Both performer and helper deal their cards simultaneously and the helper is asked to say stop one card before the number they’re thinking of
- The performer now NAMES the thought-of card!
- The helper turns over the next card in their deck to confirm that you’re right.
- Finally, you turn over your next card to show it’s a match!
Let me reiterate: neither the number nor the card are ever named or written down!
There is a second (optional) phase which I won’t talk about because I feel it tips the method a bit. Besides, as Ormond McGill said, “One miracle per show.”
I think the only weak point in the routine is dealing through the cards so that they can get their number. It’s obviously a requirement of the effect, so do your best to make it interesting.
The method is basically self-working and both decks are completely ordinary. There are a couple of “moves” you’ll need to employ, but they’re ones you probably already do.