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Index-Terity: A Revolutionary Approach to a Powerful Tool

Parker, George; Hass, Larry

Larry Hass

(Based on 2 reviews)
INDEX-terity will put a new spin on your magic and mentalism.

George Parker's INDEX-terity turns the ballot index on its head, making it more powerful and deceptive than ever before!

Everything you need is INSIDE!
  • Five fully-developed routines from George Parker's professional repertoire.
  • A work-kit of the materials required to perform these routines.
  • Access to a private website with instructional and performance videos.
High Praise from Top Magic and Mentalism Professionals

"George Parker's new and very deceptive approach to [the ballot index] will inspire you. Get ready for a fascinating journey!"
- Eugene Burger

"George Parker has given new life to one of mentalism's great, under appreciated gimmicks...He has made it more flexible, practical, and powerful..."
- Bob Fitch

"I have not encountered such fully thought out and explained routines since the private release miracles of Ned Rutledge."
- Ross Johnson

Pages: 94 - 8.5" x 8.5" - Softcover - Black and white illustrations

Reviews

Christian

Official Reviewer

Jan 02, 2013

Index-terity is an interesting book. It is a softcover, 8.5 by 8.5 inch, filled with 96 black and white pages. Why do I say interesting? Because, George goes into great detail in describing these tricks . . . and . . . includes video as well. It's interesting because you don't just learn how a trick works and then we're off to the next one. No, George really goes deep into each explanation.

For a mere $40 dollars you get five fully developed routines, and I mean fully developed. He goes into great depth in the explanations, details, and subtleties of each routine, you also get a kit that includes all the material to construct the indexes that George Parker describes, and you get access to a private website with instructional and performance videos.
I really enjoyed was his thinking. The ideas and premises for each of these routines are nothing short of outstanding. They go well beyond the usual, "Look at me and my powers" presentations that are so common in mentalism and mind reading shows. George has reasons, fun moments for the effects and everything moves the performance forward psychologically.

The audience really gets to go on an enjoyable ride that brings them to a surprising conclusion. His work on a Max Maven inspired piece that George calls "Diet Bowling" stood out in my mind for a couple of reasons. First, he gives reasons for all his props. Everything makes sense and this goes a long way in hiding the actual method. Second, the motivation and the idea of having the spectator watch you load the prediction in the balloon at the beginning had me laughing at his cleverness. Even if you don't believe that this step is necessary, his idea and method behind it is diabolical.

Another trick called "One Blink" is a really interesting way to perform the old, name a card, go through the deck and see if it is one of the 51 cards in this deck.... We, as performers, don't like it because it's a pacing killer, to have a spectator to go through 51 cards on stage. George Parker has found a very solid and quick way to accomplish this task. Combine that with a compelling premise and you have a very strong trick.

Even if you're not a fan of indexes, I think you would enjoy the thinking behind this book. Along with that, simply observing how George approaches his magic/mentalism makes the book well worth the forty clams.
(Top ▲)

Jeff Stone

Official Reviewer

Dec 12, 2012

Like a Smooth Criminal (Thank you Michael Jackson), you'll be sneaking stuff into play completely undetected. George Parker has made a small, yet hugely significant, innovation to the traditional billet index. It's unfortunate that there aren't any performance clips for those who have not purchased this "book/craft-project/online video/utility prop" hybrid of awesome-ness. Even though I knew exactly what Parker was going to do and when he was going to do it, I still didn't see it.


It's kind of like Tommy Wonder's Cups and Balls Routine . . . you can't help but miss the secret loads. My hat's off to Mr. Parker for this alone. Whether you've worked with an index or not, you will do well to consider switching to (or starting with) the INDEX-terity work kit. First of all for the extremely reasonable price of $40 bucks you get everything (except for the tape and staples) you need to make a few indexes. Further, you get a few extra props needed to perform the effects taught in the included book. Speaking of the book, it's also included in the $40 bucks. Like all Theory and Art of Magic productions, the book and props and work kit are beautifully made. What Big Blind Media is to Magic DVD production values, Larry Hass and Theory and Art of Magic Press is to Magic Book production values.


So, the gimmick is clever and a new innovation on a classic; the book and props are well made, but what about the content of the book? It's brilliant. The only complaint I have is that it was a bit tough to read. Tough, but not impossible. It reads like a tech manual. However, luckily, the illustrations and included links to video performances and other video supplemental information was the mayonnaise that added moisture to this slightly dry turkey sandwich (Sorry - Still eating Turkey Sandwiches from Thanksgiving).


Within the 90ish pages you'll find a very detailed description (complete with illustrations and video links) of how to create the index using the included construction materials. Additionally, you are taught 6 excellent effects. You'll find that Parker's work on the one-ahead principle solves many of the problems commonly associated with this principle. Parker drastically improves it with his handling. Further every (and I do mean EVERY) effect in the book is perfectly choreographed to justify every action, move (secret or otherwise) and prop. One tiny, tiny, tiny example is his use of a balloon to secure a prediction. I've seen many magicians, for seemingly no reason at all, store a prediction in a balloon to "protect" it.


Okay . . . sure, the balloon protects it, but why a balloon? Why not a decaying kangaroo pouch? It makes about as much sense as a random balloon. Or at least it did until Parker got a hold of it. He has created the perfect justification for an otherwise random seeming prop. It's beautiful. That's George Parker for you. Plus, on a personal note, he chose a particular set of colored balloons for this effect just to remind him of where the inspiration for the effect came from. That makes more sense after you read the book, but the point is, Parker is a deep thinker and a crazy-creative guy.


His plots, presentational angles, everything are very meaningful and have that near myth like "emotional hook" that The Professor was so fond of. Deal with the hanging preposition. Or should I say, "the hanging preposition is something I want you to deal with. Can you get more personal than predicting the color, shape, and physical location of an imaginary tatoo created only in your spectator's head? That's what you'll find in his effect Tattoo. Again, just a small example of what's going on in that brain of his.


I could go on and on (and apparently, I have to some degree). The bottom line is that for the price, the included props, the incredible effects (not to mention the ones you'll think of on your own), and the insight into presentational structure, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better investment of a tool (and so much more) in your repertoire.


Final Verdict:
4.5 Stars with a Stone Status of GEM!

(Top ▲)