Price$50.00
Media TypeDVD
CategoryBizarre, Mentalism
Date AddedSep 12, 2007
Outside The Conventional
Christopher Taylor
(Based on 1 review)
Outside the Conventional is the first DVD set from Inner Mind Productions that features a guest performer. Canada's Christopher Taylor is the author to two best selling books on the subject of Bizarre/ Mystic Mental Magic as well as the inventor of Equinox and the electronic wiz behind Andy Nymans fantastic "Dead Zone Pro". On this DVD he brings you some of his finest routines.
Each of the routines has a story woven in to it, that produces an intimate and mysterious feel that elevates it from effect to a very thought provoking performance piece!
Watch as Christopher performs each effect in front of a group of lay people and then sit back and learn as Christopher Taylor And Marc Spelmann talk you through every effect in fine detail leaving no stone unturned.
The DVD also contains an interview section where Peter Nardi and Marc Spelmann delve a little deeper into the creative mind of Christopher Taylor.
Effects:
DVD 1
1) Two Minds, One Thought
A classic piece of mentalism. Two participants each contribute to the choice of a thought-of card. The performer then removes the cards from the box for the first time and selects a single card. When the thought of card is named, it matches the selection. The deck is examinable before and after the effect.
2) Being There
A participant's visualized visit to a beautiful and peaceful garden is proven to be real! Subtle and powerful mentalism.
3) Qi Coin
A powerful coin bend routine, highly praised by the pros. This is Christopher's' signature effect and worth the price of the set on its own.
4) Drawing Duplication
A straight to the point billet routine. Unbelievably simple to perform with endless applications.
DVD 2
1) In the Book
A two participant variation of the drawing duplication.
2) There and Back Again
A participant secretly decides upon a distant country and then takes a "mystical journey" there in their imagination. When they "return", they are holding a souvenir coin from their chosen country which they get to keep. Mental Magic at it's best.
3) Mirror Mind
A two stage routine in which the mage uses an antique mirror to read the minds of his audience Then, a spectator successfully does the very same thing.
4) Room 7
A participant enters an imaginary door with a FREELY CHOSEN room number, known only to her. The number mysteriously appears on the back of her hand!
Disc 1 Running Time Approximately 1hr 37min
Disc 2 Running Time Approximately 1hr 44min
Reviews
(Top ▲)
This is a collection of very elegant and interesting close up mentalism pieces. Christopher is a very likable performer. One of the things I enjoyed about the DVD was the fact that he was performing for a live audience. It was apparent this was not a “show” as much as, “let’s grab some people and have him do his stuff.” Of course, it is difficult for four people to sit through an hour of close up material, but they were polite and you did get to see Christopher perform. I only mention this because it is slightly unfair to judge someone’s performing ability based on a very tough audience and a slightly clumsy venue. He did well and it was, perhaps, better than just showing his material to a camera.
There were some interesting concepts that Christopher explored and I think with a little thought many of them could be altered to fit into anyone’s performing style. The material is interesting in the fact that Christopher does give reasons and premises to his effects.
There were a few problems I had with the DVD. This is a two DVD set. At the end of each DVD is interview with Christopher. A MAJOR problem with this interview is that only Christopher is mic(ed). The people interviewing him cannot be heard. Oh, they can if you turn your volume way up, but then Christopher comes across about 6 decibels too loud. It was so irritating that I did not bother to watch most of it.
Another problem I had was how they had Christopher perfrom. I did enjoy that we get to see him work, but they (the makers of the DVD) set him up in a very uncomfortable angle with the audience. It seemed clumsy and having the same four people sit through all of his material is a bit taxing. It was apparent that he was a bit thrown by this awkward setting but Christopher comes across as a very polite and elegant person. I was actually quite intrigued watching him work through the road blocks of this clumsy set up. Even with a difficult set up he was able to make his material work.
If you are looking to add some fresh mentalism close up material to your list this would be a DVD worth consideration. The only warning I will give you is that this is mentalism. It is not mental magic.
There were some interesting concepts that Christopher explored and I think with a little thought many of them could be altered to fit into anyone’s performing style. The material is interesting in the fact that Christopher does give reasons and premises to his effects.
There were a few problems I had with the DVD. This is a two DVD set. At the end of each DVD is interview with Christopher. A MAJOR problem with this interview is that only Christopher is mic(ed). The people interviewing him cannot be heard. Oh, they can if you turn your volume way up, but then Christopher comes across about 6 decibels too loud. It was so irritating that I did not bother to watch most of it.
Another problem I had was how they had Christopher perfrom. I did enjoy that we get to see him work, but they (the makers of the DVD) set him up in a very uncomfortable angle with the audience. It seemed clumsy and having the same four people sit through all of his material is a bit taxing. It was apparent that he was a bit thrown by this awkward setting but Christopher comes across as a very polite and elegant person. I was actually quite intrigued watching him work through the road blocks of this clumsy set up. Even with a difficult set up he was able to make his material work.
If you are looking to add some fresh mentalism close up material to your list this would be a DVD worth consideration. The only warning I will give you is that this is mentalism. It is not mental magic.