John covers a lot on this fun and enlightening lecture, but there is one method I found particularly
valuable. It's what John describes as an impossible to get caught method for secretly reading what
your subject has written on a slip of paper, designed specifically for one on one private readings.
John tells the story of how two psychic readers each paid him $5,000 to learn this one method, and
that it is one of the best ideas he's ever come up with. This one technique made the John Riggs
lecture one of the best mind reading purchases I've ever made.
10 of 13 magicians found this helpful.
There is a lot of fantastic material here for mentalism. And I stress the "For Mentalism" part. This
is character driven work where presenting an amazing program for your audience is key. This is not
stuff to mix into your magic show.
This is a lecture I will go back to again and again to
reflect on John's thinking.
John is a great thinker and he is presenting solid and useful
material. Even the conversation at the end is worth more than the price.
6 of 6 magicians found this helpful.
John Riggs didn't come off like a jerk. He just has a dry sense of humor. Emphasis on the humor
because John made me laugh several times.
As for the quality of material, here's a
personal testimony:
I made an appearance in two variety shows during the 2015 holidays and
used just one of the methods in this lecture for both of them. I combined it with a couple of other
principles of mentalism from other sources to create a hybrid MONSTER of an effect.
After
the first show I did, using ONLY the above mentioned effect for the entire routine, my friend told
me that several ladies in the audience were asking her and others if I had a "special gift".
DURING the second show I did the same routine and, after I read her mind, a female participant
freaked out on stage when I tried to shake her hand. She said, "I'm not touching you!" after fleeing
the stage. You can't buy publicity like that! She seriously thought that if we shook hands I would
know exactly what she was thinking. Hmmm. Wonder what she was thinking. >;)
Once again, I
got this response after using the "hybrid monster effect" that I may never have thought of if I
hadn't watched this lecture!
So yeah, I'd have to say that despite some of the negative
reviews this is a GREAT lecture for Mentalists who know how to create an ambiance and / or how to
recognize a powerhouse principle when they see one.
Big thanks to John Riggs!!!
5 of 5 magicians found this helpful.
I am not sure what the four people who reviewed this first liked about this lecture???
John
Riggs may be the greatest mentalism thinker of all time, but he didn't show it in this lecture.
Things I learned from this lecture:
-John Riggs has a Criss Angel size ego
-He has a ton
of degrees
-Everything he invented is better than all the people who have ripped off all his
ideas
-a few tricks that my six year old will like
Things I didn't learn:
-New or
Useful magic
I am all for simple magic. I actually love it being that I am not over
skilled. I don't need the methods to look like a Shin Lim routine. However these methods were all
dated and insanely simple. The first time I watched a penguin lecture and I knew how the trick was
done before he even did the trick.
Oh and btw his personality was bland and condescending.
If you want to constantly poke fun at people you have to be likable or funny. John Riggs is neither
18 of 33 magicians found this helpful.
Top notch mentalism lecture. Made me run out the next day and buy scrabble tiles to use in an effect
taught on this lecture using the cleanest, most full proof, easiest billet read Ive ever seen. Very
nice.
4 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
John is a genius. His ideas are great and he doesn't mind showing the finer touches to producing an
excellent effect.
4 of 5 magicians found this helpful.
John Riggs is a professional strange person and mentalist who's ideas are maybe just a little bit
scary.
The tricks he taught are not only some of the strongest and strangest tricks you
can learn, they are some of the most unique and spooky.
I first learned of John Riggs from
Psychophysiological thought reading, and I thought- great! I can learn some mentalism. But I got so
much more. Riggs thinks like a magician, and bring his years of experience to the table.
The effects are almost too good- good enough to start my own cult!
If you are a
mentalist and want to take it to the next level- Well... Go away because I want to keep all these
secrets to myself.
4 of 6 magicians found this helpful.
I own all videos and books by John Riggs and I waited with impatience to watch his lecture here.
Frankly, I am excited. This is one of the best lectures I've seen at Penguin.
Absolutely
great, John !!!
3 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
John Riggs delivers good and solid advice on classic routines and principles of mentalism. Quite
often it is just a sentence which gives you an insight in the mind of a working performer who made a
career lasting over many years. Time tested methods and presentations for every performing field:
you could do these things for your friends and family or for paying audiences of all ages. John
Riggs knows the real world workers. Sometimes the lecture seems unpolished or not that well
prepared, but to me it it was a good one! I got one routine from it and I`ve heard many (many) good
advice on presentation of mentalism and the performer, the mentalist, himself.
If, on the
other side, you're looking for "new routines or methods" you won't find them here. Because there are
none.
But if you are looking for real world routines, go to Osterlind, Karmilovich or
Riggs (for example) and you are able to listen and learn from people who are making a living
entertaining paying audiences for many years.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
Excellent lecture with very practical advice. Highly recommended not only for the material, but
also for valuable insights in mentalism from one of the Greats, John Riggs... His philosophy when it
comes to mentalism is very practical and just plays huge when it comes to reactions from spectators.
1 of 1 magicians found this helpful.
Today, when you order "John Riggs LIVE", you'll instantly be emailed a Penguin Magic gift certificate. You can spend it on anything you like at Penguin, just like cash. Just complete your order as normal, and within seconds you'll get an email with your gift certificate.
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I don't get it!?!?!?!?!?
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A working professional
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