Nu Collection is a three-hour download from acclaimed mentalist Alain Nu dealing with impromptu mentalism. First things first, Nu is an outstanding thinker who is passionate about the art. His enthusiasm is infectious, and he's terrifically comfortable presenting and teaching these routines. I really like him.

The lecture did not get off to the best of starts as Nu demonstrated the cross-cut, oh, you know. He added a John Kennedy subtlety to it, which didn't really impress me. He then moved on to his Easy ACAAN. It's a nice effect with an issue that I don't like but which is easy to fix. During the teaching, he demonstrates a highly ingenious and easy sleight/ditch that he uses on several other effects. It's great, and I wondered why I hadn't seen it before.

Of the other effects here, his Serial Killa is really good, the best routine of the bunch. I was already using a version of it from one of Mark Elsdon's Conversation as Mentalism pamphlets, but Nu's handling is great. After that, I liked his version of Mental Epic called Do I Know You? which reminded me a lot of Richard Osterlind's Mental Epic with a steno pad. Nu's routine is charming, and I know that I will be doing it impromptu soon.

After that it's a mixed bag. His No Threat Roulette uses a cool mathematical principle but needs you to be alert and keep track of card movement. I'd rather use the commercial effect .357 by Tom Lauten, which requires no mental gymnastics and allows me to work on my performance. Then he goes into a bunch of routines using ESP cards. Here is where I have to knock him down a star. While the methods are intriguing, I think that they are way too complicated for the effects presented. I've seen Osterlind, Spelmann, Elsdon, and others do ESP card effects that are just as effective but so much simpler. These routines are clearly a case of Nu's being enamored with clever methods. Perhaps I'm lazy, but there's no way that I'm going to spend the time learning something like his 5 to 9 routine. It's just not worth it. Elsdon's Cubicle from his new Simplimental download, for example, is just as effective and almost self-working. These routines tread dangerously close to the stuff that card workers do, stuff that has so much process that I'd never trust my ability to perform them perfectly 100% of the time. To put it another way, you'd never catch Marc Paul or Luke Jermay doing these routines.

In summary, Nu is great, and there are a couple of fantastic things that you are going to learn from this download so your money will be well spent. After that, it's all about whether you like ESP card effects with complicated methods.

I just finished my first watch, and liked the entire project. Standout for me, for obvious reasons, is the AEIOU segment. I love all the thinking and crossover of various elements and systems and their correspondence and relationships to the Zenner symbols. Alain went in a direction I would never have thought of, and I appreciate his opening my eyes to this.

Alain stated he was using simple methods and that the material include in this project was impromptu. He kept to his word.

Although not a fan of card at any number, I enjoyed his approach and methodology. The methodology was utilized with his Zenner card material, and I really enjoyed this material and am looking at how I can adapt some of it into my own work. Just 10 ESP cards, or they can be made on the spot using business cards...

The Do I know you routine will be overlooked by most because it is simple and people will say it is just a blah blah blah. But it is actually a pretty clever piece to have in your head as an any time any where piece to use when needed.

The roulette routine was the only overlapping piece from the lecture. It is a nice and easy piece of theater that can be done in any setting, close up parlor, or on stage. The explanation and the demonstration were perfect.

Serial Killa is the one piece I have to spend more time with. It is a multi faceted serial number revelation that is done with a borrowed bill and is almost entirely hands off, and will be remembered as completely hands off. The methods here are sneaky, not the obvious physical method, but the subsequent methods.

I cannot speak for others but this was a good purchase for me. I learned a whole new way of looking at Zenner cards, learned a nice new technique, learned a hand full of ten card ESP pieces, and picked up a coupe routines I can do at any time.

Tony Iacoviello

I cannot say enough great things about Alain Nu. For over ten years he has been one of the bigger influences in my career as a Mind Reader. Alain made me look at mentalism in a different way years ago and continues to expand my mind on the subject.

This collection is something I wish I had 15 years ago. If you have the slightest interest in mentalism you should buy this collection. If you have been performing mentalism for years and consider yourself a "pro", then you should buy this collection.

I rarely write reviews, but this collection is definitely worth talking about. The routines are top notch and are all worthy of exploring and performing. Furthermore, Alain's thoughts on performing mentalism are worth the price of the collection.

I haven't been this inspired in a long time and for that I would like to thank Alain Nu for releasing this collection.

Best Mental Epic ever. Not the slickest. Not the most clever method. But absolutely the most authentic.

His Russian roulette effect is a crowd pleaser, and is quite clever in method. Once the action starts, it’s fun to watch the spectators come out of their shells (they are after all watching mentalism) and get into it. Even though it’s only a few playing cards. “Click”

His serial number revelation on a dollar bill also feels believable, although he overly complicates the explanation.

His card at any number is OK. The method is easy, but the plot is thin.

You are not going to walk away with a bunch of Ric Lax type self working items you will be able to immediately use at the next magic club or to show your wife.

You are going to learn the internal thinking of a real pro.

There are some I like and some I can do and some I can't. I didn't necessarily like the serial killa. Just not me and for me there are easier ways for me to do this.

I happen to enjoy his talk on the cross cut force as simpleton as it may seem. There were some good points.

I loved his use of the esp card bag for use in various slights. Nicely done and something I may use.

The ACAAN, not for me. but I don't do much stage work.

His realtime version of the mental epic was a very cool ready anytime piece.

All in all I wanted this dvd because it was Mr Nu. No other reason.

I feel that Alain´s words and wisdom are extremely necesary nowadays in Modern Mentalism.

Too much unreliable material out there, creators that are not really performing so they dont release practical material.
Alain is all the contrary.

He is a professional Mentalist that understand what people experience during performance and that for me is visible in his explanations and ideas.

You get fun new routines, simple to do, classics of Mentalism with interesting approaches, but dont focus on that. Watch between the effects and learn principles of performances that you can apply.

You will learn if you want from this video, I am sure

Disappointed with this download. I should have paid more attention to the cafe reviews and not the reviews on Penguin. This material is geared towards the beginner, which I have no issue with, but is taught poorly. Alain is not clear and concise with his teaching. He is long winded and a little scattered. Also for this being beginner material he is asking that you do pre show for a trick…no bueno in my opinion. There is better taught stronger beginner material for all of the themes taught here. I can’t recommend this download.

Alan Nu is a great thinker of this mentalism-era. I like his approach to the art because my way to do Mentalism is very similar. Buy this Istant Download as soon as you can! ;)

This video is like hanging out with Alain and talking shop.

I really liked the breakdown on the ESP symbols, and how he introduces the cards.

Lots of real world material in here which sticks to Alain's ideas of keeping things low on the effort for the performer, but high on engagement and entertainment value.

Its worth what it asks for