Looch is one of a small minority of mentalists who specialize in close up walk around mentalism.
Having enjoyed his book and DVD set I was keen to see what his latest work has to offer.
Until a sort while ago this e-book was only released to a small minority having been developed
to support his lecture in Hamburg (hence the title). Even without Looch by your side to talk you
through the forty eight pages of this work I found it a very pleasant read and one which was concise
enough for even a novice performer to understand.
It is very obvious that this material is
the result of countless real world performances for paying audiences. In short Looch has learned his
craft the hard way and has documented his findings so that we can benefit from the fruits of his
labor.
The main focal point of this work is to provide the reader with a working set
template which will require very little pocket space and yet still play strong enough for the most
challenging of audiences. The cliche packs small and plays big is certainly very apt here and 'm
happy to report that this work delivers on both these counts
Looch opens with a discussion
on the use of business cards in a mentalism. This provides a lot of food for thought and his
insights offer new avenues of thought that would never have even crossed my mind. Topics here
include how to hand out your business cards and how best to utilize them within performance.
Looch then details the select items (tools of the trade) that he carries upon his person for his
walk around set. His revelations pertaining to the use of Post-it notes (with a nod to Julian (Bev)
Moore) and his application of said items is fantastic. This routine is both fully illustrated and
explained.
Any seasoned mentalist will agree that Mentalism by its very nature generally
lacks the visual appeal that is so often found within its magic counterpart. This becomes important
when the performer wishes to engage a larger crowd or draw an interest from other tables/guests.
Looch offers some very practical methods and insights into how to make mentalism more visual and the
techniques taught here are superb best of all these can easily be adapted to fit almost any routine
you may be currently performing.
Next Looch discuses ideas for creating a working set
which is flexible enough to be cut short due unforeseen events. Once again Looch displays a
knowledge that can only be learned from experience, Looch even offers the reader a couple of example
sets to help to clarify his point.
Next comes the meat of the material in which Looch
walks us through one of his own personal sets. These including full patter, presentation and
methodology. I can honestly say that this set contains some knockout material which includes:
Two spectators correctly intuiting a two digit number that you have written down in advance.
Reading the body language of several spectators to determine their names.
Predicting
various choices that your spectator will make ahead of time.
Identifying and describing an
unspoken memory that the spectator is concentrating on.
A realistic method for revealing the
name of a selected card.
Despite having already received great value for may money I was
further thrilled to read his thoughts on the "Spectator as mind reader" plot, how to choose your
spectators, layering your methods for maximum impact, dealing with chance and coincidence and the
e-book finally ends with an idea that is so devious even Sherlock Holmes wouldn't be able to fathom.
I'm sure you will have realized that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this work. It very much
encapsulates Looches S.A.D (Simple and Direct) approach to mentalism and offers the reader a wide
variety of insights into tried and tested methods for the close up mentalist.
