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Conversation as Mentalism Volume 2 by Mark Elsdon Reviewed
One booklet, 10 impromptu mentalism effects, $30 bucks and Mark Elsdon. Is it gem or is it rubble? Stay tuned to find out.
Effect
You get ten effects that are all impromptu and require no props. The only exception is that in some cases you'll need a pen and paper handy, and in one case you'll need your smart phone. The plots range everywhere from time travel to word puzzles. There is stuff with your spectator's fingers, a "book test" without a book, an effect where you influence the compass on your spectator's smart phone, basic prediction effects, and much more. There's likely something for everyone here.
Method
The methods, for the most part, employ pretty standard mentalism techniques and principles. There's nothing that is extremely difficult or unrealistic. Things like equivoque, time misdirection and audience management and simple word play. It's all easy stuff with very little practice.
Ad Copy Integrity
The ad copy is pretty good, but there are a couple of things that need mentioning. First, the claim of "prop less" mentalism is not 100% accurate. There are cases where you'll need to have access to a pen and paper. I can probably "let that slide" since you're not needing to carry that around with you.
However, with the Bookless Booktest, you need to make up a sheet of paper with a list of words on it that you'll have to carry around. That is in contradiction to the ad copy in my opinion. Another effect requires that you have your smart phone with you. Again, one I can probably "let slide" because you, likely, always have it (if you own one) on you.
The time travel effect sort of requires some extra props. At the end of the effect, you "prove" that you've traveled into the future by showing, for example, that your hot tea is now cold and a few other things like this. Of course, the requires some prep work on your part. You don't have to use the hot tea as a convincer — though that is what Elsdon uses in the book — but whatever your convincer, it will take a little bit of prep work.
The idea of the content (according to the ad copy) is that during a non-performance situation where you and some friends are just hanging out and talking, the conversation turns (i.e., you direct it) to bizarre things . . . you take advantage of the moment and do a strange experiment or performance. Some of the effects mentioned do require a bit more prep work (as mentioned above) than you might assume after reading the ad copy.
In the at least one effect, a possible billet switch is needed which means that in advance you have to create the second hidden billet. This, of course, is standard mentalism stuff, but in the context of a book that is meant to give effects where no props are needed to be carried around, this causes a small conflict in my mind. The choices are that you create the extra billet in advance and carry it around in your wallet (going against the claims of the ad copy) or you create it on the spot when the moment seems right. I have no problem with either method. However, the former violates the ad claims, and the latter may be difficult depending on the circumstances.
Lastly, the ad mentions that there are no "gadgets, gizmos or gimmicks." As mentioned, one of the effects requires the use of a smart phone and a particular app in order to perform the effect. That is a either a gadget, gizmo or a gimmick; I'm not sure which, but it's definitely one of them.
I mention all this, not to be nit-picky, but to clarify for you, the person who may be spending a hard earn $30 bucks, what you are getting. In my mind, none of the above mentioned things diminish the do-abilty and value of the effects, but they do to some degree (however small) violate the claims of the advertisement.
Product Quality
The book is relatively well written. However, it does feel kind of "rushed" in quite a few places. It feels like he was quickly rushing through the explanation with the assumption that you are already familiar 100% with the effect and its workins, and he's just kind of re-hashing it for you.
One in particular that comes to mind is the Bookless Booktest. It basically refers to the first book (volume 1) and assumes that you're entirely familiar with a particular effect from that book. It then continues on in volume 2. Not having read the first book myself, this led to some confusion on my part.
Yet other times, the explanations were extremely thorough and detailed.
Final Thoughts
This is one of those odd cases where I have to be careful with my review. The material is all stuff that I liked, but as you know, the effects are not what I judge a product on. Just because I like the effects and would do (some of) them, that does not mean that you'll like any of them. If you liked the basic plots that I mentioned, then you'll likely be happy with the effect, and you'll certainly be happy with the methods . . . easy . . .
But, my reviews are based on product quality, methods and ad copy. I'd say that on Methods, we're solid. On product quality we're like an A- or B+. On ad copy integrity we're like a B+ to a B. I don't feel the ad copy was a lie, but I feel that it was not as clear as it could have been and it might lead you to believe that you're getting something different from what you're actually getting.
However, for the most part, it's true; you're getting effects that can just be done off the top of your head when the moment is right.
Final Verdict:
3.5 Stars with a Stone Status of Gem.