Take it Personally

This month . . . Short and Sweet. A cyber-buddy of mine, Paul Watts and I recently had an email conversation about his version of one of my effects, Visa 2.0 from my Gemstones DVD. What follows is an excellent lesson in applying the principles taught in November 2012’s Issue of Roots and Branches. If you haven’t read that article yet, go back and read it first, especially if you’re a Metallica fan.

Root:

Let’s remember our roots. This month’s root is (much like last November’s) take it personally. Below is a cut and past of Paul’s email to me including the pictures he sent.

Hi Jeff

Ahead of me taking Visa 2.0 to Norway in May next year, I thought you might like to see pictures of my English version (attached). My two outs are CD (receipt) and shirt (“the last item I bought”). HMV is a large national store selling cds and dvds. The six items reflect some of my personality so people who know me make that subconcious link, which is why it will be so important to get the items and prices right for Oslo; you don’t want the spectator thinking about prices being inconsistent and taking their mind off the effect. Anyway, great trick Jeff, will email again after being in Oslo, and will be in touch in the meantime on Facebook ans your newsletters.

Paul

Branch:

Let’s build our branches. I’m going to re-issue the same challenge (or very, very similar) I did back in November. Go dig through your repertoire and/or effects found throughout the annals of magicdom history and make it your own. Visa 2.0 is an excellent conduit for this because it’s all about things that you may have purchased. So a simple excercise might be to just revamp Visa 2.0 for your own purposes. Find stuff you’d actually buy and the actually costs and plug everything into the receipt maker that comes with the Gemstones DVD.

Now go study the classics and go discover your true magical self.