Wanted to get into mentalism and disappointed Report this review Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on September 3rd, 2012 I have always found mentalism to be boring, but I had heard such amazing stuff about Osterlind and I wanted to find a few powerful mentalism effects to do. Saw this video got great rating, I guess I just don't get mentalism. After watching him, I continue to be turned off by mentalism. Was hoping this "master" would have blown me away with material and performance. It was typical stuff,nothing mind-shattering.



his performance: ok

his explanation: so long-winded and ineffective use of time, reminds me of Micheal Close

his material: classic mentalism effects, nothing that made me fall out of my chair.



Although his opening effect was great and I will use it. For that effect alone, it was worth the money but this 3hr 15min video could have easily been cut down significantly. He spent about 30minute alone on the performance and explanation of the first effect, way too long.



Effects he did:

1. 5 envelope prediction, one with $100 inside( I thought it was great)

2. spectator grabs a stack of cards and he reads off the cards that spectator has in his hands. pretty standard

3. bent Penny, no explanation though if I remember correctly

4. spectator writes time on piece of paper, he tears it up, uses watch to predict time that was written

5. prediction of spectator birthday written on small piece of paper held between his fingers and thumb. standard

6. Spoon bending

7. digital root of #9 effect, ie think of # and add digit together and then subtract from original # ....

8. Coin prediction. Give spectator some coins and you make a prediction come true. I actually thought this was a clever routine

9. using a gimmick blackboard with 6 square on it. No explanation 19 of 31 magicians found this helpful. Did this review help you? 19 of 31 magicians found this helpful.

Amazing ! Report this review Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on March 11th, 2012 Hello all,



I've already have seen some videos of Mr. Osterlind so I decided to buy this lecture. Amazing. Now I wish to buy the other videos of him (that I still don't have).



He talks about everything. Not only showing tricks, but what to do if you have an mistake for example. How to create YOUR character (something that Mr. Franz Harary told in his lecture too). Differences between playing a magician and a mentalist ...



About 3:15h of video. SO MUCH (AND GREAT) MATERIAL !



Penguin, i would like to share a tip with you. After you have an great magician doing the lecture, have an promotion of him material. For example, even if you don't give an discount, create an Feature Pros with the guy material to sell (all Osterlind Mind Misteries for example together in one place) ;-) !



Thank you Mr. Osterlind for this lecture !



P.S.: The unique con is that until the middle of the video, some guys asked him without a microphone. About half the video, I think someone in Penguin remember to have an microphone to the people asking. BUT EVEN WITH THIS (only 2 questions), THE VIDEO IS A MUST ! 8 of 8 magicians found this helpful. Do you want to Did this review help you?Do you want to respond to this review? 8 of 8 magicians found this helpful.

Angle-proof, stage or close-up Report this review Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on February 24th, 2012 After receiving training from Richard in a similar setting years ago, I was - while still at the seminar - booked for a $1200 show...and was kept busy for months afterwards. Richard offers something very rarely seen: true magic and mentalism which can be provided completely surrounded, with people looking over your shoulder - and the same effects can still play BIG onstage. I've seen and performed both now - and have seen Richard drive hotel staff members completely wild close-up. Angel's and Blaine's filmed reactions were NEVER as huge as I saw from those who came in to see Richard plucking thoughts from the air. "He KNOWS things!" screamed one young woman as she ran from the cafe!

This lecture has ALL these ingredients - nothing held back! When I tell you that studying this lecture can make you much more amazing than anything you've seen on TV, I'm not exaggerating in the least.

THIS has it ALL! 6 of 6 magicians found this helpful. Do you want to Did this review help you?Do you want to respond to this review? 6 of 6 magicians found this helpful.

Great Lecture Report this review Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on November 20th, 2013 This is a recording of a live lecture Richard Osterlind did on Penguin Magic. As lecture is is not fully scripted and edited performance, still I give it the highest rating. It is not really just a performance of effects followed by explanations, though both of those occur. In fact, one effect Richard would not explain...and I do not blame him. He also makes a mistake with the first effect in the set up and later explains what he did wrong admitting his error and giving advice later on what can be done when something goes wrong.



The lecture is valuable more for its advice on performance, handling of volunteers and general ways of being a magician or mentalist and how a performer should be giving something to his audience...and I do not mean props...but experiences the audience can take with them for the rest of their lives.



This lecture has great general advice that would apply to any kind of magic from close-up to stage illusions and several tricks you can learn to do easily.



As a recorded event from a live Internet lecture, it lacks in production values, but that is simply not important. It is a little dark, but I guess Penguin will correct that in the next video download of Richard's next Internet lecture.



Thank you Richard for this and I will download your next lecture. 4 of 5 magicians found this helpful. Do you want to Did this review help you?Do you want to respond to this review? 4 of 5 magicians found this helpful.

Absolutely Amazing Report this review Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on February 21st, 2012 I had the opportunity to attend this lecture and it was AMAZING! Richard is the best out there. I learned so much that you cannot learn from a dvd or book, and I have many of his. This is a must see! Thank you Richard and Penguin for giving us an intimate look at the best in the business. 3 of 3 magicians found this helpful. Do you want to Did this review help you?Do you want to respond to this review? 3 of 3 magicians found this helpful.

One of the best mentalism videos Report this review Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on February 24th, 2012 I would like to share my impression of the video with you. The presentation was structured, solid and well-prepared. It was fun to listen to stories from Richard Osterlind's life. A lot of nuances in mentalism effects have been revealed in a good and comprehensible way. You can watch this amazing video for over 3 hours! Thanks Richard Osterlind and Penguin group. 3 of 4 magicians found this helpful. Do you want to Did this review help you?Do you want to respond to this review? 3 of 4 magicians found this helpful.

Classic Report this review Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on November 8th, 2012 I saw Richard at last years MindVention.... and even got a chance to chat with him and his lovely wife for an hour or so at Jacks Bar (While everyone else was at a pesky lecture :) )



He is one of the all time greats. This lecture is classic Osterlind.



Again... money well spent. 2 of 2 magicians found this helpful. Do you want to Did this review help you?Do you want to respond to this review? 2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.

A must-have Report this review Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on April 7th, 2012 I love Richard Osterlind's material. He's always able to take classics and turn them into real gems. Although I knew a few of the effects presented in the lecture (because I've got quite a few of his DVD's), I learned quite a lot from it. Not only incredible effects that will definitely go into my repertoire, but also some very insightful advice on performance, which is absolutely essential in mentalism. Whether you are new in this field or an experienced performer, I'm sure you will find some very good stuff in here. 2 of 2 magicians found this helpful. Do you want to Did this review help you?Do you want to respond to this review? 2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.

Class Act Report this review Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on April 7th, 2012 Richard is not only a marvelous person he is a consummate professional always striving to make what he does better, something he has been doing for years. We have the great fortune for a small fee to sample his vast repertoire and learn tried and tested material. This is still my favourite lecture, I hope he does another. I loved the variety of material covered, the way it was presented....everything. Kudos to Penguin for putting him on. 2 of 2 magicians found this helpful. Do you want to Did this review help you?Do you want to respond to this review? 2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.